Episode 29

Team Kara

Published on: 18th March, 2024

Join host Erika Audrey on this juicy episode of Clover Club as she is joined by her dear friend Kara Hidinger, co-owner of Staplehouse. With a friendship spanning 15 years, Erika and Kara share a special bond rooted in shared experiences, including the loss of loved ones to cancer. In this candid conversation, they tackle real-life topics like marriage, parenting, entrepreneurship, and the bitter sweet symphony of love and loss. Amidst the poignant moments, the duo also reminisces about hilarious embarrassing stories and cherished memories. Tune in for an authentic and touching discussion that delves into the highs and lows of life, friendship, and resilience.

Visit Staplehouse here

Follow Staplehouse here

Shop Hawkins & Clover here

Follow Clover Club here

Transcript
Speaker:

Welcome to Clover club, a podcast about

curious conversations and stories and

2

:

tended to make you laugh and learn.

3

:

I'm your host, Erica.

4

:

And today I am joined by oh.

5

:

One of my favorite,

favorite, favorite people.

6

:

Kara Heidinger Cara.

7

:

Hi.

8

:

Hello, Erika.

9

:

Thanks for having me today.

10

:

Oh my gosh.

11

:

Thanks for letting me nail you down.

12

:

I'm so nervous.

13

:

Totally for some reason is nervous,

even though she is the most personable,

14

:

like interesting person ever.

15

:

No, I see.

16

:

I can do the one-on-one, but you had a

microphone or a camera or a recorder.

17

:

And.

18

:

I get weird.

19

:

Well, this podcast is

all about getting weird.

20

:

I'm here.

21

:

Let's get weird.

22

:

Let's do it.

23

:

, so Kira, I feel like we should

start with how we know each other.

24

:

So Kara and I have been friends

for, has it been like 15 years?

25

:

I mean I'm yeah, I met you 15 years ago.

26

:

So when I moved to Atlanta was in 2009.

27

:

But it was probably about a year

before I found myself sitting in

28

:

your chair at Helmut and Midtown.

29

:

Oh my God.

30

:

Yeah, long time ago.

31

:

Long time ago.

32

:

, yeah.

33

:

And ever since then, We have, uh,

we've experienced a lot of similar,

34

:

like, , benchmarks throughout our life.

35

:

Um, we have a lot of commonalities,

like being small business owners, but

36

:

we also have sad things in common.

37

:

Like we've both lost too

many people to cancer.

38

:

And you've always been somebody that,

, I feel like gets it when it comes to

39

:

talk to about certain topics, you know?

40

:

, and, uh, I just think you're the best.

41

:

And so I'm excited to share , , Your

story and your business and just kind

42

:

of all things Kira Heidinger all right.

43

:

Let's do it.

44

:

And thank you.

45

:

I think that a lot of our

paths have been relatable.

46

:

And I think that one thing that

you and I both do, , and do

47

:

well is show up authentically.

48

:

Right.

49

:

So whatever space we're in and

it might be with sadness might

50

:

be with wit or humor or sarcasm.

51

:

, but it's always authentic and there's

always, , I, I value that cause that.

52

:

It's an important connection.

53

:

I value that about you as well.

54

:

And I think.

55

:

For people who know us

for better or for worse.

56

:

That's true.

57

:

Where you stand with people like Kara.

58

:

Or I totally there's no room for bullshit.

59

:

But again, not authenticity though, is

when it does connect or when it does

60

:

click or, you know, that like we show up

for those people in our lives, that it

61

:

is, you know, without strings attached,

without hesitation or reservation and.

62

:

Like we show up as authentic, but

we, we connect with people that also

63

:

have that same level of authenticity.

64

:

Yes.

65

:

And that can be rare.

66

:

And that can be hard, harder to

find than, than you'd imagine.

67

:

I couldn't agree with that more.

68

:

And that's why I cling onto people

that bring that to the table because I

69

:

don't really, I'm like a quality over

quantity type of person, a percent.

70

:

I don't need a million friends.

71

:

Um, but the ones that are allowed

to stay at my circle have to be.

72

:

You know?

73

:

Yeah.

74

:

Real, real.

75

:

The other part of that too, is that we

spend both of us in our small businesses

76

:

spend so much time forward-facing with

guests and cultivating a guest experience.

77

:

And sometimes, you know, and meeting

people where they are in a shared space.

78

:

, but , that's like kind of a curated

setting that when we're out of that,

79

:

it has to just be stripped down.

80

:

Right.

81

:

And, you know, I value

that a lot, so, yeah.

82

:

Thanks for having me here today.

83

:

Oh my gosh.

84

:

I'm just again, so excited.

85

:

, are your palms sweating a little bit?

86

:

That's the nervous, the nervous me.

87

:

, okay.

88

:

So Kira, you were born in Indiana.

89

:

Yep.

90

:

Born.

91

:

To Georgia in 2009.

92

:

Yep.

93

:

, your brother was already down here.

94

:

He was, he was a chef.

95

:

Yup.

96

:

, He and his wife.

97

:

Yeah.

98

:

At the time started a supper club.

99

:

Yes.

100

:

And, uh, kind of take us through how

the formation of that has taken you

101

:

to where you're at in your career.

102

:

Yeah.

103

:

That's a really long

timeline for an hour podcast.

104

:

Um, I think I could only answer

that question for the next hour.

105

:

So I'll give, sort of like the clip,

that abbreviated version and try

106

:

and just hit on the high points.

107

:

I mean, there's some

low points too, right?

108

:

I mean, it's kind of the very big global.

109

:

Yeah.

110

:

But I mean, in some, you know, kind

of several along the way, but I feel

111

:

like that's the dip and, you know,

combining your personal life, your

112

:

passion and your professionalism, all

in one shared space, um, with, with

113

:

family, who's also going through the same

experience, but through a different lens.

114

:

Yeah.

115

:

, and that's, it's been a wild ride.

116

:

So I moved here in 2009.

117

:

Yes, my brother and his

wife, were both here in town.

118

:

, but my mom was also here

as well as my stepdad.

119

:

, and my older brother had recently.

120

:

Not long before relocated to LA

and I had a looming 30th birthday.

121

:

, and as a single 30 year old woman with

no career path, I was like, I should just

122

:

pack my things and move to a new city.

123

:

Um, and I really wanted

to be close to family.

124

:

So, , I moved in with my mom.

125

:

And I was, , waiting tables at

Bacchanalia and just kind of

126

:

learning the Atlanta landscape and.

127

:

On Sundays when Bacchanalia was

closed, I would occasionally work

128

:

alongside my brother and Jen and

their little grant park home.

129

:

, for, you know, serving 10 guests

that would show up to you dinner.

130

:

And I really loved it.

131

:

I love the spirit of it.

132

:

, my brother had a presence

that was just genuine.

133

:

And kind of inked kind

and funny and unassuming.

134

:

Yeah.

135

:

Especially for so many

chefs in the profession.

136

:

And you knew my brother, , And

that's what I loved about that.

137

:

Like, just seeing him in his element.

138

:

And it reminded me of our, a chef that he

and I both worked for, , who we have also

139

:

lost, , chef Greg Hardesty and Greg was.

140

:

A major influence in both

my brother and I's career.

141

:

You know, Especially as

it pertained to integrity.

142

:

, so, uh, seeing my brother that element.

143

:

Reminded me of being in Indianapolis

and my brother and I both worked under

144

:

a shift, Greg Hardesty and for my.

145

:

, his business partner,

anyhow, fast forward.

146

:

We would do the dinners and I was slowly

getting adjusted and we had talked about

147

:

one day if I would be able to work for

them and what that might look like.

148

:

And they had, you know, continued their.

149

:

Campaign.

150

:

, trying to, you know, fund the

small business, but as anyone

151

:

knows, , restaurant viability is.

152

:

, lo I mean, what I think restaurants

almost out like survive.

153

:

W five years, I think it is.

154

:

Yeah.

155

:

Anyway, I'm not good with statistics.

156

:

I'm not here to talk math.

157

:

Restaurant life is hard and

a lot of them close, um, and

158

:

margins, autumn also sock, right?

159

:

People think it's really

lucrative, but it's a grind.

160

:

Yeah.

161

:

Unless you're doing

just like insane volume.

162

:

Yeah.

163

:

All that being said.

164

:

, you know, things were kind of just

slowly going along when, after a

165

:

day trip to New York with my then

boyfriend also chef also named Ryan.

166

:

, but now lovingly called

by his last name Smith.

167

:

, my brother fell ill and a lot

of you that know the giving

168

:

kitchen or no staple house.

169

:

, kind of know how the narrative

goes, but that Ryan was diagnosed

170

:

and given six months to be with us.

171

:

And he was with us a year.

172

:

, and it was a hard and beautiful year.

173

:

And my brother.

174

:

Said and believed in embodied that life

was more beautiful knowing his days where

175

:

his last than he ever would have been if

he had not been diagnosed with cancer.

176

:

And that's a really.

177

:

Powerful statement.

178

:

I think that he, he did have that piece,

but he knew that most of us did not.

179

:

And he worried about us and how we were

going to grieve and how we were going to

180

:

heal and how we were going to move on.

181

:

And he was real mindful of that.

182

:

And he brought that to the forefront

of conversations quite often.

183

:

Uh, so , , after his diagnosis though,

and during that journey, he was encouraged

184

:

to pursue his dream with whatever

days he may have left of pursuing

185

:

his dream of opening a restaurant.

186

:

Yeah.

187

:

So he met with my, , Then

boyfriend, they got some coffee.

188

:

He came home and said, I'm going to

leave empire state, south and open

189

:

a restaurant with your brother.

190

:

And I said, I think

that's a really bad idea.

191

:

I, um, I didn't think that

it was the right move.

192

:

I felt like his career was on a certain

trajectory at empire state south.

193

:

And it was kind of like just.

194

:

You know, headed up towards that

peak and that knowing that my brother

195

:

wouldn't be with us, it was, was

it, you know, it felt it was based

196

:

more on hearts than it was on logic.

197

:

, he was steadfast in that, like,

he, he was really steadfast and

198

:

it took me warming up to the idea.

199

:

, but I also appreciated

that he led with his heart.

200

:

Yeah, cause that's kind of a, a rare

human quality as well, especially

201

:

if something of that magnitude.

202

:

Yeah.

203

:

So we move forward.

204

:

There's a lot.

205

:

I have set there's so

much in that timeline.

206

:

Um, so we move forward.

207

:

We did an Indiegogo campaign, which

there's little remnants all around

208

:

the restaurant of people that

believed in us in April of:

209

:

, the giving kitchen was growing

and we decided to open staple

210

:

house as the for-profit

subsidiary of the giving kitchen.

211

:

, which is also kind of wild, right?

212

:

Like there's just, it's a lot of logistics

and lots of teams and lots of hands.

213

:

Yeah, touching a product or a

project also product, right.

214

:

Product of, you know, community and.

215

:

Love of cooking and restaurant life

and hospitality and all of that.

216

:

, so we move forward with that.

217

:

I should've written this timeline down.

218

:

I should know it.

219

:

I mean, I lived it.

220

:

No, you're doing great.

221

:

. So my brother passed, um, you

know, he helped plan the early

222

:

stages of state officer's little

indelible marks at him throughout.

223

:

, I feel as energy there a lot.

224

:

, but he passed before we

opened to the public.

225

:

. And it was both a celebration.

226

:

, but also.

227

:

Like of life and of community, but

I was reminded and I still am quite

228

:

often that I'm there because he's not.

229

:

Yeah, which is kind of a

tangled web to weave, right?

230

:

Like I'm there because he's not.

231

:

, and I'm grateful for him, but I also am

reminded so often of how much I miss him.

232

:

And.

233

:

The narrative never leaves.

234

:

So every day at work, it's

woven into what I do and how I

235

:

interact and things people ask.

236

:

, but I'm, I'm proud.

237

:

I'm proud of how far we've come.

238

:

The life of staple house is

also, you know, a long one.

239

:

Right?

240

:

We've had I say, you know, pivot

or perish has been our motto.

241

:

Yeah.

242

:

And I think we're on.

243

:

Staplehouse version like 9.0.

244

:

You are like the masters of adaptation

and pivoting and make it work at.

245

:

Yeah, really impressive.

246

:

We're on the trajectory.

247

:

Thank you.

248

:

We're masochist.

249

:

I feel like.

250

:

There's just like, or try to make it as

hard on ourselves as, uh, as possible.

251

:

But we, I mean, it's had to, right,

like the, the culture of dining on

252

:

Edgewood pandemic life, you know, it's

just, there's been such an ebb and

253

:

flow that we've just tried to find.

254

:

What we're how we can line up what

we're capable with our location and how

255

:

the, you know, the market will meet us.

256

:

Yeah.

257

:

Or the consumer.

258

:

Yeah.

259

:

Yeah, I know I missed a huge timeline in

there, but yeah, we opened the restaurant.

260

:

It's still open.

261

:

, it was owned by the giving kitchen,

and then we purchase it at the start

262

:

of the pandemic or August of 2020.

263

:

And I still say it'll be the best

or worst business decision I've

264

:

ever made and jury's still out.

265

:

Well, uh, As an onlooker, I

think it's the best decision.

266

:

And I don't think, I don't believe in

bad decisions because no matter what

267

:

the outcome is, you learn so much

from these choices and it's not a.

268

:

Good or bad.

269

:

It's just a different path.

270

:

Yeah.

271

:

I think what all have learned is

to never open another restaurant.

272

:

, well, one thing that I love about Kara

is that you're very Frank and Curt and

273

:

honest about just the realities of a.

274

:

All facets of your life.

275

:

, and so I've appreciated.

276

:

Especially through COVID

and stuff like that.

277

:

I mean, anybody, we know so

many small business owners.

278

:

Yeah, all of us were simultaneously

shaking in our boots.

279

:

And also.

280

:

It's okay.

281

:

Right.

282

:

I think it's fine, right?

283

:

Yeah.

284

:

We got that.

285

:

Yeah, we're gonna be fine.

286

:

This is going to be fine.

287

:

I'll figure out a way to pay for

food and keep my lights on and

288

:

keep my business afloat and sure.

289

:

Yeah.

290

:

And, I mean, and we're still here.

291

:

I mean.

292

:

2024 and a.

293

:

The doors are open.

294

:

I know.

295

:

So I guess we've we got that part covered.

296

:

Yeah.

297

:

And you pivoted as well, right?

298

:

Definitely.

299

:

Yeah.

300

:

What's that pivot been like for you?

301

:

, it's been great.

302

:

, It was.

303

:

Well years, I think it's

been six years ago now.

