Podcast Summary
From FIFA at Chuck E. Cheese to co-founding Hype House: Friendship and shared passion led Thomas and Jared to build a successful content creation house, Hype House.
Thomas Petro and Jared have known each other for a long time, starting from their shared love for FIFA at Chuck E. Cheese when Jared was still part of Team 10. Their friendship grew over time, and they eventually co-founded Hype House together. Thomas had always been ambitious about content creation, and when they started Hype House, they quickly gained massive success, surpassing their initial expectations. Thomas moved from San Diego to New York for college but soon realized it wasn't for him and returned to California, eventually joining forces with Jared to build Hype House. Their friendship and shared passion for content creation led to their remarkable success.
Looking Beyond Initial Impressions: Online personas can be misleading, and it's essential to recognize individuals' complexities beyond first impressions.
First impressions can be misleading, and people's online personas may not reflect their true character. The speaker shared her experience of attending a college program with high expectations, only to find herself feeling unchallenged and eventually dropping out. She then moved to Los Angeles and started daily vlogging, eventually meeting Jake Paul. Despite starting around the same time, Jake's channel grew faster, and they collaborated on videos. However, the speaker faced backlash when she defended Jake against hate online, leading people to believe she was being paid to do so. In reality, she felt genuine empathy towards him and believed his online persona was a business strategy. This experience underscores the importance of looking beyond initial impressions and recognizing the complexities of individuals, especially in the digital age.
From hard work to success in the entertainment industry: Hard work and consistency, not just luck, are key to success in the entertainment industry. Determination and a strong work ethic can lead to opportunities and recognition.
Hard work and consistency, not just luck, can lead to success in the entertainment industry. The speaker shared her personal experience of building relationships and establishing a strong work ethic, which eventually led her to opportunities and recognition. She emphasized that people often overlook the backstory and assume that success is solely due to luck. However, she believes that opportunity meets preparation, and the effort put in is crucial. Despite facing challenging days and long hours, she remained determined to make it and eventually reached her goal. Her ultimate goal is to change the industry and gain respect for social media influencers equal to those on TV.
Undervaluing skills and time can lead to missed opportunities: Value your worth and not compromise on your time and talents for insufficient compensation. Utilize your skills and build relationships to find success.
Undervaluing your skills and time can lead to missed opportunities and financial struggles. The speakers in this conversation shared experiences of being offered low payments for their content creation, which they ultimately rejected. However, they also faced challenges in their careers and personal lives that put them in financially difficult situations. In response, they emphasized the importance of utilizing their skills and staying persistent, even during hard times. By focusing on their craft and building relationships, they were able to bounce back and find success. Ultimately, the lesson is to value your worth and not compromise on your time and talents for insufficient compensation.
Forming the Hype House through chance encounters and shared aspirations: Serendipitous meetings and a shared vision led to the creation of the Hype House, a successful collective of TikTok creators
The Hype House was formed through serendipitous meetings and shared aspirations. The speaker, who met Blake at Knott's Berry Farm while taking photos, had the idea to bring TikTokers together in a unique way. After meeting Chase and sharing this vision, they took a leap of faith and rented an Airbnb, inviting other TikTok creators to join them. The initial investment was split between a few individuals, and the lack of formal management appealed to many. The speaker's confidence and ability to make things happen helped bring the Hype House to life. A chance encounter at a Halloween party introduced the speaker to Chase and Nick, further solidifying the group. The Hype House became a successful collective of creators, each able to grow individually while contributing to the group's success.
Chance encounters and unexpected connections: Meeting through mutual interests on TikTok led to long-term friendships and collaborations, highlighting the importance of seizing opportunities and the role of chance encounters in shaping our lives.
Chance encounters and unexpected connections can lead to significant opportunities and relationships. The speakers in this conversation shared their experiences of meeting each other through mutual interests and the beginning of their careers on TikTok. At the time, they were all trying to build a presence on the platform, and their interactions led to long-term friendships and collaborations. The speakers also reminisced about the feeling of achieving success and moving into a larger house together to create content. They all started from humble beginnings, but their shared experiences and mutual support helped them grow and reach new heights. The conversation highlights the importance of seizing opportunities and the role that chance encounters can play in shaping our lives.
Two influencers' journey to fame and Liz's role in their success: Relatability and authenticity are key to influencer success. Liz supported Charlie and Dixie, encouraging them to stay true to themselves and post regularly, leading to exponential growth.
