Life After Breaking Bad: Walt Jr. Exposes The Dark Side Of Child Acting, Money, & Greed | RJ Mitte

Did you know how big of a deal it was going to be? No. >> No. >> My mother would [music] tell me so many stories about my father. >> Breaking Bad changed my life in a great way. It was a dream come true. But it also [music] showed me how dark this industry can really be. >> How have you seen money corrupt people in Hollywood? >> People will sacrifice who they are for money, for clout, for whatever that is. When you have someone that desperately needs it, that's willing to do anything. That's where you get into a very dangerous scenario of power. [music] It was just one of those days. You get a letter and it's like your heart drops. [music] I trusted them and they basically stole everything. And because of that, I paid more in taxes than I got from Breaking Bad. Were these like Hollywood elites? Were [music] these people that people would know? R.J., thank you so much for coming on the ice coffee hour. Dude, >> such a pleasure to be here. >> I really appreciate it, man. You seem very well adjusted. >> Why do you Why do you think so many child actors end up going off the rails or having difficulty later in life? >> Um, so I I started when I was 12. um I was doing like extra work and stuff like that and you know living in the industry is very different but living in California and you know when you're hot you're hot and you're not you're not and when you're a young kid and you're easily influenced and you know it's it's the stars it's the people it's like it's glitz and glamour and all these things and you know you don't I find you don't see like the forest through the trees right And you know, you you you hear a lot about drug abuse and a lot of like like drug activity and and kids getting into stuff young and then affecting them and they come out later in life and and when you're when you're popular, it's free, right? Everyone's like people offer me stuff all the time. I'm like I'm good on that. I I've seen enough problems. I don't need any problem. >> Who is offering you stuff? random random parties and like Hollywood just >> I I was speaking at a university and and you know with Breaking Bad with the drug content people are like always talking about different types of drugs and I was and like different types of comments and it's there like you know like you don't have to look very far anywhere in the world to find these types of entities that will be offering or trying to sell and trying to hook And you know, for for years, it's like people will be like, "Here you go. Here's free drinks." I mean, look at every event that you'll go to, like at clubs and parties, it's all open bar. >> So imagine young kids are going to open bars. They're hot. They just want an Emmy. They just want an Oscar. They just whatever it is. And like no one's no one's really protecting them because they're a star. They don't need protection. And let's go fast forward 10 years. Well, the bar is not open anymore. So now you have people that have been partying and living a certain life for so long and you everyone fades out over time. You know, you can't be on you can't be at the top of the mountain forever. And it's a long way down uh from the top. And so you've lived this lifestyle for so long, you know, that's where you see people that are making a lot of money and their bills get bigger and bigger and bigger and then the money stops and then it's like everything's gone and there's no protection in that. There's no one saying like, "Hey, slow down." Like it's like, "No, you got to keep going. You got to make that check. You got to get out there and keep pushing until one day you either I I say pressure is great for making diamonds, but it also can make rubble and it can destroy people. And I just think you can't always keep pushing hard. You got to take time for yourself. >> What was the closest you got to falling into that pressure? I don't really like, you know, I grew up in a weird environment where um I was very family oriented at a young age. So, so like I would like to go out and I and like I like to go out and have fun, but my [clears throat] responsibilities have kind of always overshadowed what what I want to go have fun versus me having a greater responsibility and the consequences. Everything I do, I look at all right cause and effect. What is the consequence to my action? Is it a positive consequence or is it a negative consequence? And and I think throughout my life, I've had very different like positive influences [snorts] and negative influences, but I've always saw the aftermath in different capacities. And I I think it's really just about, you know, tr staying true to who you are and, you know, going to the parties, going to the Hollywood stuff. It's cool, but but like it wears on you and you just can't do it forever. >> What do you think should be done for child actors in the future to prevent them from falling into that? >> I mean, I there's not really a way to prevent people from living life. like you know you as I'm not a parent yet but but I have many friends who are parents and I've I've raised my sister in a capacity and take care of my family and you know I I think it's we always want the best for our children and and I think it's it's think of of their needs before your own and especially when it comes to an industry where it's very predatorial like the the entertainment industry I mean you can go back and look at history on It's not the kindest business and it's not a very forgiving business. And I think it's about staying true to who you are, instilling in your children, instilling in your in your team that it's like, hey, like these are the these are not the avenues you want to go and using previous examples of look at what happened when they did these things. Do you want to be like that? You know, it's like do you want to be like your uncle? like do you or do you want to be like this? And it's like, you know, you again when you're at the top of it, no one's telling you these things. No one's like no one's encouraging you to be good. They want you to be out there. They want the sensationalism. And I I think it's about, you know, saying like it's like you don't have to get out there to be whatever it is they think you are as long as you stay true to yourself. And I think that kind of will protect you. >> Did you see the Charlie Sheen documentary? >> I haven't, but I want to. >> Oh my gosh. I just started it. He was able to hide a lot of this stuff. A lot of his usage, you would have no idea. And he would just go to such an extreme, but >> he was able to get his work done, which is the most mind-boggling thing about it. >> And that's all they care about really. It's like, are you showing up to time on work? Are you saying your lines? Are you hitting your marks? And that consistency, people can hide their problems outside of that. Like drug abuse is is such a rampid issue and like it happens under people's noses all the time. Like with Breaking Bad, I did work with the DEA and we had different enforcements and and educational type structures in in the show on like what these things what these are and people hide it really well. some of the some of your like closest friends and family that you would never guess might you know >> I know it's really common or more common than one would think in like investment banking and private equity like people are doing a lot of like coc a ne in that industry as well as other like crazy crazy drugs and those are high performers those are people that working like 80 to 100 hour weeks >> well that but that's why they're doing those substances like that's why you'll see a lot of that I mean Look at Wolf of Wall Street, you know, look look at look at these types of investment movies and shows where it's like they have that high pressure, high stress where they're putting, you know, 24-hour days and like taking clients out and and it's it's the game, you know, the game of the game of whatever they're trying to play. And it I it's wild. It's out there. The the stuff's out there. But if you're smart about it and you just kind of mind your own business and don't tattle like be like I'm I'm not involved but you do what you want. >> Like what was the main reason you wanted to get into acting? >> Uh I started acting to keep to meet kids my own age. So uh my sister got cast out of a water park when she was 1 and a half years old and that took us to California. It was for a Lusso ball campaign and I was around 11, 12. Um, my mom uh right after my sister was born was in a car accident and was partially paralyzed for about 7 years. >> Wow. >> And my grandparents were both sick, one living in Texas, one in Louisiana. And so we were traveling between the two a lot. Uh, and this was kind of an opportunity for us to have a vacation. you know, this this job that my sister got as a baby uh was a six-month run at Universal, and we're like, "Yeah, let's do this thing. This is it's a six-month paid vacation." And I just was with them and was like, "Okay, I guess I'm going to try doing it as well." And I started doing extra work. And I was on shows like Hannah Montana, Everybody Hris, uh Weed, Seventh Heaven, Drill Bit Taylor as an extra. And that's one thing that like I recommend to people is if they want to get in the entertainment industry, especially acting, um extra work is like my number one step to to getting into it cuz you're going to find out if you like it or not. If you can handle being an extra, you can handle all the other stuff. But there's a lot of people that can't handle the extra work cuz like they don't always treat you right. it's super long hours and and uh you know you're you're low man on the totem pole. They could be like you know you you're a disruption never come back. >> And so I just started doing that to meet kids my own age and was auditioning as well uh for other shows. Actually my very first audition was an anti-meth campaign in the state of California and uh I didn't get it of course. What do they have you say? >> Well, it wasn't really having me say anything. The the the commercial aired. Um I saw the commercial many many years ago. You probably find on YouTube, but it's this guy that comes in high on meth. Um and like I was one of the I auditioned for one of the kids uh the family, right? There's like a mom and two kids and the dad comes in high on meth and like screaming and throwing things and and it [snorts] was just like us being afraid and uh and I didn't get it. I didn't get the audition. But about 6 months to a year later, I uh started auditioning for Breaking Bad and that changed my life. So, who gave you the script for this? So, I uh I was auditioning through my agent and my manager at the time um just in general and Breaking Bad came along specifically seeking people with disabilities. And what was funny is at the time I didn't like, you know, there were certain auditions I would send in my resume that had cerebral pausy on it and there were more often than not the ones that did not say that I had a disability on my resume. And uh and this one specifically came in looking for someone with cereable pausy. And at the time there wasn't really a lot of us in the media. M um you know there wasn't really a lot of of diversification as far as people with disabilities and uh and so they really wanted someone with a disability and um um Sharon Browley uh the casting director for Breaking Bad who had already cast Brian Aaron Betsy the whole family was cast except for me I was the very well Walt Jr. was the very last um cast part. And so I auditioned over six months. Um and my last two auditions were I I auditioned in LA. They're like, "Hey, so they like you. You're moving on. They're already filming in New Mexico, the show at the time, um in Albuquerque. So, we're going to fly you to New Mexico to meet um the team there to audition for Vince in person as well as do a test screening with Brian and Anna. And I literally flew in, got in at like 6:00, 7:00 in the morning, auditioned at 9:00. They sent me away. It was against one other person. Um, at the time it was narrowed down between the two of us. And they called me back in for a test screening. And then they were like, "Okay, thank you. I met Brian and Anna. They sent me to my room. And I went to bed. [laughter] Um I didn't I had a flight at like 2 o'clock that day. They called me. Vince calls me and goes, "Hey, so uh you got the part. Congratulations. Go pack your bags because you're you're already late. We're already filming, so we need you back here." >> Did you know how big of a deal it was going to be? And like at what point did you realize, oh, like this is going to be one of the biggest shows of all time? >> You know, we knew we had something special. Like we knew the show was like when you read the script. I recommend to people all the time like read the pilot. If if if you're going to be in the industry at all, read read the pilot episode Breaking Bad because that is in my opinion one of the best written episodes, movie, whatever you want to consider it. And because I consider it more of a movie than than a show that that pilot episode because there's this beginning, middle, and end. And when you read it, it just leaves you with this like what moment. And again, we knew it was special, but you you just don't know. And Breaking Bad was not liked in the beginning like how long did you think that the show was going to be? Did they fully write out the entirety of the show in the beginning or did they write it as they were filming? >> You know, I I every season kind of was written as the seasons um progressed. Um, we had an amazing writing team, you know, Vince Gilligan, Peter Go, and and so many other amazing uh amazing writings. Like a lot of them still work together, you know, with Better Call and El Camino. Um, but it was kind of one of those things that we we could kind of see where it was going, but we really didn't, you know, at any moment something could happen to these characters and and they were they felt very real and organic and in the scenes everything just kind of made sense. Um, but we got the, you know, as as the series went on later and later they had to be careful with the scripts. Um, people were leaking in the beginning. everyone got a script. >> Um towards the end >> you got your parts. So, so a lot of times you didn't really know, you know, Brian and Aar and they knew cuz they were in every scene. Um but we really just didn't know. >> But so you wouldn't get the entire script >> at the at the last um two seasons that we I we didn't get the entire script. What would you say was the pivotal moment of the show where it went from something that wasn't very wellliked to something that was like, "Okay, everyone is obsessing over this." >> I think Netflix I think Netflix really put Breaking Bad on the map as far as uh just accessibility to the show. >> That's when I found it. >> Yeah. Uh you know, we were actually one of the most pirated shows in the history of television. Huge in Eastern Europe. Um >> Wow. [laughter] Um, huh. Who would have thought, right? Uh, but >> it's funny. It's funny you mentioned that. I I read something that said that after Breaking Bad, meth quality actually went up. >> I would believe that. I would definitely I would [laughter] I mean I I I don't condone that that drug, but hopefully it's better products for people. [laughter] Um, no, you know, I I think it really spotlighted uh, you know, this form of drug abuse in communities, you know, at, you know, in the early 2000s, meth was kind of more of like um, out in the woods. No one's doing meth. It's it's it's these far away places and in reality, it's in our backyard. And and I think it really breaking bad really opened the doors on the awareness of methamphetamine in our communities and and you know some people really thought that that we were glorifying it in the beginning that we were pro was promoting it and if you really watch the show it doesn't end well for for Walter White like it really destroys his whole entire family and and I think um I think it's something that really was an eye openener for many people. >> Now, really quick before we go into that, in business they say that you could have better, cheaper, or faster, but you could only pick two. Well, what if you could have all three at the same time? 