Joe Rogan Experience #2504 - Skylar Grey

Joe Rogan podcast, check it out. The Joe. Rogan experience. TRAIN BY DAY, JOE. ROGAN PODCAST BY NIGHT. ALL DAY. GOOD TO SEE YOU. Great to see you. What's happening? You know, putting out an album. This is the the. power of music. Um I told my wife that. you were coming on and she said. I don't want to get emotional. She said if I die. on my funeral, I want her song I'm.

coming home. Really? Yeah, I was like, "Ooh.". I was like, "That's a heavy thought.". And then I listened to it in the gym and. I was like, "God damn." I listened to. the version where you were on the piano. It was like a solo concert. And I was like, "God.". That's such a. It's such a great song, but it's such a. such a crazy thought. Yeah. That someone would want Wow. a very. specific song.

Man. >> [laughter]. >> Heavy way to start the podcast. I know, but. but that's. you know, that's the emotion of real. music. Yeah. Mhm. Like you sent me a. text message about. AI, you know, because you sent me one of. your songs and you're like, AI is never. going to recreate this. I said something like. I don't think it's capable of writing. stuff with this much emotion yet. >> it's not real, you know.

>> Yeah. It sounds cool. That's what AI. does. They they there's cool songs that. come from AI. But there's always going to be and I. completely agree with you. There's. always going to be a thing. >> [snorts]. >> where you know a person wrote it. That they sat down and they wrote it and. there's this connection with their their. spirit and their creativity that comes. out and that's what people love about. music. Other than stuff that sounds I. like I like AI music cuz it sounds cool.

but I know what it is. I know it's just. a robot. I mean I think it's you know. sometimes it's good for certain things. but the type of music that I make. personally um. it's like very therapeutic for me to. write. I always am writing from like. a true emotion so. um. each. each type of. >> true emotion right now. Yeah. It all has its place though. I think AI. is an interesting it's just like another.

tool I feel like. that um you know when autotune first. came out people were bitching about that. and even like my first albums I recorded. with my mom when I was a little kid we. did it on two inch tape. You know so there was no computer. involved. So then computers got introduced and. people were bitching about that like. this isn't real music. >> Yeah. >> You know it's just like all these. technological advances. to me [snorts] I see them as just tools. that creatives can use to get their.

vision across. What was what was Peter. Frampton using back in the day? It was. like a tube or something right? I have. no idea. Do you remember like. you you you know what that stuff is. Jamie right? >> it's a talk box. It's like a tube you put in your mouth. or something. >> like a straw and like the microphone. picks up the sound so the sound would go. through the tube into your mouth and the. microphone picks that up and you use. your mouth. >> Cuz I remember people hating that like. way back in the day people were hating.

that like that's not his real voice like. what is he doing? Why does he put it. through that thing? You know. I don't know. But there's always I mean look there's. always going to be tools that people use. to enhance creativity but Right. the. thing that's weird now is that they're. making entire song like they can make a. total Skylar Grey category. And they. sound pretty good. They sound really. good. You know, that's what's crazy. >> yeah. It's your voice. It's your actual. voice. >> going to get better, you know, cuz it's. so new. >> Yeah.

So. There's an entire podcast with me. that I never did. Really? Yeah, there's. a whole conversation with me and Steve. Jobs. I never met Steve Jobs. It's just me and Steve Jobs talking. about stuff. Is it the visual, too? No, it's not the visual. This one's just an. audio one, but eventually I'm sure. there'll be a video visual one of that. >> Yeah. And there's definitely ones of me. talking to people I've never talked to. because like people pretend they're. they've been on the show. You know, like for fun. And then they'll. have a whole conversation with me. It's. very. >> very strange, you know. Very strange.

Yeah, but we're living in a weird blurry. time. Yeah. >> Like the lines between real and not real. are are getting very blurry. Like it's an introduction to the Matrix. Like we're getting like the first. whispers of the fog of the Matrix. as it envelops us. Yeah. >> We're getting just these little clouds. Like, "Oh, this is weird." Then. eventually it's going to be. We're going to just be in the full. cloud of the Matrix. >> But I see people questioning everything. now. They're like, "Is this real?".

Everybody's sus about everything now. You should. I mean, there's people like. prominent news people who've reposted. stories with videos in it that were like. straight out of a video game. Yeah. It's very very weird time we're in. Very. You know. But I think it's also. exciting. Oh, it's definitely exciting. >> it's fun. Yeah, well, it's weird. Anytime things are weird, anytime things. are like, "Uh like Yeah. But that I. think it makes you really appreciate. actual things, like real physical.

things, like real. >> real connection with people, real art. Mhm. >> You know, I think that's what's going to. happen a lot with AI. Like people's. actual artwork, like getting something. like like this uh chimp skull. This is. made with uh thimbles, symbols. With Zildjian's. >> Oh, yeah, I see that. This guy uh Shane. against the Machine. He makes really Yeah, he's an artist. Makes cool stuff. But like I know a guy. made that. Like when I'm [ __ ] around. with this like this guy made it. >> Yeah, I think it'll make us value real.

human-made art more. And value like nuance and mistakes and. things not being perfect, you know? Yeah. I mean that's part of what's. relatable about art. Is it and it's part. of. what makes us appreciate that it did. come from a person. You know, like when you look at a really. cool painting like that painting. Like. that doesn't that's not perfect. Yeah. >> supposed to be perfect. I love that.

>> supposed to be an expression. You know, it's it's like a person's work. It's. like their. whatever they are, their thing, their. essence is in that canvas. Mhm. You. know? Yep. How did you get started doing. music? How old were you? You said you. recorded with your mom when you were. little? >> Yeah. How old were you? I was six when I did my first show. Wow. >> Yeah. So, she was in like folk bands and. stuff. And she also plays Celtic harp. And my dad was in a barbershop quartet.

My great grandma was an opera singer. So, I just was like born into a an. extremely musical family and um. when I was like two, uh. we were singing happy birthday to one of. my aunts and I started singing a. harmony. And my mom was like, "What is. going on? How is a two-year-old singing. harmony? I wasn't even able to like say. all the words, but the notes I was. singing were like the harmony part.". And then with all her bands that she was. playing with all the time,

I would be at the rehearsals and chiming. in and then they would like bring me up. on stage to do little guest appearances. and. um. >> [clears throat]. >> it It just very clear that that's what I. wanted to do. Wow. >> And so when I was six. we put together our first like hour-long. set and I played at a library me and my. mom together. Wow. >> And uh it was a Mother's Day show in. Madison, Wisconsin. Oh. So I'm from. Mazomanie. [clears throat] It's like a. 1,500 person really small village.

basically in Wisconsin. Um. and so then. I just loved it and so we started. touring around the Midwest and played a. lot of. really random venues like um. elementary schools. libraries. uh women's health conventions. I think the. one of the biggest shows I ever did was. actually a Boy Scouts thing. And it was like 1,500 Boy Scouts. How.

old [laughter] were you? Um I started this from the time I was. six till. I went solo I think when I was 12 or. >> [laughter]. >> That's crazy. >> Yeah. That's an interesting life though. to have your path carved out or at least. the direction Yeah. >> at a very young age. >> Yeah. And it wasn't like I was like a. Disney star or something so it wasn't. like on a big scale. It was. >> It was organic. >> small and. but I made a decent money and.

um I mean for a kid. And I saved it up and then when I was 12. I bought my first grand piano with the. the money I'd saved up. Oh, wow. >> Yeah. And so then I started writing songs at. the piano like pop songs and stuff solo. And it wasn't cool at that time to be. singing with my mom anymore. Like you. know, kids get really mean in middle. school. [laughter]. And they would like make fun of me cuz. we were singing the silliest like. like we are the colors of the rainbow.

and never smoke tobacco and my grandma. slid down the mountain. These are some. of the song titles. >> [laughter]. >> So it was silly and I got made fun of. And so I wanted to sing pop songs. And uh I went solo and my mom was not. stoked about that. Cuz like it had. become her career. Oh, wow. >> Singing with me. Like we I would miss. like I would miss so much school. Um sometimes I had six shows a week. So, it was like a lot. Hey, lie down, buddy.

>> But You're huffing and puffing. >> [laughter]. >> Come on, buddy. Give me a kiss and then. lie down. Come on. Come on, my buddy. Give me a kiss and. then everybody see you. Come on, buddy. Give me a kiss. Aw, look at that. I love you, too. Now, lie down. Go lie down, buddy. Go lie down. Um so when you say your mom wasn't. stoked about that, then was that like. real friction between you guys? No, I. mean she was really supportive, but like. like I said it had become her career. singing with me. So, it was like.

she had to adjust her whole lifestyle. and everything for that. >> You know. That'd be a hard decision for. you then knowing that that's going to. bum your mom out. Yes and no. I could I just like. I was so driven. Well, at 12? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, what was the feeling? Like when. you say you're so driven, like what was. it inside you that made you want to. I just loved making music and performing. and writing.

And um I knew I just there was no like. option. of anything else I would do with my. life. And I knew I wasn't going to sing with. my mom my whole life. You know. So, I had to at some time. >> [laughter]. >> At 12? Yeah. >> That's so crazy. God, that's so wild. >> And I hated school so much and I begged. to be home schooled and. we couldn't figure that out. So, I ended. up dropping out um when I was 16.

Why did you hate it so much? Um, because I was so focused on music, I. felt like I was wasting my time in. school. Wow. Um, yeah. There was this teacher that. my algebra teacher, um, she said something to me that kind. of lit a fire under my ass in a good. way. Um, she told me music isn't a career.

And I was like, I'll show you, [ __ ]. >> [laughter]. >> And so I dropped out and I never went. back after she said that. There's so. many teachers that have. influence over children that say things. like that. And it's such a crazy. irresponsible thing to say. Yeah, cuz I had I had missed, um, or I. hadn't done my homework. because I had a show. the night before this day and then we. had a test and. I aced the test. I was a good student. I.

had like a 3.9. Um, but I aced the test and but she was. like, but you got to do your homework. just like everybody else in this class. And I was like, I had a show. I couldn't. I didn't have time. And she was like, well, music's not a. career. That's such a crazy thing to say cuz. it's clearly a career. Like, why do you. listen to music? Who's making it? When. you go to a concert, people are paying. Is there someone Is there someone on. stage? Is that a career? Like, what do you What the [ __ ] does. that mean? It's not a career. >> it's like I mean, I guess everywhere.

It's everywhere. >> People push the go to school, you know, get a get a good job. Um, and I just wasn't on that path ever. It's very wild to be that focused at. such an early age. But it is. there's it's something fun about those. kind of like, I'll show you, [ __ ]. stories. >> Yeah. [laughter]. Like I could have taken that and been. like, I could have gone the other. direction with that comment, you know. >> Right, you could have said, oh my god, I. don't want to be a loser. I'll be. homeless." Like, okay, she's right and.

she's an adult, so she must know. >> Right. But, yeah, I did the opposite. It. gave me a fire. But, you get older and you realize like. there's a lot of people that are. teaching. They're like, they're just. teaching cuz they needed a teacher. It's. not because like we found this magical. person who's really good at educating. children, really good at like shaping. their minds and their futures. Yeah. No. There's some good teachers. I have I. have some. really good teachers. But, she was not. one of them. But, she was not one of. them. >> [clears throat]. >> it's hard to find someone that's really. good at a job that doesn't pay very. well. It's hard to find someone It is.

That's part of the problem. >> part of the problem. And it's almost. like. you would think that if the future of. humanity is very important, one. [clears throat] of the most important. things would be education. So, one of the most important things. would be finding the best teachers. And. how would you do that? You would pay. them. Yeah. >> Really well. >> Yeah. Like if we really cared about the. future of Earth. >> [laughter]. >> We would spend a ton of money uh making. sure that these teachers are really well.

educated and that they really understand. psychology, they really understand how. to motivate children. Yeah. You would think. That would make a. lot of sense. Right, where it's so odd. how intelligent and capable and. innovative we are and yet so [ __ ]. foolish at the same time. That we just allow that generation after. generation, shitty teachers not getting. paid, good teachers not getting. rewarded. Mhm. You know, and then they. they retire and they're like, "What was. that all for? Yeah.