The success of Charlie and Dixie, two popular social media influencers, can be attributed to their relatability and authenticity. When Bryant came over to shoot them, the speaker, Liz, was in awe of their talent and potential. Charlie, who had a small following at the time, was dealing with hate and criticism from trolls. Liz encouraged her to keep going, and she grew exponentially by posting regularly and wearing affordable clothing that her fans could relate to. Her image as the perfect all-American sweetheart resonated with parents and teenagers alike. Liz acted as a supportive figure, advocating for the influencers' autonomy and cautioning them against managers and agents who might take advantage of them. In essence, Charlie and Dixie's success came from their ability to connect with their audience and remain true to themselves.
Creators can negotiate their own deals and manage their careers: Creators have the power to secure brand deals and manage their careers independently, understanding both parties' perspectives and the value of their content is crucial.
Creators have the power to negotiate their own deals and manage their own careers, even without the help of managers or agents. The speaker shares her experience of successfully securing brand deals for herself and Hype House, often exceeding what managers or agents could have brought to the table. She emphasizes the importance of understanding both the creator's and the brand's perspectives in negotiations and knowing the value of one's own content. The speaker also notes that certain demographics, such as girls with girl audiences or guys with guy audiences, may benefit from certain platforms or strategies. Ultimately, creators can build their audiences and monetize their content through authenticity, personality, and strategic planning.
Personalized Skincare and House Management: Apostrophe offers customized skincare plans from board-certified dermatologists, and effective communication and taking charge are crucial for managing a house and successful collaborations.
Apostrophe is a prescription skincare company offering personalized, science-backed treatments for various skin concerns, including acne. The company connects you with a board-certified dermatologist who creates a customized treatment plan based on your unique skin needs. The listener shared their positive experience using Apostrophe for acne, and the company is offering a special discount for the podcast audience. Additionally, the podcast hosts discussed their experiences with managing a house and running Hype House. They emphasized the importance of clear communication and taking charge when necessary to bring about positive change. The house, which they own with Alex and Cover, has multiple bedrooms, a podcast room, a music studio, and other amenities. The hosts also mentioned their love for real estate and touring homes. Overall, the conversation touched on various topics, including skincare, house management, and personal experiences.
A collaborative space for individual growth: The Hype House offered a balance between collective success and individual freedom, leading to a thriving brand and successful careers for its members.
The Hype House was built as a collaborative space where individuals could come together to strengthen their own careers, without feeling tied down. The founder's goal was to create a brand that would thrive, and within a year and a half, they achieved that by securing a reality show on Netflix. Despite the constant presence of cameras, privacy was limited, but the freedom to leave whenever desired was a key selling point. The Hype House became a hub for creativity and individual growth, with members maintaining their unique identities even as they contributed to the collective success.
Reality TV and Privacy Concerns: Cast members shared experiences of feeling tricked into being filmed without consent, potential manipulation of footage, and importance of being aware of privacy implications in reality TV.
Privacy is a significant concern when participating in reality TV shows. The cast members in the discussion shared their experiences of feeling tricked into being filmed without their knowledge, leading to a loss of privacy. They also mentioned the potential manipulation of footage to create drama and conflict. Despite the challenges, some cast members chose to be open and authentic, believing it would be better than having their words and actions edited without their consent. However, not giving the producers anything to work with could lead to negative portrayals. The length and format of the show also impacted the cast's experiences, with some feeling more pressured than others. Ultimately, the cast members emphasized the importance of being aware of the implications of participating in reality TV and the potential loss of privacy.
A raw and honest look into the lives of influencers: The upcoming Netflix show offers a glimpse into the real lives of social media personalities, revealing their struggles and triumphs beyond their online personas.
The upcoming Netflix show being discussed is not just a social media phenomenon, but a deep dive into the real lives of the people behind the screens. The creators of the show have kept their personal struggles and past hidden for the show, believing that fans are genuinely interested in their backstory beyond their online personas. The show's creators, who have a complicated relationship with their families and limited connections outside of social media, turned to vlogging as an escape from their past and found success. However, they remind us that social media fame can often be a double-edged sword, providing an escape from reality but also blurring the lines between public and private life. Ultimately, the show promises to offer a raw and honest look into the lives of influencers, shedding light on their struggles and triumphs beyond the filters and curated content of social media.
Living beyond your means can lead to financial instability: Smart investments, even small ones, can lead to significant financial gains. Understand the business side of social media and avoid frivolous spending to maintain longevity.