304

:

I'm sure you remember

when I broke my finger.

305

:

That was my first little, Hey,

you need revenue that doesn't

306

:

come from solely your hands.

307

:

Yeah.

308

:

And so I think the seed was

planted pre COVID that I needed

309

:

to diversify my revenue stream.

310

:

And just have a kind of more options.

311

:

Totally.

312

:

, things that can withstand, you know,

injury or illness or fucking global

313

:

catastrophic conditions that are going

to last forever and ever, and ever.

314

:

, and yeah, I mean, same for you guys.

315

:

And it's kind of interesting now

it's, you know, so you started

316

:

as a, a sit down restaurant.

317

:

Yup.

318

:

And in COVID pivoted to the market.

319

:

Yep.

320

:

And then now you've got this

hybrid situation, which.

321

:

To me sounds great.

322

:

Yeah.

323

:

How does it feel on your end?

324

:

It feels really hard.

325

:

To be really transparent.

326

:

It feels grueling and agonizing.

327

:

And like we're opening a second

restaurant right on top of the one we

328

:

have with, with inadequate staffing.

329

:

Okay.

330

:

I feel like that's been, you know,

this industry, I think that's

331

:

been one of the hardest things

I've seen or one of the most.

332

:

, detrimental or devastating and

lingering outcomes from the pandemic.

333

:

Yeah.

334

:

Is the staffing.

335

:

So many people in our industry had a

moment of pause that when the pandemic

336

:

happened and they were forced leave,

they're like, oh, I can go to a park.

337

:

Like I can go do activities

when the sun's up.

338

:

Right.

339

:

Because most of the time they work late.

340

:

And the only thing open

after work is a bar.

341

:

Yeah.

342

:

So I think that so many, I don't

think I know so many professionals

343

:

left the industry and while

people are slowly coming back

344

:

and new people are coming to it.

345

:

, it's it seems, it feels a

bit more conditional, right?

346

:

And sort of like the restaurant

metrics haven't changed.

347

:

But the, as far as like what is needed

to do the job and, and the finances

348

:

that are available to support it, but

people that are coming into it or that

349

:

work in hospitality are kind of setting.

350

:

Uh, or are asking, demanding or

creating a boundary that says

351

:

what they will or won't do.

352

:

And they aren't really lining up.

353

:

So it's, it's harder to find,

, people, uh, to help the business.

354

:

And right now we're short-staffed.

355

:

And so we have team members that work

open, you know, are in it 9:00 AM or

356

:

8:00 AM and Jake chef Jakes, and even

lier, and then they work till:

357

:

You know, it's a full day there.

358

:

Two shifts.

359

:

So they prep XQ flip.

360

:

You know, prep again, execute and

close, and it's just, it's a lie.

361

:

So.

362

:

Logistically it hurts.

363

:

Right.

364

:

Um, I mean, I'm old, my bones hurt.

365

:

I'm tired.

366

:

Um, I am.

367

:

I'm very old.

368

:

I just turned 44 in January.

369

:

Okay.

370

:

I'm old.

371

:

Okay.

372

:

And even then, you know, I saw that one

of those I don't want to, they called on

373

:

like Instagram when it's got a picture.

374

:

And then like, or is it a meme?

375

:

Is it, uh, a meme?

376

:

Yeah.

377

:

That people.

378

:

Yeah.

379

:

The picture and something fun.

380

:

Yeah.

381

:

There we go.

382

:

I have see, there we go.

383

:

I tend to phone.

384

:

There's a funny picture, but like, yeah.

385

:

It's called a meme, I guess.

386

:

I thought he was like making.

387

:

Yeah.

388

:

Okay.

389

:

So it's a meme.

390

:

And there's one that says

you're only as old as you feel.

391

:

I was like, I feel like my, it was just.

392

:

Zoomed from a tomb in Egypt and given

a cup of coffee and sent to work.

393

:

And I feel that way every day, that's

like, it hurts in my bones and it's, you

394

:

know, literally hitting the pavement.

395

:

So.

396

:

I digress.

397

:

I go, this is what happens.

398

:

I go on these rants.

399

:

And then I don't even

know where I started.

400

:

I love it, Gary.

401

:

Where were we?

402

:

We're talking about being exhausted.

403

:

No.

404

:

Yeah, that's right.

405

:

And, and the business, how it's going.

406

:

Yeah.

407

:

Yeah.

408

:

Well, you also, leered on to

other things that are exhausting.

409

:

Hmm.

410

:

Named children.

411

:

Yeah.

412

:

And puppies.

413

:

And puppies.

414

:

Two puppies and I've got two children.

415

:

And I have a husband who's kind

of between a child and a puppy.

416

:

I've got five things.

417

:

I'm responsible for taking care of.

418

:

And a business.

419

:

So your plate is full.

420

:

Yeah.

421

:

Which is even more of a big

deal that you're taking out

422

:

time to be on clever clubs.

423

:

So again, No I'm here for it.

424

:

It got me away from everyone else.

425

:

So welcome to sanctuary.

426

:

Thank you.

427

:

, but yeah, I appreciate your

honesty about just the realities

428

:

of actually living life.

429

:

Because I think outside looking

in, it's like, oh my gosh, you

430

:

own this beautiful restaurant.

431

:

You've got this beautiful family.

432

:

You've got these adorable puppies

and all of that is absolutely true.

433

:

Comma and it's, it's hard to shit.

434

:

Yeah.

435

:

Yeah.

436

:

I mean, I think it's like, if someone was

like, oh, what do you do for a living?

437

:

I survive.

438

:

Like my full-time job is survival

and keeping the things around

439

:

me alive, keeping my business

alive, keeping my children alive.

440

:

Keeping my marriage alive, right?

441

:

Like, So there's never something that

doesn't need my immediate attention.

442

:

There's no like graceful

periods of ease, right?

443

:

Like even work.

444

:

, it's, there's no

boundaries with it, right.

445

:

Especially when you are married.

446

:

And own a business together.

447

:

Yeah.

448

:

Right.

449

:

Like, there's no separation.

450

:

Like he has his job and I'm mine.

451

:

We come home and we chat up.

452

:

It's like, we have to deal with

all the same shit all the time.

453

:

Right.

454

:

And that, that is, that

takes a certain type of.

455

:

Resilience, I think in insanity.

456

:

Um, to, to weather that, but yeah,

I think that, I would never have

457

:

thought I would have layered on the

elements in, in the way that I did.

458

:

I mean, Lillian was only six months, five

months old and we opened a restaurant.

459

:

Yeah.

460

:

I mean, I had a pack and play in

the office and I was nursing in

461

:

the bathroom and I had a carrier on

while I was running food to tables.

462

:

And like, I look back at that or on

Sundays brunch, she would sit in the high

463

:

chair by the host stand and the staff.

464

:

It was just like help

keep her entertained.

465

:

Right.

466

:

I think it's one of those that you don't

know how hard it is because you just keep

467

:

going and if you stop or you look back

or you pause, it will feel overwhelming.

468

:

So yeah, the only thing I know

how to do is just keep powering

469

:

through, even when it sucks.

470

:

So, uh, do you have any advice or tips on

how you replenish your well, when you're,

471

:

because you're such a giver, but obviously

you can't give if you're on empty.

472

:

So when you start to see that light,

come on, like, what is your go-to to.

473

:

Replenish.

474

:

I don't know.

475

:

I've heard self care is a thing.

476

:

Isn't it?

477

:

There's books about it.

478

:

I've heard people talk about, I think.

479

:

I think it's all on a meme.

480

:

I think, I think that's a quick study.

481

:

Yeah.

482

:

Um, I don't.

483

:

I don't know that I have a thing.

484

:

I don't know that I pause.

485

:

Like I said, I think that that's a.

486

:

And.

487

:

Probably not probably likely to my

detriment long-term is that I don't,

488

:

I mean, Honestly, I get my hair.

489

:

I spend time in your chair to be honest,

like that's my, my self care, , is

490

:

that pause of like taking time and

it's a safe space that I can connect

491

:

with you and chat about life and

psych part therapy, part self care.

492

:

Yeah, those are kind of the same

thing, but, , and also like some, you

493

:

know, popping out just to walk the

dogs or, I mean, . This day and age,

494

:

like going to target without my kids.

495

:

Right?

496

:

Like just little things here and there

that like, I can catch my breath.

497

:

Yeah.

498

:

But I also, I choose that, right?

499

:

Like, I choose to go full throttle.

500

:

I choose to show up for those things

because they matter and I chose

501

:

to bring them all into my life.

502

:

So I will, again, that

integrity piece I will show up.

503

:

Every day, in fact, My brother

journaled while he was sick.

504

:

And when he died, he left

us the gift of his writing.

505

:

And in it, he identified a characteristic

and several of us that he admired and

506

:

respected or wanted to acknowledge.

507

:

And for me, it was perseverance.

508

:

And I'm reminded of that a

lot when, when times are hard

509

:

and times are great a lot too.

510

:

Sometimes I have fun.

511

:

I mean, sometimes I enjoy,

you know, doing things with my

512

:

children or hanging with the dogs.

513

:

Right.

514

:

Um, So, yeah.

515

:

That's fun sometimes.

516

:

You know, sometimes I like them.

517

:

Yeah, they're great.

518

:

I mean, they are really cool kids.

519

:

I feel like they've grown up

in the hospitality industry

520

:

and they see the grid.

521

:

Um, and it's made him

really like resilient.

522

:

Yeah.

523

:

And that's, that's pretty cool to

watch you can't have you and Smith

524

:

his parents and not be cool as fuck.

525

:

You're kind.

526

:

Yeah.

527

:

Cool.

528

:

Yeah.

529

:

And so, okay.

530

:

So your husband Smith, he is a chef.

531

:

He's been was a chef before you met him.

532

:

Is the chef at staple house.

533

:

In my opinion, one of the most talented

chefs I've ever met, I love his cooking.

534

:

, ah, He has a unique perspective.

535

:

Like, I feel like there's so many

people just regurgitating the same

536

:

boy stuff and he really is so good

at using interesting ingredients

537

:

and just being at truly inventive.

538

:

, I assume it's really attractive

to see your partner be creative.

539

:

And to do all of that, but also it's going

to be so annoying, like you said, to not

540

:

have any sort of divide between at work

and your marriage and personal life stuff.

541

:

Yeah, it's a unit.

542

:

Yes, I would agree.

543

:

First of all, it was extremely

kind of you, I would agree.

544

:

I think he's insanely talented.

545

:

Well, he has a unique perspective on food.

546

:

He also has a unique perspective on

success and for him success, isn't

547

:

like accolades or pats on the back.

548

:

Um, it's a culture where the people

work for us are happy and not over

549

:

worked and fulfilled and, and economic

stability and those things right now,

550

:

unfortunately, and have for a while,

the all of those are really hard.

551

:

You know, so, but I, I value that, that

perspective and yeah, it's, it's one

552

:

of those where like, we, he can, we

can have a good day and energy's good.

553

:

I think Islamic, man, it looks hot.

554

:

Yeah.

555

:

And then we have days where we're

just like, he's in a mood, I'm

556

:

in a mood and I'm like, oh, I got

to go home and look at you too.

557

:

You know, it's hard.

558

:

It's hard, but we, I will say like,

we're really, again, we're really honest

559

:

with each other and we just have to

like show for those conversations, but

560

:

not having, not having a separation is.

561

:

His rough.

562

:

Yeah.

563

:

Yeah.

564

:

I'm sure.

565

:

I, I don't, I don't advise going

into business with your partner.

566

:

Yeah, just gotta be honest.

567

:

Uh, you know, it's worked out well

for us, you know, but it hasn't been

568

:

without an immense amount of extra

work that makes an already difficult

569

:

business, even more challenging.

570

:

Yeah.

571

:

Yeah.

572

:

That makes perfect sense.

573

:

I mean, I think any type of

long-term relationship is difficult.

574

:

, uh, and it's just, there's

a lot of facets layered in.

575

:

Yeah, totally.

576

:

.

Yeah, someone is.

577

:

I'll just be over here talking to myself.

578

:

Okay.

579

:

I was just going to.

580

:

Talk about some meme.

581

:

So you guys ever heard of those things?

582

:

You guys ever heard of memes?

583

:

Okay, so Eric is away right now.

584

:

No one ever gets to ask her or

share the things that they love

585

:

and respect and admire about her.

586

:

Um, she is smart.

587

:

She is witty as hell.

588

:

Um, she's authentic.

589

:

She is generous in her spirit

and sharing herself abundantly.

590

:

She got.

591

:

Kick ass tastes in both food and fashion.

592

:

If y'all have not been to the shop down

below, I don't know what y'all are doing.

593

:

You're sleeping on it.

594

:

Get in there.

595

:

Unique little gifts.

596

:

They're charming.

597

:

They're cute.

598

:

They're thoughtful.

599

:

Maybe sign up to get your haircut.

600

:

I don't know.

601

:

Let's let's what I got for you right now.

602

:

Maybe we should take some pictures

of Erica and turn them into memes.

603

:

Backed.

604

:

That's the question.

605

:

Erika.

606

:

If you could make a meme about

your life, what would it say?

607

:

Hmm.

608

:

I wonder.

609

:

So many stairs, you hear

that she's coming up now.

610

:

So many stairs.

611

:

Okay, sorry.

612

:

I'm back.

613

:

You're back.

614

:

I just had to receive a shipment of

French skincare street from Paris.

615

:

Fantastic.

616

:

Via DHL, who apparently doesn't

know how to ring the doorbell.

617

:

Oh, hence old school.

618

:

They're old school.

619

:

It's an old school company.

620

:

It's you know, it's fine.

621

:

Yeah, totally fine.

622

:

Like I should hear it if it's

not broken solid really well,

623

:

we'll confirm that later, but.

624

:

TBD.

625

:

TBD.

626

:

Um, oh yeah.

627

:

Do you want to talk with farm?

628

:

Yeah, we can totally talk about the farms.

629

:

Ha.

630

:

I said don't ever open a restaurant with

your spouse and I'm about to do it again.

631

:

Yeah.

632

:

So, uh, you have stable house.

633

:

We do.

634

:

You are currently still kind of exploring

all the different iterations of that.

635

:

Yes.

636

:

And then in your, a bunch of.

637

:

So much free time y'all have

decided to partner on a new project.

638

:

Yeah.

639

:

Will you share that with us?

640

:

Yes, I'd be happy to.

641

:

It's exciting.

642

:

, I'm really excited about it.

643

:

It's taken, you know, a little bit of time

to get where we're, where we're at and a

644

:

little more time to get where we're going.