>> Nobody cared. Nobody Nobody. appreciated what I was doing. You have. to fight for your pension, like. >> [sighs and gasps]. >> The whole system is so messed up. But, the education system is so crazy because. I mean, essentially, I mean, when you go. down the tin foil hat road, it was. essentially designed to make factory. workers. I mean, you know, there wasn't really. formal schooling like we have now where. children go at an early age and show up.

and you know, and leave their parents. all day. That's like a fairly recent. thing in human history. And the reason. why they got people really early is. because that's how you can brainwash. them. >> Right. >> You get kids when they're 14, 15 years. old, they kind of already have their own. view of the world. It's hard to shape. them. But you get those little. 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds. And then if. you get preschool, you know, cuz a lot. of people have to work, you know, parents, both parents work. So then you. can get the kids real early. And then.

you can make little workers out of them. Mhm. Like walking a single file line and. Yeah. >> like control everything. >> Mhm. Sit in class, sit straight ahead. Pledge allegiance. Yeah. Raise your. hand. If you can't pay attention, you. must have a disease. So we're going to. give you some medication. >> Exactly. >> Yeah, and then you're like. And you're just [ __ ] buzzing. [laughter] around. >> should have had some of that medication. to be honest. >> Probably not. No. No. Uh I I definitely.

think I'm an undiagnosed ADHD case. But. I feel like almost everybody is. Well, anybody that's any good at anything. I. We had this conversation yesterday with. my friend Eric. I was like, I think it's. a [ __ ] superpower. Yeah. >> I really do. I I I don't think it's. negative at all. Yeah, there's a lot of. [ __ ] I can't pay attention to if it's. boring. >> Right. >> If it's boring, I check in and check. out. >> super hyperfocus on things that you're. obsessed with, right? >> yeah. Like I don't need to sleep. Yeah. >> Like I could stay up for days if.

something is really interesting. If I. get focused. Which is why I have to stay. away from video games and stuff like. that cuz I just lock in. >> in for hours. Yeah, it's a problem. And. but but it's not just video games, it's. like anything that I really love. But. things that I I'm not interested in, it's like I can't absorb it. It just. goes in and that's what high school was. like for me. It was like I'd be in. class, I'd be like, "This is torture.". But then I'd find something I really. loved and I'd be like fully locked in. Yeah. But it took a while for me to cuz.

I just thought I was going to be a. loser. I'm like, "Clearly I can never. hold a job. I'm not I can't take. direction. pay attention. Like there's something. wrong with me. Like I'm not I'm just. going to be one of those people that's. just kind of a fringe person that's. never, you know, never fits in. anywhere." I'm like, "Okay. This is who. I am. I'll just get some weird odd jobs. to feed myself with." Like this is. literally how I was thinking about my. future. Look at you now. Well, I got. lucky. >> [laughter]. >> I found some things that are. unconventional.

But there's so many children out there. that are told like, "Hey, music isn't a. career. You know, hey, you know, whatever. Acting, writing books, whatever it is, comedy.". So many is there telling you because. they didn't do it that you can't do it. Yeah. Yep. It's a bummer. Yeah. Like I was an. artist when I was young. I wanted to be a comic book illustrator. when I was really young. And I had one. shitty high school art teacher who was. just such a [ __ ] He was so bad. And I.

just I quit art my senior year. I was. like, "I don't want to go to this guy's. [ __ ] class." Like cuz it wasn't a big. high school and he was the only art. teacher. So I quit. >> What What did he do? He was just. negative. Oh. He was like, "You can't. cuz I just wanted to draw what I wanted. to draw." You know, and I was into comic. book stuff like Conan the Barbarian and. superheroes and stuff like that. And he. was like, "You're not going to make a. living doing that. You're most likely. going to have to do like advertisements.

for like diapers, like diaper ads." And. I was like, "Fucking. >> What? diaper ad?" Like that's his. explanation that he used, diaper ads. And I would look at him and he just. looked like he looked depressed. He was. like this skinny guy with a pot belly. and he just Well, he's probably an. artist that didn't make it as an artist. and had to become an art teacher. instead. Exactly. >> So, he's like bitter and. Yeah, well, we realized that, too, when. we looked at his actual art. We're like, "Huh.". >> [laughter]. >> It's not very good. Not so inspired. There's not a lot of fire in that belly,

you know? This is just a boring dude. who's just like depressed and sad. He. probably drank a lot. We see a skinny. person with a big belly, usually it's. like booze. Yeah. This episode is brought to you by Armra. Every week there's some new wellness. hack that people swear by, and after a. while, you start thinking, "Why do we think we can just outsmart. our bodies?" That's why Armra Colostrum. caught my attention. It's something the. body already recognizes and it has. hundreds of these specialized nutrients.

for gut stuff, immunity, metabolism, etc. I first noticed it working around. training, especially workout recovery. Most stuff falls off, but I am still. taking this. If you want to try, Armra. is offering my listeners 30% off plus. two free gifts. Go to armra.com/rogan. I mean, there's there's a lot of people. like that, even in like the music. industry. I feel like a lot of the. experts um in the game are just like. people who were artists and didn't make. it and now they're bitter and then they.

try to. tell you how everything should go or how. you should do everything and Oh, yeah. That got me for a while. Well, >> when I was really young and. I feel like those people are like. weights that you have to carry, you. know? Like, they build up resistance. You build up strength from dealing with. those those [ __ ] people cuz their. stupid ideas, they get they actually get. in your head and you have to wrestle. with them. >> For sure. Especially when you're super. young, like I was when I first moved to. LA, I was 17. Whoa. By yourself?

>> Yeah. Whoa. >> Yeah. That's crazy. >> And I was like very green, small town, Midwest girl. Wow. >> Just dropped in LA and like And really. pretty. That's a terrible combination. >> Oh, it was weird. >> Really pretty, 17. It was weird as [ __ ]. Midwest, oh god. Yeah. Look at you now, shaved head, tattoo on it. >> [laughter]. [gasps]. >> Yep. Yeah, you came out on the other end. good though.

But isn't it true though that like like. those kind of experiences like. experiencing like. oddity and uncertainty and just like the. the weirdness of like moving to a place. like LA when you're 17? Like. when you get through it on the other. end, you're a different person. You're a. stronger person. >> For sure. I mean, every experience makes you. stronger, right? So. Yeah, I just threw myself into this. crazy mix in LA and it was culture shock.

like. So, what year was this when you moved to. LA? >> Um. So, I was 17, so. and I was in the graduate Well, I should. have been in the graduating class of. 2004. So. So, somewhere around 2003, 2004. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and I lived with um the. guitar player from Culture Club. Really? Roy Hay. Wow. >> Yeah, he had a house in Venice and I. crashed on on his couch and.

it was wild. Culture Club, Boy George. >> Mhm. Did you hang out with Boy George? No. Never? No, he wasn't there. He was just. the guitar player. >> On the phone. I don't know. >> Yeah. It was wild. There was a. murder next door the first month I moved. in. Yeah, there's like a bloody mattress in. the little alleyway between the houses. and they taped they caution taped off.

all the the houses and they had to. question us about like did we hear. screaming and. So I was just like sitting there on the. steps. um not allowed to leave while they were. taking the body out and. and then the coroner after he put the. body in the truck he came and sat next. to me on the steps and started like. hitting on me. He was like. He was like. >> [laughter]. [gasps]. >> You're a very beautiful girl and like. you were just touching a dead body. This. is so weird. Where am I?

>> [laughter]. >> Oh god. That's crazy. >> Yeah, welcome to LA. Yeah, you got over that dead body real. quick. Like hey, where you from? >> Yeah. [laughter]. [ __ ] blood in his fingernails. >> Yeah. Gross. >> [sighs]. >> Wow, that's a movie. Mhm. Yeah. Wow. LA in 2003 was still okay. Yeah. It was like not bad, you know?

It was still traffic and everything but. it hadn't gone completely sideways like. it is now. It's so weird when I go back. I'm like. this is unrecognizable. It just doesn't. seem like the same place. Every sign has. a for every building has a for lease. sign on it. It's like this is nuts. Like. it's hard to believe that this is that. you're like. when you see things like Detroit. Did you ever see that movie Roger and. Me? Mhm. It's [clears throat] a great. movie. It's Michael Moore and it's all. about the collapse of the Detroit.

um automotive industry and how they. moved all the plants to Mexico. and um when they did that the entire. economy of Detroit and Flint, Michigan. and all these areas just. collapsed. Like. tens of hundreds of thousands people out. of work instantaneously with no. prospects. The industry was gone and. it's a horrific. dis- depiction of what can happen when.

greedy people decide that they'll. they'll completely sabotage an entire. city so they can make, you know, X. amount more dollars and move all the. factors to places where you can pay. people a dollar a day or whatever the. [ __ ] they paying them. And um. you know, I seen that, but I was like. oh, that was, you know, 1980s or 1960s. whenever when the when when the. the place was booming. Like Detroit was. at one point in time, I think the third.

richest city in the world. >> Woah. Yeah. See if that's true. I'm pretty sure that's true. But. um. it was all just cuz the automobile. manufacturing. I mean, everything was. made there. Ford, Chevy Chrysler, the. whole of our big cars. And it just. gone. You know. >> town. Like a ghost town. And, you know, and when I visited Detroit to work I'd. be like, wow, this is crazy. You see. trees growing through the middle of. houses. The houses are collapsed. And.

like literally nobody took care of the. house. It was abandoned. So, trees grow. through the roofs and they're reclaiming. these homes. You see. you go by these. gigantic like buildings like industrial. buildings. All the windows are broken. Everything. >> No reliable historical source shows. Detroit as the third richest city in the. world. The common claim is actually. Detroit was the richest city in the. world or at least the US with one of the. highest living standards around 1950s,

not third. Oh, so it was the richest? Woah. >> not true. It's not That's the common. claim. >> Yeah. Uh what it actually was. very high medium household income around. 20% above US average and it's all. because of the automotive industry. Mhm. One of the highest home ownership rates. in the country. Because of this many commentators and. locals histories uh describe Detroit as. the wealthiest city in the US and by. some accounts having the highest. standard of living in the world in that. era. Articles and tours about Detroit.

repeatedly refer to it as the wealthiest. city in the world in the 1950s, not as. the third wealthiest. So, is that true then that it was the. wealthiest city in the world? >> That's I don't know. They're just saying. Tours about. Detroit's history. Uh the third richest city in the world. line seems to come from its memes, social posts. Okay, these posts are. often mix or exaggeration of real facts. Detroit truly was exceptionally rich by. US standards, but rankings like third in. the world are not backed by clear.

clearly documented global per capita. income comparisons from that period. Well, so it was rich. It was very. wealthy, very wealthy either way. And. when you think about the rest of the. world, you know, like you know, people love to. use that term, the 1% like the top 1%. Do you know what that is? Like for the. world? No, no. What is it? >> $34,000. >> No freaking way. Yeah. $34,000. is the top 1% of Earth. That's crazy.

Crazy. That's crazy. >> it for the US? >> [clears throat]. >> 1% if I had to guess. Let's guess. Um. I bet it's like $500,000 a year. Do you think? What do you think it is? 250. 250? What do you think it is, Jamie? >> That's That's my guess. I don't know. though. 150. 150? Yeah. Top 1%?

>> Yeah. Wow. I'm guessing. All right, let's. >> Oh, that's your guess. >> Throw that in perplexity. >> [laughter]. >> I was guessing. I didn't want to look. >> Throw that sucker in perplexity. What. did I say? Half a million? Yeah. Top 1%. of the US, 700,000. Yeah. >> The. $700,000 or more depending on the data. source and year. That's pretty crazy. So, for the United. States, 730 to 790,000 dollars per year, most analysis.