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You can just click it right there. Thank you so much to Oracle for sponsoring this episode. What was the filming schedule like, dude? 16-our days. like like we were we were sometimes shooting six seven days a week twoman teams. Um one time our uh film got run over by an airplane. Yeah. And leaving leaving studio cuz we shot on film. We were one of the one of one of the last series and shows I guess to to shoot on film. >> Um 35 millimeter. And so we would film and and that's what really when it comes to like time restrictions and and pressure on set, we had a finite amount of film. You know, some of these film rolls, you're talking like $250,000, $75,000 just for like the roles of these films. And uh one day it was being shipped cuz cuz we had Albuquerque being, you know, one of the main bases for us, but we also had the the editing studios in California. And so we would have to send those to California. And apparently one day some of them got left out and a plane ran over them and we had to reshoot that whole I I don't know how many days it was, but that was a nightmare. And we we were running uh camera teams A and B and trying to make it up to to to get back on top of the the schedule. >> How do you memorize your lines? Uh, I have a couple of different ways um to memorize lines and and I think it's different for everyone. Um, I I say lines um rhythmicly, you know, I kind of when I talk and and when I'm reading my rhyading my lines, I read them in a rhythm. And so it it gives you the basis of um kind of what they're saying. And then I sleep on it. I read my lines the night before of what I'm doing that next day. And I go to sleep on those lines. And so I I kind of believe that when you read at the end of the night, whatever you're reading, it soaks in your brain more. You know, you you sometimes like I'll sometimes run my lines in my dreams. >> Um and I find it helps it be more organic. >> What was the most difficult line for you to present? See, in Breaking Bad, none, man, because it was so well written. Like, Breaking Bad was oddly one of the easiest jobs I've ever had. Uh, in the sense of just quality and and when you set a line, it made sense. Like, I've done some movies and stuff where I'm I'm reading and I got big monologues and I'm like, man, how am I supposed to say this? And they're like, yeah, you just say it. Yeah. So, I'm like, you say it and they can't. >> But let's but let's just say you get like two paragraphs. >> Yeah. >> Do they want it to be said verbatim, like word for word, or do they say just get this point across and how you do it, we don't care. >> Depends on the director. Um, depends on the writer and it depends on the director. Some sometimes um they want you to say what they wrote. Like like every writer does not want you to have love. any any writer that's very proud of their work, they're definitely not going to want you to ad liib. But as far as like with Breaking Bad and and some other projects, if the adlib makes sense or like you know the the in the pilot episode, the do I look like a skater um stuff, some of that was adlibbed and and it worked, but but when it came down to like a lot of it, you did what they put on the page. But again with Breaking Bad, it was so well written. Like the lines, the movement, even the environment, like on the page. So when you read it, you saw it. There was no question about it. >> Was there any impromptu lines or impromptu things that just kind of happened that ended up making it into the show that were a fan favorite? I always think about this one clip I see all the time. I think it's Tom Holland and uh Robert Downey Jr. and they were in the back of a car and they were they were filming a scene for Avengers or something and Tom Holland like >> or Robert Downey Jr. goes to like assist Tom with like opening up the car door or something and then Tom thinks he's going in for a hug and so he hugs him and it's like super super awkward and then they just rolled with it and it was like a fan favorite and you could see like the natural reaction of the cohesiveness. Yeah. No, there was lots of different moments um like that and I think a lot of it was pausing like a lot of it was looks on the show was more of like just like a look that you would give and um you know nothing's sticking out but I I think one of the things that always stick out sticks out that's a fan favorite um is the pizza on the roof that was a oneandone cuz they tried to recreate it and it didn't happen again. Uh have you seen the videos of the lady coming out of the house yelling at people? What do you think of that? I think when you have one of the most famous houses in the world and definitely one of the most infamous houses in the state of New Mexico, uh it comes with responsibility and it comes with accountability and I and I think you kind of have to to to you know have some leeway with it. Um I knew the the lady that owns the house now. Um, I knew her parents really well and you know during Breaking Bad in the beginning um you know they they got as the show ended they got much older and people were breaking into their house like pe they were waking up finding people in their living room. Uh it wasn't like just like people going people were trying to get into the house and that's why they raised the fence. Uh, sadly it just keep, you know, escalating and and and I think she's trying to sell it at the moment. >> Yeah, she's asking $3.9 million. >> See, that just seems like like she doesn't care that much about the attention cuz if she really cared, she would sell it at market or even a little bit above market. >> She said that it was her family's house. It's been in the family for a long time. You just can't sell it. But if she were to sell it, she must >> take ition. It seems I people are speculating online that she does actually enjoy the attention a little bit, but I don't know how true that is. >> She goes out and yells at everybody. >> I I think she does. I think it does give her purpose a little. Um, you know, again, it's a fine line. Like like she's nice to me. >> Do you talk to her? >> I I we saw her. We saw her. We were just in New Mexico not too long ago and we saw her and so like cuz like >> Did you hit her up? >> No. No. It was just you know it's Albuquerque, man. Did you just show up to the house? >> No, no, no. I I back in the day. Um cuz I was I was really close to the family cuz we spent a lot of time there. >> But like people all think that the inside is what this inside of the show looks like and it's not. We we shot all the interior, most of the interior like on a sound stage. The only thing about the house is the exterior in the backyard. But like yeah, I I'm not going to touch that with a 10ft pole, man. I I think like you know maybe 2 million a mill and a half. I think make so much money giving tours of the house. >> Someone can pay a lot of money to go up on the roof to try to find a little bit of pizza and sell that. >> Airbnb would be crazy at even like 1500 a night. >> It's not the same in >> it doesn't matter just to be able to stay at the house >> to be able to stay at the house. People would pay >> I would pay 1,500 bucks a night. >> I think that would be the smart I agree. I agree with that. But like I I think it would take a lot of infrastructure. Would you buy the house? >> Oh, yeah. >> How much would you pay? >> Not 4 mil. I'll tell you that. I mean, so everything in that house value is around 350. I I've I've you know, I've [laughter] looked at this estimate. >> Yeah, I've looked at the numbers. I So, my number for the house, the actual number that I've come up with, I think Walter White, the the White House uh value, I'm thinking 1.2. just out of names out of like the the environment. >> But like if the neighborhood's nice, but like >> it's not a $4 million nice neighborhood. You know what I mean? You can't have that. You're going to destroy the market in that community. [laughter] >> But here's the thing. She putting it up at that price gets a lot of publicity cuz I saw that listing went up. It was on the front page of like Yahoo and CNN and all these places that Breaking Bad Houses for sale asking 4 million bucks. That drives a lot of people to go and just take a look at it again. >> But there's a fence though, man. I like that's my thing is I wish like the city of Albuquerque or like the state would you know re redo it. You know they she put up the fence. They've done a lot of remodeling. It's not the same house. But I I wish whatever like the state or someone would come in and bring it back to what it originally was cuz it was a great house and you know it really means a lot to a lot of fans. And I I think the impact that that Breaking Bad has had on the city of New Mexico. You know there there has been positive aspect. There's been negative aspects but there's also been many positive aspects. And >> I think yeah Brian Cranston should buy it. >> If anyone could buy it, Brian could probably buy it. [clears throat] >> There's a Simpsons house in Vegas. You know that? >> Really? >> Yeah. >> What do you mean Simpsons house? >> It's the house that was It's identical to The Simpsons. It was either The Simpsons was based on this house or this house was created to be identical to the Simpsons house and you could drive by it. >> I had no idea. >> Yes, that's really cool. >> Yes, it and it looks almost identical to the real Simpsons house. >> See, that's See, the question is how many people try to break into it, though? Nobody breaks into it as far as I'm aware, but it does become a bit of a tourist attraction where you could go and look at the Simpsons house in Las Vegas. >> That's pretty I I think I've seen it on on Instagram. There's a lot of you know I think what they've done like you know the Sopranos home. >> Yeah. >> Um and and you know Beverly Hills like the the houses in um like Fresh Prince of Bair and stuff like that. I I find these are like staples of of television history and and I think when a house gets to that point, there should be some form of historical preservation. >> You know what? You're right. Because the Home Alone house, they were asking 5.9 million and and I actually thought objectively it was a good deal. The Brady Bunch house, I remember when that got listed, they got like a hundred offers on this house and it sold way over asking, I believe, to HGTV cuz they were going to do something like with it. But their other bidder was either from like InSync or Backstreet Boys. Like it was some musical artist who was like bidding against HGTV to buy the Brady Bunch house. But it's it's a one-ofa-kind house. >> See, that's the thing. It's you're you're you're not necessarily buying the property. You're buying the history. Like, you know, I I do a lot of work with historical preservation and and restoring historical stuff in in Texas. And you know it's it's it's one of those things that that you know 100 years 50 years will go I was being generous with 100 50 years will go by and and these like people will still go visit these iconic locations and and it carries over and so I I think that's what you're that's what the number is is the history. >> I'm telling you we could make a fortune if we go 50/50 on this house do Airbnb on it but you promote the house. See, see I'm I'm >> more like so well >> like 8020 >> like that 8020. >> Oh, >> there's got to be some some component of uh of you marketing a house, but I honestly think as an Airbnb it would do >> insane number. Someone has to plug the cash flow on this cuz at a certain price you could overpay for it and make your money back in the first year. >> You're giving away some sauce right here though. Like >> no one's going to do this. I mean, no one's going to do it. That's what I'm saying. If we did it, >> I mean, >> it would do so well. >> I'll keep an eye on it. I think I it would do well. I think you would have to I think it would be more than a year to get your capital, especially. >> No, but just the amount you overpay. I'm saying if it's like worth 1.2 and you pay like, you know, 1.5. Let's just say you make your money back. You whittle it down. >> I think you're probably going to make it back in like 5 years. Like, you can't over you can't a night. [gasps] >> I think people will pay 1,500 a night to stay at the Breaking Bad house. Minimum of two nights. still like going to take a long time to make your I guess if you put like 20% down but like 300 bank is going to lend against like $4 million house >> I mean hey [laughter] you know you stranger things have happened >> I'm curious for the budget of Breaking Bad what did they pay you just for that first episode these days it seems like everybody is chasing the next big thing in investing such as myself but if you're actually serious about it you need a platform built for that exactly why today's sponsor is public the investing platform built for serious investors with Public. What's great is that you could invest in stocks, crypto, bonds, options, and more, all within one app. Plus, you can even earn an industryleading APY on your cash with no subscriptions or minimums. But what really sets Public apart is how AI is woven into the entire experience. From portfolio insights to AI powered earnings call recaps, Public gives you smarter context at every touch point. And here's a huge benefit. Public gives you an uncapped 1% match when you transfer your portfolio, including IRA rollovers and contributions. Again, that is just money added straight to your account. And funding your account takes literally less than 5 minutes. So, check them out today at