1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: Hello, everyone, Welcome to another episode of Hurdle. Today's episode 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,239 Speaker 1: is brought to you by my sponsor, Ultra Shoes. I 3 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: am constantly constantly getting questions about what the best sneakers are, 4 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,799 Speaker 1: and granted that depends on a lot of things, especially 5 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:22,439 Speaker 1: what you're using them for now. I tried on my 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: first pair of Ultras about four years ago and immediately 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,479 Speaker 1: noticed a difference in the forefoot compared to other brands 8 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,639 Speaker 1: I've been wearing. That's because Ultra designs their shoes with 9 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: a wider toe box that allows the toes to relax 10 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: and spread out naturally. Translation super comfortable. Definitely encourage you 11 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: to check them out again. That's Ultra Shoes altr If 12 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: you are just joining me at home, my name is 13 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 1: Emily A. Badi, your lovely host and creator. 14 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 2: Of this here podcast. 15 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: I am a certified trainer, run coach, also a writer, 16 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: editor and now podcaster living here in New York City. 17 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: Feel free to check me out on social at Emily 18 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:06,759 Speaker 1: A Body. That's Abba te. 19 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 2: Now a little bit about Hurdle. 20 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: Hurdle is a podcast that showcases people who got to 21 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: a tough time in their life a hurdle of sorts 22 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 1: and leaned into wellness to get over it, and that 23 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: can look. 24 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 2: Like a lot of things for a lot of different people. 25 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: For today's guest restaurant Tour Michael Churnew, that meant trading 26 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: evenings of debauchery his words not mine for hours at 27 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: the mo we tie, gym and running. Also, if you 28 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: haven't done so yet, give Hurdle a quick follow over 29 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 1: on Twitter and Instagram at Hurdle Podcast and also click 30 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: on over to the website at hurdle dot us slash 31 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: featured where you can sign up for the soon to 32 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: be newsletter at the bottom of the page. 33 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 2: Now, the reason for this newsletter is twofold. 34 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: First of all, I'm taking a page from the one 35 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: and only Tim Ferriss, who says that newsletters can be 36 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: way more of a traffic driver to podcast episodes than 37 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: any sort of social promotion. And secondly, and most importantly, 38 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: because I think it's another really great opportunity to connect 39 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: with all of you. I'm loving, loving, loving all of 40 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: the questions and comments and feedback that's coming through to 41 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 1: my email, which again is Emily at hurdle dot us. 42 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: If you ever want to drop me a line. So 43 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: in this newsletter, I'll be able to answer some popular 44 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: asks that I'm getting over there, and also highlight some 45 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: things I'm into right now like fit gear, food trends, 46 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: cool new tech, upcoming boutique studios and other podcasts and 47 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: entrepreneurs that I just. 48 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 2: Think are absolutely dope that sort of stuff. 49 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 1: Most importantly, also, I'll be able to keep you in 50 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: the loop on upcoming episodes and highlight hurdles fabulous guests. 51 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 2: WHOA that is one jam packed. 52 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: Newsletter again, Click on over to Hurdle dot Us slash featured, 53 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: leave me your email, And with that, I think it's 54 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: time to get started. So today I am sitting here 55 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 1: with Michael Churnow. I asked Michael how to describe himself. 56 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 2: Michael, what did you say? 57 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 3: I think I said something along the lines of the 58 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 3: guy that is perpetually looking to be better than yesterday. 59 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: That's awesome on a daily basis, But he's also got 60 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: a ton of other accolades, which I'll mention really quickly. 61 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: He is the founder of Seymour's, a restaurant here in 62 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: New York City rapidly growing rapidly. He's also a co 63 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:49,119 Speaker 1: founder of the Meatball Shop, arguably a new York establishment 64 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: and a beverage called Well Well, which I'd say essentially 65 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: is nutritional hydration for. 66 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: People with active lifestyles. 67 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 4: Nailed it, And. 68 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 2: Maybe I should do your marketing or so I think. 69 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 4: You should actually looking for a marketing director. 70 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 2: Mental note. So I'm happy to be sitting here with 71 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 2: you today. 72 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself 73 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: toiate going sure well. 74 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 3: I am born and raised in New York City. I have 75 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 3: lived in Manhattan for the better part of my life. 76 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 3: Actually that's not true. I've lived in Brooklyn for the 77 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 3: last ten years, and I lived in Brooklyn for two 78 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 3: years in my late teens, so I would say third 79 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 3: of my life in Brooklyn exactly. Predominantly all New York City. 80 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 3: I've always worked in the hospitality business. My first job 81 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 3: in a restaurant when I was thirteen, and worked my 82 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 3: way up from delivery boy, dishwasher, food runner, buss er, 83 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 3: you know, prep cook, every position in the restaurant I've 84 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 3: worked in. But ultimately, what I'm really passionate about is 85 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 3: the human engagement. I really believe in human connection. I 86 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 3: believe in relationships more so than anything. I think the 87 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 3: business of business is relationships. And I think the key 88 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 3: to happiness is personal relationships. 