Um and then for the rest of the world, 34,000. Wow. Crazy. That's wild. That's wild. Yeah. That's capitalism. Yeah. >> [laughter]. >> But. I bet there's probably some truth to in. order for the United States to have such. a high income, these other countries. have to get [ __ ] over. Globally, you only needed annual income. on the order of 60,000 to 70,000 to be.

in the top 1%. Oh, it used to be 34%. 34,000. >> One widely cited analysis found that in. 2012, annual income of 50,000. was enough to be in the global 1%. So, where's that 34,000 come from? >> that was going around, too. >> Oh, [ __ ] memes. >> have been kind of true, but again, yeah, memes. I saw it repeated by someone very. intelligent. >> it up before, but I think it was a meme. I'll look it up again to see what it. says. Either way. I get I get those memes get.

me all the time. I'm like, "Babe, look. at this.". >> [laughter]. >> And then you go to the comments and it's. like, all all fake. Yeah, there's a lot. of that. But, you know, that's the the. dirty thing about what what they did. with Detroit. Like, they decided that. they'll take advantage of these people. that are ultra poor, that are work. willing to work with. And it's not just. that they get paid a dollar a day or. whatever they get paid. It's there's no. health care. There's no benefits. There's no retirement. There's no. dental. There's no nothing. You just get.

that money and then figure it out on. your own. And then, you know, you buy a Ford car and you. think it's made in America. Commonly. repeated claim the annual income about. $34,000 US puts you in the top 1% of the. world, but this comes from rough older. viral estimates. It's not based on. current rigorous global data. More. careful tools and data sets now suggest. that $34,000. uh places you well above the global.

median, but likely closer to roughly the. top 5 to 10% worldwide, rather than the. top 1%. Okay, so. it appears in social posts. Yeah. 60 is. still like Right, you're barely getting. by. Yeah. >> make $50,000 in America, like you're. [ __ ] struggling. Yeah. Unless you're. super young, you don't have any. responsibilities. >> That's a good question. Like what's the. average Yeah. >> public school teacher salary in America?

Let's guess. You think it's like 60 grand? I think. it's about that. I I bet it's about. that. Yeah. [snorts]. >> to guess. Might be less actually. What is it? Dun dun dun. 74,000. Public school teachers now average. 74,000 to 75,000 per year. So that's. like. you know, you're okay. Depends on where you live, but yeah. >> Well, if you live in New York, you're.

[ __ ] If you live in New York, you. live in a box. Yeah. Yeah. That's pretty. good for Wisconsin. Okay, um state averages lowest paying. states to above $90,000 and the highest. paying ones like California and New. York. So California and New York. $90,000. When it says what it says. though, it's way lower. Oh, starting. teacher pay significantly lower than the. overall average. Oh. >> National estimate the average starting. teacher salary about $48,000. Wow. Meaning it takes years of.

experience and often advanced degrees to. reach or exceed that $74,000 average. So. if you get like really intelligent. people, even if they love children, they're like, I can't do this. I can't. live like this. >> Yeah. You start off at $48,000 a year, that's [ __ ] bonkers. That's not even a thousand dollars a. week, and then you have taxes, and then. you have an apartment, and then you have. food, and then you have a car, and then. >> Kids. Uh. Yeah. Uh. Uh. How do people do it? Which is weird.

that we put our preop priorities. um. in strange places. Like the amount of. money that goes through, you know, various corporations and NGOs, and the. amount of loans that all this different. [ __ ] [ __ ] that where our tax dollars. go, and you look at that, and you're. like, that it seems so short-sighted. Mhm. Very. Yeah. No politician runs on that. No. politicians like, we need to.

really find the best teachers and pay. them the most amount of money that we. can afford to make sure that we get the. best and the brightest. Everybody's like, [ __ ] you. >> [laughter]. >> It's weird. Yeah, it is. People are strange. Yeah. I wish you could like. check boxes of where you want your tax. dollars to go. Oh, 100%. Yeah. >> I want it to go to education or. whatever. Yeah, imagine if that was an. option, if when you voted, you could.

actually vote on where your taxes went. >> Yeah. Yeah. Like not even voted. It should be. actually individually. He might have to. pee. He's acting in a. Yeah, let let him out. Cuz generally he. would be chilling by now. And when he huffs like that, he's. usually trying to let you know. something. Yeah, like he That's what he. does when he has to eat, he huffs. Yeah. >> [panting]. >> I get it, I get it. Chill out, bro.

My dog does that when she senses. something outside. Like a coyote or something. She starts. huffing. Well, you guys were saying you have a. one of them giant Caucasian Shepherds. Is that what it is? >> Yeah. It's a Central Asian Shepherd. We. have an Alabai. I guess there's a lot of. different like. breeds under the Central Asian Shepherd. They're all herding dogs, right? They. like protect. >> It's a protection livestock. [clears throat]. >> They are. Pull up a the image of an Alabai dog. Just Google wolf crusher.

Is that what they call them? >> Yeah. How much does it weigh? She's actually. on the smaller side. She's like 105 lb. or something. >> Oh, that is smaller. But she her head is. so massive. They get They get really big. That one can't be real. >> [laughter]. >> But they are massive. Like. Oh, so that's what she looks like. >> Yeah, pretty much. She's all white.

But those dogs are great for just like. keeping track of the property. Look at. that image. This is wolf crusher in the. bottom the the bottom right there. All. right, go to the left. Right Left of the. wolf grinder thing. Yeah, that that one. right there. So that I think is like a. Turkish Kangal. Uh. >> Um which is I think the next dog we're. going to get. Cuz we need another one. Um. Our our Alabai Nala, she. I'm just like such an animal lover. So.

she should really should be outside. living on the ranch. But she sleeps in bed. >> [laughter]. >> So I need an outside dog that's actually. watching the livestock. Cuz this past. couple weeks we lost them. 12 chickens and. four sheep. To what? Coyotes. Wow. Where do you live? Napa. Napa Valley. Wow. You have that many coyotes out. there? >> Oh, they are invading our property right. now. Mhm. It's been.

the last few weeks have been really. rough. Once they know that there's food. there. Yeah. It's very. >> taste the blood, they come back every. night. Yeah, I lost all my chickens in. California. Yeah. We we will lost a. couple of them every now and then. I had a a dog, um, his name is Johnny. Cash and he was a mastiff and he was a. sweetheart of a dog, but he was huge. It. was like 140 lb solid muscle. And um, these coyotes made friends with him. And.

so they would come by the fence and hang. out with them and then eventually he got. like accustomed to them and then one day. the pool guy accidentally left the gate. open. And so he went into the area where the. chicken coop is. The chicken coop is. like completely protected, but we had. one of our chickens was brooding. Do you. know what brooding is? >> Yeah, yeah. Okay. Of course you do. So, um, when you take chickens when they're. brooding, you have to take them away. from the other chickens and you put them. in a smaller coop and they have to.

perch. So, if they perch, then they. don't think that they're sitting on an. egg and then they get over it after a. while. >> Yeah. And the coyote tricked Johnny into. smashing that little chicken coop so. that he can get the chicken. What do you mean? I don't know how this. [ __ ] did it, but it couldn't. break down the chicken coop cuz it was. only like 30 lb. And so it was over. there with Johnny. And all of a sudden. me and my wife and our kids were playing.

some sort of a like Monopoly or. something in the living room and someone. yells coyote and one of my kids yelled. coyote and we see the coyote running. across the backyard with the chicken in. its mouth. And then leaps onto the top of the. fence. I thought we had like this fence. that was probably like 6 ft tall or. something like that, like wrought iron. fence. I'm like, that'll keep the. coyotes out. No, it leapt like a. ballerina, like a like a gymnast. Toes. to the top of the fence and then off.

with the chicken in its mouth and part. of me was like so impressed that it did. that I wasn't even mad, but a part I was. like, what the [ __ ] I was like, how did. he get that? So, we go outside and. there's Johnny standing there in in. front of this destroyed chicken coop, which clearly he did. >> Yeah, cuz the coyote couldn't have done. that. >> Yeah. And so then he realized that um. chickens are to be killed. and so someone. left the gate open again and he decided. to just go right through the big chicken.

coop and he killed nine of them. before one of my daughters was. screaming, "Johnny's in the chicken. coop.". >> No. >> And yeah, he made a mess out of it. That's awful. >> Well, he didn't know. I know, but. My chickens are like my pets. Yeah. I. like snuggle with them and stuff. We. lost one to a bobcat last week. Yeah, we. had some bobcats take some of ours, too. Yeah. >> we lost one to a fox. We lost one to a fox like a couple weeks. ago. Do you free range your chickens? Do.

you let them out of the coop every day? Yeah. They get out of the coop and then. we bring them in at night, but the you. know, [ __ ] animals, they figure it. out. Yeah, so like last week. cuz um we let the chickens out every. morning. It was 6:30 in the morning and. this coyote came and killed 12 like. back-to-back. Just one coyote? Well, um on the. cameras, that's we only saw one. Wow. >> Yeah. So, it was like surplus killing. Yeah, thrill killing. Well, they don't.

they kill and then they leave them there. and then they go back and get them. later. You know, they do that with cats, you know. >> mountain lions do that for sure. >> Mhm. But um. Yeah, it was weird. He just killed them all and then. took like a few of them with them. Left. some of them. Mhm. Mother [ __ ]. >> It was awful. I was broken cuz it it. took my favorite chicken and. her name was Big Cheeks. She was sweetest. She would like come.

like a dog. You could like call her name. and she would come to you and Do you eat. chicken? Yeah, but not my chickens. >> don't eat my chickens [laughter] either, but it's always weird cuz my wife treats. the chickens like they're little babies. Like, "Hey girls. Hey girls." Like she. takes care of them and all that stuff. and and then we'll be eating chicken. Yeah. >> [laughter]. >> It's odd. Yeah. It's odd. >> we have cows, too. And I eat I eat beef. Do you eat your cows? Well, they're not technically our cows. So we have like an arrangement with a.

like a cattle guy and he just uses our. property to graze them. Okay. Cuz we. need the cows cuz we have a biodynamic. vineyard. Oh. And so we use the cows in. the vineyard. um. like for a few months out of the year. just because it creates like a great. ecosystem and also like their footprints. make little puddles and the water. gathers cuz we're also dry farmed. And so. >> What's that mean? We don't water. our grapes. Really? Yeah.

So um Why is that? [clears throat]. I'm not the wine expert, but. I think it's because uh you get like a. better flavor profile if you like it's. more concentrated. Uh-huh. >> If you don't like overload them with. water. Um and also it makes the vines struggle. in a good way. So it makes them reach. deeper. Like the the roots reach deeper. into the ground. And so you get more like. flavor, I guess. And so this is your own.

wine? So we don't make the wine. We sell the. grapes to um. I think we have five different wine. makers now. They're all doing single. estate. uh wines from our property. Um. so they're not blending it with. anything. So, you can drink the wine. from our property, but it's not our. label cuz I don't want to go out there. and sell wine and make people taste my. wine and I don't want to go. >> [laughter]. >> down that hole marketing. It's like I. have a whole other job. I don't need. that one. That seems like a lot.

>> handle the farming. That's cool, though. What if somebody wanted to buy wine from. your property? Like what are the wines? Well, our property is called Glass Rock. And so, um Pilcrow Glass Rock, um Tansey. Glass Rock. Oh, so they all say Glass. Rock based on the farm? >> They have like a their brand name or. whatever, and then underneath it will. say like the vineyard site. So, if you get it from a Glass Rock. >> to buy some wine from your farm.