645

:

, but we have partnered with two really

incredible humans, Angelo and Kiarra

646

:

that have a really expansive, beautiful

property down engaged Georgia.

647

:

And it's fun to say gay.

648

:

, gay Georgia.

649

:

Um, and it is, I mean, there's not

much going on down there, but they

650

:

have a really beautiful property.

651

:

And, you know, the land has been in her

family for some time and Smith and I have

652

:

started spending a lot of time down there

and love it so much that eventually,

653

:

uh, we plan to relocate down there.

654

:

, and still have staple house, but you know,

kind of pull ourselves out of, you know,

655

:

the chaos of city life socially with the

kids and, you know, Our older daughter's

656

:

anxiety and just being out in nature

and kind of resetting that being said.

657

:

So we, , we're partnering on this project.

658

:

It's considered, I didn't know it

was going to be called a luxury

659

:

resort until the AJC said it

was called the luxury resort.

660

:

And I was like, Justin, I guess

we're opening a luxury resort, but

661

:

there's these four well appointed

suites that are really stunning.

662

:

, and you'll a book it's a two night

minimum stay and it, the price

663

:

includes activities, which will

just really highlight the land.

664

:

There's kayaking.

665

:

There'll.

666

:

B Liberty, which is with horses

and in a ring and fishing.

667

:

And there's nearby quail hunting at the.

668

:

Reddit plantation, I think is the name.

669

:

, and Kiarra has her own wellness company.

670

:

So there's consults available there.

671

:

, and then, you know, it has a farm

and they're building a restaurant.

672

:

And so eventually we'll start

like a little software thing,

673

:

kind of friends and family.

674

:

, and then the restaurant should open

to the public as well in the fall.

675

:

So we're looking at.

676

:

You know, late August and probably

into September of:

677

:

open a little restaurant and then

it can pull from hopefully markets,

678

:

people from Atlanta can come down and.

679

:

You know, Peachtree city and all,

you know, the neighbors down the road

680

:

that want to come in and check it out.

681

:

So it'll be more akin to old to

what staple house was when we

682

:

opened and sort of at the heart of.

683

:

You know that when things were

booming and wild and crazy around.

684

:

2016 to 2018.

685

:

I love that season of stable house.

686

:

So I am personally very excited for this.

687

:

And it sounds kind of like

a mini Blackberry farms.

688

:

Is that kind of a part of the inspo?

689

:

No.

690

:

I mean, the thing with block, it's not.

691

:

And back then I can say it

was certainly because I've

692

:

never been to Blackberry farm.

693

:

So I have no inspiration.

694

:

Pull from there.

695

:

Uh, it's outside my

means, but maybe one day.

696

:

It's great.

697

:

Yeah.

698

:

I hear from people that can go there.

699

:

That it's really beautiful.

700

:

Like a sponsor us.

701

:

Yeah.

702

:

Right.

703

:

We'll come and just

sit and talk to people.

704

:

Yeah.

705

:

All your food.

706

:

Yeah.

707

:

So I actually we'd try to get Smith to

be a guest chef there a long time ago.

708

:

I'm like, It's the only way we're

going to go is if you go cook there.

709

:

So.

710

:

Yeah, get to it, but

that didn't materialize.

711

:

, yeah, so the, I do, I love

that season of staple house.

712

:

Oh, Blackberry.

713

:

No, I think.

714

:

I've never been.

715

:

I hear it's beautiful.

716

:

It looks amazing.

717

:

And I think they're, they are much

more of an expansive operation.

718

:

Okay.

719

:

This is small, like maximum past

year and I was like 10 people.

720

:

It's just like these four suites

intended for, you know, two

721

:

people there's three, one bedroom

suites and one, two bedroom suite.

722

:

, a three-bedroom will follow, you

know, sometime later next year.

723

:

And, , but no, it's really, , the

one thing is like not having.

724

:

Too much heavy foot traffic and

that really honoring the land.

725

:

And what the land can provide for

us, , by way of, uh, an experience is

726

:

sort of mind, body and spirit, right?

727

:

Everything's sort of thoughtfully

curated, , so that you can connect and

728

:

in that regard, so we're disconnect or

disconnect, truly disconnect, right?

729

:

There's no TVs in the suites.

730

:

Um, so yeah.

731

:

I mean, is there a wifi?

732

:

There is wifi.

733

:

Okay.

734

:

Your tablet.

735

:

You can bring your computer.

736

:

Um, but yeah, just the chance to just

be kind of immersive in nature and.

737

:

Yeah.

738

:

That's what I need to do.

739

:

I need to be a guest at the, at the

facility that I'm, uh, helping open.

740

:

I mean, I would think that it

would be, uh, educational for you

741

:

to experience it from the eyes

of the consumer, therefore death.

742

:

While we tried, we tried to do like a

little R and D by going out to a single

743

:

thread , outside of San Francisco.

744

:

And Healdsburg.

745

:

And it was the first time that Smith

and I were to have been away from the

746

:

kids in two years, two and a half year.

747

:

I mean, since pandemic

and tell us what happened.

748

:

, my daughter went to the ER.

749

:

She and spent nine days at Choa.

750

:

So that was fine.

751

:

I was like, oh, It's selfish of her.

752

:

I know.

753

:

Right.

754

:

I tell I'm telling you, I

told you, Kevin kids is hard.

755

:

I didn't even get to go on my vacation.

756

:

No.

757

:

Um, did you get on the flight?

758

:

Like did you get there

and have to turn around?

759

:

So, this is what happened.

760

:

She wasn't.

761

:

I, and I had, it was like

that mom guilt moment too.

762

:

Right.

763

:

It was more like one time.

764

:

I was like, I'm going to choose me

because I think you're safe and okay.

765

:

And emotionally you want me here, but

like, if you're safe, Even if I'm not

766

:

entirely sure what's going on with your

health, but no, my in-laws who are like

767

:

unicorns were in town and had the girls.

768

:

Lillian, her eye was swollen.

769

:

She'd been complaining about it

since the day before and woke up and

770

:

it was swollen and we made a deal.

771

:

I was like, you're going to go to

the pediatrician with your grandma.

772

:

Yeah, doctor says, okay, I'll already be

at the airport and hopes that I can get

773

:

on this plane and go to San Francisco.

774

:

Um, the first report was

she has a sinus infection.

775

:

Sean antibiotics, unless it.

776

:

You know, it gets worse.

777

:

Like.

778

:

The shit kick in.

779

:

, and so we flew all the way there,

hour and 45 minutes up to Healdsburg.

780

:

We had dinner.

781

:

And then I got a call at 5:00 AM, San

Francisco time, which is, you know,

782

:

8:00 AM, Atlanta time that the in.

783

:

And photos that the infection

was spreading to her face.

784

:

And so then it was just a matter of.

785

:

Changing our flight back.

786

:

So I had, I had dinner.

787

:

Did you consider not coming back?

788

:

No, no.

789

:

No.

790

:

Cause we knew we knew it was bad.

791

:

Like I, yeah, there.

792

:

If it was like, uh, she gonna.

793

:

Okay, we've got this under control, but

orbital cellulitis is a really scary

794

:

thing because it can do with the time.

795

:

That's what it was.

796

:

We had an idea, friend of mine, that's

a nurse had come over to the house.

797

:

I was like, Hey, can you pop over?

798

:

Check it out.

799

:

You know, and she got to the

house and was like, she had

800

:

to go back to the doctor now.

801

:

So no sooner did they drive

her back to the doctor?

802

:

The pediatrician walked in and

looked at her and was like, you

803

:

need to go to cello right now.

804

:

Oh my God.

805

:

So they drove to Choa.

806

:

So by the time I then took

an hour and a half lift.

807

:

Crying in the backseat flew back.

808

:

I will say we did get

to fly back first class.

809

:

Which meant free drinks for mom.

810

:

So Smith is like, I was

like, you're the driver?

811

:

I'm the drinker.

812

:

We'll get to the hospital.

813

:

I'm.

814

:

Gonna, you know, take the edge off.

815

:

So.

816

:

, by the time we got to Choa, she'd

already been through a CT scan,

817

:

had an IB and was in her hospital

room getting IV antibiotics.

818

:

And that was the beginning

of a nine day stay.

819

:

So it was wild, right?

820

:

Like you can't make that shit up.

821

:

You can write, like, you know,

you have some astonishing glee,

822

:

inconvenient things happen to you.

823

:

It's called life.

824

:

It's called my life.

825

:

Right.

826

:

I feel like my life is a

series of unfortunate events.

827

:

But like I take with like, you

know, a bit of humor and, you know,

828

:

Can I share one, unfortunately.

829

:

Oh, my God.

830

:

I already know where we're going.

831

:

No, this shit is definitely unfortunate.

832

:

She's about to put me on blast.

833

:

This is why you get.

834

:

This is why I get sweaty palms and

get a feel vulnerable and exposed.

835

:

Mom's spaghetti.

836

:

Yeah.

837

:

All right.

838

:

Let's see.

839

:

Let's do it, Erica.

840

:

Get after it.

841

:

Okay.

842

:

So this is you're gonna

give some backstory, right?

843

:

Okay.

844

:

Okay.

845

:

Um, the story, doesn't start with carob.

846

:

Starts with care is

former sister-in-law who?

847

:

Uh, years ago.

848

:

So bad.

849

:

At the first salon that I worked at.

850

:

Uh, she had an appointment.

851

:

And she used our restroom.

852

:

And clogged artery wallet.

853

:

And she came out and was like, um,

I think there's a concentrated,

854

:

like, I don't know what to do.

855

:

And at the time I was like 22.

856

:

I was like, oh, I'm dating a plumber.

857

:

Like I got this.

858

:

And I went in and I just

get flushed one more time.

859

:

Oh, dear God.

860

:

Her.

861

:

Shit.

862

:

I'm like running down the hallway

with so bad, but I was busy that day.

863

:

So I like got her manager.

864

:

I'm like, can you handle this?

865

:

RO so gross.

866

:

I had never had that happen before.

867

:

It was embarrassing

for everybody involved.

868

:

She sent an apology card to everybody.

869

:

The next week.

870

:

Very thoughtful.

871

:

It was very thoughtful.

872

:

That's nice.

873

:

Um, yes.

874

:

Yes.

875

:

And so then fast forward, , uh,

five to six to seven to eight years.

876

:

Uh, your mom Kira.

877

:

And with me for an appointment.

878

:

What's up, mom.

879

:

, I love Kara's mom.

880

:

She's the coolest, she's pretty rad.

881

:

Shout out doughy.

882

:

, so she had an appoint

with me and she, yeah.

883

:

Clogged my toilet.

884

:

And I'm like, damn, like, this is insane.

885

:

Okay.

886

:

How many were real quick?

887

:

How many other patrons.

888

:

We might, none never, literally.

889

:

Never ever.

890

:

We're down.

891

:

We're down to two clog toilets.

892

:

Clog it up.

893

:

Did, was it easily unclogged?

894

:

Yes.

895

:

It was no problem.

896

:

Just flush.

897

:

I just.

898

:

I channeled my plumber boyfriend and

I just flashed and it worked out.

899

:

, so fast forward another

year or two here comes Kara.

900

:

Kara for an appointment.

901

:

She's got a head full of foils.

902

:

And she comes out and she's like,

Erica, do you have a plunger?

903

:

And I was like, no.

904

:

And she's like, what?

905

:

I'm like, no, like I've

never needed one here.

906

:

Clearly though she needed one.

907

:

Right?

908

:

Okay.

909

:

The doughy should have been the warning.

910

:

I, yeah, I agree.

911

:

I should have went and bought one then.

912

:

I just hadn't ever had that happen.

913

:

Uh, let alone a fucking trio

from the same fucking family.

914

:

Kara with foils and your hair

drove to target to buy a plunger.

915

:

Yup.

916

:

And on the plunger wrote a note.

917

:

Wait a minute.

918

:

No, no, no.

919

:

I ran home to get a plunger.

920

:

And brought it back because I

wouldn't have been able to write

921

:

on the plunger and then use it.

922

:

So I went home.

923

:

Okay.

924

:

That's.

925

:

I'm remembering now.

926

:

Okay.

927

:

Got the plunger.

928

:

Came back and took care

of my shit, literally.

929

:

And then I felt like.

930

:

Clearly Eric has ill-equipped.

931

:

Our family.

932

:

So as a preventative measure, I got her.

933

:

A plunger and I wrapped an Abe

was in plastic because it was new.

934

:

And I just wrote a little love

though, something to the effect of

935

:

like for when you host the Heidinger.

936

:

Here we are.

937

:

You know what I did not do?

938

:

What is send you a thank you letter?

939

:

Well, I like, um, That

felt, it feels performative.

940

:

A plunger was way more useful cause you

can't unclog a toilet with an envelope.

941

:

Oh,

942

:

You can drive.

943

:

Oh, my God.

944

:

Um, That was years ago and

never pooped here since.

945

:

Got your band.

946

:

I swear to God it's like in the

past, anybody with your last

947

:

name would just go to taco bell.

948

:

And then comfort.

949

:

I say, maybe it's just the,

it's the plumbing, right?

950

:

There's just so much hair wash downs.

951

:

But then that would be more

applicable to other people having

952

:

a similar shared experience.

953

:

That is correct.

954

:

So, yeah.

955

:

, it took.

956

:

But I noticed somebody undid the

wrapping cause I just left it.

957

:

I never opened it.

958

:

Yeah.

959

:

And I just saw that had

been taken out of that.

960

:

The love letter is still on there.

961

:

Yeah.

962

:

Somebody else pooped in your, uh, in

your bathroom, they did, they did.

963

:

Embarrassing story, Erica.

964

:

Thank you.

965

:

You're so welcome.

966

:

, I also think it's hilarious though.

967

:

I mean, I mean, really what are the odds?

968

:

What's wrong with us.

969

:

I don't know.

970

:

Yeah.

971

:

I don't know either.

972

:

How much fiber.

973

:

It's not like we all

eat together every time.

974

:

Right.

975

:

We're all breaking bread together

and then coming to get our haircut.

976

:

Dear God.

977

:

Oh man.

978

:

Yeah.

979

:

Um,

980

:

That's great.

981

:

How do we move on from that?

982

:

Like where do you go from there?

983

:

Should we talk about cancer.

984

:

Oh, God.

985

:

I mean, speaking of things that suck.

986

:

Yeah.

987

:

Or yeah.

988

:

Or things that are shitty.

989

:

Yeah.

990

:

Totally shitty.

991

:

There it is right.

992

:

With your brother, the first person

close to you that you look, was that

993

:

your first close cancer experience?