Living beyond your means and not saving for the future can lead to financial instability. The speaker shared personal experiences of people they knew who lived extravagantly and ended up broke. On the other hand, making smart investments, even small ones, can lead to significant financial gains. The speaker also emphasized the importance of understanding the business side of social media and the outside world to maintain longevity and avoid frivolous spending. Despite spending a significant amount of money himself, the speaker acknowledged the importance of saving and making wise investments.
Learning from the ups and downs of luxury car investments: Despite potential financial losses, a unique mindset can lead to enjoyment and opportunities in luxury car investments. Traditional investments may not be as rewarding as unconventional approaches like cryptocurrencies.
The speaker's experiences with buying and selling luxury cars have taught him that while there can be significant financial losses, there can also be opportunities to make money. He emphasizes that his unique mindset allows him to enjoy the experience and find value in the process, even if it may not be the most financially sound decision for everyone. He also shares his skepticism towards traditional investments like real estate and savings accounts, preferring more unconventional approaches like investing in cryptocurrencies. Overall, the speaker's perspective highlights the importance of taking calculated risks and finding joy in the journey, even if the outcome may not be what was initially expected.
Long-term perspective in investing: Investing requires patience, discipline, and a long-term perspective to avoid missing out on potential profits and financial instability.
Investing in cryptocurrencies or stocks can lead to significant gains, but it's essential to have a long-term perspective and not get carried away by short-term fluctuations. The speaker shares his experience of missing out on potential profits from Bitcoin and XRP, but also the risks of overspending and financial instability. He emphasizes the importance of trusting one's instincts and being cautious with financial decisions. Additionally, he advises against taking unnecessary risks, such as buying a supercar with limited funds. The speaker's story serves as a reminder that financial success requires discipline, patience, and a clear understanding of one's financial situation.
Friend's unexpected overdose and CPR experience: Unexpected emergencies can happen, emphasizing the importance of being there for loved ones and being prepared to save lives.
The speaker had a harrowing experience when a friend overdosed and nearly died, and she had to perform CPR to revive him. The incident occurred unexpectedly, and the friend initially didn't want to go to the hospital. The speaker was terrified and tried to save her friend's life, performing CPR for several minutes until paramedics arrived and took over. The friend survived, but the experience left a lasting impact on the speaker, who was grateful they arrived home just in time to prevent tragedy. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being there for loved ones and being prepared for emergencies.
Normalization of Drug Use in LA's Social Scene: The speaker shares personal experiences of societal pressure to conform to drug use, but found success and personal fulfillment by staying sober and focusing on goals. Authentic storytelling can help build a larger audience beyond social media, and successful individuals often avoid substance use.
Drugs are prevalent in LA's social scene, and some people view substance use as a normal part of life. The speaker shares personal experiences of being approached for drugs and witnessing drug use being normalized. Despite societal pressure to conform, the speaker found success and personal fulfillment by staying sober and focusing on their goals. Another observation is that successful individuals often avoid substance use, and authentic storytelling can help build a larger audience beyond social media. The speaker also criticizes the oversaturation of superficial content on social media platforms and the need for influencers to connect with their critics and show their true selves to win them over.
Personal struggles despite wealth and fame: Financial success doesn't guarantee happiness or immunity to hardships. People, even those in the public eye, deal with personal struggles like depression.
Wealth or fame does not shield individuals from experiencing sadness or hardships in life. The person being interviewed shared their personal experiences of dealing with depression while being financially successful. They also emphasized that their upcoming Netflix show is not about social media popularity, but rather about who they are as people. Despite anticipating some hate, they remain confident in the show's potential appeal as a guilty pleasure for many viewers. The interview also touched upon the challenges they faced throughout their career, including betrayals and lawsuits, and their belief in staying true to oneself. Ultimately, they expressed uncertainty about the future of the Hype House and were taking things one step at a time.
The Power of Open Dialogue and Self-Expression: Expressing ourselves freely can lead to engaging and meaningful conversations, fostering personal growth and building connections. Everyone has unique perspectives and experiences to share, so don't hold back. Pursue creative passions and share them with the world.
Key takeaway from this episode of Dropouts is the importance of open communication and self-expression. The guest, Thomas, was initially concerned about talking too much during the podcast, but the hosts reassured him that his stories and insights were valuable. This reflects the idea that everyone has unique perspectives and experiences to share, and that expressing ourselves freely can make for engaging and meaningful conversations. Additionally, the hosts encouraged viewers to engage with them and share their thoughts, emphasizing the importance of community and connection. Lastly, Thomas' upcoming project on Netflix was highlighted, emphasizing the value of pursuing creative passions and sharing them with the world. Overall, this episode underscores the power of open dialogue and self-expression in fostering meaningful relationships and personal growth.