>> Oh, I'll send you some. Do you like. wine? I do. Oh. >> I do. I like wine. Okay, I'm going to. just mail you a package of all of the. wines from our property. Okay. Cool. Um. it's all Cabernet, but we're taking like. an old world approach to it cuz Napa. cabs are like super powerful, tons of. alcohol, and that's not not really my style. I. like like French and Italian wines. usually. And so, all the winemakers we're working. with are are taking that approach. And. so, we're picking a little bit earlier,

lower sugars, lower alcohol. It's really delicious, delicate, beautiful wine. How did you get involved. in this? Um. well, I got really into wine like in my 20s. And then, um. I. took a trip to Napa for a birthday. And it's so beautiful there. Have you. been to Napa? >> It's gorgeous. So, I just like fell in. love with the area. And then, um. I met the love of my life at the grocery.

store there. As I was buying a watermelon, and he. asked if he could carry my melon for me. And that was his pick up line. Um. >> [laughter]. >> I actually turned him I turned. >> him down though. I said no. Yeah. Um but we. Um Carlo Mondavi is his best friend. Uh. do you know Mondavi? >> Mondavi wines? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So he's grandson of Robert. Mondavi. Oh. Um and so they're like best.

friends and Carlo I was living in Park. City, Utah at the time. And Carlo had a house in my. neighborhood. So that was like our. mutual connection friend. Um. And so I would just come to Napa to. visit Carlo and he would teach me about. all the wine stuff and um. And that's how I met Elliot when we were. at the grocery store. And uh. then a year later we got together.

officially. We just kind of like kept in. touch. I was married at the time. He was. in a relationship. So it was very. dramatic. But. >> [laughter]. >> long story short [clears throat] it was. very dramatic. Turned into a crazy. divorce, 5-year lawsuit, all this crazy. [ __ ]. >> Woah. Um but anyway Those are fun. >> Yeah, it was fantastic. So then I um. moved to Napa and moved in with Elliot. um. a year after we met. And so then we but.

we lived in St. Helena, which is like a. town up the valley from from Napa. proper. And um it was like a 400-acre. ranch out in the middle of nowhere. Um and we had like a 400-sq-ft house. Like a little tiny cabin basically that. we lived in. And after a while like I kept getting. cats and stuff. I was like this is. really small. >> [clears throat]. >> And I have like I have to make music. after I record and like having a studio. in a 400-sq-ft house it was just you. know. So then we ended up um buying this.

house down in in Napa. and we bought it. for the house, but there was a vineyard. there. And so we're like, we got to figure out. what to do with the vineyard, and it was. conventionally farmed up to that point. Um but we're. >> Conventionally meaning irrigated. >> they used pesticides, like, you know, like pretty much most of the well, vineyards. You know. Yeah. And but we're very all. about organic and everything. >> too, because one of the things that we.

were reading the other day was about. glyphosate in California wines, and that. they had tested a bunch of California. wines, and all of them Yeah. had. glyphosate in it. >> Yeah, so we don't use any of that. >> That's awesome. >> Yeah, we're very anti. So we transformed. the vineyard. into this biodynamic, organically farmed. um Did you know how to do that before. that, or did you read books? How'd you. find out how to do it? >> No, we hired a farmer for a while, um. from France, that. that was his like forte, basically. Um.

So we transformed the vineyard, and then. now Elliot's out there doing a lot of. the farming. Obviously, we have help. Um. it's cuz we have like. something like 9 acres planted of. vineyard, um and so we have help, but um. he's out there running the tractors and. stuff. Wow. Yeah. He's He's always done. He's always done like a lot of like. tractor work. Um. but not ever in a vineyard, so it's it's.

all new to us, but it's fun. That That. life of like being on a piece of land. and growing something there, and like. living with animals, that is like the. romantic life that everyone thinks. about. >> really is. >> Is it that cool? It's Yeah, it's. awesome. You got to come. I think you'll. love it. >> It sounds amazing. I want to do that. I've thought about doing that many. times, like buying a ranch, living on a. ranch. It's just like. I get terrified of like adding one more.

thing to my life that will probably push. out some things or. eat up time. I just don't know where I'm. getting that time from. That's the only. hesitation that I have. You can just. hire help. Yeah, but then you have to. talk to them and you have to deal with. them. You have to deal with like interpersonal. drama between the help and like Mike's a. piece of [ __ ] Let me tell you. Like go. [ __ ] [laughter]. You know what I mean? Yeah. It's worth. it though. Honestly, it really is. It's. so peaceful. Like especially. being in the industry I'm in, going out.

and like touring and. just being in big cities and then coming. home to this like peaceful, serene ranch. life. >> It's Yeah, it's the perfect balance. Yeah. Well, that is probably the key to. staying sane as a performer. Like having a balance. >> so. Because so many of them just as [ __ ]. just stay on the road and. you you you kind of like lose your. roots. You lose your grounding. You're.

you're always performing. >> Well, and for me it like living in LA. really ruined my creativity. How so? Um I think a lot of it was like. I'm. I have a tendency to like give everybody. too much power. So like all these. so-called experts, like listening to. their opinions about what I was doing, um it just got in my head. And so um. removing myself, being able to remove. myself from those characters and.

personalities telling me what they. thought I should be. doing, like writing about, singing. about, dressing, whatever. Oh. >> Um I just. I need to like have open spaces to. really hear my own inner voice and like. my gut, you know? Mhm. Um so I left LA. when I was. 23. and. I moved up to Oregon. for a while. I lived in a cabin. By yourself? >> Yeah. Really? How'd you find it?

Um. well, I had I'd been on tour. and I was playing keyboards and singing. backups for somebody else. So. I can back up a little bit. So I I got. my first record deal when I was um 18 or. something. and put out an album that was with uh. Warner Brothers. Lincoln Park signed me. Um and I was going by the name Holly. Brook at the time. That's my first and. middle name. And so I I put out an album.

through that and it completely like. flopped. And I went broke. And you know, LA's so expensive. And I had spent all my college savings. to move out to LA and make demos and. everything. So I had nothing left. And um. so then I had taken uh so for the first. time in my life I had to get some jobs. Like. not just performing. So I worked in. Barnes & Noble. Um I taught gymnastics.

And I edited porn. You edited porn? >> Mhm. Woah. Yeah, it was a great experience. That's. got to be a weird. >> weird. >> Well, how did you take that job? First. of all, how'd you even find out about. that job? Well, it was a Craigslist ad. And. >> [clears throat]. [laughter]. >> it was just like. we need video editors. And I was like, "Oh, I can I can figure that out." cuz I. edit in Pro Tools and stuff. Music. So.

it can't be that hard. And they said they would train. So I showed up to the interview in a. suit. And. >> [laughter]. >> they were like, "So you know this is. adult content?" Cuz it didn't say that. in the ad. And I was like. >> That's how they brought it up. You know. this is adult content? Like how the [ __ ]. would you know? >> And then they're like, are you cool with. that? And I was like, I guess so, cuz I need the job. And so I just took it. And it was a 9:00 to 5:00 literally just.

looking at like the most disgusting [ __ ]. you can imagine. Like two girls one cup is got nothing on. what [laughter] I saw. Really? Yeah. So it was like hardcore porn? Hardcore. porn and like was like. it wasn't editing feature films. It was. taking like a feature film and then. cutting out all the highlights so that I. could make like basically reels or like, you know, it wasn't Instagram but uh basically. like these little clips that people. would search and and find. [clears throat] like a [ __ ] shot or like.

a cream pie or whatever search term they. would use to find this specific little. clip. And so I would put together these. little clips and then tag it with all. the search terms somebody would use to. find it. That was the the job. And so it. was all just like watch the whole film. and pick out all the most disgusting. >> [laughter]. >> moments you can find. and turn that into a a clip. >> [snorts]. >> Um. and then I started getting this thing. called the Tetris effect. Have you heard.

of that? >> No. So like if you play Tetris for too. long, you start seeing like the shapes. falling. You hallucinate basically. So. you'll just like be making dinner or. whatever and you're just like. hallucinating like the Tetris shapes, but I was hallucinating like gaping butt. holes then. >> [laughter]. >> Yeah. Oh my god. And [snorts] so. >> [laughter]. >> How long did [clears throat] you do that. job for? >> lasted two weeks, but it was the best. paying job. out of all of them that I had cuz I got.

paid by how many clips I got done in a. certain amount of time and so I was. making like 30 bucks an hour, which is. great for a high school dropout, you. know? Um and so it was good money, but. I um. with the Tetris effect thing happening. to me, um. there was like a. a light socket over my bed. that I had taken the light bulb out of. cuz it was too bright. And every night. when I fell asleep, I would like stare.

at that and see a gaping butthole. >> [laughter]. >> I was. I was just like, "This is not healthy. Like [snorts] this is can't be good for. me to continue doing, you know?" No. And. then I also simultaneously got offered. to be a keyboardist. for this other singer, Duncan Sheik. He's like a '90s He had a song called. "Barely Breathing" in the '90s. Um. and I was a fan. And so I was like, "Well, that sounds like a better job, you know?" Definitely.

>> and it's music at least. So I went on tour with him for a while. Um I don't know if it was like a year or. two. But the whole time I was just like, "I wish I was making my own music and. singing my own music, you know?". It started really eating at me being. like the backup musician. And so um I was like journaling a lot on. tour and I wrote, "I just want a cabin. in the woods where I can set up my. studio and be away from all these people. and.

um basically I manifested the cabin. because. like 6 months after I wrote that in my. journal, my mom called me and she was. like, "My friend has this property in. Oregon and she has a cabin and she's. willing to let you live there for free. Um you just have to work in her art. gallery selling art like twice a week.". And I was like, "That sounds perfect.". Wow. So that's what I did. >> how you wind up in Oregon. >> So that's how I wind up in Oregon. >> What part of Oregon? It's the southern. coast. Um it was in the middle of.

nowhere, but it's basically near Bandon. Do you know where Bandon Dunes golf. courses is? No. Have you heard of that? No. Um it's a really famous golf course, but um, it was kind of near there. And. I'm I lived there for like 6 months. Um, set [clears throat] up my studio, kind of like had to rediscover my love. for music and fall back in love with it. cuz I had like writer's block and was. really depressed. I had also. just before that broke up with my.

boyfriend at the time. And was my heart was broken and it was. just like I was. I was a mess. [clears throat]. Um, but my cabin was um, this really small one room. cabin with one light bulb. and there was no bathroom. >> [clears throat]. >> in it. There was a bathroom outside. And so I had to like walk in the middle. of the night if I had to pee, I had to. walk to the bathroom and I was like. terrified. >> Was it an outhouse? No, it it had a a.

flushing toilet and a shower. But it was. like a stand-alone? >> separate from the cabin and like down a. path. By itself? Yeah. Just a bathroom? Yeah. Why would anybody. >> well because the cabin was like an old. fire lookout. that they turned into a cabin. So it. didn't have like plumbing or something. So they like add I don't know. But. it was really beautiful. And it was also at the top of a sand. dune so I couldn't drive up to it. So I. had to park it down the hill and hike to.

it. How far was the hike? Like a quarter mile. Every day? Yeah. Yeah. And so and I didn't have like internet. or anything up there. Um, >> Wow. But it was great. But I was terrified of. mountain lions. the whole time. Mhm. And so I would. like, you know, walking up that hill at night. if I came home from whatever, um, I. would have my flashlight and was like. looking all directions like. >> [laughter]. >> and I actually made a mask to wear on on.

back of my head cuz apparently like eye. contact with a mountain lion like they. won't attack. And so but cuz they attack you from the. behind, so like wear a mask on the back. of my head. Wow. >> [laughter]. >> That's Who told you how to do that? I don't know, Google. There's um I don't know if it's real, but I but I did it. It's real for. tigers. There's um a group of people. that work for the government in the. Sundarbans. The So, the Sundarbans is this area in.