994

:

Yeah.

995

:

Okay.

996

:

Yeah.

997

:

What about you?

998

:

Um, uh, yeah, that was my first, like

I had had a couple clients who passed

999

:

away, but I wasn't, , I'm nowhere near

as intimately involved in the process.

:

00:37:15,199 --> 00:37:16,729

As I was with your family.

:

00:37:16,729 --> 00:37:16,969

Yeah.

:

00:37:17,069 --> 00:37:20,669

, and then since then, Kara

and I both have had younger.

:

00:37:21,029 --> 00:37:23,159

Your friends pass away from.

:

00:37:23,699 --> 00:37:24,569

Nevermind all cancer.

:

00:37:24,659 --> 00:37:24,749

Yeah.

:

00:37:26,159 --> 00:37:30,089

I feel like that has permanently

kind of rewired my neurochemistry

:

00:37:30,089 --> 00:37:30,959

for how I view life.

:

00:37:30,989 --> 00:37:32,009

Does that resonate with you?

:

00:37:32,009 --> 00:37:32,729

A hundred percent?

:

00:37:32,789 --> 00:37:33,239

Yeah.

:

00:37:33,389 --> 00:37:36,899

I feel like I have a greater

awareness of the fragility.

:

00:37:37,349 --> 00:37:38,999

Um, but also the beauty, right?

:

00:37:38,999 --> 00:37:42,089

So like, while I joke, and I'm really

honest about how hard it is being like

:

00:37:42,119 --> 00:37:48,239

a mom or married to, you know, my chef

husband, like I'm also so grateful.

:

00:37:48,269 --> 00:37:48,539

Yeah.

:

00:37:48,599 --> 00:37:49,889

You know, like I'm grateful.

:

00:37:50,159 --> 00:37:51,509

Uh, for those things and it, yeah.

:

00:37:51,569 --> 00:37:54,629

And it, the thing about cancer

or the thing about the experience

:

00:37:54,629 --> 00:37:57,989

with my brother, Is, you know,

life wasn't easy for us when we

:

00:37:58,019 --> 00:37:59,279

were a little, like, life is hard.

:

00:37:59,669 --> 00:38:04,709

And I always said to myself that no

matter how hard my life is, I'll be okay

:

00:38:04,709 --> 00:38:09,479

because I have my family and I truly

had never created a space that allowed

:

00:38:09,479 --> 00:38:11,549

me to look at my life any differently.

:

00:38:11,879 --> 00:38:16,109

So when Ryan was diagnosed,

it was shit shattered.

:

00:38:16,259 --> 00:38:21,059

Like shattered my world in a way that

I was like, this is unfathomable.

:

00:38:21,059 --> 00:38:22,409

This is unfair.

:

00:38:22,439 --> 00:38:22,769

Right.

:

00:38:22,769 --> 00:38:26,999

And I did all of the emotions of

like being angry and just pissed

:

00:38:26,999 --> 00:38:29,129

at the world and fuck cancer.

:

00:38:29,129 --> 00:38:30,449

And like all those things, right?

:

00:38:30,449 --> 00:38:34,619

Like, , Yeah, but the, the journey also

taught, taught us a lot, brought the

:

00:38:34,619 --> 00:38:38,219

fragility of life and the beauty of it

and others, you know, and, and about

:

00:38:38,249 --> 00:38:40,079

being present, that's really hard to do.

:

00:38:40,289 --> 00:38:40,859

Absolutely.

:

00:38:40,859 --> 00:38:41,279

You know?

:

00:38:41,429 --> 00:38:43,019

, so yeah, that's like being

in your chair, right?

:

00:38:43,019 --> 00:38:44,969

It's like that moment you're

just present in the moment.

:

00:38:44,999 --> 00:38:45,359

My whole.

:

00:38:45,539 --> 00:38:46,739

Self-care moment, but yeah.

:

00:38:47,669 --> 00:38:48,059

Yeah.

:

00:38:48,149 --> 00:38:48,509

Cancer.

:

00:38:48,509 --> 00:38:49,679

I mean, cancer is unreal.

:

00:38:49,779 --> 00:38:51,969

, how long after my brother

passed, did you lose?

:

00:38:52,449 --> 00:38:53,439

Someone else to cancer.

:

00:38:53,686 --> 00:38:54,676

It was three or four years.

:

00:38:54,736 --> 00:38:55,966

Yeah, it was an ex-boyfriend of mine.

:

00:38:56,086 --> 00:38:56,266

Yeah.

:

00:38:56,376 --> 00:38:59,106

, and that just came on so unexpectedly.

:

00:38:59,106 --> 00:38:59,376

Yeah.

:

00:39:00,216 --> 00:39:00,786

Quick.

:

00:39:01,066 --> 00:39:01,996

, but it was interesting.

:

00:39:02,536 --> 00:39:04,726

, When your brother was diagnosed and

I don't know, you probably know the

:

00:39:04,726 --> 00:39:09,976

story, but if not, , the day that your

brother was diagnosed was December.

:

00:39:10,636 --> 00:39:14,476

st:

20 December 12th, December 12th,

:

00:39:14,476 --> 00:39:16,306

:

:

00:39:16,366 --> 00:39:17,026

The end of the year.

:

00:39:17,236 --> 00:39:19,936

And I remember this because a that's wild.

:

00:39:19,996 --> 00:39:24,436

But my ex fiance and I had,

uh, dinner plans with your

:

00:39:24,436 --> 00:39:25,786

brother and his wife that night.

:

00:39:26,176 --> 00:39:29,566

And so, uh, his wife had

called my fiance and was like,

:

00:39:29,566 --> 00:39:30,826

Hey, we need to like, cancel.

:

00:39:31,256 --> 00:39:35,096

, and I remember after work, he like broke

the news to me and he was like, Hey,

:

00:39:35,096 --> 00:39:36,806

it's like bad news, like gallbladder.

:

00:39:36,806 --> 00:39:38,126

And I was like, oh my God, that's great.

:

00:39:38,126 --> 00:39:39,956

Like, we don't need a gallbladder,

they can just take it out.

:

00:39:39,956 --> 00:39:41,756

And he was like, So here's the deal.

:

00:39:41,996 --> 00:39:43,256

Maybe not so much.

:

00:39:43,286 --> 00:39:43,556

Yeah.

:

00:39:44,186 --> 00:39:47,426

And that always just stuck in me of

like, oh my God, like the Mayan calendar

:

00:39:47,426 --> 00:39:50,186

thing, I'm like, it wasn't the end of

the world for everyone, but it was the

:

00:39:50,186 --> 00:39:52,196

end of the world as it existed for.

:

00:39:52,436 --> 00:39:53,246

For your world.

:

00:39:54,536 --> 00:39:55,496

So wild.

:

00:39:55,586 --> 00:39:55,826

Yeah.

:

00:39:56,096 --> 00:40:00,776

, I remember, you know, everybody rallied

together and put together a team, Heidi.

:

00:40:00,776 --> 00:40:01,196

Yeah.

:

00:40:01,526 --> 00:40:04,376

Charity event, which kind of

spawned the giving kitchen now.

:

00:40:04,706 --> 00:40:08,196

, but I remember a couple of people being

like, oh, no, that's like his book is

:

00:40:08,196 --> 00:40:10,116

written and I was like, so optimistic.

:

00:40:10,116 --> 00:40:11,616

And I was like, no, we.

:

00:40:11,916 --> 00:40:14,046

Uh, nothing is done until it's done.

:

00:40:14,136 --> 00:40:15,666

And I was wildly optimistic.

:

00:40:15,666 --> 00:40:17,646

And then of course, He passed.

:

00:40:17,676 --> 00:40:17,886

Yeah.

:

00:40:18,876 --> 00:40:23,616

And so when my ex was diagnosed

and it was stage four lung cancer.

:

00:40:24,126 --> 00:40:28,506

I was disappointed in myself

that my response was a lot more

:

00:40:28,986 --> 00:40:32,856

pessimistic and I was just like,

oh, like, he's going to die.

:

00:40:33,096 --> 00:40:33,456

Yeah.

:

00:40:33,516 --> 00:40:37,156

He made a comment to me once, , kind of

midway through treatment, like maybe four

:

00:40:37,156 --> 00:40:39,166

or five months into his, into his chemo.

:

00:40:39,796 --> 00:40:42,916

And he, he said, now that I

know I'm going to be okay.

:

00:40:43,306 --> 00:40:45,496

And I remember looking

at him and thinking.

:

00:40:46,366 --> 00:40:48,736

Oh, you don't realize the severity.

:

00:40:48,796 --> 00:40:49,426

Yeah.

:

00:40:49,426 --> 00:40:49,786

Yeah.

:

00:40:49,966 --> 00:40:54,156

And . It was fascinating to observe having

watched how your brother responded to it.

:

00:40:54,186 --> 00:40:55,806

Totally watched how he responded to it.

:

00:40:56,106 --> 00:40:59,946

But Ryan was, uh, so.

:

00:41:00,816 --> 00:41:02,346

Uh, what's the best word for it?

:

00:41:02,346 --> 00:41:04,626

I mean, He was not disillusioned.

:

00:41:04,776 --> 00:41:06,786

No, I think that he was certainly.

:

00:41:07,626 --> 00:41:08,226

He was a realist.

:

00:41:08,226 --> 00:41:11,046

He was hoping for a miracle,

but he was prepared to die.

:

00:41:11,076 --> 00:41:11,376

Yeah.

:

00:41:12,486 --> 00:41:12,906

I agree.

:

00:41:12,996 --> 00:41:13,356

Yeah.

:

00:41:13,386 --> 00:41:18,336

And I think seeing somebody, I mean, to

the day that his name was Josh to the day

:

00:41:18,336 --> 00:41:21,846

that he passed away, I think he probably

was surprised that he died because he

:

00:41:21,846 --> 00:41:24,096

just refused to accept what was happening.

:

00:41:24,546 --> 00:41:28,746

And he missed out and we missed out

on so many important conversations

:

00:41:28,746 --> 00:41:32,526

and moments and things together,

and he was just, he was angry and he

:

00:41:32,526 --> 00:41:36,636

was unwilling to, uh, , just accept

the realities of what was happening.

:

00:41:36,636 --> 00:41:36,726

Yeah.

:

00:41:37,026 --> 00:41:40,746

And so I think having such those two

experiences, but having them so different.

:

00:41:41,046 --> 00:41:42,426

Just like fucked me up.

:

00:41:42,766 --> 00:41:43,666

, it's wild.

:

00:41:43,696 --> 00:41:47,896

It's just wild to see how people re

react when they get that type of news.

:

00:41:47,926 --> 00:41:48,346

Yeah.

:

00:41:48,466 --> 00:41:49,606

Um, I agree.

:

00:41:49,666 --> 00:41:51,886

I think I had a similar

experience with my friend, Julie.

:

00:41:51,916 --> 00:41:52,276

Yeah.

:

00:41:52,336 --> 00:41:55,006

, and Julie was one of the first people I'd

met when I moved to Atlanta in oh nine.

:

00:41:55,006 --> 00:41:58,276

And while we weren't everyday friends

of like texting, grab a drink after

:

00:41:58,276 --> 00:42:01,336

work all the time, we were like the

show up for your major life events.

:

00:42:01,336 --> 00:42:01,636

Right?

:

00:42:01,666 --> 00:42:01,846

Like.

:

00:42:02,056 --> 00:42:02,746

It was amazing.

:

00:42:02,806 --> 00:42:03,046

Yeah.

:

00:42:03,736 --> 00:42:07,156

Witty and dry and kind of

dark and a little bitchy.

:

00:42:07,996 --> 00:42:08,956

Really sassy.

:

00:42:08,956 --> 00:42:09,316

Yeah.

:

00:42:09,466 --> 00:42:11,266

She was like, and again, authentic.

:

00:42:11,296 --> 00:42:12,436

And she wasn't for everyone.

:

00:42:12,466 --> 00:42:12,646

Correct.

:

00:42:13,306 --> 00:42:16,576

Like she had, you had to have a specific

taste for Julie to be your tastes.

:

00:42:16,636 --> 00:42:18,166

Um, but.

:

00:42:18,676 --> 00:42:21,196

Again, that's that authenticity

that I respected, even if

:

00:42:21,196 --> 00:42:22,276

her and I even buttheads.

:

00:42:22,276 --> 00:42:26,416

I remember one time in Quatrano

was like, I need you to, to go.

:

00:42:26,416 --> 00:42:28,096

We were managing two

different restaurants.

:

00:42:28,366 --> 00:42:30,646

Should I need you to, to

go get a pedicure together.

:

00:42:30,886 --> 00:42:31,366

And she did.

:

00:42:31,366 --> 00:42:32,686

She sent us to get a pedicure.

:

00:42:32,926 --> 00:42:35,896

So that Julia and I, this was early

on in our business relationship.

:

00:42:36,146 --> 00:42:37,496

, and then we just kept

showing up for each other.

:

00:42:37,496 --> 00:42:39,146

And I was there when she got

married and I was there when she

:

00:42:39,146 --> 00:42:42,356

got divorced and I was there when

she got diagnosed with cancer and.

:

00:42:43,016 --> 00:42:47,216

You know, the one thing is I've found

that sometimes people hesitate to tell

:

00:42:47,216 --> 00:42:49,856

me bad news because they're worried.

:

00:42:50,306 --> 00:42:53,696

They don't want to cause me pain

because I've been through it.

:

00:42:54,036 --> 00:42:57,386

, another former coworker of

mine, , who I worked with.

:

00:42:57,386 --> 00:42:57,956

It, it.

:

00:42:58,526 --> 00:42:59,066

Avatar.

:

00:42:59,066 --> 00:43:00,446

And I worked with her, her.

:

00:43:00,926 --> 00:43:03,326

Partner at buck Emilia was

recently diagnosed with cancer.

:

00:43:03,696 --> 00:43:06,276

, she said, I thought about you

so much during this process.

:

00:43:06,546 --> 00:43:08,466

I just, I didn't want to burden you.

:

00:43:08,466 --> 00:43:10,356

And I was like, it's not, I'm here for it.

:

00:43:10,356 --> 00:43:13,536

And I find that I can show up in a

different capacity for people now.

:

00:43:13,986 --> 00:43:15,816

They're going through really hard stuff.

:

00:43:15,846 --> 00:43:18,396

Like, you know, I'm, I'm an impasse.

:

00:43:18,396 --> 00:43:19,776

So I feel so much of it.

:

00:43:20,046 --> 00:43:23,406

But I'm also, I think you and I

talked about this, like I almost

:

00:43:23,406 --> 00:43:24,786

feel like I could do hospice work.