public.com/istic or just click the link down below in the description. Once again, that is public.com/istic. Paid for by Public Investing. Full disclosures down below in the description. >> What did they pay you just for that first episode? uh minimum because it was my very first speaking job ever like ever. So So I got the the regular SAG um minimum for it. I heard I or I was researching online have a lot of money like like Breaking Bad was not like very lucrative as far as like um across the board every season we were told that we were cancelled. We just did not have the viewership until streaming, you know, that was again that was our big moment was when streaming came in and people binge viewed Breaking Bad. But but up until that point, it was a struggle every year. And Vince and and the writing team, they fought and and a gentleman who worked at um AMC at the time named Charlie Cer and um he really fought to keep Breaking Bad on AMC. Like it was a battle. So, I read online it was $250 for the pilot. >> Like for who? >> For you? >> $250? >> Was it just for the pilot? See? Yeah, I read something online. And again, this is online, but it was either like a Wikipedia, >> the basic SAG SAG recurring scale. I I don't I don't trust me, it wasn't much. [laughter] >> It's crazy to me. Do Do you get residuals though on uh streaming? because I thought that was the big >> No, it doesn't exist anymore. Like that's a that's been a big issue over the past decade in our industry, especially with older actors. Um, you know, the streaming services, you don't really get your residuals and that and your residuals once you get older, your residuals are pretty much what keeps your insurance alive, like once you can't work anymore. And so, so like it's it's a very niche industry, you know? I I've seen like, you know, how how these types of interviews work and how the new media structure works. As far as like television and film, you know, streaming is good for the networks themselves, but as far for the artists, you're kind of getting the minimum. You get more reach. You can make a name for yourself, but it's not like it used to be. So when they took it from TV to Netflix, you didn't see a huge skyrocket in income despite the show being viewed more times than ever. >> No. No. You get one check and you're like, "Catch you in nine years." And like that check is like a >> I mean I'm not saying that they weren't paying people on Breaking Bad, but like I was I was the youngest kid on the show. You know what I mean? It was my very first role. So, what could happen if you're like six seasons in or five seasons into Breaking Bad and you're just like, I'm done. What like are you contractually obligated to keep going for as long as they want you to go or like what happens if you just want to step back? >> Well, with a show like Breaking Bad, you usually die. [laughter] they get they they write it but then sometimes they sometimes they revisit it like in Dexter you know how his dad always comes back and it's like >> see but but if you look at like some of those connections and relationships with like with like um like like the actual main character like number one on the call sheet right like those those people are really ingrained deep into like the producing writing opinions like they're not just acting they're they're across the board on decision makingaking for the show and so like they will be like I like this guy. I don't care what y'all say. We're bringing him back. And again that can create conflict. But >> that's interesting. So they just like if you want to step back they just basically make it till you've died. >> Like if if you wanted if you want out and like like an assholy kind of way. Yeah. Like shows like Breaking Bad, shows like Dexter like oh dude you accidents happen all the time like especially for these characters. But then you also probably ruin your reputation in that circle of like this guy just walked out on us. Let's not work on >> Why would you work with someone that's kind of like like you know so here's it's funny that you bring that up. So I was in a roller coaster accident [laughter] uh while I was filming Breaking Bad and um I had like a real bar shot in my arm and like ripped out all my like elbow stuff. >> I think I was like 15. >> Oh wait, how does this happen? So it, you know, don't go the first week to a brand new roller coaster. >> It was you that got hit. Was someone else around you that also? >> Oh, I was like the ninth person that got injured that day. >> Did they have insurance? That's the first thing in my mind. >> So what I messed up was I didn't want to wait for the ambulance. It was like a 45minute wait. And so I was like, I'm going to my hospital right now cuz like this kid's like I'm like bleeding out of my elbow. Well, here the ride starts. It hits me in the arm and then the ride takes off. So the pressure builds and builds and builds in my elbow. >> And as we're going through this, I'm like in my head I'm like, man, this is going to hurt tomorrow. Like I because of the adrenaline and the ride stops and I just hear screaming and I'm like, oh my god, what happened behind me? And we go to get off and everyone behind me is wiping like blood off of them. And I'm like, what happened? And this this worker like that was working the the the the ride is like, "You're bleeding." And I'm like, "Huh?" And I look down and I'm just like, >> "Wait, so what what exactly did you hit your arm on?" >> So apparently there that's that's a very good question that we never fully found the answer to after a lawsuit. But but going to my point of why I bring this up is they told me cuz I went through like three surgeries and like they gave me a bunch of pills and I'm like I'm not taking these pills and after three surgeries after that they're like look like you're injured but if you were that injured you should quit your job. Oh, >> and my jaw was breaking back. And so, like, I made the decision. I was like, I'm done with you guys. Whatever. I can I've done the surgeries. I've done the things. I've done the nerve testing. Like, I'm not quitting my job and and and just like buried it like, you know, like just did the physical therapy. >> You didn't get like a huge payout from this >> or maybe there was some something. I got my I got my medical bills covered >> which was like a lot >> still. Oh my god. >> But that was the point. If I wanted the payout, I had to quit the job. >> So your elbow was like kind of like >> Oh, dude. I mean, you can't see it on camera, but you see there's like a little hole right here. >> Yeah. Yeah. It like shot in and like rotated. >> See the Right. It didn't hurt. It didn't hurt at all. What hurt the most is when I got to the hospital because they're like, "Hey, so we can't x-ray it because it's a puncture wound. We have to um we got to make sure there's no metal in it." And that in my opinion was probably I'd probably say in the top five most painful things I've experienced in my life. And this dude sat on top of me because of the angle. I had to lay like this and there this big nurse was with these big old long pliers just >> digging in my arm >> and like I had like headphones. I'm just like listening to something >> and like I'm just like and >> good times. But but the reason why but like the reason why I bring that is they they wanted me to quit the show, you know, and when you have a show and you have something that you feel very passionate about, there's no reason to walk away from it, you know? There's like there's there's [snorts] there's every reason to no matter what push forward and make it happen regardless. >> Jeez. So, we're mostly like a financial podcast. That's sort of where we're coming from. And you've claimed before that Breaking Bad did not make you a millionaire. >> No. No. Not even >> Not even close. >> I I've I've paid more in taxes than I got from Breaking Bad. >> How is How does that How is that possible? >> It's just the name of the game with it. like you know young kid like you just you like I didn't really see a lot of like like I I you know I had a team a big team at one point and I was traveling the world doing stuff and like so mostly my team like I'm like I I was paying to keep my career going you know like I was paying to keep keep pushing forward and to keep doing that and >> everything went back into the business. So like as far as like excess >> did you have the Kugan account as a kid? So it was that that was going in there. >> Yeah, but not even close to triple digits. So >> see what's crazy is that Google says your net worth is $5 million. Where do they get that number from? >> I honestly don't know. I think I think it's so what I've earned in my entire life. Um one thing that did put a damper on me, I did have a bad business manager. I did. I got I got royally like >> hammered. So what happened >> in my last four years of my highest earning series? >> What was the justification behind the business manager making certain decisions? >> Um I wanted to protect my fund. So I got a you know I was 18 19 like 17 18. You hear all the bad stories right? You're like hey I uh I wanted to like I was like okay I'm going to get a business accountant. Like up until that point, I always managed it. My family, we always, you know, filled the sheets out, did the things, always had it. And then I was like, you know, I I really, everyone's kind of pushing me to to make sure that I have a proper accountant, dude. I got eaten. >> So, did he just invest your money poorly or did he siphon funds from you? Like, what was the main and what year was that? So I was I was around 17. So I'd probably say this was around like 2011. Um >> rough time in the market >> like like 2011, 2012, 2013. >> Um and and so like I I can't go into details because this person um I don't know is still out there, but I know she got 14 other actors. I was like one of this big group that she was targeting like primarily people with disabilities, elderly, like older actors in the industry and uh and worked at the sheriff's department where she had her office at so she could you would have to file at that to so >> but how did she lose the money? >> Like is it is it poor investments? Is it high expenses? >> You just didn't get it? >> Just No, she didn't lose it. She was just ciphing. >> She was siphoning funds like like literally she would I would write a check um I'd write a check and like to go pay my taxes and instead of her using it to pay my taxes, she would send me a fake filing of taxes and take that money. And so at the end of the day though, it's my negligence. So regardless with that, the IRS doesn't really care about you. They only care that you make sure that you're that you are paying it. And anyone else that handles that is your fault because you did not do your due diligence. >> Is she still working today or is she like in jail? >> She's around her own. >> That's what happened to the to the guy. I'm blank. >> It's very common. This is a very It only took me 10 years to pay it off. >> 10 years to pay off your taxes. It was a rough thing, but like you know it was a lesson learned and it's like you know I I I've always been very savvy in my finances. You know I I I was treasurer for my organization for for eight years and we we've always done well and I've always been very good about it and you know I'm I look at as a blessing um and a curse um but it gave me knowledge that like no one has. Steve Harvey had the same thing happen to him. >> Yeah. >> Same thing. He was paying his accountant. The accountant would cash the check and then he would just get a fake receipt. >> Fake receipt. Yeah. They just make a mock of it. It all looks legit and they're like, "Here you go." And then like three or four or five years later with compound interest at like 13 14% or 17% interest on that total number for each year. >> You get this nice big check. How did you how did you get a letter from the IRS? >> I didn't get one until it was like too late. >> Like Yeah. >> And did people show up at your house? >> No, I had I you know I have attorneys and stuff that I've like cuz I work you know I've I'm on top of stuff but I wasn't on top of that. And so um so like it was just one of those days you get a letter and it's like your heart drops. >> Who do you call after you get that letter? >> Call your CPA. You call a licensed well you don't not her. You call another attorney. You call a forensic accountant and then you figure out okay how what happened. >> What did she say? >> Good luck. >> How how she would she even talk to you? >> I mean it was comp it it it was really really complicated. Like it it it so I was able I was young enough to really a like be able to like you know I just I cut her off. I changed I canceled the accounts. We shut down the system. We shut down the bleeding. Um and and luckily I like I I immediately was like, "Hey guys, like like we're good. Let me go. I'm just going to go work for the next whatever however long to pay this off." >> And uh and so other though there were 13 others. I actually want to make a show about it. I've actually been writing a show on this called >> I'm not even mentioning yet. >> How do you how do you not go after her criminally? >> Well, when the same person that you're trying to go after criminally is the same person you have to report the criminal filing to. >> Couldn't it couldn't you report it anywhere else >> has to state California? You have to do it in the area that she's licensed in. >> Couldn't you just have a lawyer do it on your behalf and it's it's going to be filed? Yeah, I'd be going for tens of thousands of dollars, which you don't have at that point. >> Any lawyer would take any lawyer would take that uncontent. >> Yeah, you still owe it. But but my point being is that if she I just as an example got 100 grand. I guarantee she has 100 grand of assets that you could see. I think it's criminal. It's not >> like both. You'd be going after her personally. >> Yeah, but it's hardwired. It's not in her name. It's all like it it's it's very complicated. Like I can't go into because this is still an ongoing investigation. Like we've we've tracked it to offshore account, shell companies, like no, this is a we're not talking hundreds of thousands of dollars. We're talking tens of millions of dollars. >> And once it's out of the country, there's really not much you can do. >> You're targeting older actors and you're targeting people that like are structured pay and once they lose that foundation underneath them, they kind of just can't fight anymore. It's It's super messed up. >> And did you happens to millions of people? >> Did you talk to all of the other like victims of this? >> Oh, yeah. No, no, we're all We're all in connection. We're all still in contact. There's still a whole thing going on, >> but but they're pursuing it. >> No, there's nothing to pursue, >> dude. I'm tell Once the money goes beyond a certain point, you can't get it done. >> There's nothing there. >> But but you could at least put