89 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 2: I love that. 90 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, so that's that's like me in a nutshell. 91 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: A nutshell? What kind of nut? Are we an almond? 92 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:13,239 Speaker 2: Are we a walnut? 93 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:13,679 Speaker 4: Walnut? 94 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 2: Oh? Definitely? 95 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, same all nuts, just juicy, creamy walnuts. 96 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 1: So let's take a step back for a second. So 97 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: you're you're twenty three, You're kind of wrapped up in 98 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 1: this industry that is hospitality. 99 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 2: What are you kind of doing at that time? 100 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 3: At twenty three? I am bartending, okay, at a really 101 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 3: fantastic restaurant in the East Village Nice sort of like 102 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 3: a hot spot for many years and still is, you know, 103 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 3: considered one of New York City's hidden gems. It's been 104 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,559 Speaker 3: there almost twenty years now. This restaurant is called Frank 105 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 3: It's on Second Avenue between fifth and sixth Street. It 106 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 3: holds a dear place in my heart. I grew up 107 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 3: in that place. I worked there for almost nine years. 108 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: And did you have a particular kind of moment that 109 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: made you realize that you kind of needed to pivot 110 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: from that lifestyle. 111 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 3: I think it was a culmination of a number of 112 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 3: moments over the over from twenty to twenty three. I 113 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 3: had experienced a lot and uh, you know, I had 114 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 3: an enormous amount of fun, but I certainly had an 115 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 3: enormous amount of hardship. And I reflected a lot within 116 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 3: a week's period of time where I was not afraid 117 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 3: to say it, but I was like actually like suicidal. 118 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 3: I was like really not feeling good about myself. And 119 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 3: I didn't know what I was. I didn't know what 120 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 3: was going to happen tomorrow because I had nothing planned 121 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 3: and I was just going down a road of like, 122 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 3: you know, destruction, and everybody would say things to me 123 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 3: like Mikey, you're so you're so good, like you're you're 124 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 3: like what are you doing? 125 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,239 Speaker 4: Like why are you doing this? And I, you know, and. 126 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think sometimes we just got to like we 127 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 3: got to hit the floor before we climb climbed to 128 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 3: the ceiling, So. 129 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: You hit the floor in the Lower east Side. 130 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 4: I hit the floor in the Lower east Side. 131 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 3: I got into I got into a community of people 132 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 3: that were sort of dealing with the same shit I 133 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 3: was dealing with and and it was like an immediate 134 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 3: support system that I needed forever and I just didn't 135 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 3: have and I didn't know it was. 136 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 4: I didn't. 137 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 3: I didn't know that that was so accessible. I didn't 138 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 3: know it was so easy to just like walk into 139 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 3: a room and so many people would like understand what 140 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 3: I was dealing with. And so I immersed myself in 141 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 3: that community. And that community is alcoholics anonymous. And I 142 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 3: don't typically like say that, but you know, I'm you know, 143 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 3: I'm not. I'm not ashamed or afraid of it. I 144 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 3: think a lot of people, you know, potentially need to 145 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 3: hear that. But yeah, it saved my life, and very 146 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 3: very quickly. I mean within a few months, I was 147 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 3: like a changed man. 148 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: Obviously a huge part of that is going to those meetings. 149 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: At that time, you started becoming more of an active 150 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: person as well. 151 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 3: I completely replaced my debauchery with doing great things with 152 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 3: my body, and I became like obsessed. An old friend 153 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 3: had introduced me to somebody who they thought would be 154 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 3: a person that I would want to. 155 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: Look up to. Do you mind tell me who that is? 156 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 4: Sure? 157 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 3: His name is Marcus Anteby. He's the founder of the 158 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 3: Juice preass and he became like an older brother to me, 159 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 3: and he dragged me immediately into a muy Thai gym. 160 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 3: He said man, I'm going to take you to this gym. 161 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 3: So he took me to the gym, and I fell 162 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 3: in love with muy Thai, like truly fell in love 163 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 3: with it. And I didn't have a girlfriend at the time, 164 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 3: and all I had was my job, and you know, 165 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 3: I was working on salvaging like relationships that I probably 166 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,079 Speaker 3: burned throughout the process. 167 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: Quick question, though, what was the new job, because you 168 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: obviously weren't bartending anymore. 169 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 4: I was. 170 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 2: You were still bartending. 171 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 4: I bartended through the whole thing, and I you know, 172 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,719 Speaker 4: I owe Frank, the owner. 