:

00:43:24,816 --> 00:43:25,206

Yes.

:

00:43:25,926 --> 00:43:30,606

I can hold space for someone to

say, like, you can be whatever

:

00:43:30,606 --> 00:43:31,506

it is you're going through.

:

00:43:31,506 --> 00:43:32,886

I'll show up for that conversation.

:

00:43:33,066 --> 00:43:33,576

Hold space.

:

00:43:33,966 --> 00:43:35,676

And I felt like when Julie was dying.

:

00:43:36,336 --> 00:43:37,866

She had a hard time.

:

00:43:38,286 --> 00:43:40,806

Acknowledging it, she fought and

fought and fought, fought, same thing.

:

00:43:40,806 --> 00:43:42,156

She was like, I'm going to

beat, I'm going to beat it.

:

00:43:42,156 --> 00:43:43,206

And like, There were hard times.

:

00:43:43,596 --> 00:43:47,676

And even at the end, I don't

think she fully accepted.

:

00:43:47,886 --> 00:43:48,786

She was dying.

:

00:43:49,056 --> 00:43:51,906

And I think that there were times

where one time she was in it, she

:

00:43:51,906 --> 00:43:54,886

said, she texted me and said, , how

do I say goodbye to the ocean?

:

00:43:54,916 --> 00:43:56,356

Because water was like her thing.

:

00:43:56,956 --> 00:43:58,456

And I said, I don't think that you do.

:

00:43:58,456 --> 00:44:03,346

I think that you, you allow the water,

like in G that energy and, and to be yours

:

00:44:03,346 --> 00:44:06,286

and to show the energy and eventually

you become one with the water, right?

:

00:44:06,286 --> 00:44:10,456

Like, you know, And, but even then

it was just like lightly contemplated

:

00:44:10,636 --> 00:44:15,276

bits, but not a deep dive into, and I

think, you know, the unique thing with

:

00:44:15,276 --> 00:44:17,436

my brother is through his journaling.

:

00:44:18,036 --> 00:44:21,636

He talked about that, like

he talked about, you know, he

:

00:44:21,636 --> 00:44:24,876

reminisced and he was grateful for

the time he'd had with his wife.

:

00:44:24,876 --> 00:44:28,746

And he worried about my mom and, you

know, just, he was real authentic

:

00:44:28,746 --> 00:44:30,276

and he was, you know, and he even.

:

00:44:31,116 --> 00:44:35,136

He showed that he fought, but

that he was also practical.

:

00:44:35,166 --> 00:44:35,706

Yes.

:

00:44:35,766 --> 00:44:37,806

You know, and I think that allowed.

:

00:44:38,256 --> 00:44:42,366

That practical element allowed

him to have an ease and peace

:

00:44:42,366 --> 00:44:43,986

of mind and an acceptance.

:

00:44:44,556 --> 00:44:48,546

But the other part allowed him to

like keep pushing, to keep, you

:

00:44:48,546 --> 00:44:51,516

know, he challenged himself to

like really endure the chemo and

:

00:44:51,516 --> 00:44:53,256

did, even though he felt like shit.

:

00:44:53,256 --> 00:44:56,406

And, and also to show people

that he was a fighter, right.

:

00:44:56,436 --> 00:44:58,206

That he had the strength in him to do it.

:

00:44:58,606 --> 00:45:01,696

, but yeah, the contrast of those

experiences, wild, which, like I

:

00:45:01,696 --> 00:45:04,786

said, I think because we both had

the shared experience of losing

:

00:45:04,786 --> 00:45:06,676

my brother, but then our own.

:

00:45:06,736 --> 00:45:09,646

You know, situations that were vastly

different the second time around.

:

00:45:10,196 --> 00:45:13,286

, was the, you know, I think

hospice is beautiful work.

:

00:45:13,316 --> 00:45:16,826

I think some of that can show up

at the end of life and, you know,

:

00:45:17,126 --> 00:45:18,986

Make someone feel safe or seen?

:

00:45:19,106 --> 00:45:19,376

Yeah.

:

00:45:19,436 --> 00:45:19,556

I'm.

:

00:45:19,736 --> 00:45:22,436

And valued or appreciated

is, is a real gift.

:

00:45:22,466 --> 00:45:23,876

I completely agree.

:

00:45:23,936 --> 00:45:27,446

And I've mentioned on multiple episodes

of this, that being a death doula

:

00:45:27,476 --> 00:45:32,456

is something that I've always been,

Interested in and kind of called towards,

:

00:45:32,716 --> 00:45:37,066

, and I, I mean, prior, your brother was

the first person close to me that, , I

:

00:45:37,066 --> 00:45:40,276

watched passed away from cancer, but

I've had lots of other people die.

:

00:45:40,336 --> 00:45:42,346

Before that other things totally.

:

00:45:42,676 --> 00:45:45,526

And so it was just kind of this thing

that's been ever since I was in high

:

00:45:45,526 --> 00:45:48,316

school, , uh, like present in my life.

:

00:45:48,706 --> 00:45:52,816

And I think that a lot of people it's like

simultaneously wonderful that they haven't

:

00:45:52,816 --> 00:45:57,526

had that experience, but if they haven't,

when it happens, they're so ill-equipped,

:

00:45:57,886 --> 00:45:59,716

and just kind of shocked and stunned.

:

00:45:59,716 --> 00:46:03,316

And it's like, how, w how do you even

begin to process or approach that.

:

00:46:04,616 --> 00:46:07,676

, And yeah, I think that it's when

you are that empathetic and you

:

00:46:07,676 --> 00:46:10,496

can just kind of feel everything

that's happening in these dynamics.

:

00:46:10,496 --> 00:46:13,886

Being able to help people

through that transition.

:

00:46:14,186 --> 00:46:15,896

I think would be just

like the highest honor.

:

00:46:15,926 --> 00:46:16,856

Yeah, I would agree.

:

00:46:16,886 --> 00:46:18,116

I think it's really noble work.

:

00:46:18,146 --> 00:46:18,596

Yeah.

:

00:46:18,716 --> 00:46:21,926

Is it something you could see

as like a career 3.0 situation?

:

00:46:21,986 --> 00:46:23,576

No, I don't ever want to work again.

:

00:46:25,586 --> 00:46:26,336

I actually.

:

00:46:26,846 --> 00:46:30,616

I know I actually had, I was, , hanging

out with my friends over at Cronulla

:

00:46:30,616 --> 00:46:32,146

coffee, shop down from staple house.

:

00:46:32,146 --> 00:46:33,646

Cause it's one of my safe places.

:

00:46:33,676 --> 00:46:34,096

Love it.

:

00:46:34,096 --> 00:46:36,676

There love them, love their

product of their energy, love

:

00:46:36,676 --> 00:46:37,576

their branding, their marketing.

:

00:46:37,576 --> 00:46:40,156

I mean, truly like I'm such

a, such a fan girl of them.

:

00:46:40,516 --> 00:46:43,966

And I was there and we were

just talking about how hard

:

00:46:43,966 --> 00:46:45,226

life was in restaurant life.

:

00:46:45,226 --> 00:46:45,376

And.

:

00:46:45,886 --> 00:46:47,656

You know, Life in general.

:

00:46:47,656 --> 00:46:47,836

And.

:

00:46:48,616 --> 00:46:51,106

The one of the girls asked me,

she said, well, what would you

:

00:46:51,106 --> 00:46:52,426

do if you could have any job?

:

00:46:52,426 --> 00:46:56,236

And I, I, without hesitation,

say, I'd be a stay at home mom.

:

00:46:57,196 --> 00:46:58,906

And I say that because

my kids are at school.

:

00:46:58,936 --> 00:47:01,576

So really I'd be a stay at

home by myself during the day.

:

00:47:02,476 --> 00:47:03,196

Dog mom.

:

00:47:03,226 --> 00:47:03,616

Yes.

:

00:47:03,736 --> 00:47:08,566

Um, And then she looked at me and say,

when you say that, And she said it

:

00:47:08,566 --> 00:47:10,006

without laughing, but then I laughed.

:

00:47:10,006 --> 00:47:13,486

She said, When you say that, do you

feel the feminism leaving your body?

:

00:47:14,236 --> 00:47:16,036

And I was like, damn straight.

:

00:47:16,036 --> 00:47:20,566

I do, but also, but also then redefining

what that femininity looks like for me.

:

00:47:20,566 --> 00:47:20,896

Right.

:

00:47:20,896 --> 00:47:21,016

And.

:

00:47:21,586 --> 00:47:24,526

You know, Just being able to pivot

and like, just do the things like

:

00:47:24,556 --> 00:47:26,656

finding those spaces for self care.

:

00:47:26,716 --> 00:47:26,956

Yeah.

:

00:47:26,986 --> 00:47:29,026

To like cook and clean with leisure.

:

00:47:29,026 --> 00:47:30,856

I actually don't mind those things.

:

00:47:30,856 --> 00:47:34,426

I just don't like them when

they're like, Number 89 and 94 on

:

00:47:34,426 --> 00:47:35,566

a list of a hundred things to do.

:

00:47:35,986 --> 00:47:37,156

And then when the next

day you have to do it all.

:

00:47:37,636 --> 00:47:37,876

Yeah.

:

00:47:37,906 --> 00:47:38,146

Yeah.

:

00:47:38,266 --> 00:47:39,466

I completely agree with that.

:

00:47:39,646 --> 00:47:41,866

What would you do if you

weren't a hairstylist?

:

00:47:42,196 --> 00:47:43,036

, And a business owner.

:

00:47:43,036 --> 00:47:44,116

It's not just the hairstyling.

:

00:47:44,116 --> 00:47:48,166

You have the podcast, you have

the retail shop, you have online

:

00:47:48,256 --> 00:47:49,996

retail, you have the hairstyling.

:

00:47:49,996 --> 00:47:52,726

So I would find a.

:

00:47:53,476 --> 00:47:55,816

96 to 98 year old.

:

00:47:56,056 --> 00:47:56,926

Very well-to-do.

:

00:47:56,986 --> 00:47:57,676

I'm dead inside.

:

00:47:59,206 --> 00:48:01,246

And I would put on the lowest cut shirt.

:

00:48:02,086 --> 00:48:04,186

And I would Anna, Nicole,

the fuck out of it.

:

00:48:04,696 --> 00:48:07,726

But stopping this, this

can be your side hustle.

:

00:48:08,116 --> 00:48:10,156

Get after it, you've got the breasts.

:

00:48:10,186 --> 00:48:11,446

You've got the cleavage.

:

00:48:12,046 --> 00:48:13,876

Yeah, you've got the finesse.

:

00:48:14,896 --> 00:48:16,636

My Bumble age ratio.

:

00:48:16,756 --> 00:48:17,596

Yeah.

:

00:48:17,716 --> 00:48:20,026

Maybe join a country club, maybe.

:

00:48:20,356 --> 00:48:20,866

Right.

:

00:48:21,046 --> 00:48:23,326

Really, I think I would

make a good lady of leisure.

:

00:48:23,416 --> 00:48:23,776

Yeah.

:

00:48:23,806 --> 00:48:27,166

I mean, there's gotta be some

like, you know, membership clubs

:

00:48:27,166 --> 00:48:29,596

up in like Buckhead, Johns Creek.

:

00:48:30,166 --> 00:48:31,426

You know, get in there.

:

00:48:31,456 --> 00:48:33,226

The problem is I don't like those people.

:

00:48:34,396 --> 00:48:36,256

And I don't have to like them

to get what you're getting.

:

00:48:37,816 --> 00:48:38,026

, Yeah.

:

00:48:38,056 --> 00:48:38,446

I don't know.

:

00:48:38,476 --> 00:48:42,166

I think about this a lot because there

are absolutely like, I have a lot of

:

00:48:42,166 --> 00:48:44,836

clients that are like, stay at home moms.

:

00:48:45,046 --> 00:48:48,616

You are married to mildly

attractive, rich as fuck dude.

:

00:48:48,946 --> 00:48:50,956

And I'm like, does it look like.

:

00:48:51,046 --> 00:48:51,856

I compromise.

:

00:48:51,886 --> 00:48:54,886

This has been made,

however, you're, you know?

:

00:48:55,036 --> 00:48:55,486

Yeah.

:

00:48:55,516 --> 00:48:56,536

It seemed pretty relaxed.

:

00:48:56,566 --> 00:48:57,046

Yeah.

:

00:48:57,226 --> 00:48:57,676

I know.

:

00:48:59,506 --> 00:49:02,926

Man, but yeah, then it's

that bout like, I mean, Yeah.

:

00:49:03,466 --> 00:49:03,826

Yeah.

:

00:49:03,916 --> 00:49:04,366

I hear you.

:

00:49:04,546 --> 00:49:08,956

I think though, knowing myself, I,

uh, and back to the, the feminism

:

00:49:08,986 --> 00:49:13,216

component, , I truly believe that

no woman should ever hand over her

:

00:49:13,216 --> 00:49:15,316

financial autonomy to a man or.

:

00:49:15,616 --> 00:49:17,086

Or to anybody outside of herself.

:

00:49:17,366 --> 00:49:19,556

, because I think there's

safety and financial freedom.

:

00:49:19,976 --> 00:49:22,256

So I don't think that I

would thrive in that dynamic.

:

00:49:22,346 --> 00:49:22,466

Yeah.

:

00:49:22,586 --> 00:49:24,926

, unless it was like, we

just need a stipend.

:

00:49:25,016 --> 00:49:25,376

Right.

:

00:49:25,376 --> 00:49:27,956

You just need to be like, I'm

going to keep my shit over here.

:

00:49:27,986 --> 00:49:28,706

You keep your shit there.

:

00:49:28,706 --> 00:49:31,526

But like, if you want to

fund my lifestyle right.

:

00:49:31,616 --> 00:49:33,926

I mean I'm open to being funded for sure.

:

00:49:34,016 --> 00:49:36,146

But I just would need also

my, yeah, my own thing.

:

00:49:36,416 --> 00:49:37,016

Maybe like.

:

00:49:37,676 --> 00:49:41,036

Uh, like no prenup and

a life insurance policy.

:

00:49:41,036 --> 00:49:41,756

That's huge.

:

00:49:42,176 --> 00:49:43,046

And an ailing man.

:

00:49:44,636 --> 00:49:46,046

Setting yourself up for success there.

:

00:49:46,046 --> 00:49:46,436

Right?

:

00:49:46,676 --> 00:49:47,156

Yeah.

:

00:49:47,186 --> 00:49:48,116

Tell me how you really feel.