this person behind bars. >> We We know some great lawyers. I'm telling I'm tell more complicated than that though. You you think you Yes, you can, but you're talking like years of litigation, years of appeals, years of forensic accountants. Like, >> okay, so the cost of that is probably going to be in the millions and then it's like, can you recover? Probably not. What do you do? put her in jail and then yeah, >> it's conf it's it's again though this is very very common especially young actors >> like >> it's mindblowing >> and and it happens every day. It's probably happening right now somewhere. >> So what's your advice to newer actors today when it comes to their finances? >> You know record it, mark down every dollar, you know, keep track of it, you know, stay on top of it. you know, know where you're spending your money, how you're spending your money. I I think technology today is getting stronger and stronger in where you can't hide money like you used to. >> Like used to is like, "Oh yeah, we have this stack of paper. Yeah, just get put in a shelf. No one's going to find it." Now today, it's more digitized. I mean, again, you know, I I do my best. I'm I'm I'm a fairly frugal person. Um, but like it's it's really about just knowing where your money where your money's coming in and where your money is going out. And once you have those two basic things down, there's more learning. But but if you know, >> you know where every dollar is going. Like I can tell you where every dollar that I have goes. Like like down to to how it how where it came in to where it's going. >> Yeah. >> So where are you making most of your money today and how are you investing? Um, I make most of my money through speaking, um, speaking engagements. I shoot about a movie a year. Um, I do a lot of, um, you know, I raise more funds though for nonprofits than I make, like by a lot. Um, which is how it should be. Uh, but, uh, most of my most of my income comes from movies. Mov I try to shoot a movie a year. Um, they're nothing crazy for the most part, lowbudget, but you know, that's kind of it's about grinding, you know, and staying in it and staying active and constantly putting yourself out there for different projects like like here today, you know, like, you know, people are going to see this and they're going to be inspired and who knows, you know, since we met with Ian and now this and we've we've kind of kept this waterfall effect going through this trip. >> Um, and just enjoying it. You know, >> it is crazy how we got here. So, for those that don't know, I saw Beast Games on Amazon and it was Macy's idea to send Jeff, the winner, a DM on Instagram. I just sent him a DM and he was here a few days later to talk about it >> and then we became really great friends with him and then through them we met Matched. >> Okay. >> And he was also a winner on Mr. Beast. We became friends and then through that Ian Bick and then through Ian us. And then on top of that, after this, we're going to go try the best steaks in the world with Joshua Weissman, who's here in Vegas, and he invited us to go eat some steaks with him. We're like, "Oh, well, we're filming a podcast, you know, can we bring can we bring R.J." And he's like, "Absolutely." Like that sounds amazing. So now, like, it's weird like the cobweb of >> You never know what's going to happen, right? >> It's a very small world. And I I find if you treat everyone with with grace and kindness and care, like you really don't know how far it goes. and and the impacts I can have. And it it's definitely been a fun uh fun 24 hours. >> Yeah. So, when you got your first big paycheck though for Breaking Bad, what did you spend it on? >> I'd probably say it was in the second season when I when I got a nice when I got my first nice check like >> and I I bought me a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes. [laughter] >> Yeah. I still have them today. I wear them. Yeah. I I You still wear them? >> I still Yeah, they still They look brand new. Like, how do they look brand new? I just took care of them. >> You don't take care of your shoes. >> I guess not. >> No, not like that. >> Yeah, like that. >> No, that was one of my first Like I I honestly don't collect a lot of things. Like I pretty much have everything that I've ever significantly been given or got myself since I was like nine. And I've carried this stuff around. Do you have country? >> A ton of things then? >> Yeah. I got things. >> What do you have? [laughter] >> I got lots of things. No. Um, so like I mean as far as like what like Breaking Bad stuff like I got a bunch of meth from the show like like but like from season one. >> Okay. So it's like matured as time has gone on. It's like a fine wine gets >> I don't know about that. It's still rock candy. Um I have like my crutches. Um you know I have I have those shoes I bought. I have like you know memorabilia. I always I I when I'm given like art and stuff, I can't throw it away. I I I would I went to try to clear out some stuff and I felt so guilty when I tried to throw this one piece. I'm like, I I can't. I put it back in the box. I'm like, you know, I always want to have that. If one day I run into them and they're like, hey, remember that thing I gave you? I can say without c without like question, yes, I do still have it. It's It's in my It's It's in my storage unit. >> That's dangerous cuz now I feel like most people when they see it, they're be like, "Okay, if I ever see him, I got to give him something because they'll hold on to it forever." You're just going to have people like creating lines just giving you Yeah. new thing. >> It's It's quite It's quite the weight. But but um I'm a collector. Like I have all my original Pokemon cards since I was a child. Like like every pack that I opened when I was like 9 years old and they're all still in mint condition. Do what sort of Breaking Bad memorabilia did you keep? >> I have my crutches. >> That's >> Yeah. And they're they're pretty sick. Um I you know I have I have like a break I have a Heisenberg hat. Got some pairs of underwear. I have some of my clothes. Um you know we um you know I I took what really the only thing I truly wanted um after the show was my crutches. That was like my big my big one grab was like at the end of the series, these are mine. >> So, how did they want to fight you on that? They're like, well, I kind of want it like [laughter] >> the grip. >> Did you How do you How do you sneak things away off of set? Yeah. And do they allow you to take these or do people just kind of like take >> You know that you know that saying it's better ask for forgiveness and permission? So, so I kind of asked the right people was like, "Hey, you think this is going to cause a problem?" And they're like, "Do it." And I was like, "Okay." And and then a few years later, the Smithsonian wanted him. Um and I was like, "No, I'm kidding." >> And you just like you just store them. >> I have them. Yeah. >> Do you ever use them? >> No. No. They're they're memorabilia. I I keep them. >> Why wouldn't you give it to the Smithsonian though for display? >> They're mine. [laughter] >> Couldn't you give it on a loan? >> No, they don't do consignment. >> Oh, really? >> At all. They have to, >> but they're missing out. I mean, these are like >> Well, they have another pair, but they're not the originals, you know? I I think about this. I used these crutches for seven years straight like that. I was on those crutches for seven years and like they they were they just I I had a hard time like when they were like I I thought about giving them, you know, I thought about like Yeah. And then I was like I was like, "Man, the I I I rather have them with me. I know there's >> It makes sense. You It's not like something that was kind of fly by night. Like this was something that you held on to for a long long time." >> Yeah. >> Yeah. What about Heisenberg's hat? >> So, I don't have an original I don't have an original Heisenberg hat. Brian has his hat. Um, but I have the same guy who made the I forget the style of cap, not bowler cap, but but that that that type of hat, the hat maker who made all of them. We have like a box. It's like has a photo of Brian as Heisenberg with the glasses and it's like a yellow top and has this gorgeous hat in it. >> That has to be crazy valuable. Like the authentic crutches like a hat. Like that's >> What do you think it's worth? Have you been offered money for it before? >> I did get offered some money for it. >> The crutches got to be They have to be overund. Yeah, it was over $100. >> $100,000. >> Yeah, they have to be. No, >> I got I got offered I don't exactly remember the amount, but I do remember it was very significant. >> Is there a price where you would say, "All right, >> a million dollars for the contest. >> 2 million." >> No. >> Wow. >> I think movie memorabilia is so cool to buy and collect. I remember the original Beetlejuice book uh went up for auction and it sold at some crazy price. >> The guide. >> Yeah, but it sold some crazy price. But I think stuff like that is so cool to collect. It's one of a kind. It's so memorable. We were watching Gremlins the other night and I was thinking how cool would it be to get an original little Gremlin >> like a like a original gizmo. >> Yeah. My dream would be able to get something from the Nightmare Before Christmas like one of the actual little >> stock motion guys. motion. >> I would do anything to get one of those little things are about like this tall. I would do anything for I'm sure they would sell for a stupid price, but I can't see how that wouldn't be worth a ton of money in the I love that. >> I I mean I I think again though it's all it's all about perspective. Um but I you know why don't you just like hit up Tim Burton and be like, "Hey, you mind making me a little Jack Skeleton?" You know what's funny is I uh met Danny Elfman >> at his warehouse and he had them everywhere and I couldn't help but just think, "Oh my god, I like all the little ones just around. All the memorabilia from all of his films were just with Tim Burton were there and just to be able to look and be like that was it." How special is that? Like insane. >> Like I I you know I'm one of those people I I tell my family it's going to be my will. No one. It's going to be like no one's allowed to sell my stuff even after I'm dead. I I I I'm I'm already putting it in there. I'm like, no one's allowed to like I'm going to like it's going to be like a little museum. It's like it's it's all yours. I'm not here. It's all yours. But >> but see, if you put them in the Breaking Bad house that you purchase behind some glass could just be an artifact that people walk in it >> that you could get such a good ROI on that. >> I really do. But like the thing is though is like what would be like how long before return? What's your initial investment? Like cuz you know we're talk we're she still wants $4 million and that's not including the uh the real estate fee and >> I bet you could I bet you could negotiate the price down. She would sell to you cheaper than she would sell to other people. I mean, possibly maybe like a a 100year uh lease purchase. Uh uh where it's like, okay, hey, look, we're going to do this. I want to pay you $4 million in my lifetime. [laughter] >> So, speaking of money though, uh you've said before that you respect money, but you don't like what it does to people. I'm curious, how have you seen money? >> How have you seen money corrupt people in Hollywood? >> Hollywood? You mean the world? Like like literally like you know >> money is a tool like I I look at money as you know it's it's a tool. It's it's sadly a necessity in life. We we need money to survive. It doesn't matter who you are unless you are rural local native population like you know there's there's people that have lived a certain way for hundreds of years you know but in a modern day society you know capital money you can't do anything without it pretty much you can't you you have to have these structures and sadly people like as you offered like what's my number right you're like a mill 2 mil people do have numbers sadly and and what someone is willing to do for the right number never ceases to amaze me and and people will sacrifice who they are for money for clout for whatever that is and and you know growing up I've always worked I've never I've never not had a job in my life even as like a like five-year-old kid uh I would be like chores around the house let me go I'll pick fruit. Let me go do this. Let me go whatever whatever it may have been. Um I always I always liked working. And and so for me, it's not about necessarily like I need money to survive, but I enjoy the working. I enjoy the camaraderie. I enjoy what what I'm doing out there. And money just helps it get that way. But I don't really set a number for myself. It's does it have does it make sense? Are we helping people? Are we changing lives? Are we having an impact? And then it also goes the opposite way, you know, with with what's your number? What what what would you be willing to do? >> Oh, we do this all the time. It gets it gets horrible. >> This is our favorite the most depraved things in the car of like, yo, what what would you do that for like 50 grand, 100 grand? And we always get to a number we're like, all right, I I got to say Graham's numbers for some pretty like sus things are [laughter] pretty low. I'm just willing to put that out there, guys. >> You know what's funny? I >> They were surprisingly low. >> I Jack paid me once. I thought it was the easiest money ever. We have it on video licking a moldy bagel >> and it was right on the mold. >> Yeah. And it was blue mold. And I said, "15 bucks." >> And Jack says, "All right, you have to leave it on there for how many?" >> I said, "You have to leave it on there." >> Like 5 seconds. I'm like, "$15 for five seconds is a great ROI." And I I just do it and I feel some like burning sensation on my tongue. Like, you know what's funny is what is $15 doing for you right now? >> I don't regret doing it. I don't. >> But that's crazy, dude. Because you that that could be why you are the way that you are. Like that mold. >> I don't know, man. That that can have some long-term ramifications. >> I just I ceiling, you know, I just washed my mouth afterwards. It was >> I'm saying $15 to Graham. Now it's like like he can refresh his Schwab account and instantly [laughter] in like literally the millisecond in the millisecond he refreshes it. It could vary by probably $1,000. Like it's not going to make any >> It was so easy to do. >> It's not See, that's where that's where people mix up. It's not about the money or how much the money. It's it's just about it's the action of it. It's the bet of it. >> No, it's just the ratio. to grand if I can make $15 in 5 seconds then my my minute wage is this my hour wage is this and I that's higher than I make when I'm editing and it's like dude >> exactly per hour that's a really high amount of money >> I mean that is that is if you if you take that to minutes to to hours to to months that that is >> you can make a career and be a billionaire by just licking moldy bagels [laughter] >> with that for 8 hours a days straight. >> See, bro, make sure your health insurance and life insurance policies in check for that though. But going back to to that point about my comment, people desperate people, you know, money doesn't like people with money or people that have power with money don't freely give anything. It all comes at a cost. And when you have someone that desperately needs it, that's willing to do anything, that's where you get into a very dangerous scenario of power and and you know what what that person is willing to give up who they are willing to to be to get that power, you know, and and we see it in social media, you know, you you with with videos and YouTube and stuff, people that like hurt themselves sometimes to get the sensationalism is is in my opinion And like it's a dangerous game. >> Do you ever feel like you spend more time managing your work than actually doing it? Because I certainly do. I mean, just between emails, documents, and all these separate AI tools, you'll literally waste hours just switching tabs. Well, that's exactly why our sponsor, Grammarly, has teamed up with a bunch of other top tools to create something completely new called Superhum. Superhuman is an all-in-one AI productivity suite that brings together Grammarly, KOD, and Superhuman Mail. 