173 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 3: Of Frank Restaurant, an enormous amount of gratitude because he 174 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 3: was one of the one of the major catalysts to 175 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 3: me figuring it out that I needed to change, because 176 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:16,719 Speaker 3: he took me aside and he said, Mike, yeah, I 177 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 3: love you. 178 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 4: Man. You know I'd been working there since I was 179 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 4: twenty and he. 180 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 3: Said, You've got more potential than anybody that I've ever 181 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 3: had work for me. Your smile lights up a room, 182 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,079 Speaker 3: and I haven't seen you smile in a while. And 183 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 3: I need I either you need to leave this place 184 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 3: and figure it out on your own, or I need 185 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 3: you to get sober. Wow, and he said, you're going 186 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 3: to come to the restaurant if you want your job, 187 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 3: otherwise I'm going to fire you. You're going to come 188 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 3: to the restaurant for thirty days and meet with the 189 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 3: porters and help clean the restaurant. You're going to call 190 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:49,839 Speaker 3: me at eight o'clock in the morning. If you call 191 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 3: me a minute late, you're done, and you're gonna clean 192 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 3: the restaurant. You're gonna get sober. And if you're drinking, 193 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 3: you're done. So I'd loved my job so much. I 194 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 3: like really was so attached to that job that I 195 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 3: did that, and that was, like, you know, that wasn't 196 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 3: like the only thing that got me to where I 197 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 3: am today, but like that was definitely incredibly motivational for me. 198 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 2: That is outstanding. 199 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: Compare the feeling you started to get of the joy 200 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: of doing my tie versus the joy that you used 201 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: to find in all the drinking. 202 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, completely different. Like there was a moment, and I 203 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 3: remember it so clearly. I picked up muay Thai and 204 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 3: I picked up running, and those were the two things 205 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:39,199 Speaker 3: that I just like totally dove into. And I remember 206 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 3: running over the Williamsburg Bridge like early on in sobriety 207 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 3: and for no reason opening up my arms and feeling 208 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 3: like good, like actually feeling good. And I felt that moment, 209 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 3: you know, like look, and I remember running and looking 210 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 3: up at the at the steel going down, and I 211 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 3: was like, my God, like what was I doing for 212 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 3: so long? And how could I feel so good right 213 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 3: now with no added ingredients? 214 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 4: You know? It was just like life. 215 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 3: I was like high on life and I felt that, 216 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 3: and I was like, I never want to let this go. 217 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 3: The challenge of getting through the muck is, in my opinion, 218 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 3: what we live for. And I the mantra that I've 219 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 3: been saying for the last couple of months is learn 220 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,199 Speaker 3: to love the hurt and the heart, because if you 221 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 3: can learn to love the hurt and the heart, or 222 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:34,079 Speaker 3: the heart and the hurt, the joy is just blissful. 223 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 2: That's incredible. 224 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: I feel that to find the joy even in the 225 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,199 Speaker 1: hard moments, like you're saying, you grow the most when 226 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: you're trudging through that muck. You can do good times 227 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,199 Speaker 1: with anyone, but you can't do bad times with everyone, 228 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: and finding those people that are going to help you 229 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 1: get through. 230 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 2: Those bad times is essential. 231 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 4: Absolutely so. 232 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: Then today, what's a typical day of wellness or fitness 233 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: for you, are you still doing of those things? 234 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 3: So I'm not doing muay Thai as much as I was, 235 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 3: though I still hit the pads in the bags regularly. 236 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 3: I'm not like, you know, training to compete and you know, 237 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 3: in the gym four hours a day today. For the 238 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 3: last about year and a half ish, I've been really 239 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 3: focused on weight training. I really love lifting weights, and 240 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 3: for ten to eleven years doing muay Thai, there's no 241 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 3: weights involved. Every once in a while kettlebells, but like 242 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 3: it's predominantly like you want to stay lean and mean 243 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 3: and light and fast, and so I love being light 244 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 3: and fast, and I still feel like I have that 245 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 3: in me, but the weights have added. 246 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 4: Just like I just. 247 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 3: Enjoy like jumping into the gym, putting my hat down 248 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,559 Speaker 3: real low, putting on music really loud, and just getting 249 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 3: after it. And that's sort of what it is for 250 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,199 Speaker 3: me today. You know, I'm in the gym five six 251 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 3: days a week. The gym and fitness in general is 252 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,199 Speaker 3: just like my way of escaping. It's my way of 253 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 3: blowing off steam. And some people like to sit and 254 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,719 Speaker 3: meditate for an hour. I enjoy medaation, but I don't 255 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 3: think I'd enjoy meditation if I if I didn't didn't 256 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 3: physically exert myself. 257 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 2: They go hand in hand. 258 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, So I typically meditate after I work out. 259 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: Oh well, there see a lot of people are still 260 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 1: trying to get on this meditation train. 261 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 4: Well I could. 262 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 3: I could recommend something please for anyone out there that's 263 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:19,439 Speaker 3: looking to do it. 264 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 4: Just download Headspace. 