India that's notorious for. tigers eating people. And apparently. over the Let's just Google this number. cuz I'll [ __ ] this up, too. I think over. the last 200 years, something insane. like 300,000 people have been killed by. tigers. in this area. Yeah. >> That's insane. Yeah. Well, there's a lot. of villages there, and then there's also. typhoons. And apparently when these storms happen,

sometimes people die and they wind up in. the river, and you know, they get washed away, and. the tigers apparently developed taste. for human. Mhm. And um then there's also this. thought about um. the water. The water is not fresh. It's. brackish. So, the water has a high salt. content in it, but they still drink it. cuz it's the only salt water, so they're. probably constantly irritated. Mhm. Um the Sundarbans usually prone to.

attacking, sometimes eating humans, causing dozens of deaths every year, but. not every tiger there is a man-eater. Aw, sweet. Historical reports suggest. Sundarban tigers regularly killed 50 to. 60 people per year with some estimates. over 100, especially. including unreported cases. Most recent. expert estimates put the average about. 22 to 23 human deaths per year in the. Sundarbans, far lower than the popular. perception.

Well, there's like clusters of attack. Oh, yeah, here it is. Local news. reported clusters of attacks, multiple. fishermen and crab catchers killed. within a month, showing that risk can. spike in certain areas or seasons. Um I. had a bit in my 2009 comedy special. about this attack that happened in the. Sundarbans where there was four guys in. a boat. And this uh tiger swam out to the boat, killed the guy, dragged him to shore, dropped his body off, jumped back in the.

water, swam to the boat, killed another. guy, jumped back in the water. >> Did it with three guys before he got. tired. And the last guy is just [ __ ]. [ __ ] his pants on the boat by. himself. One guy lived. So So, these are. the people that would walk around with. these masks on the back of their heads. Oh, wow. Yeah. So, I did the right thing. >> Yeah, you did the right thing. Well, at. least for tigers. But, there's um. >> I'll I'll catch them. >> who are these people all living around. there? These are honey collectors in the. Sundarbans. to prevent tiger attacks. Like, you got.

to know there's a lot of tiger attacks. when you're wearing a [ __ ] mask on. your head when you're going to work. Woo. >> Yeah, that's creepy. Yeah. [ __ ] scary. >> Mhm. That's a crazy way to to die, too. >> Mhm. Yeah, especially a tiger. It's probably. pretty quick, though. I guess once they get a hold of you, it's just smoosh. They get the back of your neck. Yeah, I. mean, it probably happens fast. Ah. Yeah. Mountain lion would probably take. a little longer. I don't know.

Yeah. Probably 20 minutes. 15, depending on what you scream. Depend. >> [laughter]. >> Yeah. We've We've had to deal with. those, too. Did you have a gun or. anything when you were up there? No. No? Um. >> about getting one? No, I didn't, actually. I had an axe. It's better than nothing. It was I was. just chopping wood cuz I had a little. wood stove. >> afraid of mountain lions, how come you. didn't get a gun?

I don't know. I didn't even think about. it. I don't know why. Wow. That'd be the first thing I thought of. There's not a [ __ ] chance in hell I'm. walking around there without a gun. Yeah. I don't think at that point I was into. guns yet. Are you into them now? Yeah. Yeah? >> We have a gun range at our house. Oh, that's cool. >> Yeah. Elliot's very into them. I have a carry permit. Good for you. Yeah.

Good. Um. Have you ever seen a big cat in the. wild? >> Oh, yeah. A mountain lion. Yeah, what's. the biggest one you saw? Like a real big one? Um. I don't think the ones I saw were huge. They were like 100, maybe 150. The first one I ever saw was just in. Colorado. It one It actually wound up. getting one of my dogs. And this was uh. It got your dog? Mhm. No. >> Yeah. Yeah. Oh.

I lived in um. a place called Gold Hill. It's like. north of Boulder. So, it's like uh 3,000. ft above Boulder. It was [ __ ]. beautiful. Gorgeous. I would have stayed. there. But um. um it's very high altitude. It's like. 8,500 ft above sea level. And my wife. got pregnant. And when you are um if. you're. pregnant at very high altitude and. you're not accustomed to that, it's like. you have the flu every day. It's.

horrible. And we wound up going back to LA. But uh. so, that was the first one that I saw. And then I saw one in Santa Barbara. I. saw one in uh and actually in Montecito. We were driving. And I saw this thing running across the. road. I was like, "Oh, is that a. coyote?" And and I saw the tail. Yeah, the tail is a giveaway. >> "Oh, it's a [ __ ] mountain lion. Like, that's wild." But, that one wasn't even. that big. That was like 70 lb. And then, uh a couple of years ago, I. was in Utah with my friend Colton, and. we were driving around this corner, and.

he goes, "Dude, look under that tree. Look at that cat." And we see the. glowing eyes of this cat because it was. like just starting to get dark out, and. uh I was probably 30 yd from this thing. in the truck with the binoculars, just. looking at its head. Its [ __ ] head was massive, like a. pumpkin. Like, the muscles, the mandible. muscles were like these things around. its head, just a crushing machine, and.

these huge forearms. That's what I. remember about it the most. His forearms. were massive. And it was just sitting. there under that tree, staring at us. And I was in the truck. Like, I wasn't, you know, we were armed, and we were in. a truck, and I was still [ __ ] my. pants. I was like, "That thing is so. big.". >> How much do you think it weighed? At least 180 lb, maybe 200. It was a big. tomcat, like that one that we have out. front, like that, like that size. Wow. Yeah. It was like, that one was one my. friend Adam Greentree killed, and he uh.

killed that in Colorado, and it that one. they had a depredation permit because it. was targeting this rancher's cows, and. uh they they had tracked it, and that. day, as they were tracking it, it had. killed one of these cows, and just it. was still alive. They it just gutted it. It basically took it down and just. started eating its organs while it was. still alive. Yeah, that's what they do. Yeah. It was pretty rough. Yeah. They're. monsters. We had that We had an issue.

with mountain lions up at our other. property in Napa. We had sheep, and um. I was actually on tour. with M&M. and um got a text [clears throat] from. our neighbor that our sheep had had. babies. on Valentine's Day. And so I was like so excited to get home. and take care of these lambs and um. I guess one of the the lambs was. rejected by the mother. Oh. And so.

[clears throat]. we had to bottle-feed it. So which is the best thing ever. I love. that. You know, some people think it's. like a unnecessary chore to take care of. bottle babies, but I love it. So like. three times a day feeding this thing and. she became like a dog. Like she would. follow me everywhere. She slept on my. front porch. Um her name was Valentine. I got a tattoo of her actually. Right. here. Oh. And um. but. so like a few months.

later we had had like. maybe 10 lambs at that point. Little. babies. They're so cute. Um. and like one morning. Oh. Well, so our the property was like. 400 acres and so and our house is so. small. We had like other little. buildings on the property. So I'd set my. studio up in one of the other buildings. And so I would drive up there. It's like. a half mile up the driveway. And um I.

was driving one day up to the studio and. I saw this mountain lion like crossing. our field. And I like rushed to get my phone out to. take a video of it. Of course I didn't. get a very good shot by the time I got. the video. And I turned around and went back to the. house. I was like, "Babe, there's a. there's a mountain lion on the. property.". And I showed him the video and it was. like kind of blurry. You couldn't really. tell. And we called um our neighbor.

and I think the sheriff. and showed them the video and everybody. was just like, "Well, nine times out of. 10 when people see it say they see a. mountain lion it's just a bobcat or like. whatever. And I was like, no, I know. this is a mountain lion. Like, I know. what I'm looking at. You know, I saw the long tail, the whole. thing. And um they didn't know like nobody. believed me. Like it's Bigfoot or something. >> Yeah. Like, I'm like, no, I swear it's a. it's a mountain lion. And Elliot believed me.

Um so we went up and took a little hike. up the ravine where I I'd seen it walk. off to. And I swear that. like. the lion must have been tracking us back. to the house. because. it. that night we were um. cuz we didn't see it. We went up the. ravine and we didn't see the lion. anywhere, but we went back home. And then that night we were like. uh watching TV and scrolling through.

Instagram or whatever. And he showed me. this You know how the Russians they like. become friends with all these crazy. animals like bears and Mhm. whatever. So. there was like this video of this like. Russian guy like in bed with his. mountain lion like cuddling with. [laughter] it. >> Russians. I know, right? They're psycho. Uh They are not regular white people. >> No. >> [laughter]. >> And so he was like. he showed me this video and he's like, ah, I could never kill one of these.

unless they [ __ ] with my family. Yeah. And next morning I take my coffee. out onto the front porch like I always. did, look down at the sheep pen, and I. see this mom sheep laying with her baby. that's not moving. And I was like, this is something's not. right. And I go down there and sure enough. there's like the fang marks, you know, the deep uh fang marks in its throat. And it's like stomach eaten out. And the mom would not leave its to Aw.

And so I go back to the to the house and. I'm like, "Babe, we lost it a lamb to. the mountain lion.". Nobody believes that I saw. And so we called Fish and Wildlife. And they came out and confirmed that it. was a mountain lion kill. And so they set up they were they put. traps in our sheep pen. And you know, to see if we could like. trap it and relocate it. And um.

So they stayed on property that night. and. I can't even remember all the details. but basically. in the middle of the night we heard this. big bang. And we thought, "Oh, the trap. closed.". And we opened the door and. >> [clears throat]. >> it wasn't that. It was like one of our. sheep had busted through the fence. trying to escape the lion and was. standing in our driveway like right in. front of the house. I was like, "Oh, fuck.". So then Elliot goes down to the sheep. pen and he sees the lion and it's like. just like those glowing eyes, you know.

And and then it darts off into the. woods. And it had killed another lamb. And didn't the trap didn't go off. And so then. the the guys the trackers. they came down and. they were like, "Okay, let's like hunt. this thing like take the dogs." So they. had like six dogs. And. basically for the next like week. tried to get this.

lion. and couldn't. Like the dogs were getting. all mixed up. They were like wandering off one. direction and then going another. direction and they they're like and like. the trackers were like, "This has never. happened." Like they usually get it. Like what what the hell's going on?". They were The dogs were just getting all. confused. And um. we basically. Oh, and then another night Elliot was. out there thinking that he heard the. guys whistling. But I guess it was the cats whistling. So mountain lions whistle?

Do you know about that? Yeah. >> It's a crazy sound. Ooh, I've heard You can probably look it. up. Mountain lion whistle, I need to. hear that. Yeah. Um but he heard whistling and he thought. it was the trackers like saying like. we're here. And he like was just standing out there. and then 20 minutes go by and the guys. aren't there. And so then they finally pull up and. they're like. um. or he was like, "Were you guys whistling. at me?" And they were like, "No, like. did it sound like this?" And he was.

like, "Yes." And they said, "That's the. lions. They they whistle to communicate. with each other.". Put the uh headphones on so you can hear. this. >> Oh. Woah. Yeah.

Oh, that's in that's Tejon Ranch. >> to say that. That I go to that place. That's in. California. That's outside of. Bakersfield. I've elk hunted there before. That. place, Tejon Ranch, they had one pond. where they set up uh. camera trap, they set up uh trail. cameras. They found 18 different cats.

on one pond. >> That's crazy. That's not normal. Oh, they have a lot of cats up there. Well, California doesn't do anything about. them. >> They're kind of nuts. Texas has the complete opposite. approach. Yeah. You just shoot them. Yeah. Yeah, you don't have to have a. permit. They they treat them like. coyotes. >> We got the. because they came back and killed every. night. And then they took my Valentine. Oh. And. I was like so heartbroken. Um There was nothing [clears throat] you.

could do to like lock them up or. Well, I tried to bring Valentine into. the house and put her in a kennel in the. kitchen, but try sleeping with a. screaming lamb. Oh. It was like not a thing. We put her back out and she was fine. that night, but um. the trappers just kept saying, "No, we. got to just leave everything as is and. and we'll get them.". But then like after a week of hunting. them and they nothing, it was like.