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Thank you so much to Shopify for sponsoring this episode. >> People that like hurt themselves sometimes to get the sensationalism is is in my opinion like it's a dangerous game. >> I agree with that. I think that acquiring money for the sake of just simply having money is where it starts to get dicey. If you think that money in and of itself is of value, instead of seeing money as a tool or a vessel to get something else, to help other people, to be able to provide for your family, to be able to go on a trip, maybe it's been years since you've been on a trip and you're like, "Well, if I get this amount of money, I can now do that instead of just like >> getting money for the sake of it." I saw this one video that went super viral. It's unfortunately hilarious, but it's also bad. Uh, this guy pays another guy like a hundred bucks to drink a little bit of EpiPac. >> Oh, I saw that. Oh, that's that's dude that's like 20 years ago. >> Yeah, but that that video like too like I it it grosses you out and it also is kind of like it's kind >> I always think of the Family Guy episode. >> What's that one >> with the epicatak? >> I don't remember that >> where they all drink the epiack and they're throwing up all over the Oh man, >> I got to check. >> That's where initially that video I feel comes from. Yeah. No, it it when you start putting yourself in harm to make a quick buck like the mold. >> I don't think that's harmful [laughter] though. See, if I if I genuinely thought I' I'd be like sick or out the day, I wouldn't do it. >> Yeah. >> No, but but but like take that scenario times 50 or times 100 of whatever that is. >> People do do stuff like that though. Like >> we asked to recently, it was like a viral clip. He's a gambling like fitness influencer sort of guy. We asked him if he'd remove a pinky finger for $10 million and he said he'd he'd like remove his foot if he could [laughter] >> for $10 million. And this guy makes a lot of money. >> I mean, you could buy a lot of feet for 10 million. >> That's a good point. I didn't think about that. It reminded me though, uh, I did get paid to eat a snail. >> Okay. >> In Japan, I didn't want to eat the snail. >> Was it an edible snail or was it? >> Yeah, it was cooked in garlic that's but I didn't want to eat it. And then a buddy was like, "I'll pay you 10 bucks to eat it." And I said, "Sure." >> See, growing up, my dad would do the same to me all the time. Like it was he was always like he would be like, "Here, eat this. Eat this fat." Um, like for a sake, I'll give you a hundred bucks. >> We do that with wasabi all the time. This is like eat a whole thing of wasabi. 20 bucks. >> 20 bucks. But, you know, I think there's a game, a friendly game of it, but then there's the >> the darker version of that. And that's and that's where the the power is. And it's like what would you cuz you know it's we're we're talking like 20 bucks 100 like a hundred bucks but there are people that are doing this with hundreds of millions of dollars and >> games. How is that that much different from working a job like a high paid high stress job that you really dislike but it pays you 200 grand a year? I mean, there's a lot of people that live in lives that hate their jobs, but they stay because they it's it's kind of circle, you know? I I've definitely done jobs that I did not want to do, >> but I did it because >> it was it was I was free and it was paying >> like it like >> Well, then it's a win-win. >> It's a win-win. But I find you cannot once you start questioning your morals like like I I believe everyone has a moral accomplice and and sometimes it doesn't always point the way it should but I believe once you start sacrificing who you are and like what when you start sacrificing your dreams to chase something else like chasing someone else's dream chasing someone else's money when you start losing what made you you and what what made you have passion or art because people get in the industry and they struggle. The acting industry is not like a very like welcoming and warm industry. Everyone's we're all competing for the similar job. We're all there's one role that we're all trying to get right. It's a zero sum game. >> Yeah. And and so >> like everyone's fighting for that one big break and and it's then it's like okay you had the big break. Where's the next big break? Where's the next big break? And people were like, "Okay, well, I'll be willing to do this if I can get into this movie or I can get on this show." What? And and it's not just money. It's >> Are we talking like predatory behavior of like that that that sort of stuff? >> Yeah. Like I mean, but that all is all money related. It's all based in money. It's all based in capital. And And what are you willing to do to be on this show? What are you willing to do to get what you want? And I I find you always have to stay true to yourself. And I know that's some lame thing that people say, but it's the reality of it because once you start losing who you are as a person, what makes you you, >> you've lost the game. >> Were you ever presented with any moral dilemmas like that where you had to like think inwardsly, okay, what what is the ethical thing to do here? I I I had a moment where I had some people approach me and I they're like, "Come with us. We're going to make you a star." And I said, "No." And that was the last time I modeled. >> So, what would what did they want? [gasps] >> I'm not going into detail, but I I I stopped it before like >> You could sense it was I I knew I knew they wanted something that I was not willing to pay. You know, it it's there's something in life that we we have and and how far are you willing to go? You know, Breaking Bad is a great example of how far are you willing to go to get what you want is either for your family, for for power, for whatever it is. How far are you willing to go? And and for me, I've always kind of had like um like a I'm not going to step past it. >> How common do you think that is? And do you think it's more common with with men or women or do you think it's equal? >> You know, I think it's a fine line. I don't think it's because like it's it's not it's not a it's not a sexbased thing in my opinion. It's a it's a it's a power. Again, it's it's power. It's money. It's fame. It's it's all these things. It's the sex, drugs, and rock and roll of of of what are you willing to do to be at top? What are you willing to do to be a star? And there are certain people that like you see it happen where it's like they're a hit and everyone comes from you and it's sharks, you know, blend the water, the sharks come, they eat, everyone gets fed, and then hopefully you stay the biggest shark until another day a bigger shark comes and eats you. >> Sounds really stressful. >> I love what I do. >> Yeah, >> I love I I get to do amazing things around the world. Um, you know, I I work with numerous charities globally and and it it it definitely is stressful, but when you can see change in the world that you've done like and knowing like I I've seen where my work was when I started with Breaking Bad and disability communities and advocacy and awareness to today. Like I I feel very proud of all the people that I've worked with and all the teams and organizations and nonprofits that we've we've worked with and helped and raised funds and we I I raise about I probably say $2 to $3 million a year for nonprofits. Um and and um right annually um and and so like being able to see that change is is in my opinion the most valuable thing in this world. Could you shout out some of those nonprofits right now? We could leave links down below in the description, too. >> You know, I'm a big supporter of Shriner's Hospitals for Children. Um, I was a Shriner's kid when I was younger. I went to Shriner's Hospital from from 2 to 18. Um, they do amazing things, not just for people with disabilities, but but just across the board for families. Um, United Serbal Poly um I'm actually going to go uh in the next couple of weeks um to do it um for United Copal Poly um uh San Diego. Um, but they're national. You know, these both both of these organizations are nationally. Um, and then I work with lots of local municipalities. Um, and and you know, I've done stuff with the UN in like Eastern Europe and Germany and but those are my those are my main two I like to I like to shout out. >> And I'm curious in terms of investing, do you invest in like stocks, ETFs, real estate? Like how? >> A good read. A good read goes a long way. >> Okay. >> Sorry, what were we say? >> Bitcoin. I I I missed the biggest bullet of my life in 2009. Man, I remember being at Hollywood Tower. I don't know if y'all y'all know where Hollywood Tower is off of um by the by the 101 freeway. My friends live there. And I remember being at this um this this radio um I forget what radio station it was, but they would have these concerts and stuff. And this dude's telling me about Bitcoin. He's like, "You got to get it right now. It's going to revolutionize blah blah blah, like all the things." And I was like, "Yeah, I'm going to get it. I'm going to get it." And I don't know. I thought I bought some. I might have a laptop with some on it somewhere that I really hope that I find one day. Uh, but I I missed it. But like I like Ethereum. I I I do do a little gambling like Shiva Enu. >> Did you make money on it? >> No. I I mean I [laughter] Well, I I um I probably stay up on like 20% on my crypto market. I don't have a lot of crypto. Like we're not we're talking like a couple of G's. We're not talking like like tons of money. I'm um I'm very careful with my personal funds as far as investing. Um, professionally I I with the companies I work, we have different firms and stuff and I've been the treasurer for many organizations over the years. Um, is and you know I'm a big fan of of of due diligence and transparency and and um most of my work I do it's like oh if here it is it's publicly. Um but Charles Schwab >> good. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They're great. >> I love I love them. I've I've had an account with them for a decade and I >> Do you have a Charles Schwab guy? like a guy you reach out to. >> No, I just do. >> We have a guy on the inside we can put you in contact with. He's great. >> I just kind of like I just I I I I like to I treat my stock account like gambling. So I like penny stocks. >> No. Are you serious? >> Yeah, I'm one of those guys. >> How do you get your penny stocks? Like where do you find them? >> Um so lately I've been using Chat GPT to do a lot of the research. I say, "Hey, find me these types of dividend stocks. find me these types of structures with large cap capital and no debt >> and I then have it pull up companies that have like I I've gotten some that have a 1,200x on it. Like I'm not we're not talking like a lot of money but like like it went from a I bought like 200 of it and now it's like 800 bucks. >> Do you do you have like index funds? >> I have a couple. >> Do you have uh any real estate? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I I have I one one I I don't like to I also don't like to plug plug like capital stuff, but um there's like a couple I look for for like index funds or real estate funds that again have high asset allocations that that have minimal debt and that show um gross income coming in. And so I mean I you can't go wrong if they're making money, right? And so so I look at it across the board of okay is it losing money but it has a high asset valuation or is it gaining money and have a low asset valuation and so I always tend to choose something with assets you know something with tangible resources and growth potential. >> Very interesting you got to teach a thing or two about very different it's almost it's kind of like gambling. It sounds like it, you know, typically with >> I'm a hold I'm a long-term holder. So, like I'm someone that like I I I have this one stock. It's a interstellar mining company. They have rights to asteroids. >> How how do you even get a right to an asteroid? Is that like >> you you file for the right to asteroid? Anyone apparently who the government owns space? >> How do we know America owns it instead of like >> No one owns it. That's the thing. No one owns it. >> But then how do they own it? No one owns these flying flying rocks. So like you have to so like it's it's like so NASA identifies these types of structures and you have all this like extra like like space and they can hit it with certain telescopes like you have asteroids that are made out of solid gold. >> So [laughter] you can make money off this. >> So over the next 30 years um like they're going to mine these things >> with what? >> With drone drone hypes structured stuff. If they're going to break off pieces, drop it, some of it allegedly in orbit. [laughter] >> I don't sell, man. I don't get out of this thing. >> Um, >> but how do we know that like they have the right? >> We don't. >> This is a great business to be in. >> Is this a large percentage of your portfolio? >> No. No. >> If it's money that you're comfortable playing around with, you know, >> but we're talking like like it's it's increasing value. Again, I don't I most of my most of my income that I make it literally I make it myself. Um, as far as like my stock stuff in my portfolio, I use it with long-term like like I got a couple like million shares of some stuff for a hundred bucks. >> But like like you know what I mean? Like >> he's buying like 30% of the company for like [laughter] 500. >> I love Monopoly. >> Are you are you like like a like more than 50% owner of any of these? [laughter] >> No. No, >> he has like 300 files. >> Well, the one the one that I'm talking about, you see Mattress Warehouse. [laughter] >> He's buying like some kids lemonade stand basically. There's this hustler there. There's these two kids in um South Dakota who sell the best lemonade. Like great. >> Do you do you have Do you have any desire to also have some like like other more conservative investments like an index fund or anything? No, I I I do like, you know, like SMP type stuff and like, you know, I I mean, >> for the most part, like I I do um >> I do consulting for for different firms and stuff like that. Joking aside, like financially, like I I I'm >> those are my joke ones. Um but like, you know, it's for me it's all about like long-term structured growth, reinvest dividends, >> um you know, power utility stuff structured like that. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I was just I was just curious though as long like you could do all that stuff as long as you're also doing like >> No. Yeah. No, I I'm I'm um my like look I'm not rich or anything. Everyone always assumes everyone assumes I'm loaded, but like I I work hard for every dollar I have and and since I over the past 20 years of learning in finance and doing different structures and running boards, there's certain things that like you know where to invest and then there's the gambling. Do people [laughter] do people ever hit you up for money because they see you on the show and they're like, "Dude, must have >> all the time." When the first when the show first came out, someone hit me up to pay for their son's rehab and like blamed us and like a whole thing about like the show and it's like we've just had one episode, >> one episode and they already were >> Yeah. coming down pretty hard on it in the beginning, you know. But like I, you know, I'm really good about protecting myself. I have a very tight-knit family. Um, I don't really do anything or put myself to I I really don't I do my best to keep my um keep myself out of vulnerable positions, you know. >> Do you have any financial goals? >> Yeah. To to just No. Um [laughter] that mining stock that mining stock that mining stock if you end up I I should sell all of my gold right now because you're going to devalue the heck out of gold if we have an asteroid that's made out of 24 karat gold and it comes down in basically anyone that's holding gold right now the gold will be yeah it will become worthless >> well it's a little more complicated than that there I gold will always have value it's in all the technologies like it's in your cars it's in your phones it's in this microphone, your asteroid could bring it down like 50%. >> Or raise technology cuz we use some little gold. Imagine if we had more of it to create stronger technologies. >> That's true. You could hedge your asteroid gold position with like >> biotech. Oh yeah, >> you could put Bitcoin mining facilities on the asteroid. >> Well, it's cooling. >> You wouldn't it? Anyways, [laughter] >> no, but you know, I think it's really when it comes to investments, you always have to have due diligence. You always have to do your research and structure and like like I I find again knowing where your money is coming in and where you're going your money is going out, like really managing that. There's a lot of people that don't know where their assets are going and there's a lot of money that just like it's like, oh, you know, oh, it was a dollar here and a dollar there and a dollar there. But over time, those dollars really add up. And you know, knowing what your bills are, what your structured system is, and the life that you want to live. You know, you mentioned financial goals earlier. I I do, and I do have a lot of financial goals that that I'm working towards, and um you know, I'm a big fan of like real estate and stuff. Like I I have a property. I lived in California. Never could afford a house in California, but moved into Texas, within a year, bought a home. And so, um, you know, I I think having strong assets are key in your life. And, you know, the [snorts] Pokemon cards don't don't hurt. You know, they they >> they've been going up. They've been going up a lot this last year, apparently. >> But, um, you know, really creating kind of a steady, stable portfolio incomebased structure. You know, my my overall goal for me over the next like 15 years is to really just get a nice portfolio where it has regularly structured systems and kind of just making it where it's like, okay, I don't have to go take that job next Tuesday. >> So, what do you think separates actors who have really long great careers versus those who fade out? >> I think it varies depending on the actor. I mean, you know, I I think it also depends on the civilization and the time that we're in. You know what? You know, if we look at actors going back since the creation of of television specifically, you know, you look at the the starlets of of 1940s and 50s and 60s and 70s to the starlets today. It it's it's a different market. It's a generational growth. It's a different type of of either a resurgence or a desurgence of like industry. And you know, I I find it's about being consistent, showing up on time, knowing your lines, being again, pun punctuality is like so important in the industry because if if you miss a day like like it was about $25,000 a day for Breaking Bad. So if you messed up that day, that's 25 that's that's that's time and money. Like you're you're you're everyone's hurting. And so and that can come from the smallest little thing and having a strong chain of people that really um work together that show up on time that keep pushing forward. I think that's what makes that's where you see these actors that are that are popping off and then right place at the right time. One thing I learned and I was told at a young age life is the most important thing is is when readiness meets opportunity. I I don't know if you all heard this, but but you know, we're so often not ready, but we have the opportunity. >> And then we're so often ready, but there's no opportunity. And I find when that iron strikes and you're ready to strike it, and that opportunity comes and you're ready for it, that's where you launch and that's where you grow from. >> How important are relationships and networking? Like, how much is it who you know? >> I mean, how else did I get here? Like, you know what I mean? This is a great example of networking right now >> from Ian to here to to late like you know I I think it's it's about networking but not just networking and partying and doing all the things but networking in a way that puts you in a light where people see your assets versus like oh that's that guy yeah we see we see him all the time >> versus like oh he's coming through you know like there are these stars out like you know like If you when you see Brian walk into a room, right, it's a thing. It's not like it's not some simple like some random dude walking into the room. It's like a like an energy. And that's something that over time you you grow and you learn with and and you create this energy. And I think like through trial and error, but being at the right place and the right time with carrying yourself properly and carrying yourself in a way that >> that actually helps the community. [snorts] >> Now, does playing Walt Jr. make it harder to get other work in the future or does it make it >> does it open doors? >> So hard, man. like like it opened a lot of doors, but I mean you're still Walt Junior regardless like you know I I was so young on that show and so that was kind of like everyone else you know Brian and and Betsy and Anna they've all had years of experience in shows and movies before they Breaking Bad was it like a show that changed everything right >> and for me that was kind of like the like that was like my first experience of actually being a speaking role and and having that ability to to walk into this. So for me I kind of like where everyone else kept building I kind of had to go back I had to after the show was done I kind of had to backstep into like a guest star role or smaller parts that that weren't so because they're like no he's great he's great but he he looks like Wall Jr. And it's like no one >> as an actor, >> you can't carry that. You you don't want to carry your roles in every role, you know. And so for me, I I've worked really hard and selecting my movies that really highlight my acting ability versus just they hired me because of I was Walt Jr. I was on Breaking Bad. >> But you know what? Brian Cranston did a great job because when I first watched Breaking Bad, the first few episodes, I couldn't get get it out of my mind that this isn't um Howal for Malcolm in the Middle. And I was like, that's the dad from Malcolm in the and it took me maybe a half a season to get that out of my head. Like he transitioned that really, really, really well. >> Same with Ed O'Neal. I would think of him from married with children non-stop and it took a long time but he he was able to even now I still think ah that's married but >> but he did it very successfully >> but it takes time. Yeah. And and it takes like it takes continuously watching being like, "Okay, okay, that that's this character, not no longer that character." And and I think it just having more episodes and more shows, but like you know, if you look at Brian and you look at Ed, they've had years of other shows and movies that no one ever knows of, you know, and it's it's it's not about, you know, it's about getting that one. >> No. >> And being ready for it when you get it that catapult you into that next thing. And and that's kind of where I'm working on right now is is trying to find a show that fits me. I I shoot like two movies a year. Um but but something that really is that next step and it's kind of but it's really hard to to make another Breaking Bad again. You know, you don't >> Well, I don't think there will ever be. No, >> it's impossible. >> But I've seen with quite a few people like McCauley Kulkin. Yeah. >> Like after Home Alone. Like he's been in plenty of movies since then. Like I'll see him. He does a great job. Same thing as like oddly enough Nat Wolf if you know who that is from Naked Brothers band. Like he was that when he was a kid and they had a TV show and then since then like he's been in some really interesting movies since then. >> But you look at how long after that though >> it almost like a change of appearance though. Colin Kulkin really changed from being a kid to now. >> But but there's always like this gap of societal transition >> cuz they love you so much as this role. >> Yeah. and then you're 30 like you know it's like it's like you were you were a child then and now you're an adult so the transition it's almost like a shock. >> Yeah. Same with Harry Potter. Daniel R. >> Yeah. And like look at his content though. like he does some some really far out movies and and it's I find it's all about stretching that view of you and and breaking that breaking that barrier of like okay you were this character for so long and we love this character we want more of this but oh let's see this oh and then they go okay yeah yeah and then five years later they go back to that movie and they go you know I really like that movie >> so what do you think though with the future of acting right Now with AI and being able to clone people's voices and aesthetics like for for background actors you could theoretically like I think in the new newest gladiator like a lot of those people just complete AI >> CGI. Yeah. AI. Um >> I think it every everything serves a purpose and and and again as I look at it as money as a tool, AI is a tool. Do I do I think it can replace everyone? No. Do I think it will change how we do things, how we see things, the information that we receive? Very big, very big way. Um I I think though it's it's as the industry comes together, right? And you know, you see like AI boycots like for voice acting and you see these structures of like of of of the union pushing back on AI. I I think we need a better understanding. I think the technology is still so fresh and so new and it's growing rapidly. I I think it's about being able to still protect artists. Um but using different capacities to do that, you know, with the dot, remember when like computers were created, no one no one like wanted computers, no one wanted the structure. Like people like these are just a fade. >> Uh and now they're essential in our everyday life. We carry a computer every day. I I I think it's a double-edged sword, but as every industry grows and changes, I think um we have to rise above it. You know, as an artist, as someone that protects our brands, our art, our our who we are, I I don't believe AI can replace us. I I I think that that is impossible. Like there's something about humanity that nothing else in this world, in this this galaxy, whatever. Like we are very unique in one phase that we continue no matter what we grow we evolve we adapt. So as we evolve and adapt and as this new emerging industry of technology evolves and adapt and creates new problems, we create problems to fix it and identifying the issues, identifying the structures and being able to utilize it in a way that is conducive for growth in art versus being replacing art. You know, >> I'm curious. Do you do you find any issue with non-disabled people playing disabled people in TV shows and movies? And what about dwarves? Cuz I know that there was like this big thing. I don't know what the the politically correct term, little people. Little pe people that aren't little people playing little people. >> This is how I look at able-bodied actors playing disabled roles. I I think that if you can hire someone with a disability for a role that highlights a disability, you should always do that. Now, with that being said, if you're going to get someone like a Brad Pitt to play something, the amount of media you're going to get for that, either positive or negative, is going to raise a question, right? It's going to be thoughtprovoking. It's going to inspire. It's going to be like, "Yo, we we need more change on this. we need social this, we need structure on this, we need these opportunities and and I feel that in the industry we kind of go through these phases of where we see a increase of people with disabilities and well not not necessarily disabilities but accurate representation right uh diversified casting I think there's a fine line of of bringing it positively like positively into the mainstream media or negative. I I see there's both a purpose in that because no one's always 100% accurate. But I think if you have someone with a disability that can play the role that is that part, there's no reason why you shouldn't hire them. But if you want to try to sensationalize or something like that's what