:

00:49:48,176 --> 00:49:48,356

Yeah.

:

00:49:48,506 --> 00:49:49,556

Thinking long-term for me.

:

00:49:49,586 --> 00:49:50,396

And short term for you.

:

00:49:50,516 --> 00:49:52,466

Well, maybe you should start

that doula work, right.

:

00:49:53,036 --> 00:49:53,906

I guess a built-in.

:

00:49:54,596 --> 00:49:56,966

The debt do lots of built in demographic.

:

00:49:57,026 --> 00:49:57,836

Oh my God.

:

00:49:57,836 --> 00:49:58,616

It's all coming full.

:

00:49:59,426 --> 00:50:01,526

He'd be like the woman

who had five husbands.

:

00:50:02,276 --> 00:50:03,866

But all only for a few years.

:

00:50:03,866 --> 00:50:04,646

Yes.

:

00:50:04,916 --> 00:50:05,996

Why when you can add.

:

00:50:09,986 --> 00:50:10,646

I'm dead.

:

00:50:11,756 --> 00:50:12,986

Oh, gloves are off gloves.

:

00:50:12,986 --> 00:50:13,736

Gloves are off y'all.

:

00:50:15,806 --> 00:50:17,486

Oh, As marrying for love.

:

00:50:18,086 --> 00:50:19,046

Uh, I did.

:

00:50:19,166 --> 00:50:19,766

I did.

:

00:50:19,826 --> 00:50:20,456

Yeah.

:

00:50:20,966 --> 00:50:22,076

Do you remember how that's going?

:

00:50:26,696 --> 00:50:31,256

Uh, everything has a season, you know,

everything does everything has a season.

:

00:50:31,556 --> 00:50:32,456

I married.

:

00:50:32,456 --> 00:50:33,626

I married a good man.

:

00:50:33,656 --> 00:50:34,346

I really did.

:

00:50:34,346 --> 00:50:34,706

He is.

:

00:50:34,886 --> 00:50:37,526

He's a good father and

he, and he's kind of hot.

:

00:50:37,556 --> 00:50:37,826

Yeah.

:

00:50:37,826 --> 00:50:39,746

He's I mean, have you seen those arms?

:

00:50:39,806 --> 00:50:40,436

Yeah.

:

00:50:40,916 --> 00:50:41,486

Yeah, they look.

:

00:50:41,756 --> 00:50:42,116

Good.

:

00:50:42,506 --> 00:50:47,596

Um, no, he's, he, he is talented and

he is, , a good dad and he's a hard

:

00:50:47,596 --> 00:50:50,266

worker and yeah, I, I would do it again.

:

00:50:50,446 --> 00:50:50,716

Yeah.

:

00:50:50,746 --> 00:50:51,046

Yeah.

:

00:50:52,216 --> 00:50:54,376

You asked me a question

once about being a mom.

:

00:50:54,376 --> 00:50:57,316

And you said, if you could erase

the memory of your kids, right?

:

00:50:57,316 --> 00:50:59,326

Like you didn't have them and

you could race the memory.

:

00:50:59,386 --> 00:50:59,686

Yeah.

:

00:50:59,746 --> 00:51:00,826

Would you do it again?

:

00:51:00,916 --> 00:51:01,216

Yeah.

:

00:51:01,246 --> 00:51:03,796

And that's such an interesting

question because you can't write,

:

00:51:03,826 --> 00:51:05,626

like you can't really erase.

:

00:51:05,926 --> 00:51:06,196

No.

:

00:51:06,976 --> 00:51:07,216

Yeah.

:

00:51:07,456 --> 00:51:10,906

You can't would I, if I didn't know

better because you do know better, but

:

00:51:10,906 --> 00:51:14,816

I, I, it's something I think about a

lot, , with, and I, and I think that

:

00:51:14,816 --> 00:51:17,216

I would, you know, like it's so hard.

:

00:51:17,816 --> 00:51:18,176

Yeah.

:

00:51:18,206 --> 00:51:20,726

I think that I would,

but I don't know because.

:

00:51:21,416 --> 00:51:21,776

Right.

:

00:51:21,776 --> 00:51:25,256

Like I'm, I've done the journey

and I've done the hard work.

:

00:51:25,286 --> 00:51:25,586

Right.

:

00:51:25,586 --> 00:51:29,636

And I also reap the benefits of

having these really bad-ass cool kids.

:

00:51:29,876 --> 00:51:34,136

I mean, Lillian is about to be nine

and she's can set boundaries with

:

00:51:34,136 --> 00:51:36,146

people better than some adults.

:

00:51:36,206 --> 00:51:36,746

That's amazing.

:

00:51:36,806 --> 00:51:37,016

Right.

:

00:51:37,166 --> 00:51:40,946

She said to about a friend at school

that didn't like her response.

:

00:51:40,946 --> 00:51:44,546

And she was like, well, I'm, I'm

saying what I will or won't do.

:

00:51:44,546 --> 00:51:46,676

And how you respond to it

is your responsibility.

:

00:51:47,186 --> 00:51:49,046

And I was like, yes.

:

00:51:49,286 --> 00:51:49,976

It's after.

:

00:51:49,976 --> 00:51:50,366

Right.

:

00:51:50,366 --> 00:51:53,366

And like, you know, I think that it

helps you to like she's in therapy.

:

00:51:53,366 --> 00:51:56,546

And so she's like has a safe place to

like really work through some of these

:

00:51:56,546 --> 00:52:00,206

things that, you know, a lot of kids

maybe don't, or don't have an awareness

:

00:52:00,206 --> 00:52:04,376

and we're in past and we're, you know,

emotional, you know, I'm very emotionally

:

00:52:04,376 --> 00:52:05,876

present with my kids, but yeah.

:

00:52:06,596 --> 00:52:07,496

I don't know how I got on that.

:

00:52:07,496 --> 00:52:08,066

That's what I do.

:

00:52:08,156 --> 00:52:08,786

A trail off.

:

00:52:09,536 --> 00:52:11,066

I'm scared to trail off all day long.

:

00:52:11,936 --> 00:52:13,706

Um, do you see yourself getting married?

:

00:52:14,876 --> 00:52:16,016

That's such a funny question.

:

00:52:16,096 --> 00:52:17,896

, cause I've referenced multiple times.

:

00:52:17,946 --> 00:52:18,996

I was engaged, so.

:

00:52:19,326 --> 00:52:20,316

I could have been married.

:

00:52:21,066 --> 00:52:22,626

And I'm so glad that I was.

:

00:52:23,256 --> 00:52:24,546

Imagine a bullet there.

:

00:52:24,786 --> 00:52:26,046

Just the most boring bullet.

:

00:52:28,806 --> 00:52:29,586

That's amazing.

:

00:52:30,456 --> 00:52:31,476

Um, honest.

:

00:52:31,926 --> 00:52:32,496

That's so true.

:

00:52:32,556 --> 00:52:33,936

Everybody who knows him knows that's true.

:

00:52:34,126 --> 00:52:36,316

, Uh, so, uh, Yes.

:

00:52:36,316 --> 00:52:37,816

I could see myself getting married.

:

00:52:38,056 --> 00:52:42,046

However, my idea of what

that should look like.

:

00:52:42,496 --> 00:52:47,146

Or like what it would take for me

to agree to that dynamic has really

:

00:52:47,146 --> 00:52:48,676

evolved over the past decade.

:

00:52:48,706 --> 00:52:49,006

Yeah.

:

00:52:49,456 --> 00:52:52,096

Especially as somebody who's

financially independent.

:

00:52:52,376 --> 00:52:58,706

, I would need somebody who, like, I always

say like my, my taco bell table is full.

:

00:52:58,796 --> 00:52:59,816

Like I am.

:

00:53:00,116 --> 00:53:01,106

Not very big.

:

00:53:01,166 --> 00:53:03,806

I mean, in all fairness,

like it's a very small table.

:

00:53:04,466 --> 00:53:05,306

Our knees are grazing.

:

00:53:07,316 --> 00:53:10,526

Um, but yeah, if I could meet a

person who could like add a wing onto

:

00:53:10,526 --> 00:53:12,686

my table and like add to my life.

:

00:53:12,716 --> 00:53:13,076

Fair enough.

:

00:53:13,136 --> 00:53:13,766

In a way.

:

00:53:13,846 --> 00:53:17,336

, that would be great, but I seem to

only date people who take, , so I think

:

00:53:17,726 --> 00:53:18,776

if I've ever dated you, I'm sorry.

:

00:53:18,776 --> 00:53:19,706

I have terrible taste in men.

:

00:53:19,706 --> 00:53:19,796

You.

:

00:53:21,446 --> 00:53:21,866

That's okay then.

:

00:53:21,926 --> 00:53:25,256

I had dinner with an

ex boyfriend last week.

:

00:53:25,466 --> 00:53:27,686

Um, and I was like, can

I ask you something?

:

00:53:27,716 --> 00:53:29,126

, have you ever listened to my podcast?

:

00:53:29,126 --> 00:53:31,046

And he literally laughed

in my face and said no.

:

00:53:31,046 --> 00:53:33,656

And I was just like, oh,

so I can talk to him.

:

00:53:33,656 --> 00:53:33,956

Shit.

:

00:53:34,496 --> 00:53:34,856

Okay.

:

00:53:35,036 --> 00:53:36,206

Gloves off gloves.

:

00:53:36,206 --> 00:53:38,816

I'm going to start talking about the

size of your penis on the next episode.

:

00:53:38,996 --> 00:53:39,416

It's huge.

:

00:53:39,446 --> 00:53:39,506

No.

:

00:53:39,566 --> 00:53:40,256

Oh, my God.

:

00:53:41,876 --> 00:53:45,116

Oh, was that why you went

to dinner with them again?

:

00:53:47,486 --> 00:53:47,906

No.

:

00:53:47,936 --> 00:53:48,626

Yeah.

:

00:53:48,716 --> 00:53:49,706

Point taken.

:

00:53:51,236 --> 00:53:54,236

I actually, I didn't utilize

any of those skillsets at all.

:

00:53:54,236 --> 00:53:55,016

It was just dinner.

:

00:53:55,136 --> 00:53:56,186

So you did the next day.

:

00:53:56,396 --> 00:53:56,636

Nope.

:

00:53:57,056 --> 00:53:57,206

No.

:

00:53:58,106 --> 00:54:00,356

I think it was like a closure

for me, it was a closure dinner.

:

00:54:00,686 --> 00:54:02,876

, cause I was like, oh, you're like a loser.

:

00:54:05,096 --> 00:54:05,396

Yeah.

:

00:54:05,426 --> 00:54:07,556

But it's hard to get turned on by a loser.

:

00:54:08,576 --> 00:54:09,176

No, no.

:

00:54:09,206 --> 00:54:10,466

I had a real easy time with this one.

:

00:54:10,586 --> 00:54:11,216

Wow.

:

00:54:11,486 --> 00:54:12,686

Hot as fuck.

:

00:54:12,746 --> 00:54:13,136

Okay.

:

00:54:13,136 --> 00:54:13,376

Okay.

:

00:54:13,406 --> 00:54:13,676

Okay.

:

00:54:13,796 --> 00:54:16,166

So there's other elements

at play he's attractive.

:

00:54:16,316 --> 00:54:17,036

It's got a big guy.

:

00:54:17,126 --> 00:54:17,666

He knows what he's doing.

:

00:54:17,726 --> 00:54:18,056

That's fair.

:

00:54:18,116 --> 00:54:18,506

Yeah.

:

00:54:18,596 --> 00:54:19,436

He knows how to work.

:

00:54:19,466 --> 00:54:21,176

The, the resources that he has.

:

00:54:21,926 --> 00:54:22,706

He doesn't know how to work.

:

00:54:22,706 --> 00:54:23,906

He just knows how to work that.

:

00:54:24,086 --> 00:54:25,496

Yeah, that's fine.

:

00:54:25,526 --> 00:54:26,816

Well, so, so I guess.

:

00:54:27,206 --> 00:54:28,676

To, to bring it back to your question.

:

00:54:28,826 --> 00:54:29,636

Would I get married?

:

00:54:29,636 --> 00:54:32,036

Yes, but not to the type of

person that I like to date.

:

00:54:32,126 --> 00:54:33,386

Yeah, that's fair.

:

00:54:33,416 --> 00:54:34,706

I mean, that's fair.

:

00:54:35,066 --> 00:54:35,276

Yeah.

:

00:54:35,306 --> 00:54:37,406

I feel like there's a lot of women, right?

:

00:54:37,406 --> 00:54:40,346

Like, What's attractive is

like, I'm usually more of like

:

00:54:40,346 --> 00:54:42,596

an immediate gratification

connection in the moment versus.

:

00:54:43,406 --> 00:54:46,136

Long-term those, those

fundamentals are real.

:

00:54:46,136 --> 00:54:48,986

Y'all like when people talk about

like the reasons people get divorced,

:

00:54:48,986 --> 00:54:51,116

like finances, communication.

:

00:54:51,476 --> 00:54:54,866

You know, long-term goals like

it's real and they change, right?

:

00:54:54,866 --> 00:54:55,586

Like you change.

:

00:54:55,586 --> 00:54:56,366

They change.

:

00:54:56,706 --> 00:55:00,576

, and it's hard when you're dating to

know if they're going to really line up.

:

00:55:00,606 --> 00:55:00,876

Right.

:

00:55:00,876 --> 00:55:00,936

And.

:

00:55:01,566 --> 00:55:03,486

You got to play, you know,

right now you're on the.

:

00:55:04,416 --> 00:55:05,766

Quantity over quality.

:

00:55:06,936 --> 00:55:08,736

I mean, to be clear, I'm open to quality.

:

00:55:09,336 --> 00:55:10,326

I don't know where it's hiding.

:

00:55:10,536 --> 00:55:11,496

I think it's married.

:

00:55:11,556 --> 00:55:14,136

I think, I think if I'm going

to have a husband, I think he's

:

00:55:14,136 --> 00:55:15,576

currently on his trading marriage.

:

00:55:15,696 --> 00:55:17,946

Yeah, wait and ride the divorce wave.

:

00:55:17,946 --> 00:55:18,366

Totally.

:

00:55:18,416 --> 00:55:18,926

, and I've dated.

:

00:55:19,016 --> 00:55:20,306

I've dated some amazing man.

:

00:55:20,576 --> 00:55:21,716

We're just practical reasons.

:

00:55:21,746 --> 00:55:22,496

It hasn't worked out.

:

00:55:22,526 --> 00:55:22,826

Totally.

:

00:55:22,946 --> 00:55:27,056

, but I do really enjoy a piece

of shit tattooed bad boy

:

00:55:29,936 --> 00:55:31,616

.