"What are we doing? Like we should move. these sheep." Like I was fighting for. that, but they were just like, "No, we. got to keep everything as is cuz if you. move [snorts] them. and change the what's going on, it'll. like the cattle just like maybe not come. back. for a while, but then it'll come back.". You know. Right. >> [snorts]. >> And so. they were like, "If we're going to get. this thing, we got to leave everything. as is.". But anyway, so they um. finally. got the cat.

one night. I I actually had to leave. town and do a show. and Elliot called me and he he actually. he actually was the one that shot it. Um. but they got the cat and I felt like. this huge sense of relief. and um I came home and I thought. everything was fine. and we weren't going to lose any more. lambs and then like a few days later. I woke up and took my coffee outside and. there was a mom sheep dead now and she.

was dragged under the fence. And I was like, "What the absolute. fuck?" So, turns out there was two cats. hunting together and that's why the dogs. were getting confused and couldn't. follow the trail. And um. I guess like in the spring. a lot of times the the moms will like. teach their children how to hunt. And so. they weren't even like eating the lambs. They were just killing them. Um.

and so it was like basically them. learning how to hunt, I guess. I don't. know. I don't know. But uh we got another. permit and we got the second lion and. then everything was peaceful, but we we. went down from like 20 to three sheep. Oh god. Yeah, it was awful. >> Killed 17 sheep? Holy [ __ ] That must be. terrifying. Yeah, and I mean I'm like. out there. I'm scared for myself even. living out there and like going into my. studio and stuff like. it was really scary and really.

heartbreaking. Awful. I can imagine. 17 is crazy. Yeah. It was really bad. >> When you shoot the cat, do you have to. bring it somewhere and then they have to. like register it? >> Well, they took them. The the Fish and. Wildlife. >> Okay. took the bodies, but. Yeah, the dogs, you know, treat them and. Cuz uh. people eat them. Like they taste good. Really? Yeah. Yeah, I had some.

>> Wouldn't it be kind of like tough cuz. they're like so muscly? >> eat the loin. Like the loin Like people. eat the roasts. It's It's like pork. Hm. Yeah, my friend Steve described it as a. superior pork. Hm. Yeah, a lot of people. eat mountain lion. Interesting. >> I know. It sounds crazy. But. >> I'd try it. Have you ever had bear? Have. you ever had bear? >> Bear's good. Really? Yeah, believe it or. not. People like uh It depends on what. the bear is eating. Like if you eat a. bear that's eating a lot of fish, it's. going to be kind of funky. Or if you.

catch a bear that's been like eating a. dead deer for like a. couple weeks, that's not good. You know, like moose, like a dead moose. That. That's. That's taste kind of rotten or. something? Yeah. Yeah, it'll smell. rotten. But if you catch one that's been eating. blueberries, it's like some of the most delicious. meat. Damn. Yeah, my friend Steve. Rinella, he has a show called MeatEater. and he was hunting black bears in Alaska. over this blueberry patch. So he shot.

this black bear and he's cooking it and. as he's he's butchering it, he did it. all on camera. As he's butchering it, like the fat from the bear is purple. Wow. >> like blueberry. And so like the flavor. of blueberries was in the meat itself. That's interesting. >> it's the most insane meat. It's. delicious. I'd try that. Yeah, it's. good. I like elk. Elk is my favorite. Um where do you guys you live in Napa? When are you guys going back? Tomorrow. No, tonight. I've got some. I'll give you some. >> Really?

>> Yeah, I got a freezer bag. I have a. commercial freezer out here. >> Oh, sick. >> With some elk. I'll hook you up. >> go. That's by far my favorite. >> Yeah. Oh, it's delicious. Best. >> It's the best for you, too. Like you. feel different when you eat it. You're. like, "Ooh.". It's like it's got so much nutrients in. it. Have you done the axis deer hunting. in [clears throat] Hawaii? We want to do. that so bad. Oh, it's it's first of all, if you use a rifle, it's 100%. guaranteed. Really? >> Like you can't not get a deer. There's. so many of them and you have to kill.

them. There's On Lanai in particular, there's 30,000 deer and 3,000 people. Holy [ __ ] Yeah. And so in Lanai, you. can actually stay at the Four Seasons. So you stay at this like amazing resort. and then you go hunt. That's awesome. >> Yeah. So I went with. Well, we've gone a few years, but I went. with a whole group of friends one time. It was like seven of us. We went there. and we we had the best time. We hunted. and then we ate.

axis deer and it's like you're you're. overlooking the oceans, this gorgeous. paradise. Yeah, that sounds like a great. >> hunting gear. But there that's a deer that evolved. around tigers. And they are so fast. Like unbelievably. fast. Like if you shoot at one that's 30. yards away and it hears that the bow go. off, it'll be out of the way before the. arrow gets to it. They It's called jumping the string.

They just duck down and take off. It's. not like they know an arrow is coming at. them. They just know to run. And the way. they run is they load up their muscles. by getting low and then springing. forward. But they do it so fast that. Okay, 30 40 Let's say 40 yards. So 40. yards, you've got an arrow that's going. 290 ft a second. And from the sound of the bow going off, the pop of the bow angle bow going off, they're gone. Yeah. Which is insane. >> you can you hunt with rifle out there?

Oh, yeah. Okay. >> Oh, yeah. That's how they do most of the. hunting out there. Okay. The we went and. I went with a bunch of like very. experienced bow hunters. Like top of the. food chain bow hunters. And we all got. axis deer. But it was a struggle. It's. like a lot of them jumped the string. A. lot You got to We wound up realizing. that the best time to go was at night. Uh not at night, but in the afternoon. because in the afternoon it's much. windier and so it hides your sound. >> Oh. Cuz they're just on edge because.

they get hunted 365 days a year. There's. no off season. And they have to hunt. them cuz there's so many of them. Like. you'll like driving at night, you'll. stop and turn the headlights to a field. and you just see thousands of eyes. >> Wow. Like they're they're infested. That's crazy. >> Infested with delicious animals. And. there's no predators. There's zero. predators other than people. So they. bring in snipers and people with night. vision and they shoot them at night and. they they use head shots. And when you. go to like the restaurants in the Four.

Seasons, they serve axis deer. Oh, that's cool. Also delicious. It's so. good. What is that place? Malibu Farms, I think it is. They have insane venison. sliders. from axis deers. They're so good. They I. mean, it's it's one of the most. delicious game animals. But um when we. went, we did a podcast from there. And. you know, we call it podcast from. paradise. We're all having a good time. And. it because. after that, 150 different people went.

the next year, and only one of them was. successful. with a bow. Oh, wow. >> Every other one was like, "Fuck this. I'm getting a rifle. This is ridiculous. These things are so fast." Like but it's. an animal that evolved, like I said, around tigers. Yeah. King Kamehameha in Hawaii was given axis. deer as a gift from the leader of India. in like the 1800s. That's how they got. there. And then they just took over. Oh, yeah. They took over. They're everywhere. Yeah. >> Maui has a lot of them, too.

But they also have this the company. called Maui Nui. So like if you love. game meat, you can actually buy game. meat. So wild game meat in America, you. can't sell. So if you buy like say if. you buy elk, like you go to a. restaurant, you buy elk. >> You're getting it from New Zealand. Oh, wow. Most likely. Yeah. Most Most I. think most of the elk that they serve in. restaurants in America is coming from. New Zealand. >> Because. New Zealand's a similar situation. No.

predators. And they brought in all these. animals, and then they're just infested. And most of it's probably not even. really elk. It's probably stag, which is. super similar anyway. But when you get. like farm-raised elk, that's you're. probably getting it from somewhere else. I mean, they probably have some places. that are allowed to sell. farm-raised elk in America. I don't know. what what which one that would be, but. wild game like that you hunt, you cannot. sell. Hm. Because that's uh how they almost went.

extinct in this country. Oh. And the turn of the century. >> That makes sense. In the beginning of. the I guess like the 1800s, the. beginning of the 1900s, um they brought. elk to the point of extinction almost. And the same with uh white-tail deer. They because they were market hunting. So, because no one had refrigerators, you'd have to get meat all the time. And. so, they were just shooting all of them. Wow. Yeah. I didn't know that. Yeah. But, in Maui, you have so many of them,

and then they set up a a company called. Maui Nui. In Maui Nui, you can buy bone. broth, venison bone broth. They have. like meat sticks, and you could buy. actual venison, and they'll freeze it. and then ship it to you. So, if you want wild game, it's like one. of the best place And one of the most. delicious wild game, too. Yeah. Yeah. Axis [snorts] deer's delicious. >> Yeah, we want to do that hunt for sure. >> Oh, it's a great hunt. >> Yeah. Because you can't First of all, you're in paradise, and you you're going. to see them. It's not like if you go on.

an elk hunt, like you could be in the. mountains for days before you find any. elk. Because, you know, you got to find. out where they are. You got to listen. for bugles. You got to, you know, you. got to glass a lot. You got to look. around. You you might not be successful. If you If you bring a rifle to Lanai, you 100% are going to be successful. And you can kill a bunch of them. Mhm. You know, you could like. >> And they like package it for you and. ship it home to you or whatever. >> Yeah, there's There's a guy named Bob. the Butcher. Shout out to Bob. He uh. he'll butcher them for you and package. it for you and all that jazz. And um you.

know, if you give it enough time, they'll they'll freeze it. And uh we. actually brought it back to the Four. Seasons, and they put it in their. commercial freezer. They froze it for. us. And then we, you know, put it in. these big Yeti coolers. Brought it back on the plane. Nice. Yeah, and you could like literally get a. year's supply of your meat in like a few. days if you wanted to do that and just. eat venison for the rest of the year. Yeah. It's pretty cool. >> Yeah. We usually try to get a deer every.

year up in Napa, too. Mhm. Do you guys go deer hunting? Well, I. don't. Elliot does? >> Elliot Elliot does. [laughter]. I help him [snorts] clean it though. I've been doing that since I was a. little girl. Oh, really? >> My dad taught me when I was a kid and I. would like he hunted a lot and I would. just he would send me on these like. routes to kick the deer out to him, you. know? Oh, okay. >> like do the hiking, kick him out, and. then. >> Push. Yeah. And then we would uh we. would all gather. It was usually around.

Thanksgiving. We'd all gather in the. basement and like cut the cut the meat. up and. skin it and all that. Wow. >> So I I like doing that part. Well, that's cool. It's a great way to be connected to what. you're eating. Yeah. >> It's a completely different experience. >> a different appreciation for it. Oh, yeah. You know, than something you just. like buy at the store. or in a restaurant. Like. It's totally different appreciation. Oh, 100% and also it's like you know. it's organic. It's a an actual wild.

animal. And it's the best life that this. animal is ever going to live and. including the best death. Cuz especially. if you if you're good with a rifle, if. you you're accurate, you practice, like. it's. it's dead like that. >> Mhm. And it's not like getting its. guts eaten out by a mountain lion, you know, or. >> Right. anything else that's going to eat. it or old age or winter. All all the. horrible ways that animals die. Yeah. You know, their their teeth grind down.

to nothing and they essentially starve. to death or Aw. Yeah. Like it's rough. It's a hard life. Yeah. So how'd you wind up leaving Oregon? Um So you're walking quarter mile every. day by yourself with a flashlight trying. to avoid being eaten. >> [laughter]. >> Yep. How'd you get out of there? Well, I I figured out that I needed to I. needed to find a way to make a living in. music. And so I reached out to the only person.

I had left in my. corner musically cuz like at that point. I had lost my record deal, my lawyer. dropped me, my manager dropped me. Um but I was still technically signed to. UMPG publishing. And um so I reached out to my like point. person there who I hadn't spoken to in. years. And I said, "Help me figure out. how to make a living in music. I got to. figure this out.". Cuz that's the only thing I really knew. how to do and I'm a dropout so I can't.

really get a good job and Other than. editing porn. >> Yeah. >> [laughter]. >> And I don't want to do that. And so um. I met with her in New York. I flew to. New York and we just sat down and had. like this long conversation. And. I had like ever since I was. like 13 when I had first heard uh Stan. by Eminem. I'd always been like. I love. that combination of like a.

pretty you know female vocal with hip. hop. And so I'd always wanted to do something. like that. Um. And so I said, "I think I could write. hooks for hip hop songs." Like that was. kind of like my. the what I told her I wanted to do. And um she was like, "Well, we just. signed this producer named Alex da Kid. and uh. that's kind of like his wheelhouse so. you guys should meet.". And um.

so I flew back to to Oregon. and um she connected us on email. And I would go down to the little cafe. to get internet. And so um I would just. I emailed him and he emailed me back. some beats that he had just made. And, um, I would just sit there with my. headphones in the cafe and like hum. little melodies into my computer. and and send them back. But, the first. one I did was called Love the Way You.