265 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: You know, you're like the third person on this podcast 266 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 1: that has said Headspace. Maybe Headspace should start thinking about 267 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: sponsoring hert. 268 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 3: All Headspace is you know for years, like, meditation is 269 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 3: definitely recommended on the sobriety train, and it is absolutely 270 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 3: an asset for everyone and anyone. Anybody who I know 271 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 3: that actually goes in hard on meditation becomes like a meditator. 272 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 3: And so I've incorporated into my life not as much 273 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 3: as I'd like. I'd love to be able to meditate 274 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 3: ten or twenty minutes in the morning, ten or twenty 275 00:13:58,120 --> 00:13:58,719 Speaker 3: minutes at night. 276 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 4: Doesn't actually work like that for me. 277 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 2: I'm the same way. I'm the same way. 278 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 1: I recently also did a little bit of a challenge 279 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: with myself with Headspace. 280 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 2: I started at five minutes beginning. 281 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: Of day end of day, update to ten beginning of day, 282 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: end of the day, and kind of realize that ten 283 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: was where it's going to stop for me. I at 284 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: that point can't really focus much longer. But what I 285 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: did learn with headspace was this idea of how to 286 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: recognize that you're thinking about something and rather that than 287 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: really get angry about it, you're like, Okay, I see this, 288 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: it's happening. 289 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 2: I accept this. 290 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: I'm going to put this to the side and I'm 291 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: going to move on, which has been man. I went 292 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: through a breakup recently, and that has been like the 293 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: tactic of all tactics. 294 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 2: Noting the note that's the official term. 295 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: You exercise, you meditate when you're done exercising, but let's 296 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: be honest, your whole day is taken up by a 297 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: lot of other things that aren't wellness. How did you 298 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: go from the guy at ranks to the guy starting 299 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: this outstanding restaurant career. 300 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 3: I knew when I when I came to the sort 301 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 3: of assumption that it wasn't necessarily the food and beverage 302 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 3: that that really got. 303 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 4: You know, got my gears grinding. It was the people. 304 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 3: I knew that that the easiest way to engage was 305 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 3: in a restaurant setting because people come there with a 306 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 3: problem typically, and the problem is either hunger, thirst, or 307 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 3: just they want to they want to feel taken to 308 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 3: a different place. And uh, and I'm really good at that. 309 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 3: And so the people thing is where I shine. And 310 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 3: somebody told me early on, you know, if you focus 311 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 3: on people tend to focus on the things that they're 312 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 3: not really great at because the things that they're great 313 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 3: at are a lot easier to to uh, to portray. 314 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 3: So people tend to spend more time on the things 315 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 3: that they're not great at because they feel like they 316 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 3: need to. So I learned early on that if I 317 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 3: don't spend any time focusing on the things that I'm 318 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 3: not great at, and focus all my energy or ninety 319 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 3: percent of my energy on the things that I am 320 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 3: great at, I'll succeed. Once you're able to take your 321 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 3: pride in your ego out of things, which is not 322 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 3: an easy thing to do, and it always creeps back in. 323 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 3: But you know, if you if you if you feel 324 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 3: like you have to prove something to someone or even 325 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 3: to yourself that you are great at everything, it's a 326 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 3: it's a waste of time and space. As far as 327 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 3: I'm concerned, and and and I think as far as 328 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 3: a lot of successful people are concerned. 329 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 4: So I put a lot of my energy, if not 330 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 4: all my energy. 331 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 3: Into the things that I'm great at, and and I 332 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 3: try to find people around me that are better than 333 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 3: me in most areas to help me learn and grow, 334 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 3: and also to fill the holes where I fall short. 335 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: Taking a quick break from Tiddy's episode to give a 336 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: shout out to my sponsor, Ultra Shoes. Ultra was created 337 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: by a couple of guys, Golden Harper and Brian Beckstead 338 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,360 Speaker 1: in the Utah Melains, who truly believed that they had 339 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,919 Speaker 1: a better way to design running sneakers. Like I mentioned before, 340 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: your toes have room to spread out naturally, there's no 341 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:24,959 Speaker 1: elevated heel, and because men and women's feet are anatomically different, 342 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 1: the brand offers gender specific fit. I've met the young 343 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 1: founders several times and it's so clear that they are 344 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: onto something. They are so passionate. The shoes are getting 345 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: constant praise. A sneaker of theirs called the Escalante one 346 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: Runners World Editor's choice this past summer. So yeah, they've 347 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: definitely got a good thing going on again. It's ultra shoes. 