We'll get other and get you one girl.

:

00:55:31,916 --> 00:55:33,146

I mean, why just one.

:

00:55:33,236 --> 00:55:33,896

I know, right?

:

00:55:33,956 --> 00:55:34,256

Yeah.

:

00:55:35,186 --> 00:55:38,156

You know, that's the fun of

being single, I will say.

:

00:55:38,236 --> 00:55:38,776

, oh shoot.

:

00:55:38,806 --> 00:55:40,546

We said, oh shoot.

:

00:55:40,636 --> 00:55:41,446

You said something.

:

00:55:41,476 --> 00:55:41,806

Oh, shoot.

:

00:55:42,016 --> 00:55:45,106

That made me think of something it

didn't have to do with dicks though.

:

00:55:45,676 --> 00:55:48,316

Um, I don't know.

:

00:55:48,856 --> 00:55:50,926

I've lost my train of good

job distracted there, Karen.

:

00:55:52,126 --> 00:55:52,846

I had to go home.

:

00:55:54,166 --> 00:55:55,396

I see my husband's at the house.

:

00:55:56,746 --> 00:55:57,256

Hopefully not.

:

00:56:00,076 --> 00:56:01,546

No, actually, we're about to meet here.

:

00:56:01,546 --> 00:56:05,146

Uh, Very shortly to pick up the kids

from school, how wholesome and it's.

:

00:56:05,476 --> 00:56:06,916

Parent teacher conference day.

:

00:56:07,426 --> 00:56:08,086

All right.

:

00:56:10,096 --> 00:56:10,546

I know.

:

00:56:12,046 --> 00:56:13,156

Oh, goodness.

:

00:56:13,216 --> 00:56:13,306

Oh.

:

00:56:14,186 --> 00:56:19,136

, well, as y'all have probably observed

Kara and I just have a fun little.

:

00:56:19,706 --> 00:56:21,326

And we just talk about anything.

:

00:56:21,356 --> 00:56:21,626

Yeah.

:

00:56:21,686 --> 00:56:22,286

Everything.

:

00:56:23,276 --> 00:56:25,946

But that's what I appreciate about

you is that there is no level

:

00:56:25,946 --> 00:56:27,866

that we cannot dip our toes into.

:

00:56:28,396 --> 00:56:30,496

, so, you know, we've cried

so many times to get.

:

00:56:30,916 --> 00:56:32,146

Also laughed so hard.

:

00:56:32,146 --> 00:56:32,926

We can't breathe.

:

00:56:32,986 --> 00:56:36,616

Yeah, I honestly don't think that

I've sat in your chair without crying.

:

00:56:37,036 --> 00:56:37,426

Literally.

:

00:56:37,546 --> 00:56:38,236

Four.

:

00:56:38,746 --> 00:56:41,266

Oh, 14 years or 12, 13 years.

:

00:56:41,266 --> 00:56:44,266

You've been, , keeping me a

look at my fresh and finest.

:

00:56:45,226 --> 00:56:45,796

So, thank you.

:

00:56:45,796 --> 00:56:48,856

Thank you for creating a space for

people to show up at your table and

:

00:56:48,856 --> 00:56:51,826

share with you so abundantly and

to receive them so authentically.

:

00:56:52,096 --> 00:56:53,236

I'm super grateful for you.

:

00:56:53,536 --> 00:56:53,926

Thank you.

:

00:56:53,956 --> 00:56:55,366

Thanks for having me on today.

:

00:56:55,486 --> 00:56:58,486

You know, the one thing we didn't talk

about, I'll have to pick back up on what.

:

00:56:58,756 --> 00:56:59,386

Michelin.

:

00:57:00,046 --> 00:57:02,056

I thought for sure you bring it up.

:

00:57:02,086 --> 00:57:05,206

Do you want to, I mean, I got to

get ready to go get the kids run.

:

00:57:06,166 --> 00:57:08,146

I've got like eight minutes.

:

00:57:09,406 --> 00:57:10,666

We're at 59 minutes.

:

00:57:10,696 --> 00:57:12,376

Let's do we can do this real quick.

:

00:57:13,396 --> 00:57:13,816

Okay.

:

00:57:14,206 --> 00:57:15,796

Ah, so, okay.

:

00:57:15,796 --> 00:57:18,016

We're going to we'll end on

that, on this little cap.

:

00:57:18,086 --> 00:57:22,556

, so Kara and I are snaps and have high

expectations of dining experiences.

:

00:57:22,556 --> 00:57:22,886

Yes.

:

00:57:23,066 --> 00:57:27,386

And as most of us know Atlanta

was recently Michelin rated.

:

00:57:27,566 --> 00:57:28,016

Yeah.

:

00:57:29,576 --> 00:57:29,816

Eric.

:

00:57:29,816 --> 00:57:30,866

What do you think about that?

:

00:57:30,896 --> 00:57:31,376

Think.

:

00:57:31,556 --> 00:57:32,876

So many things about that.

:

00:57:33,086 --> 00:57:34,106

Tell us what you think about it.

:

00:57:34,916 --> 00:57:35,336

Okay.

:

00:57:35,336 --> 00:57:38,126

I think that we don't need

to omakase stays in the same

:

00:57:38,126 --> 00:57:39,476

neighborhood to have a Michelin star.

:

00:57:39,986 --> 00:57:40,286

Yeah.

:

00:57:40,496 --> 00:57:41,066

They're in the statement.

:

00:57:41,066 --> 00:57:41,756

I haven't been to either.

:

00:57:41,786 --> 00:57:43,706

So her same neighborhood,

same neighborhood.

:

00:57:43,756 --> 00:57:46,756

, I've been to . I haven't been to

the new location of high eCOA.

:

00:57:47,446 --> 00:57:49,966

Very good, but also

question mark on the star.

:

00:57:50,106 --> 00:57:53,556

, I don't think that, uh, uh,

ridiculous hotel restaurant

:

00:57:53,556 --> 00:57:55,116

has any business ever being on.

:

00:57:55,146 --> 00:57:57,276

I think that like Atlas, why that's weird.

:

00:57:57,396 --> 00:57:57,576

Yeah.

:

00:57:57,676 --> 00:58:00,856

, they literally told a friend of

mine that the, the lowest price

:

00:58:00,856 --> 00:58:05,326

point tier wine pairings were, and

I quote grocery store level wines.

:

00:58:05,476 --> 00:58:07,786

And so to me automatically, you

should never have a Michelin star.

:

00:58:07,846 --> 00:58:08,746

Oh, have you eaten it?

:

00:58:08,746 --> 00:58:09,226

Atlas?

:

00:58:09,586 --> 00:58:10,306

I've not eaten it.

:

00:58:11,356 --> 00:58:12,046

, but my.

:

00:58:13,276 --> 00:58:15,286

My little birdies who report back to me.

:

00:58:15,676 --> 00:58:17,686

Not a single person has

been like, that was great.

:

00:58:17,776 --> 00:58:18,406

You know what I mean?

:

00:58:18,716 --> 00:58:19,466

, so I don't know.

:

00:58:19,466 --> 00:58:22,496

I just kind of think that

like there's too much money.

:

00:58:23,696 --> 00:58:24,176

I burped.

:

00:58:25,346 --> 00:58:25,916

That's what.

:

00:58:27,506 --> 00:58:29,216

We had to call me out and

just things get weird talking

:

00:58:29,216 --> 00:58:30,776

about all my bodily functions.

:

00:58:32,396 --> 00:58:33,176

Oh, my God, I must've liked.

:

00:58:33,176 --> 00:58:34,016

Must look painful.

:

00:58:34,796 --> 00:58:35,336

Are you good?

:

00:58:35,846 --> 00:58:37,166

Oh, yeah.

:

00:58:37,196 --> 00:58:37,556

I don't know.

:

00:58:37,556 --> 00:58:40,436

I think that, but here's what I think

here's let me just strip this all away.

:

00:58:40,466 --> 00:58:44,306

I think that Atlanta purchased

a Michelin rating, a million

:

00:58:44,306 --> 00:58:45,536

dollars over three years.

:

00:58:45,536 --> 00:58:48,956

Yeah, and I think they scraped

up, , what they could, yeah.

:

00:58:49,106 --> 00:58:51,956

Have you eaten a Michelin star restaurants

in other cities all over the world?

:

00:58:51,986 --> 00:58:52,136

Yeah.

:

00:58:52,226 --> 00:58:53,576

I prioritize it when I travel.

:

00:58:53,606 --> 00:58:53,906

Yeah.

:

00:58:54,026 --> 00:58:58,646

So, so proof further that

Michelin does drive business.

:

00:58:58,646 --> 00:58:58,826

Right.

:

00:58:58,826 --> 00:59:00,806

Which makes sense for the Atlanta.

:

00:59:01,376 --> 00:59:04,286

Travel business bureau,

whatever convention bureau.

:

00:59:04,886 --> 00:59:05,636

I don't know the name of it.

:

00:59:05,636 --> 00:59:06,236

I'm messing it up.

:

00:59:06,296 --> 00:59:08,006

I respectfully do apologize.

:

00:59:08,336 --> 00:59:11,756

Um, but yeah, but that

it clearly does generate.

:

00:59:11,786 --> 00:59:12,086

Right.

:

00:59:12,086 --> 00:59:17,306

And so from a business standpoint and our

revenue for the city, It, it makes sense.

:

00:59:17,366 --> 00:59:17,786

Yeah.

:

00:59:18,146 --> 00:59:22,256

, how would you say that given

that you have eaten around the

:

00:59:22,256 --> 00:59:26,366

world and go, you know, choose,

prioritize Michelin star restaurants.

:

00:59:26,876 --> 00:59:28,256

How would you say.

:

00:59:29,246 --> 00:59:32,516

Atlanta stacks up to cities domestically.

:

00:59:32,516 --> 00:59:35,546

You such as Chicago or New

York or San Francisco or LA.

:

00:59:35,606 --> 00:59:36,926

I think it doesn't at all.

:

00:59:37,046 --> 00:59:37,136

Okay.

:

00:59:37,706 --> 00:59:39,326

I was my best friend.

:

00:59:39,326 --> 00:59:43,696

And I went to New York in December and we

ate at, , a one Michelin star restaurant.

:

00:59:43,996 --> 00:59:45,016

That was a.

:

00:59:45,016 --> 00:59:51,076

So casual and unpretentious and just

unbelievable quality and execution and

:

00:59:51,076 --> 00:59:56,206

service and like beautiful interior,

but not like just begging to be cool.

:

00:59:56,596 --> 00:59:58,996

, and I remember thinking

like, how do you see how.

:

00:59:59,926 --> 01:00:02,266

One star means a different

thing, depending on what city.

:

01:00:02,836 --> 01:00:04,306

And I think that that kind of sucks.

:

01:00:04,336 --> 01:00:04,696

Yeah.

:

01:00:04,886 --> 01:00:06,116

, because none of the places.

:

01:00:06,716 --> 01:00:12,086

That got starred in

Atlanta or casual, correct?

:

01:00:12,116 --> 01:00:12,476

Yeah.

:

01:00:12,626 --> 01:00:13,166

Yeah.

:

01:00:13,436 --> 01:00:16,556

So it's just sort of like

anybody who has a tasting menu.

:

01:00:16,886 --> 01:00:17,666

Was a candidate.

:

01:00:17,726 --> 01:00:18,206

Yeah.

:

01:00:18,476 --> 01:00:21,191

Was the menu that you, the

dining experience you had in New

:

01:00:21,191 --> 01:00:21,986

York that you were referencing?

:

01:00:21,986 --> 01:00:22,826

Was that a tasty menu?

:

01:00:23,136 --> 01:00:27,486

, it was like, uh, like a three or four

course kind of choose your own adventure

:

01:00:27,486 --> 01:00:29,526

situation with lots of supplements.

:

01:00:29,826 --> 01:00:31,776

So like fried chicken with caviar, you.

:

01:00:32,196 --> 01:00:33,666

Just like, oh my God, I'm so hungry.

:

01:00:33,666 --> 01:00:34,446

And that sounds amazing.

:

01:00:35,046 --> 01:00:36,156

Fried chicken always sounds good.

:

01:00:36,516 --> 01:00:37,236

So it was caviar.

:

01:00:37,716 --> 01:00:39,096

I know it was like win-win.

:

01:00:39,516 --> 01:00:40,866

Little glass of champagne with that.

:

01:00:40,896 --> 01:00:41,016

Yeah.

:

01:00:41,076 --> 01:00:42,066

Oh God.

:

01:00:42,066 --> 01:00:42,396

Yeah.

:

01:00:42,486 --> 01:00:42,576

No.

:

01:00:42,996 --> 01:00:46,026

We did it up and you, and

this is an important point.

:

01:00:46,296 --> 01:00:49,956

So we had, you know, we'll say a four

course meal with two to three cocktails.

:

01:00:49,956 --> 01:00:52,116

Each the check was less than 200 bucks.

:

01:00:52,476 --> 01:00:57,296

So like extremely affordable, , and

better than a lot of the things that

:

01:00:57,296 --> 01:00:58,586

you have here for twice as much.

:

01:00:58,886 --> 01:01:00,506

So I just like, I don't know.

:

01:01:00,506 --> 01:01:04,316

I feel like, you know, 10, 15 years ago,

Atlanta was on the precipice of like

:

01:01:04,316 --> 01:01:08,096

just blowing up in this really cool,

authentic, awesome food scene and staple

:

01:01:08,096 --> 01:01:09,716

house, I think was a huge part of that.

:

01:01:10,106 --> 01:01:11,696

And I just see things.

:

01:01:12,326 --> 01:01:12,566

I don't know.

:

01:01:12,596 --> 01:01:15,326

There's like this infusion of

kind of corporate boringness.

:

01:01:15,506 --> 01:01:18,176

Into all of the new concepts

that just doesn't do it for me.

:

01:01:18,176 --> 01:01:18,566

Yeah.

:

01:01:19,106 --> 01:01:19,886

How do you feel?

:

01:01:19,916 --> 01:01:21,986

I mean, I can speak more

highly to this than I can.

:

01:01:22,286 --> 01:01:26,726

I mean, except that I don't have

the, like the field research for it.

:

01:01:26,786 --> 01:01:27,026

Right.

:

01:01:27,026 --> 01:01:27,686

Like I haven't.

:

01:01:27,686 --> 01:01:27,956

Yeah.

:

01:01:28,196 --> 01:01:28,616

I have.

:

01:01:28,646 --> 01:01:32,006

I've been to Alinea and

we ate Ivy nit Smith.