you can do with a bigger name. >> So I have a question about some of the lore of Breaking Bad. I'm curious, what scene was the most difficult to film? Either because people kept breaking character character cuz it was funny or because it was just logistically challenging. >> I know the desert. The desert was definitely challenging for the crew. I didn't spend a lot of time in the desert. Um I mostly cuz I was either eating breakfast or or or chilling in my room. Um, I I think the hard one of the hardest, not the hardest, but I guess emotional parts for me um during the series was when uh Walt Jr. finds Brian uh beat up at his new apartment and he um has a conversation with Brian about uh his father dying of emphyma and of lung cancer. And at the same time, my grandfather was dying of emphyma and lung cancer. And so, um, it just that that kind of scene really meant a lot to me and, um, was definitely one of those high high emotional kind of grasp that that I really wanted to make sure we got right. >> What's the craziest thing that you've seen someone do to get in character? >> I've I I I can't go into detail about some things, but I've worked with a few method actors >> and and u, >> Do you believe in that? I believe there's a fine line of it, you know? I I believe like cuz like I'm I wouldn't call myself a method actor, but but I do my best to always feel what my character is feeling. I always I I do I find acting really is important on a emotional level like what those characters are feeling, how that character is feeling and I use basis of my life and life experiences to make these characters feel a certain way. Um, so as far as that aspect, yeah, but I don't when you see people being an ass to people or like getting aggressive and it's like I'm method, I'm like I'm like, dude, like >> you don't have to be a dick. >> You're supposed to be playing a nice person. >> Yeah. Well, no, that's usually cuz they're not playing a nice person. But no, no, but but like I think it's a fine line, but I also think sometimes it's an excuse to be an ass. That's interesting. Like, and they get away with things. >> So, that's what you've seen is that people like get into character like that and they won't break it. >> They don't break it. And and and they carry it off. And I'm like I'm like part of me doesn't think you're acting, man. Like, like it's like I I think you're like this 24/7. >> Was there ever a scene? Was that TCO? >> No. No. [laughter] No. Dude, I would love no Breaking Bad from from every single person on there was a gym. Like like really like quality, very meticulous, thought out casting. Um it's on some of the other movies that that I've done that that that >> that I'm like I'm >> Speaking of Tuco, you know, have you seen the lawsuit recently? >> The with the hose? >> So stupid. You hear about this guy? and >> he was washing his car and like he sprayed some kid with water and they sued him. >> So it goes a little deeper than that. So I I found out some information and and there's a statement by his team um cuz I know I know um >> um Raymond Cruz Yeah. very well. >> Like like I see Raymond I I probably hang out with Raymond like uh Raymond and Daniel and Lewis Banka that who played the Salamanca twins. No way. >> Like I hang out with them like cuz like I'll go do ComicCons and stuff with them. And >> that's so cool. >> And so from what I understand these like three girls parked like right on his bumper while he was washing his car and like and started recording him and he's like, "Hey, can you move?" And he splashed and they called the cops. >> Like >> they want attention. They want attention and money. That's all it is. But I think I don't necessarily look view it as a bad bad thing for him cuz he was in the national news, man. Everyone brought him back to hardcore right to the top. Raymond Cruz. >> So, are you saying you need to spray someone with water? >> We can go down to the strip and just have some mayhem down there. >> I'm good on that. I I I I don't need headaches. >> Did any cast member have like the giggles? Like they they would have a hard time >> all the time. >> Really? >> All the time. We were all laughing all the time. >> Which scene elicited the most amount of laughs where you had to just redo it because it was too funny? >> It It wasn't about like redoing it or or too many laughs. It it kind of, you know, Brian having such a comedic background. Like everything he brought into it was very comedic. Even when he did serious roles, he really was good about creating an environment on set where it, you know, we had really heavy content and and it was it was very stressful content, but as soon as we said cut, everyone was cheering, everyone smiled, especially on the hard days. We had full support from our staff from from from grips electric like painting like set to every it was all hands on deck every single time. It it has been single one of the best crews I probably that I've ever worked with and probably will ever work with in my life. How were your nerves in the beginning of the show to the end of the show? I imagine stepping in and being this your first like talking role. I mean, it's a pretty important moment in your life. How were you super nervous in the beginning? And I imagine you found found your rhythm. >> I didn't understand. I was such a kid. I didn't understand what this show would be like, you know. >> Did you watch Malcolm in the Middle? >> So, I watched Malcolm in the Middle but that that would be intimidating to be like in the room. >> I watched it after Breaking Bad. >> Oh, I see. >> So, I I watched it I watched it later like and I saw it. But I also I'm one of those people that I don't correlate people in TV and film together. >> So when I watch a show or I watch a movie, I don't I don't carry the other work. I only see them in that role. >> Got it. How did fame affect your friendships early on? >> I worked really hard on keeping all my friends. Um you know um I'm I'm still very close with most of my old friends. Like do we still talk regularly? No. But like I can pretty much pick up the phone and call my best friend from high school like and he'd be like, "Hey, what's happening now?" He's like, now he has like all my friends now are like settled down and like family of four. like um but I worked really hard to not lose like not let fame affect me, not let the the whatever the the LA New York what I I really tried and I continue to try to always never let my work get to my head. >> Do you remember the first time you got recognized? I I it was probably the first time I got recognized was probably around like season four, five. Yeah. Not until later. >> Again, we were really popular in Eastern Europe. >> I imagine now though that like I mean you still have a like a young face like you still look young. >> I was about to say like you look the same. >> Yeah, you look like basically the same which is great. Like that's that's a compliment. That's a good thing. I imagine this being like, you know, arguably the biggest show of all time. One of the biggest shows of all time certainly that like anywhere that you go, it's got to probably >> I normally grow a beard. >> Really? >> Like today? Yeah. Like >> do you do a mask and like a hat? >> No, no, no. I I grow the beard. People don't expect me to walk. [gasps] >> Interesting. >> But you get looks everywhere, I imagine. Does that like there's a complete difference in like your life and Graham's life? I imagine like going out like it's there's accountability, right? Like and and for me with this role with this with this medium, right? You know, and and one day you'll get there. No, >> thank you. But but um but like it I've always carried responsibility with me in what I do, how I go out and and how I present myself because there is cause and effect to my actions. Like I never like I do comic cons. I I enjoy comic cons cuz I love memorabilia. So like I'll go I'll buy um >> buy stuff and whatever. and the impact that I've seen on fans lives where you can change someone's perspective or have a conversation with them that they'll never get an opportunity to do or ask a question like this or you know I get a lot because of my disability I get a lot of disability related like young parents that love the show with a kid with a disability and you know people see you and and now more than ever it people see y'all people watch y'all They listen to it, they rewatch y'all, and and there's an impact on them from that. And they have their favorite episodes and their favorite structures. And I I find when you're out in public, um especially having a show like Breaking Bad specifically, there's a certain accountability you have to carry with you. And and for me, I want every person I engage to leave it with a positive experience, to leave it leave whatever we're talking about and being like, I can go tackle whatever it is I'm tackling. And and that's something I I truly always carry with me in the back of my mind. >> How did you navigate dating? Because I saw Brian Cranston on Howard Stern said you were crushing it with the ladies. >> Not anymore. I just got one lady. Um I >> we got to ear muffs. >> No, no, no. We're We're [laughter] good. We're good. >> If you could step. No. >> No. No. No. She knows everything. Everything. Um No. You know, I um just one at a time. [laughter] No, it's it's I don't know. I I think I did pretty well. I'm pretty happy with my dating life. Would they but would they approach you or would you approach them or how how did that come to be? >> I um was always leerary of of of people that kind of approached me. Um I was I'm more of like was more of a be like, "Hey, you want to like I I never use dating apps like so like I I've never used a dating app. I they they always scared me like it's like >> people wouldn't believe it if it were believe it." No, no, they wouldn't believe it. And and there's actually been people that have pretended to be me on dating apps cuz like I have friends that use that stuff and like >> are they successful on there? [laughter] >> I think >> my my my friends are very successful on their apps. >> No, I met people pretending to be you. Oh, do they have you? >> They have me. Yeah, I get my buddy would send me a screenshot like on Instagram or something be like, "Yo, but it's not me. It's Walt Jr. That's >> maybe it happened as Walt Junior. Yeah. >> Like [laughter] it was it was pretty >> swipe on that just to have you ever been rejected once? >> Oh yeah. Yeah. Everyone gets rejected. It's funny because you know it's people see the show, right? And they're like the show the show the show and and they don't really care about you like like it's and and and that's fine. Like if you love if you love Breaking Bad, I appreciate it. I'm grateful for it. Like, but like it's like knowing and this is something that I've learned to protect myself at a young age too was but knowing not everyone's your friend. I I think that's something that we that even I forget sometimes. But not everyone's your friend. Not everyone's there out of kindness. Not everyone's there to support you. Like sometimes people really want to see you fail. And and and sadly, when you go into life, dating, whatever it may be, you always have to remember not everyone's there for good intentions. And you you give people the benefit of the doubt. You give them what you you give what you get. And and for me, I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but also knowing that not everyone's your friend. And you do have to be careful. And especially in an industry like this, like sexuality, like dating, it's a tool. And and until you find that right person, that person that like is thick and thin, you you know, you you find it and you can recognize it once you have it, but it takes time. >> Do you still speak with Brian and Aaron often? occasionally like I I I every once in a while, probably like once every year or so, we uh we just did a um >> Yeah, a reunion with Netflix. They we gave we did the um SAG awards and we um presented I want to say best drama to Succession. >> Um >> I heard that show is really good. >> It's really good. Yeah, >> it's very good. Um yeah, uh I'd probably say last year or a year before last. So we all got together and that was the first time we got together in in quite some time. >> So could you just call them up if you wanted to theoretically? >> I mean yeah I wouldn't but yeah >> that's crazy. >> Yeah I I they call we call Yeah. It's not a problem. >> That's cool. >> I wouldn't be like I you >> Hey man, I'm just sitting here hanging out. I do get people that ask me to call Brian and I'm like, "Dude, I'm >> just I'm going to tell you what would actually do incredible for you on TikTok." There's this trend where you call people and just wish them a good night. If you called Brian and you said, "Hey, man. Just wishing you a good night." >> That would go insane. That's true. That would go >> that would probably get 10 to 20 million views if you were to do that. >> I don't do Tik Tok though. But if if this were your first >> this is your spraying down the people with the hose moment. [laughter] >> Yes, this is that >> I this would this would go so viral online. You just calling him, hey man, just want to wish you a good night and just pause see what he says. >> See >> because he has such a recognizable voice, but I couldn't I couldn't post that. Like I would feel like I would have to be like, "Hey, I'm doing this to post." You know what I mean? I couldn't >> I bet he would love it. I don't know. I I don't know him, but >> I mean he would he would laugh, but like I I I also have worked really hard not like as much as like my life >> is entwined with Breaking Bad, I've definitely worked really hard to to to not infringe on, >> you know, Brian Cranston Paul, you know what I mean? Like cuz like that's that's the number one for the show. >> Understand that. >> Like so I so I do my best. No, I I agree. It would it would pop off. They'll just consider putting It's in your back pocket and you could pull it out at any time you want. >> I'll hide it back there. >> All right. I want to bring this up, too. Um I bet this is not what you expected. >> Oh, no. >> But, uh you did some modeling. >> Yes, I did. >> And I wanted to know the story behind this. >> I'm assuming it's me with tits. >> Yeah. I don't need to pull it up. You know what I'm talking about. >> I know exactly what you're talking about. >> What's the story behind Why? >> Uh Vivian Westwood. No, I modeled I modeled for like four years um and like in in Germany and France and and um like across the board I did modeling and that was kind of like after Breaking Bad it was like okay what should I do next, right? What what should that next be that's going to make me stand out from from the show? And and so that started with modeling and and luckily I was super thin at the time, not so much anymore. Um but um but I I really wanted to try to create something that was unique to only me apart from the show. And and so