348 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,639 Speaker 1: Give them a look. See at ultra running dot com. 349 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 1: That's a l TR running dot com. Let's get back 350 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: to it. I'm back here with my culture now. So okay, 351 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:15,159 Speaker 1: you're honing. I'm in on the skills that you know 352 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: you're good at. 353 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 4: Yeah. 354 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,679 Speaker 3: And so when I was twenty four, I had made 355 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 3: a decision that I was going to go to culinary 356 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 3: school because I felt like that was a necessary element 357 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 3: and it would just look good for me, you know, 358 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 3: trying to create a career. 359 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 4: And so I went to culinary school. 360 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 3: While I was in culinary school, to French Culinary Institute, 361 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 3: they had just launched a new program which was a 362 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:43,919 Speaker 3: truncated associate's degree in restaurant management, taught by folks at 363 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 3: Union Square Hospitality and Cornell professors, and so I hopped 364 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 3: on that and I took that, and that was incredible, 365 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 3: and it was like the whole process was I think 366 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 3: it was around twenty months I got finished with that. 367 00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 3: At that point, when I was done in school, I 368 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 3: knew that I was going to open up a restaurant. 369 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 4: I was destined to do it. 370 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 3: And I put a plan together and I said, I'm 371 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 3: going to finish school, I'm going to write a business plan. 372 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 3: I'm going to put it in front of all the 373 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 3: regulars at frank that had been watching me for years. 374 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 4: And I did just that. I called my best. 375 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 3: Friend from childhood who also is in the restaurant business, 376 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 3: and he and I had been talking since we were 377 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,160 Speaker 3: kids about opening up place together. He had moved to California, 378 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 3: and I got on the horn with him as soon 379 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 3: as I graduated school, and I was like, look, dude, 380 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 3: I'm not asking you to do this today, tomorrow or 381 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 3: in two months, but I'm here to tell you that, 382 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 3: like you and I are going to open up a 383 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 3: restaurant together, you got to pack your shit and get. 384 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 4: Back to New York. 385 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 3: It took him a while to get back, but I 386 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 3: got on the I got on the phone with them 387 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 3: one day and and he was like, you know, one 388 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 3: of his big biggest excuses was that he was in 389 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 3: a relationship, and he was like, man, my girlfriend just 390 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 3: broke up with me, and I'm so down and like 391 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 3: in my in my gut, I was like like on 392 00:19:57,720 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 3: the phone, I was like, oh man, I'm so sorry, 393 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 3: but my gut was like, yes, it's perfect. It's like 394 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 3: did you just come home for a couple of weeks 395 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 3: and we'll hang. And so he came home for a 396 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 3: couple of weeks and just never went back. And we 397 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,400 Speaker 3: built this brand together called the Meatball Shop. I laid 398 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 3: the business plan in front of all the regulars at 399 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 3: Frank Restaurant, and before we knew we had the money 400 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:20,640 Speaker 3: to open up this restaurant. 401 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: So all of the regulars from Frank were your first investors, 402 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 1: about twelve of them. 403 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 2: So you open your first meatball shop. Where is it? 404 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 3: It is at one eighty four Stanton on stand Street 405 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 3: between Orchard and Allen, the Lower east Side. We opened 406 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 3: up in February of twenty ten, so we're coming up 407 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 3: on eight years this February. 408 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 2: Congratulations, Thank you. 409 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: How long into running that meatball shop did you realize 410 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 1: that you were going to open another? 411 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 2: And another and another? How many total? 412 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 4: Now there's six? Okay, So we Daniel and I both 413 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 4: did a bunch of reading. 414 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 3: If I could recommend a great book for anybody looking 415 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 3: to step into the entrepreneurial world, there's a book called 416 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,800 Speaker 3: The e Myth Revisited by a guy named Michael Gerber. 417 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 3: It's a fantastic book. It's a fantastic read and shed 418 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 3: a bunch of light on us. 419 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 4: And and then we also read from. 420 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 3: Good to Great and what we what we got out 421 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:21,400 Speaker 3: of them was trying to open up one business. 422 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,160 Speaker 4: Is not necessarily the way to go. It was it was. 423 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,919 Speaker 3: The most successful model in small business is the franchise model. 424 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 3: And so we decided that we were going to build 425 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 3: this brand with the intention of of opening more. And 426 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 3: about four months in it was a home run. From 427 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 3: the day we opened the doors, there was a line 428 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,120 Speaker 3: around the block and it was insane. What happened when 429 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:46,119 Speaker 3: we opened up that restaurant. It was totally, totally beyond 430 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 3: our wildest dreams. 431 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 2: Was it all just word of mouth? 432 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 3: We hired a great publicist to help us get the 433 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 3: word out. Still my publicist today did a good job, 434 00:21:55,960 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 3: did an amazing job, and still do and nobody looking 435 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 3: for a restaurant publicist. 436 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 4: Boltz and Companies. 