Lie. And. a month after I sent Alex that hook, uh, it was a number [clears throat] one. song. Wow. What was that like? It was crazy. Going. from like. broke and living in the woods in this. cabin and then writing a song that. literally took over the world. Yeah, so that's kind of what took me out. of Oregon cuz after that I started. getting phone calls, you know, from.

everybody wanting songs from me. Um, Em, had me and Alex come out to work on. Detox for Dr. Dre. Um, and Puff Daddy wanted a song. That's. where Coming Home came into play. Um, yeah, it was just crazy. Suddenly I. was I went from nobody caring to. everybody trying to. get a song. That's got to be such an. insane experience.

To be like, what am I doing? I'm out in. a cabin. I got to go outside to pee. I. got to walk quarter mile to the house. You're like completely isolated. Did you. have any friends out there at all? Yeah, I had a couple friends. I made a couple friends when I was out. there. And then. all of a sudden you had. >> of a sudden I was, yeah. Off to the. races. >> Mhm. It was crazy. How did you adjust to that? That had to. be very strange. It was and I also felt.

so much pressure. Cuz like. I definitely had a little imposter. syndrome when I wrote that song cuz I. was just like that was too easy. Like it. took me 15 minutes to write that hook. And I sent it off and suddenly everybody. wanted to get a song from me. And I was like that must have been a. fluke. Like this is never going to. happen again. I'm never going to write. another one like this or whatever. Um and so so many people were just. wanting songs and I felt so much.

pressure to deliver a hit song every. time. You know? So I was always so hard on myself. But it that became even worse. Um just [clears throat] I would just put. way too much pressure on myself. I I got. invited to do so many songwriting. sessions, but at that point like I had. pretty much only ever written by myself. And so being like thrown in rooms with. songwriters and producers and stuff, I. was so shy. Um I just felt. it was always so hard for me to open up. creatively in front of strangers.

Um so I would just like walk out of. sessions crying and just be like I suck. I Yeah. >> [laughter]. >> I can't do this. You know? It was hard. That was the hardest part. for me. Just the performing in front of a bunch. of people. >> Just like yeah, just studio. Yeah, just. trying to like create hit songs every. time I go into a writing session. I just. felt like there were so such high. expectations. on what I would deliver and I can't. force creativity. It's like it it just.

It happens or it doesn't, you know? But I felt like I had to deliver a hit. song every time. And because I. put that pressure on myself, it kind of. shut down my creativity. Mhm. And it. made it [clears throat] really hard for. me to do that. So then I ended up like just leaving a. lot of sessions and. feeling like a. like I didn't deserve to be where I was. and. not good enough. How'd you get over that?

Um. I didn't really. >> [laughter]. >> Yeah. I don't I don't think I ever got over. that. I I like I did a lot of these. sessions for a while cuz I felt like I. had to and then I just kind of stopped. taking them. I stopped agreeing to do them cuz it was. just too much it was too hard on me. So, explain these kind of sessions. So, you you.

go to a studio with producers and like. and they essentially say, "Okay, let's. try to create something. Ready, go.". And then you're in there and your. creative process is you by yourself like. trying to connect with emotions and. thoughts and ideas and then all of a. sudden you're around people and also. your little weirded out because you've. been living in a [ __ ] cabin Yeah. by. yourself. [laughter]. You know. >> That and And you're editing porn for 2. weeks and it's like That and I just had.

this like hit song that was huge. It was. massive. And. I just felt like there was such high. expectations on me. You know. >> Right. So, it was very hard. Everybody that I've ever met who's. really good has impostor syndrome. Yeah. I think it's a part of. being genuinely creative. because. I think like genuinely creative people.

don't have that kind of weird ego where. like, "Yeah, finally I'm getting mine.". Because some people do have that where. they feel like they deserve this. Mhm. But I feel like. at least most genuinely creative people. that I've talked to, when something big. happens to them they're like, "This is [ __ ] crazy." Like all of my. comedian friends when they start to hit. like when something happens, when they. get like a viral clip and then they do a. Netflix special or something like that. and they be in there like, "Bro, I'm.

kind of freaking out." I'm like, "We all. are. It's okay. Like, this is the thing. Like, you you're going to feel [ __ ]. weird.". >> Yeah. That that thing, whatever it is, that. imposter syndrome, I think is a good. thing. I think it's a sign that you have. a healthy mind or at least maybe not. healthy, maybe not the right the right. word, you have a creative mind. >> Mhm. You know, and that you you're and. also everything. completely changes. You have a hit song, all of a sudden out of nowhere, number. one. Like, what the [ __ ] Like, that.

kind of shift in paradigm, like, that is. not normal to get adjusted to. You'd. have to be a complete psycho to go to be. like, "All right, this is perfect. This. is what I've been waiting for.". You know? Yeah. Cuz everybody like sees people. either on television or you know, in. you see them in the media and you think, "That's a different kind of thing than. me. I'm not I'm not a famous person. I'm. not popular. I'm not successful. I'm.

just me.". Like, and then. all of a sudden people know who you are. and love you. And you're like, "Oh my god, I'm a. fraud." Yeah. I mean, they don't they. don't know about the shitty songs I've. written. >> Exactly. >> [laughter]. >> They don't know that like 99% of the. songs that I write suck. Oh, of course. >> the one, you know. I think that's the. case with everything though. You know, I. talk to. all my friends that are comics, all say. the same thing. Like, out of the jokes. that they write, like, 10 of them suck.

and then one. one pops through. But the thing is like, you just got to keep cranking. Just keep. keep trying to find whatever it is. >> That was the hard part for me was the. keep going and keep trying. How would. you do it? How do you How did you like, what is your creative process? My creative process, um well, now. a a part of it is not living in LA. >> [laughter]. >> I have to be out in the middle of. nowhere. Um. and I like to be alone in the room.

Even if I'm writing to somebody else's. beat or something like that, I just like. to sit with myself and do it. Um. and I just try to focus on how it makes. me feel. You know, I I. spent some time trying to write what I. thought other people wanted to hear. And I feel like those songs always. sucked. And so just like. letting it flow, almost like I'm not. writing it. Like I'm channeling it or. something.

Mhm. >> Um that's better. Yeah. >> The songs that like take less effort. tend to be the better songs. And the. songs that I slave over to try to get. them perfect and overthink, they end up. doing nothing. John Mellencamp told me he wrote I Need. a Lover That Won't Drive Me Crazy in the. shower. Yeah. >> Like that. Done. He was just saying it. I need a lover that won't drive me. crazy. You know, it makes total sense. I. write stuff in the shower. I write stuff. when I'm cooking dinner. Um. it's not like go into a studio from this.

hour to this hour and write a song. Like. it never works for me to do that. So, it'll just be random like this new. album I'm putting out, um. there's a song called Motivation and I. remember it came to me when I was. standing outside the vet's office when. my dog was getting surgery. on her ACL or whatever they call it in. dog world. Um. I was just like pacing outside during. her surgery and this like song started. coming to me. Did she have to do that. thing where they cut the bone? Yeah. >> Yeah. I had a dog. She had to have both.

her back legs done that way. She blew. out both of them. >> The recovery was brutal. >> It's horrible. She wouldn't She was also. a puppy, so she had like puppy energy. And it just We had to sit there and eat. her and Oof. >> It was awful. >> [laughter]. >> Oof. Yeah. And so, do you take specific time to just like. sit and try to write or do you just like. let ideas come to you? >> [snorts]. >> I usually just let ideas come to me. I.

like take a lot of voice notes in my. phone. or I'll write down lyric ideas that come. to me. and then um. I need to be better about making time. for it cuz when I do make time to like. go in and be creative. uh it it usually does. there's a balance. It's like I can't. force it but I also can't be lazy and. like just avoid it completely. You know? >> Have you ever read Have you ever read. The War of Art?

Uh I started I started it. I started it. >> I have copies out there. I'll give you a. copy if you don't have one. I think I. started the book on tape version. I have. copies of the book. It's a very small. book. It's very easy but it's all about. that and Pressfield was you know, kind. of like an underachiever until he was. like 40. and then somewhere along the line he. realized that what he really has to do. is be a professional so he developed. this methodology.

of like channeling the muse and instead. of thinking of the muse as being you. know, instead of thinking of creativity. as being the sort of abstract thing. he thought of it as a thing that you. summon. Like like legitimately show up every day. at the same time in front of your. computer or your notebook or whatever. however you do it. and literally say, "I am here to summon. the muse. Like I'm here respectfully to.

call upon you for your gifts.". And if you just show up every day and. treat it like that it will work. Which. is a really crazy thought. >> It makes sense. Yeah. Yeah. Do you do. it? I do it. Yeah. I don't do it every. day, but when I do it Yeah, I. I just sit there and I don't say I'm. summoning the muse like I think he does. Yeah. Um what I do is I go. here we go. I just say here we go. I say.

here we go and then I start typing. Mhm. And a lot of times. it's like almost like working out like. in the beginning you're like. you know, you got to warm up, you got to. get things going, you know, you get on. the bike a little bit, crack a sweat, start stretching. You know, I'm typing in the beginning. it's just like whoa, I [ __ ] suck. This is These thoughts are useless. This. is not Oh. Yeah. >> got something. Yeah. And I figured out a. way to do it with it is more organic for.

me cuz I used to just try to write. things that were funny and now what I do. is just write. I write on a subject or a. thing and then I'll let it like. if I'm writing about whatever [ __ ]. global change global warming [ __ ]. earthquakes, whatever I'm writing about, I'll let it shift to what I don't try to. stay on subject. >> Yeah, you let it just. >> Yeah, it might completely change to. something totally different, a. completely different subject and I just. let it and then I just try to just get.

out of my own way and write as much as. possible and then I go over it and try. to extract things from that. Mhm. those. and I copy and paste them into something. else and then I'll expand on that idea. or I'll start fresh with this idea and. it's. just a numbers game. It's just a numbers. and time game. The amount of numbers, the amount of time that you spend. thinking about stuff, you get these. little gifts. Yeah. And that's where the. concept of the muse comes from is cuz. it's almost like it's like some sort of.

a divine entity. It Yeah, it feels like. that. >> feel like that. Yeah. says that whether it's authors or. musicians or comedians or anybody. creative. They say it feels like it's. not even my idea. Like it would just. came to me out of nowhere. Right. >> Which is the weirdest thing about the. creative process. It's not like. like a a structure you're putting. together like a house. You know, like I. know how to do this. I lay down the. foundation. I put up the girders. I do. the the Uh-uh. It's like this thing,

like this spiritual. weird entity that you're in contact. with. Yeah. For sure. And it's not you cuz. you're like empty when the ideas come. They just like. make their [snorts] way into your head. You're like, "Whoa, where the [ __ ] did. that come from?". >> you're responding to your emotional, like how it makes you feel. Yeah. >> Like reading what you're. channeling or listening to it. And that. for me, like I focus mostly on that. Like how is it making me feel? Is it.

causing some type of like emotional. response? You know? Yeah. And then those are the. magic moments. Well, that's why it would. have to be so weird to do it in a studio. with a bunch of people you don't know. with under pressure. Yeah. For me, it doesn't work. I don't. know how else. Some people are like. thrive in that environment. I don't know how. Yeah, I get it. A lot. of rappers. I just can't do it. >> But I think they feed off of each other. You know? And like a lot of what rappers.

they tell me that like like they're. doing it for their boys. So like as. they're like hitting like new lines and. coming up with new new rhymes and new. raps, it's like they're they're [ __ ]. around with their friends and like. having a good time, like impressing them. with like. strong lines and great bars and. I mean, I've definitely had some moments. like that. Especially like you can find people you. have really good chemistry with. Then it can work. Right. >> But generally speaking,

just going into a room with strangers, it doesn't. doesn't work for me. But yeah, there are some people that. like I feel super connected to. creatively and I can do that with them. Well, I'd imagine everybody's got their. own different little process, but it's. just a matter of like doing something. Mhm. Like ma- making the time for it. And I I would imagine also it's like as. you get really busy and successful and. there's a lot of obligations, it's. harder and harder to find that still.

time. Well, yeah. And there's like cycles. Like right now I'm not writing at all. because I'm just in. you know, album promotion mode. And so. it's all about like content and all this. other stuff. So I haven't written a song. in a long time. So and it's also kind of like a muscle. like. songwriting for me. Once I get into a songwriting zone, it's. like coming. like way easier all the time. But I have to like warm up to get into.

it and get back in that headspace and. you know, warm up that muscle again. That makes sense. Like. marathon running. Yeah. Yeah, something. Yeah. I think. everything's like that. Yeah. You get in. into like grooves. Mhm. Yeah. So when you're in the middle of. promotion like what is the difference in. like. do you have ideas that still come to you. and you just sort of jot them down and. go one day I'll go back to that?