I was modeling and met some of the Vivian Westwood people and so that was of one of the Vivian Westwoods. I got like a little bag, right? >> Yeah. But but some of these fashion shows I just think why? And so when you saw that did they present that to you? >> Oh yeah. >> And then >> what was your initial reaction? >> Down. [laughter] Down. Well, at the time like you know at the time that type of content was very sensitive, you know, and like let alone walking with walking doing runway shows with a disability at the time too was >> was something that was very unique. And so like like it was a very unique thing and and fashion is all about sensationalism, right? It's like, you know, [snorts] um what are the statement pieces? And Vivian Westwood was very, um she since passed, but she was such an icon when it came to punk and grunge and these types of abstract thinking and eco environment growth and and so I I went into it though with Ming being like, "Yeah, whatever y'all want. Just I just don't go nude." Like like so I was pretty much up for anything. And they were like, "Okay, we're going to put this bag." They're like, "Here's this bag." I'm like, "Oh, how do I c No, we're going to strap it to your chest." And um >> how is that artistic? >> I mean, >> maybe I'm just I I just don't >> I mean a dude with boobs at what I think that was what 2014. It was a while ago. >> 2014, 2013 maybe. Like the world was very different than than it is today. you know what what's socially acceptable then and socially acceptable now. Like it it's so wishwashy like but but when it comes to fashion, it's all about abstract and pushing the envelope and and getting people to think especially with like Vivian Westwood and and Kenneth Cole and you know >> the these types of entities that that really want to change a narrative and change a perspective. And so I I remember at some time I think it was like free the nipple or was one of the really big campaigns at the time because cuz women nudity was was like not okay like like it is today. And um and so I I think when it comes to these these statement pieces like I I did another one where they covered us in grass. It was like this like it was like this this this line. are walking through these like ruins and like I'm covered in grass. Um >> it seems like a like a social experiment to see. >> They are social experiments. Am I how I feel about Yes. >> And it's pushing the envelope, you know? It's like who can be the weirdest? I mean, have you you seen the the the garbage dresses? >> Yeah. I've se I don't >> I've seen the meat dress. >> Jaden Jaden Smith even shows up. He wore like the castle on his head recently. >> I saw that. >> I'm thinking what's the point? Like you could wear a nice >> Well, people were talking about talk about it right now. >> Is that the So the point is just to be talked about when at which point then I I get it. I get it to be the most absurd you can. So people are like, "Yo, did you see that?" >> You know, it's all about absurdity and and again pushing the envelope, pushing perspective. Um a lot of these a lot of these types of like designers are are very entwined and entwined into Thank you. um entwined in communities and and you know they're not all from the US. They're not all from one country or another. They they all have unique different statements that they're making like where they're at. Like if it's in Germany or UK or here in the States, like you see it more related to societal reflection a lot of times. What's the weirdest opportunity you've had being famous in Hollywood? Have you ever been able to lick mold? >> Graham would maybe pay $15 for it. It just goes from Jack to you. >> Look, >> and then it's Jack's turn. >> I've eaten mold. It's okay. You're fine. No, no, no. I I would Hey, yeah, I 25. >> 25. >> I guess with inflation and everything with inflation, that's fair. >> No, it's all good. I'm glad there's no mold. Um I don't know what's the weird What's the weirdest thing? I've had some I've had some weird instances though where like I've had someone try to cut my hair like while I like like straight up came at me with scissors and I grabbed the hand and was like whoa >> wow like a fan >> cuz she wanted your hair or was it a heat? >> No, it was she it was it was it was a she. But yeah, I I don't know what she wanted but she >> Did you let her? >> No. [laughter] I I don't mess with voodoo. Get out of here. Like that's I'm like what do you want my hair for? Um, yeah. No, no, no. Um, I don't know. I, uh, I did a survival show. I did the island with Bear Grills, and that was, that was insane. I had a blast. >> I really enjoyed it. >> That's really cool. That's neat. >> Um, now I I've done a lot of little odd parts. Um, I did a series that was super weird called um, The Guardians of Justice. >> It was It was The Guardians of Justice Will Save You Now. Um, I don't know if you know the director. Uh Addy Shankar, he did like Dread, the new Dread. Um he has Captain Laser Hawk, um Castlevania, >> those types of shows. And so I did a series with him. Took 11 years >> and it's live action and um animation and stop motion. >> It's like very very niche market, but I'm I'm very lucky that I get to do a lot of fun stuff. >> So we have some rapid fire questions right before we wrap this up. What is the best breakfast item? Oh. Um, bacon. >> When people recognize you, do they call you Flynn Walt Jr. or do they call you RJ? >> Flynn. >> Really? >> I get I get Flynn a lot, which I prefer. Like, first of all, I prefer R.J. My real name. But but but yeah, Flynn all the time, dude. >> What's the most common reference you get? >> Um, I get a lot of people that that ask me to like curse them out like how I did my dad. Like call them like call them like say say it just like the show that you're a [ __ ] like all the time. >> Could you say that? >> Definitely. You know >> go ahead curse Graham. >> Yeah, Chris. Dude, that would be an honor. >> Well, here let me let me [clears throat] let me >> You're You're a [ __ ] >> Similar, right? >> It's good, >> right? It's always there 10 years later. >> That's great. I felt that. >> Yeah. >> Do you feel like one? >> No. >> A little bit. I feel like I just [laughter] got hit by some shrapnel over here. >> Um, no. Yeah, I I I get a few lines, but that's a lot of people want want that >> for I'm like, >> do you do you enjoy doing that or do you feel like a bit like >> like what if someone like nearby, you know, didn't really know what's going on. They just see you calling someone that. >> I mean, I do it very selectively. >> Okay. So, you're not going to be in a crowded area? >> No. Well, no. I'm not just going to go like if it makes sense or like whatever like like I I appreciate people appreciating my work. Um I I like so if taking that twominut time >> to call them that [laughter] like I'm I'm I'm cool with it. And it's like they you know they a lot of them will like run off giddy like school girls. I'm like that's a grown ass man. [laughter] You made my day. So, >> thank you. >> That's cool. What's the craziest fan encounter you've ever had? >> Um, I mean, the scissor thing with the hair was pretty crazy. Um, I I had a phase where people were trying to break into my house. >> Oh, wa. >> And uh and it got handled. >> Wow. That's That's crazy. What's the most bizarre gift you've ever received from a fan? >> Their hair. [laughter] You received hair. >> I You kept that? >> No. No, I did not. >> You said you kept everything. >> I did not keep that one thing. I did get I got a weird box one time and I I it had to go to a police department. >> Wow. What's your favorite meme you've ever seen of yourself? >> Um I think my 21st birthday meme is pretty wild. I honestly did not expect that video to still be circulating 12 years later. I missed the video. What's the video? >> It's It's me over at the um the Palm at the Ghost Bar for my 21st birthday. Um and um and it's just me walking into like the club with my friends and they recorded the whole thing and people cut it. It's all It's on TikTok. >> I'll check it out. >> It's It's pretty funny. I'm like like wired all Red Bull. >> You did seem pretty locked in. >> Oh, dude. I was so low. I was like cuz like my my buddies, we just came from the tables. We were winning. Like we we went to a show. We were like we were having a good time. >> That's fun. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? >> I think I think always be prepared for when readiness meets opportunity. I think that's kind of the best advice that I was given. >> Who would win in a prank war? You versus Brian versus Aaron. >> Oh, Brian all day. Brian would take us both down. >> Wouldn't even be close. What do you have next on the horizon? What do you uh what do you got going on in your life? >> So, right now I have a movie called West Hampton um with Finn Whit Rock. I don't know if you'll know of him from American Horror Story and um bunch of other movies and shows. Um we just did Tribeca. We just did another film festival um uh in New York as well. So, that that's really doing um really proud of it. It's a great team of people. Uh, I have a couple movies that I'm in talks with at the moment. So, I'm um been attached to for a few years um that I'm really hoping that finally get their funding. Uh I have another movie um coming out hopefully either at the end of this year um beginning of next year uh that they're still working on title stuff and where and but but really um a lot of my work is um foundation work based in Texas. So, I I've I've been doing this project down there with the community um in like community development, parks, parking, um entrepreneurship type stuff. So, that's really kept me very busy um for the past few years. But, I'm working on getting on another show. Just auditioning, man. >> What's your dream gig? Who would you want to work with? >> See that, man? That's the hardest thing. I It's not necessarily who I want to work with. I just want another well-written show again. I miss I miss that. I I work on TVs and and movie I work on TV and movies that that it's like it's it's good, but it's so rushed and like one of my my my things. I really don't like to be rushed. Like especially when I create a character and I and I try to put myself out there and it's like like we're trying to rush through stuff that normally would take well usually we don't have budget but but like it's like I I really want to be able to to to go back to kind of how where we had the ability to grow these characters in an environment with well written with a welloiled team. >> Do you think something like Breaking Bad can ever be written again? >> [gasps] >> I don't think I don't necessarily think something like Breaking Bad, but it's all about growth, you know. I do think there'll be another show um that like caps it, you know. It just in time. >> It just game was close the first season, but it was not it didn't have that longevity though. I I think what made Breaking Bad so unique was the time that it came out and the content of the show. Nothing had been like it. The type of the type of drugs, the type of environment the like, you know, this was 2008. The the economy crashed during the first season of Breaking Bad. So, there were a lot of people with a Walter White mentality of how do I survive? How do I grow? And and most shows I find today aren't based in realism. You know, I found Breaking Bad was very real as far as what these characters were doing, the family dynamic, the environment that they were that they were having and their impact on each other. It wasn't like controlled or contrived. It wasn't forced. It just it made sense. Everything that each of these characters made sense. and what didn't make sense was like what makes sense now like you know and and I think that's something that's really hard to capture and I I just saw Vince um stayed on to Sony for for more another four years or so which one of the best writers man Vince Gilligan is >> yeah even Better Call Saul I really enjoyed it >> this is a fun episode you're funny you're you're pretty funny you got to be doing more podcasts why don't you create a podcast or something. >> We've been talking about it. I >> It's a lot of work, guys. Like, what y'all What y'all do is not easy. >> I don't know. >> We We are willing to help you with anything. We could tell you what equipment you need, what cameras, what mics. We could put you in touch with editors, producers, whatever you need, it can happen. I see like that's that's I just I'm hoping I'm I'm trying to get let me get back on a show and and I'm I'm definitely in talks on having my own podcast, but I just want to make sure whatever it is it makes sense. >> Um and I've actually been talking to a local radio station um about doing some radio for for local community stuff. So >> you would do you would do very well as a podcaster. I'm just I'm just saying with your reach with with the connections that you've built, >> these discussions are very interesting and a lot of people don't get to hear them. >> Also, just motivation. >> Yeah. >> No, I I'm I'm in. I'm definitely in. Um, it's just it's it's it's what's it's it's timing for me and and I think that's kind of what why I was interested in doing this and and Ian's and I I really want to, you know, I'm trying to get back out there more. I've I've kind of been hiding for the past few years just just in like my work and my philanthropy and and I think it's finally time to to set this up again. >> Well, you're going to make some great cameos and Joshua Weissman's video. I don't know when that's coming out. >> Hilarious. People are just not going to be >> Yeah, they're going to be like, "Wait a second." >> So, anyway, thank you so much for coming on. I really appreciate it. We'll link to all of your charities and everything you've shouted out down below in the description. Really, really, one thing that I I think that I did want to mention as far as like charity work >> and growth. The one thing that I can recommend to people about getting into philanthropy, you don't have to give money. Like this is the number. Everyone always thinks it's like money, money, money, money. It's not. it's about your time and willing to volunteer and willing to put out there and like I I think that's one thing as far as charity work with my charities like please support them whatever but there's at the end of the day it's what's important to you like what directly impacts you I look at one thing and it's called direct impact programming and it's what do these programs directly do who do they directly impact and how are they directly impacted and when we do philanthropy and we do like organization or community growth. I want always remember to look at are you directly impacting the community that you want to serve and that to me is most step number one when it comes to philanthropy. >> I love it. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you to everyone for watching. Hope you enjoyed. Make sure subscribe too. Subscribe.