437 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 3: But yeah, so we we opened it up and one 438 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 3: of the original investors said, you know, you guys have 439 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:11,880 Speaker 3: done something really special. I want to help you guys 440 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 3: open more. So I'm going to put a deal on 441 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 3: the table. You take your time, look at it and 442 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,199 Speaker 3: and get back to us. And so We looked at 443 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 3: it and we're like, Wow, this is like life changing, 444 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 3: this is unbelievable. 445 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 4: We would be crazy not to take this opportunity. 446 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 3: So we went back to all the original investors and said, hey, guys, 447 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 3: you know one of you has. 448 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 4: Proposed a deal that would that would get us to 449 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 4: five restaurants. 450 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 3: The problem is that this individual doesn't want to take 451 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 3: the whole team on this deal. 452 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 4: He wants to do this himself. 453 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 3: So we give you the option to meet or beat 454 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 3: the deal, so everybody has a fair share. If you 455 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 3: guys want to come together and do it, great, But 456 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 3: we have to take an opportunity like this because it's 457 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 3: not going to come around often. And so the guys 458 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 3: were like, God, we wish we could do it, but 459 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 3: you know we we wish you well, and we just 460 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:03,639 Speaker 3: can't come up with that kind of money. And so 461 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 3: we took the deal and we opened up. We opened 462 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 3: up one in Williamsburg, one on Greenwich Avenue and Perry 463 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 3: Street in the West Village, one on Ninth Avenue and 464 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 3: twenty second Street, Upper east Side, and now Hell's Kitchen. 465 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: I was out of Breeze last week also having a 466 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: kitchen saying okay, so outstanding. 467 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:24,400 Speaker 2: So what was the timeframe on all of those? 468 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 4: By twenty it would be we're twenty eighteen. 469 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 3: By twenty fourteen, we had we had opened up five, 470 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,160 Speaker 3: we had opened up six. We unfortunately had to shut 471 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 3: a restaurant recently, which was really devastating for us. 472 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 4: But we had a bit of a situation with anyway. 473 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 3: Not going to get into the details, but it made 474 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 3: more sense for us to shut down the restaurant than 475 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 3: deal with this situation, and so we did. But by 476 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:56,480 Speaker 3: twenty fourteen, we had had six restaurants, and that the 477 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,159 Speaker 3: last one that we opened in twenty fourteen was on 478 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 3: the Upper West Side. We recently opened up a restaurant 479 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:05,680 Speaker 3: within the last year in Hell's Kitchen on fifty third 480 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 3: at nine, So that would have been seven, but it actually. 481 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 4: Is now six. 482 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:10,920 Speaker 2: Got it all right? 483 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: So six meatball shops and upon the sixth meatball shop, 484 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 1: you decide a meatball shop just isn't enough. 485 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 2: You know. 486 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 3: It was like it was, it was a bunch of things. 487 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 3: What I what I've also learned about myself is that 488 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:27,880 Speaker 3: I'm like a real creative, like a real I love 489 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 3: I love I love building, I love. 490 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 4: I just it's like it's it's it. 491 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 3: I'm constantly thinking about new ways to make things better. 492 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 3: You know, how can I how can I connect with 493 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 3: a specific demographic better. And about five years into the 494 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 3: Meatball Shop, I I looked at my partner Dan, and 495 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 3: I was like, look, dude, I don't think it needs 496 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:52,160 Speaker 3: two captains to run the ship. We were post CEOs 497 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 3: pretty much, and I said, I've become really passionate. 498 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:58,440 Speaker 4: About sustainable seafood. And I and he knew for years 499 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 4: that I was very passionate about seafood. 500 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 3: Seafoods like my jam and I did a bunch of 501 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 3: research on the oceans and I saw, you know, and 502 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:06,920 Speaker 3: what I found out was not awesome. 503 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:09,360 Speaker 4: That you know, the fishing. 504 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 3: Industry is incredibly unregulated and most of the fish that 505 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 3: we eat here, ninety percent of the fish that we 506 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 3: eat in the United States is imported, and of that 507 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 3: ninety percent, a large portion is unregulated and we don't 508 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 3: know actually it's miss labeled and all sorts of bad 509 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:25,400 Speaker 3: news going on. So I I said to Dan, I said, 510 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 3: you know, I'm gonna go ahead and and take us 511 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,159 Speaker 3: big zoom out and and you know, and he was like, 512 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:31,719 Speaker 3: of course, cool with this. 513 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 4: I mean, I wouldn't have just like left him hanging 514 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:34,439 Speaker 4: and it. 515 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 3: You know, it was a process, but I really wanted 516 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 3: to get creative again. I felt like I was out 517 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 3: of creative standstill because I am great at developing the 518 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 3: voice of a brand. What we look like, how we talk, 519 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,120 Speaker 3: we communicate with, who we dance with, who we eat with, 520 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 3: like all those things, the people, the people, what we 521 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:56,439 Speaker 3: listened to, the culture. And so the culture of the 522 00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 3: Meatball Shop is like set in stone. It's like it, 523 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 3: you know, it happened pretty quickly, and it hasn't really 524 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:04,640 Speaker 3: like all, you know, it hasn't. It hasn't faltered much 525 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 3: from from the beginning. And so I said, you know, 526 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 3: not my job is done here. But but my job 527 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,359 Speaker 3: currently is not needed as much as it was in 528 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 3: the in the early days. 529 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 4: And I'm just not a great operations logistics guy. It's 530 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 4: just like not my strong. 