>> Mhm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I just store them. Does this feel like um when you're in. promotion time, does it feel. weird? Like like you got to go out and. sell it and you got to I don't know. >> talk about it. >> I enjoy all the different aspects of it, you know? I love that it's all creative. for the most part. Like even just like. making content and filming stuff. Um. it's a it's a art form, too. So, I feel.

like I'm still like getting my. creativity out. It's just not in the. songwriting. lane. So, it is it like one of those. things where in the back of your mind. you're like, "Eventually this will come. to an end and I'm going to get back to. it.". >> Mhm. And then it starts to like itch at. you. Mhm. Yeah. Yeah, I get the itch. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's time to get back. Yeah, I'm. already feeling it. Oh, yeah? I'm ready. to write again, yeah. Well, I would imagine that being in a. place like Napa where you're like around.

like peaceful, you know, beautiful background and, you. know, nature and. it's probably like. way easier to get in touch with your. mind Mhm. than to be trapped in. Manhattan. For sure. >> Beep beep, [ __ ] you, you know, that. >> Yeah. That's exactly why I've stayed away from. cities. Yeah. I guess everybody has to find their own. thing cuz I have friends who have.

thrived off that [ __ ] I have friends. who live in New York City, they they. can't live anywhere else. They love it. >> Yeah. I don't maybe it's because I grew. up in a rural environment. >> broken. I think my friends are all. broken. So, [ __ ] is wrong with you? You. want to live in the city? >> it's a comfort thing cuz like I grew up. in the woods, so it feels like home to. be out in the middle of nowhere. But if. I grew up in the city, that might feel. more comf- comfortable for me. And I. might be able to hear myself think. better there. But.

you know, everybody's different. I think everybody who goes to the woods. realizes they need it. I think it's a vitamin. I really do. I think it's just like how. sunlight gives you vitamin D. I think. there's something about being in. wilderness where you're in tune with all. those life forms. Because it's not as. simple as oh there's a bird, there's a. squirrel. No, the [ __ ] ground's. alive. The trees are alive. There's. energy that all these things have that.

is being distributed somehow or another. in this. strange. array of. of information and and of just life. that's all around you that you feel. You. actually feel when you're out there. Yeah, it's like forest bathing. Yeah, it's just real. >> for sure. And it's also there's no. [ __ ] cell phone service. So, I think. there's something to that, too, cuz the. the the earth feels cleaner if that.

makes any sense. Like when I'm in a. place that has no cell phone service, I. swear there's a subtle difference in the. way the world feels. It's like a vortex, yeah. Cuz I think like in this room we. have Wi-Fi, we both have phones. Like I. think there's signals that are just out. there that we can't you know, you can't. tune it in and go oh that's a video my. friend sending me. You don't do that, but there's something about whatever the. [ __ ] that stuff is that I think your.

body recognizes as a Like they say it. [ __ ] with bees. Mhm. Like cell phone. signals in particular really [ __ ] with. bees. And like okay, well [ __ ] with bees. I. bet it [ __ ] with us, too. >> Oh, I'm sure, yeah. >> Yeah, cuz it feel like when if you're in. a place with no cell phone service, the. world feels different. And it's not just. cuz you can't check your phone, it's the. world. The actual. the actual air around you feels. different. >> Yeah, I definitely feel that, too.

Yeah. Yeah, I think that's how people are. supposed to live. I think we're doing. some weird [ __ ] to ourselves, you know? For sure. But the weird [ __ ] is cool in. a lot of ways, you know, cuz it's how we. meet each other, how we talk to each. other, you know, how we find out about. new things. >> of it all, you know. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Do you have goals? Yeah. What are your goals? >> [laughter]. >> Like cuz some people don't. Some people. just enjoy just doing.

They don't think about like goals. Yeah, I mean I have like things I want. to do. before I die. What do you want to do? Um well, I want to be better about. putting out more music cuz. because I do put so much pressure on. myself, I it's taken me like 5 years. between each album. to to make one and put it out. >> they're also really good. >> myself all the time and. and I think like I put so much pressure. on it like this has to be the you know,

the sound that the. the mark I leave on the world and this. is what I want to be known for. I'm like. [ __ ] all that. Just capture a moment in. time. Like what am I feeling right now? What vibe am I into? And capture that zeitgeist musically and. then move on to the next one. Like it. doesn't all have to be cohesive. I used to just be like. put so much pressure on it being. cohesive and having like a certain sound. or whatever. But now I'm just like, okay. Right like. right now this album.

I'm calling the genre bubble grunge. cuz it's like inspired by the '90s um. pop and grunge kind of like combined. together. Um. but then the next album. I might totally flip it and do something. totally different. And that's okay. Like it doesn't all have to be. like it can be different. I can I can. change it up. And so I'm I'm.

my goal in regards to that is to put out. an album every year Wow. >> instead of every 5 years. >> [laughter]. >> That's a big shift. >> It's a big shift, but. I don't want to look back and just wish. I would have released more cuz I have so. much music sitting on hard drives and. on a Dropbox folder that's never come. out cuz I would like make a bunch of. music and then second guess it and. start over and start over again. It's not good enough. It's not good. enough. I'm like I should have just put. everything out. I should have just.

been okay with like. you know, putting out a bad album or. a bad song. It's okay. But you think that the I'll just keep. making it and putting it out. Perhaps a. part of the creative process is boiling. it down to something that you really. >> so, but I think I take that way too far. Do you think that that is in part. because of the pressure that you. experienced for your first thing that. hits is number one? Which is a crazy experience.

>> Yeah. And you were really young. Yeah. >> You know, all of a sudden, boom. Yeah. Maybe that was part of it. Just made me. like extra. hard on myself. Um. but I want to have more fun. And not take it so seriously. So how do. you plan on doing that? How do you plan. on having more fun and not taking it so. seriously because. >> I'm already doing it. >> Yeah? Yeah. I think I I just turned 40 and I think. that also has something to do with it.

cuz I'm just like. seeing the end. >> [laughter]. >> Like what am I doing here? Just like. torturing myself with all this pressure. and not just like having fun and being. creative and throwing it out there, you. know. So. I'm already doing that. Well, that's. >> I'm already having more fun. That's great, but that that is one of. the beautiful things that comes with. age. Yeah. >> You Giving less [ __ ] Giving less [ __ ]. and just accumulating experiences to the.

point where you recognize like the flaws. in your past thinking and why I did this. and I'm not happy I did that. and you. gather enough of those experiences where. you get a better map of the territory. Mhm. Like, I think I get it now. Yeah. And then you're you're really. established now, too. So, it's like you. don't have to be as. worried about whether or not, you know. Yeah. It's a beautiful thing that comes with.

age. The not giving a [ __ ] or not get you. know, like one of the funniest things to. see an old person who doesn't give a. [ __ ]. It's funny. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Old people who don't. give a [ __ ] and just say anything. >> Yeah. >> [laughter]. >> They're funny. That comes to their mind. is hilarious. They're funny. Well, um. thank you for being here. It was a lot. of fun. I really enjoyed it. Enjoyed. talking to you, and I really enjoy your. music. >> Oh, thank you. Can I talk a little bit about the album. that I'm putting out? >> Absolutely. Okay. It's called Wasted.

Potential. It's about me wasting my potential. Um. But, uh it's a it's an album where I'm. telling the story of my like. upbringing in small-town. Wisconsin. Um. Discovering my sexuality, and just like. it's like a coming-of-age story. And, um. it's a part of my story I don't think a. lot of people know. They mostly know me from working with. Eminem and all the things I did after. that. But, um I just felt like it was.

time. I think because I turned 40. recently, I was like thinking about my. childhood a lot, and realizing I didn't. appreciate it enough. I had a great. childhood. And so, I just wanted to tell that part. of my story. Um kind of for the first time ever. So, I'm excited to get that out. And. it's important It was important for me. to get it off my chest and out so that I. could like finally. I was depressed about turning 40. Really? Oh, yeah. So depressed about it.

But, um. I think it's because I didn't I didn't. feel like I was like present during my. childhood and. I mean I was working a lot. And so um. it was important for me to get it off my. chest and be at a point now where I feel. like I can accept that I'm 40 and. actually enjoy it. And so that was the whole gist of the. album. Well, do you really think that you have. wasted potential?

>> Oh, yeah. Really? Mhm. How so? Um well, when I um made music [clears throat]. with my mom growing up, it was a completely different. lifestyle to now making music in a you. know, LA in the big. world of music. I didn't realize how. much work it would be. I didn't realize the grind. And uh. I think when I first got into it, I was. kind of lazy about it. Because I was like oh I I I honestly I. should probably should have been a Gen. Z.

>> [laughter]. >> Because I was just like. >> [gasps]. >> [ __ ] this. I don't want to do this, you. know? Um and so a lot of decisions I. made. in my career um. I feel like. you know, it was all my fault basically. All all the failures that I've had, I. realized were my fault for being you. know, lazy or or not. um. putting in the effort and and the grind. and.

Yeah, so. I wasted a lot of potential. I had a so. many huge opportunities. when I was younger in the music industry. and then I I kind of just like was like. this is too much work. >> [gasps]. [laughter]. >> But is that a part of like a work-life. balance? Yeah. I mean. that's what Gen Z would say. Right? They're all about the work-life balance. but in I feel like in my generation.

the millennials, it was all about like. work work work work work, you know? Mhm. and I wasn't doing that as much. So, yeah, I didn't I didn't feel like like. turning 40, I was like I'm not in the. place where I thought I'd be. I didn't do all the things I wanted to. do by this age. and was feeling kind of like a failure. And so, do you think that that self-critical. mindset though is just one of those.

things that's just like it's. it's actually inherent to anybody that's. creative and ambitious? Like you're. always going to be self-critical and. that's probably one of the reasons why. your music is so good. Like this idea. like it's not good enough, it's not good. enough, it's not good obsessing over. things where you only release something. every 5 years, but then look at the. quality of the songs that you do. release, that you do love. It's like there's a balance in there. Like a little bit of self-critical, a.

little bit of like I'm not doing enough, like it's. let it in there, but don't believe it, you know? Yeah. Life is life. It's life. it's not all. you know, it's not all like leave a. legacy cuz in the end really doesn't. matter. I know. You know? >> That's true. Really enjoy. >> I'm just so I'm trying to have more fun. That's great. Yeah. Both things. Both things. Listen, your music's awesome. I love it. >> And it was awesome seeing you with. Eminem. It was great.

>> Oh yeah, you you came to the show. >> Yeah. And uh. also that's how Marshall was named. He. was named after Eminem. I told you that, right? Yeah. >> So, >> So cute. thank you and best of luck with. your album, with everything else in the. future. This this is really cool. I. enjoyed it. Me, too. All right, thank. you. All All Bye, everybody. >> [music].

>> Hey.