:

01:01:32,106 --> 01:01:33,186

, and we ate at grace.

:

01:01:33,246 --> 01:01:36,036

So a lot of Chicago ones, when

we go close, It did, but he

:

01:01:36,036 --> 01:01:37,296

reopened another restaurant.

:

01:01:38,046 --> 01:01:39,336

The name escapes me right now.

:

01:01:39,366 --> 01:01:39,726

Okay.

:

01:01:41,166 --> 01:01:43,896

So, I mean in Chicago, Eaton in Chicago.

:

01:01:44,406 --> 01:01:45,486

But otherwise.

:

01:01:46,116 --> 01:01:49,836

Not in LA or San Francisco

or New York, even.

:

01:01:49,836 --> 01:01:52,896

So I don't have as much comprehensive.

:

01:01:53,136 --> 01:01:55,386

I mean, the experiences that I had.

:

01:01:55,956 --> 01:02:01,896

At Oriel Smith and grace in anda

Linnea and next all in Chicago,

:

01:02:01,896 --> 01:02:04,506

like all of them blew my mind.

:

01:02:04,536 --> 01:02:04,896

Yeah.

:

01:02:04,926 --> 01:02:10,716

All of them, or like thoughtful and

in like, I just mesmerized by both the

:

01:02:10,746 --> 01:02:13,266

elements of service hospitality on beyond.

:

01:02:13,656 --> 01:02:14,706

Um, food.

:

01:02:14,916 --> 01:02:17,976

You know, portion, size, flavor,

texture, like all the things that hit.

:

01:02:19,326 --> 01:02:21,216

I really had a really great time.

:

01:02:21,276 --> 01:02:22,416

I haven't eaten.

:

01:02:22,896 --> 01:02:25,776

At like any of the restaurants in

Atlanta, because I never go out.

:

01:02:25,956 --> 01:02:29,946

So while I have these sort of

philosophical opinions about like

:

01:02:29,946 --> 01:02:33,906

Michelin and, and things, there's also

this part of me, that's like, I also

:

01:02:33,906 --> 01:02:35,556

haven't eaten at most of the restaurants.

:

01:02:35,856 --> 01:02:37,926

So I really don't know how they stack up.

:

01:02:37,956 --> 01:02:38,106

Yeah.

:

01:02:38,166 --> 01:02:44,526

I mean, there were a couple of the nods

that I was like, shocks were worthy of.

:

01:02:45,066 --> 01:02:48,696

Being mentioned and wondered,

totally cruise PR company

:

01:02:48,696 --> 01:02:50,106

worked really hard for that.

:

01:02:50,526 --> 01:02:55,176

Um, but I also, you know, it's hard

because I am mindful of not, I mean,

:

01:02:55,326 --> 01:02:58,746

I am saying this you're a bit of a

filter to be completely transparent.

:

01:02:58,746 --> 01:03:01,236

And then I also want to

support the industry.

:

01:03:01,266 --> 01:03:02,676

I'm a part of and not tear it apart.

:

01:03:03,966 --> 01:03:04,356

Yeah.

:

01:03:04,386 --> 01:03:06,936

So I'm like, there's a,

but the other part is.

:

01:03:07,506 --> 01:03:09,276

So even if I had eaten that.

:

01:03:09,366 --> 01:03:09,606

Them.

:

01:03:09,606 --> 01:03:10,536

I'm not sure.

:

01:03:11,136 --> 01:03:15,636

I would be careful, unfortunately

like of how I spoke of him.

:

01:03:15,636 --> 01:03:17,646

But again, more than anything, the nods.

:

01:03:18,006 --> 01:03:19,746

I was a little bit shocked

and should be told.

:

01:03:20,316 --> 01:03:23,736

If I'm the candid part of me, that's

like, if we're talking about sandwiches

:

01:03:23,736 --> 01:03:27,036

at some of these places or biscuits, or,

I mean, again, I haven't eaten at him.

:

01:03:27,546 --> 01:03:30,246

I mean the stable house grinder

I've eaten the charcuterie board.

:

01:03:30,546 --> 01:03:31,476

We make the salami.

:

01:03:31,476 --> 01:03:33,996

So, I mean, there's part

of me, that's like that.

:

01:03:33,996 --> 01:03:35,646

That's crazy.

:

01:03:35,736 --> 01:03:37,086

I'll say it, you got burned.

:

01:03:37,176 --> 01:03:38,556

It makes no fucking sense.

:

01:03:38,826 --> 01:03:39,606

It's just a wonder.

:

01:03:39,666 --> 01:03:42,636

He makes you wonder,

like what's the criteria.

:

01:03:42,696 --> 01:03:43,296

Yeah, right.

:

01:03:43,296 --> 01:03:46,626

Like it's not always the

integrity of the product, right.

:

01:03:46,626 --> 01:03:49,806

Because we'll have a food

stall and a fucking food court

:

01:03:49,836 --> 01:03:51,786

can get something and it's.

:

01:03:52,596 --> 01:03:53,436

I'll say, I don't know.

:

01:03:53,556 --> 01:03:53,886

I don't know.

:

01:03:53,886 --> 01:03:56,346

And now that we're back to dinners,

I have people say to me, oh, you're

:

01:03:56,346 --> 01:03:57,726

going after that Michelin star.

:

01:03:57,726 --> 01:03:59,256

And it honestly makes me angry.

:

01:03:59,286 --> 01:03:59,976

I hate that.

:

01:04:00,396 --> 01:04:02,286

And you'd asked earlier,

like how the hybrid's going.

:

01:04:02,736 --> 01:04:04,116

And very true to my nature.

:

01:04:04,116 --> 01:04:05,406

I was like, shit is hard.

:

01:04:05,526 --> 01:04:10,836

Yeah, but this hybrid actually

feels like the closest combination

:

01:04:10,866 --> 01:04:12,426

of my brother and my husband.

:

01:04:12,846 --> 01:04:16,416

Because my brother would've loved like

the small, like the counter service,

:

01:04:16,416 --> 01:04:20,136

the casual, the sandwiches, like he

always wanted to open a sandwich shop.

:

01:04:20,526 --> 01:04:26,106

Um, and so that feels, so my brother,

so Ryan during the day, and then

:

01:04:26,106 --> 01:04:29,196

the dinner food feels more close to.

:

01:04:29,886 --> 01:04:33,396

You know, Smith, but also like really

chef Jake is the one that is like, you

:

01:04:33,396 --> 01:04:35,076

know, conceptualizing and executing.

:

01:04:35,106 --> 01:04:38,616

And he's brilliant has been

worked for us since we opened.

:

01:04:39,426 --> 01:04:39,966

But.

:

01:04:40,506 --> 01:04:43,446

All that being said, now that we're

doing the dinner service, that Prefix.

:

01:04:43,776 --> 01:04:46,266

And it's more kindled staple

hospital, only five courses.

:

01:04:46,266 --> 01:04:49,326

So not quite as much manipulation,

not quite as many courses,

:

01:04:49,326 --> 01:04:50,436

not quite as many pairings.

:

01:04:52,096 --> 01:04:54,016

, People have to say that quite often.

:

01:04:54,376 --> 01:04:57,466

And I just am, like, I'm not,

we've never shown up for that.

:

01:04:57,466 --> 01:04:58,846

Like that's never been.

:

01:04:59,476 --> 01:05:01,846

You know our motivation

for doing what we do.

:

01:05:01,876 --> 01:05:02,176

Yeah.

:

01:05:02,326 --> 01:05:03,616

Again, we're just masochists.

:

01:05:03,616 --> 01:05:06,106

We just love to like,

get our asses kicked.

:

01:05:06,166 --> 01:05:08,686

, and try to survive, but

yeah, so I don't know.

:

01:05:08,716 --> 01:05:10,216

I'm not concerned about it.

:

01:05:10,216 --> 01:05:11,956

It's not a priority.

:

01:05:12,226 --> 01:05:14,596

You know, and then we also have,

you know, I think that they

:

01:05:14,596 --> 01:05:16,396

should expand out of just Atlanta.

:

01:05:16,396 --> 01:05:18,346

It should be like Atlanta

and surrounding area.

:

01:05:18,766 --> 01:05:20,356

I will say I love spring and Marietta.

:

01:05:20,986 --> 01:05:22,456

Beautiful dining experience.

:

01:05:22,876 --> 01:05:24,736

You know, had a couple of years ago.

:

01:05:24,826 --> 01:05:25,756

Again, don't get out much.

:

01:05:26,476 --> 01:05:29,866

Uh, I've had several people say that

like, well, keep in mind, we've

:

01:05:29,866 --> 01:05:32,806

got this multi-year contracts, so

they can't like, you know, yeah.

:

01:05:33,316 --> 01:05:34,006

The first one.

:

01:05:34,006 --> 01:05:37,006

So it's like, they're probably also

reserving places where they're like,

:

01:05:37,036 --> 01:05:40,426

yeah, we've got our eye on you, but

yeah, we got to save content for like

:

01:05:40,546 --> 01:05:42,166

next year's awards and stuff like that.

:

01:05:42,166 --> 01:05:45,826

So I think I'm open to my

opinion, evolving Alex.

:

01:05:46,156 --> 01:05:48,526

There nominations also evolve.

:

01:05:48,586 --> 01:05:50,056

Yeah, that's fair.

:

01:05:50,156 --> 01:05:51,506

, Well, okay.

:

01:05:51,606 --> 01:05:52,596

, Kara, thank you.

:

01:05:52,656 --> 01:05:54,066

So, so, so much for your time.

:

01:05:54,146 --> 01:05:54,626

, thank you.

:

01:05:54,626 --> 01:05:59,696

If you've listened and made it this far

for enjoying our journey of, uh, Cancer

:

01:05:59,696 --> 01:06:07,436

and food and relationships and family and

all of the things and plungers hunters.

:

01:06:08,726 --> 01:06:10,406

And there's death and there's this.

:

01:06:11,456 --> 01:06:11,936

Child.

:

01:06:12,026 --> 01:06:13,226

There's hospital trips.

:

01:06:13,736 --> 01:06:14,966

And luxury resorts and.

:

01:06:15,566 --> 01:06:16,886

It's all at the same time.

:

01:06:16,886 --> 01:06:17,066

We've.

:

01:06:17,096 --> 01:06:18,536

Checked all of the boxes.

:

01:06:18,726 --> 01:06:21,576

, but yes, Cara, will you let people

know where they can find steeple

:

01:06:21,606 --> 01:06:25,506

house and how they can dine with you

and experience what you're doing?

:

01:06:25,596 --> 01:06:26,046

Absolutely.

:

01:06:26,046 --> 01:06:28,806

I can't imagine that anyone is

still listening, but so the one

:

01:06:28,806 --> 01:06:30,726

person that may still be for some.

:

01:06:31,236 --> 01:06:32,016

Unforeseen.

:

01:06:32,016 --> 01:06:33,066

God knows why reason?

:

01:06:33,096 --> 01:06:33,246

No.

:

01:06:33,636 --> 01:06:34,656

Um, yeah, we're at.

:

01:06:35,076 --> 01:06:38,316

It's Thursday to Sunday, we do

counter service for lunch, noon to

:

01:06:38,316 --> 01:06:41,826

four, and then we do a five course

prefix, uh, doors open at six 30

:

01:06:41,826 --> 01:06:43,536

with one seating at seven o'clock.

:

01:06:44,316 --> 01:06:44,736

Yeah, it's small.

:

01:06:44,766 --> 01:06:46,296

We only see it is communal seating.

:

01:06:46,326 --> 01:06:48,966

So if you come and you show

up, be ready to be kind.

:

01:06:49,356 --> 01:06:53,226

And talk it over, you know, don't bring

up like wars and religion and politics.

:

01:06:53,226 --> 01:06:53,856

We're not here for that.

:

01:06:53,886 --> 01:06:57,006

I'm here for those conversations,

but not at the dinner table stranger.

:

01:06:57,006 --> 01:06:57,696

So yeah.

:

01:06:57,756 --> 01:07:00,576

, book a seat and come hang out

and we'll see for dinner soon.

:

01:07:00,666 --> 01:07:01,176

I love it.

:

01:07:01,206 --> 01:07:04,716

Well, I will link your website and

your social media on our show notes.

:

01:07:04,906 --> 01:07:09,616

, and as always clever club listeners

get 10% off@hawkinsandclover.com with

:

01:07:09,646 --> 01:07:11,476

promo code Clover club, all caps.

:

01:07:11,786 --> 01:07:14,696

, and you can find us on the

gram at Clover club pod.

:

01:07:14,946 --> 01:07:16,626

, and Kara, thank you again so much.

:

01:07:16,656 --> 01:07:16,746

Thank.

:

01:07:17,016 --> 01:07:18,486

Erica, we will see you next week.

:

01:07:18,516 --> 01:07:19,866

Bye bye.

:

01:07:21,786 --> 01:07:22,296

Whew.

:

01:07:23,646 --> 01:07:24,216

Did it.

:

01:07:24,516 --> 01:07:25,476

So good.

:

01:07:25,866 --> 01:07:28,416

Oh, So much rambling.

:

01:07:29,046 --> 01:07:29,646

Yeah.

:

01:07:29,676 --> 01:07:30,392

It's okay.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode
Clover Club Email Opt In

Clover Club Email Opt In

Thank you, you have been subscribed.

Listen for free

Show artwork for Clover Club

About the Podcast

Clover Club
Curious conversations and stories intended to make you laugh and learn.
As a shop owner and hair stylist with an impressive number of stamps on her passport, Erika Audrey has heard or experienced it all. And she's ready to share. These real life conversations and stories will make you laugh, cry, and gasp- sometimes in the same episode! Join Erika Audrey straight from Atlanta gift shop Hawkins & Clover. Welcome to Clover Club.

Thank you-
Theme Song: Nick Pantano of Sound Space https://www.soundspaceatl.com
Branding: Shari Margolin https://sharimargolindesignco.com

Contact-
pod@hawkinsandclover.com

About your host

Profile picture for Erika Audrey

Erika Audrey

Erika Audrey, a luminous presence hailing from the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia, is not your ordinary hairstylist and boutique owner. With a zest for life that's as contagious as her laughter, Erika is poised to take the podcasting world by storm as she embarks on her latest venture.

Launching her debut podcast is a natural extension of Erika's multifaceted personality. With an uncanny ability to seamlessly weave humor into her conversations, Erika's laughter-inducing anecdotes and razor-sharp wit are bound to captivate listeners. Her intelligence shines through as she tackles a diverse range of topics, proving that beneath the laughter lies substance and insight.