531 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:21,200 Speaker 2: Suit, that's fair. 532 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, And so I decided to with Dan's, you know, blessing, 533 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 3: I decided to really focus on this new brand called Seymour's. 534 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 3: And Seymour's is a fully sustainable, local, uh fun, approachable 535 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 3: seafood concept with great vibes, great energy at an accessible 536 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 3: price one awesome. 537 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 1: So you've got to Seymours now, yeah, soon to be 538 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:46,400 Speaker 1: more Seymours, soon to be more seams and more seamours. 539 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: So you're a restaurant guy with a passion for fitness. 540 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,359 Speaker 1: You look back on how far you've come. What's one 541 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:58,119 Speaker 1: piece of advice you would have given the guy getting 542 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,200 Speaker 1: the talking to from his boss at Frank's. 543 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 3: Good question. Reacting to life is a mistake. Responding to 544 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:12,120 Speaker 3: life is not a mistake. And you know, I think 545 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:14,199 Speaker 3: and just sort of just break that down, you know, 546 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 3: not giving yourself a moment to breathe, to take a 547 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 3: step back, maybe for an hour, maybe for two hours, 548 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:25,119 Speaker 3: maybe for a night, before you respond to something that 549 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 3: could potentially be paramount in your career and or you know, socially, 550 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 3: something that you just totally disagree with and you want 551 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 3: to fire back and answer, you want to fireback comment. 552 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:39,639 Speaker 4: I've learned that opening up the window a little bit. 553 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 3: And letting some air in has been extremely helpful in 554 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 3: my career. And one other thing, if you see me 555 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 3: at a board meeting these days, I say very little. 556 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 4: I say very little. 557 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 3: Even that whether I'm the second largest shareholder, largest shareholder, 558 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 3: whatever it. 559 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 4: Is, at the company. 560 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:59,679 Speaker 3: I believe that listening is so much more powerful than 561 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 3: way being to speak, because that's what a lot of 562 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 3: specifically young entrepreneurial folks want to do. They just they 563 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 3: just don't listen, They just wait to speak, or just 564 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:10,160 Speaker 3: don't wait at all. 565 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 4: And just sort of speak. 566 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 3: And so listening has saved my ass many your time 567 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 3: listening and responding as opposed to waiting to speak and reacting. 568 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 4: That's the piece of advice I would give. 569 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:26,880 Speaker 3: I think that that if somebody had told me that 570 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:30,160 Speaker 3: early on, I'd probably saved I'd probably saved a couple 571 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 3: of years in a couple of bucks. 572 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 1: I read something that you did in Whalebone in their 573 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 1: new Interview issue. I went to a party for it 574 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 1: last night. I picked it up and your name was 575 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 1: in there, and I noticed a question that you. 576 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 2: Asked that I loved that. 577 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:47,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to pose to you when taking on a 578 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 1: new project or adventure, where do you look for inspiration 579 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 1: and is there something specific you do someone you like 580 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: to brainstorm with, or do you simply look inside chure? 581 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:10,400 Speaker 4: Now, my greatest moments of creativity are on long, slow runs. 582 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 4: And because I grew up in New York, I love 583 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 4: to go. 584 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 3: I love to visit places that I spent a lot 585 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 3: of time in as a kid, like Central Park, like 586 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 3: the Upper West Side where I went to high school. 587 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 3: They evoke sort of feelings and emotions that I haven't 588 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 3: had in sometime. And so typically, if if I really 589 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 3: want to put some thoughts to something, or if I'm conceptualizing, 590 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 3: I will take a run into those neighborhoods and you know, 591 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 3: wait to see if something pops in. 592 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 4: And I also. 593 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 3: I have a house upstate, in Upstate New York, and 594 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 3: running in the country for me is a spiritual experience 595 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 3: every time. I just I you know, I choose not 596 00:29:56,760 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 3: to run with music when I'm upstate. Creatively, it is 597 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 3: it's like opening the floodgates. For me, It's yeah, I 598 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:10,880 Speaker 3: don't get that inspiration or I don't feel the innovation 599 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 3: internally doing anything else as extreme. 600 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 2: I can't tell you how much I relate with that. 601 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: I picked up running about like eight years ago, and 602 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,080 Speaker 1: it changed my entire life, not just from a physical aspect, 603 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 1: although definitely, but also just emotionally and finding that time 604 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 1: to connect with myself. And I also think that recently, 605 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: you know, starting a podcast, I've started to listen to 606 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:38,160 Speaker 1: more podcasts, and I can now go out and run, 607 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 1: whether it be outside or on the treadmill, and log 608 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:44,720 Speaker 1: fifty minutes easy listening to a podcast and digesting not 609 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:46,680 Speaker 1: only what I'm hearing, but then thinking about how it 610 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 1: applies to my life and just that like next level 611 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: amount of inspiration. 612 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 2: I get from these sessions. 613 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,720 Speaker 1: I can't tell you another point in my life aside 614 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:58,040 Speaker 1: from right now where I could hop on a treadmill 615 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 1: and be like so content forty five minutes. 616 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 2: It's bizarre. 617 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 1: One final question also another one from Wilboon that has 618 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:10,800 Speaker 1: to be so appropriate for you. What is your all 619 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 1: time favorite thing to eat? And is there a story 620 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 1: or experience attached to that? 621 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 3: You know, it's so funny, it goes I think for me, 622 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 3: it's so hard. It's like one of the hardest questions. 623 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 3: And I think I left that question for the end 624 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:32,960 Speaker 3: because I learned something from Tim Ferriss. And Tim Ferriss, 625 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 3: you know, he asks fantastic questions and one of his 626 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:39,760 Speaker 3: podcasts he goes through his his you know, the way 627 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:43,200 Speaker 3: he thinks about asking questions in an interview, and he 628 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 3: likes to start with like simple questions, so that there's 629 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 3: not like you know, So it's just like it seems 630 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 3: to flow. Asking anybody their favorite anything is a tough 631 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 3: question right specifically in their field. 632 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 4: And so I I love a few things in life. 633 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 4: My go to food choices are food that I genuinely 634 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 4: really love. 635 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:14,360 Speaker 3: Like when I'm craving something, I mean, I know it 636 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:17,240 Speaker 3: sounds absurd, but it happens to be the kill and 637 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 3: avocado salad from Seamours. It's the one thing that I 638 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:23,400 Speaker 3: eat it five six days a week. I never get 639 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 3: bored of it. I crave it on the weekends when 640 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 3: I'm not in the city. It's the first thing I 641 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:31,000 Speaker 3: have on Monday afternoon. It is It's my it's my 642 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:33,880 Speaker 3: all time probably it's my. And the funny thing about 643 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 3: that salad is that that salad was not developed at Seymours. 644 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 3: That salad my wife had been making for us for 645 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 3: twelve years. And so I was gonna call that salad 646 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:46,280 Speaker 3: to Donna, just because her name is Donna, and it 647 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 3: and it always hits the spot for me. Sweet potatoes, avocado, quinoa, kale, 648 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:55,479 Speaker 3: really awesome, honey apple vinaigrette, shaved apples. It's just like 649 00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:57,520 Speaker 3: it's just like sweet and savory. 650 00:32:57,160 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 4: And and and does all this stuff to me? 651 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 3: But if I'm swinging for the bleachers here, like I 652 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 3: love sushi. 653 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 2: Aim for the home run. 654 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:05,600 Speaker 4: I love sushi. 655 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,680 Speaker 3: The story though, is you know, is in the calavocado 656 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:11,719 Speaker 3: salad because it's near and dear to me because my 657 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 3: wife is the og developer of that salad and I 658 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:18,040 Speaker 3: feel like it just hits on all cylinders. Taste, flavor, 659 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:22,400 Speaker 3: I mean, flavor, color, crunch, it's all there. And I 660 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 3: love sushi because we have many special moments together with sushi, 661 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 3: my wife and I. But something from my childhood that 662 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:33,080 Speaker 3: I haven't had in a long time that just and 663 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 3: it's so far against who I am today, but just 664 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:38,120 Speaker 3: a big, humongous bowl of craft mac and. 665 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,640 Speaker 2: Cheese a classic is like. 666 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 3: One of those things that you just can't you know, 667 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 3: it's delicious. It's just like it's just insanely delicious. 668 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:49,800 Speaker 1: Things that people bond over both fitness and mac and cheese. 669 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 2: That's it. 670 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:53,320 Speaker 1: That's all you need, man, Michael, thanks so much for 671 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: coming in. I think we're gonna wrap it here. 672 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:56,479 Speaker 2: Cool, good bomb. 673 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 4: Thanks for having me. 674 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:01,080 Speaker 1: Please take a moment to leave a quick review by 675 00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 1: clicking the link with the description to this episode, and 676 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 1: while you're at it, send this episode to a friend. 677 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 1: Maybe we all face multiple hurdles in life. I want 678 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,760 Speaker 1: to hear about yours. Reach Out to me at Emily 679 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:16,400 Speaker 1: at hurdle dot us, connect with the podcast on Instagram 680 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:20,120 Speaker 1: and Twitter at Hurdle Podcast, and of course feel free 681 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:21,719 Speaker 1: to stock us both a little bit too. 682 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:23,759 Speaker 2: Michael, what's your social. 683 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:25,760 Speaker 4: Handle at Michael chernow. 684 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:27,760 Speaker 2: And meatball Shop Seymour's all. 685 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 3: So, meatball Shop is at Meatballer's. Seymour's is at Seymour's 686 00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:34,960 Speaker 3: Nice and that's on all handles perfect. 687 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 1: My handle at Emily a body. Please make sure to 688 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:44,040 Speaker 1: come back, keep hanging out with us. Another hurdle conquered. 689 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:44,919 Speaker 1: See you soon,