Meet The Gamer Making $1,000,000 From His Parents House | CallMeCarson

Hi there. My name is Carson. You're watching the Ice Coffee Hour. This podcast has made three bajillion dollars. I think that's the closest we've had yet. Oh, yeah. Actually, believe it or not. guessed it like on the dot. Yeah. Wow. $184,000. Really? I thought it would have been higher. Well, you know, it's January or no, it's it's March. Ad rates are low, you know? So I I feel that. It's okay. What's up? Hey, good to have you on. Thank you so much for coming. How was the trip over here? It was pretty good. I I flew over today from South Carolina. Uh a pretty easy flight, just a connecting flight. I mean, I'm happy to be here. Cool. Thanks so much for coming on. Yeah, no problem. uh it's an honor, man. Uh I think we should probably provide a synopsis of who who you are, why you're here. This is Carson from Call Me Carson on on YouTube and Twitch sometimes. Hi. And uh yeah, he makes videos about like video games and stuff like that. Here there, yeah. And uh you have a pretty cult-like following with your audience. The some would say. Some would say. And uh you've done some pretty incredible things on YouTube. Well, thank you. I appreciate that. And we want to go into how you built this business and this following. And uh yeah, cuz we're interested in you. Yeah, sure. What do you say if someone asked you what you do? How do you respond to that? Oh, man, that's a good question. Uh it depends on the person because I mean, there's so many people that like don't understand like what YouTube is still to this day. Like and even people that do understand, they just they think of the big YouTubers. Mhm. Um I would probably just in general tell people I do online content creation. And then they're like, "What What do you mean?" And I say, "I do YouTube." And then they're like, "Uh" Does And And that's that's like the bare minimum uh for someone that's like a little more informed. Like right now, I'm basically just a streamer uh and I I post my stream highlights to YouTube. Um and that's what I've been doing for like the last 6 months. Um That That's the the basic synopsis, I would say. How did you get started doing that? Ooh. Well, I've been doing YouTube since I was like 12. Yeah. I mean, don't tell anyone cuz you're not allowed to You're not allowed to make an account, but I was on someone else's account. So, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, actually at first I was on my dad's account. Imagine like book book them. Come on in. Get in, guys. We got to swarm swarm the place. You made an account when you were 12. I I I started doing Minecraft videos in like uh 2012 and I I kind of just kept doing YouTube up until I kind of blew up around 2018 doing making like Discord videos. Uh I don't know if What are Discord videos? So, Discord is uh it's it's a platform. It's like Skype but for gamers. Have you Have you ever used Discord? A few times, yeah. We have one and we've had one for like 3 years. But Graham's probably been on there four times. Okay. Oh, yeah. I've gone live. You You had me go live on Discord a few times, yeah. Wait, you went live on Discord? Yeah. What for? No, no, no. Not like your type of live. Like he just joined a voice call. Oh. Yeah. He went live and did a Q&A. We got like 20,000 people on the Discord. Like it's a pretty popping Discord, yeah. I'm not really sure It's been a while, but It's It's been a while. I don't know if I'd consider it popping. Yeah. We have Come on. People are probably railing off all of your big inside jokes in there, right? Exactly. I don't know, but it was popping for a while. I just haven't promoted it, but yeah, I liked uh and then Clubhouse took over. I uh went to Clubhouse for a little bit going live on there and then Yeah. Like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was Clubhouse? You don't know Clubhouse, Sans? That was like the social media platform that blew up what was it like probably eight months ago, a year ago? And it was basically like you see these chat rooms. It's very similar to Discord. Really? Yeah, and you see these chat rooms and you just join and you're a listener unless if you get moved to a host. it's like Twitter Spaces. I don't know what that is. You don't know what Twitter Spaces is? No. Come on, guys. You don't know what Clubhouse is? It blew up, but now it's just completely dead. like It sounds like Clubhouse is just Twitter Spaces. Okay. Probably. Yeah. Uh because it works the exact same way. Okay. Um yeah. But anyway, you were making these videos. What sort of videos are you making? Uh comedy. I I They're They're basically just me hopping in a call with friends and then looking at something and reacting to it like Mystery Science Theater if you guys are familiar with that. Or is that a dated reference? Don't know it. I don't know it. You got to explain it. Uh Mystery Okay, well, Mystery Science Theater was like uh it was Mystery Science Theater 3000. They were like popular in the '90s. Um and they the it was a guy and his two robot friends that would go and watch really bad movies and then commentate throughout the entire thing. And I kind of relate my content to that because I'm just doing it like in a modern way where it's like I'm going on Discord and and getting a couple friends in a call and then looking at like stupid images, you know, um or uh I I did a bunch of videos where I went in Discord servers and ran bits. Um And that's what blew you up after six years of making content on YouTube. Uh yeah, I think so. Is that right? Yeah. Did you Did you Did you research me? No, I think you just said it. I don't know what 2012 to 2018, right? I can't do math. So, six years. Listen, I dropped out of college. You did? Yes. When? Uh that would have been 2018. And what what caused you to drop out? Well, I mean, it was cuz I started blowing up on YouTube. So, I went back for my sophomore year of college and then I I went for a month and I had like 300,000 subs at the time and I was looking at the money and I'm like, it's it's just too good of an opportunity here. How much money was it back then? even I mean, this was like I was making probably six six K, seven K a month at the time, which is good, but it's not like it's not like some of the numbers I've seen now. Um And and I was just sitting there and I was like, I can just come back to college later and pay for it if I if I run this YouTube thing. And I want to do this, so why not? Yeah. Um so, I dropped out uh of college then. I was actually going for pretty much the same thing. I was going to be in media communication, so I mean, it was it was just a no-brainer. Right. Interesting. Six years, that's a lot of time to devote to something that probably wasn't paying out for a pretty long time. Yeah. Yeah, what was your Did you have a schedule back then? Were you taking it seriously? Was it uh I was in high school, so I mean, it was it was mostly like, "Ooh, I want to be a big YouTuber. That sounds fun." Uh and then I I'd go up in front of my class and then, you know, show a terrible video and and then people would be like, "He's the YouTuber." And in high school How many subs you had? Uh in high school, I probably got like 3,000, 4,000 off of Minecraft videos. though. Yeah, well, I I I was doing it for a long time. Um and like most of the subs were dead in the water, so it I was probably I was probably pulling like 100, 200 views a video most of the time. Were you ever embarrassed? Because I didn't tell a single soul I did YouTube videos. I was so embarrassed that they would find a video of mine. Uh I I've There's been times where I've been embarrassed, but I think I think I've always liked doing YouTube too much for me to care that much about that. Yeah. Um it's it's always just kind of been very uh creatively fulfilling for me. Mhm. Um in a lot of ways, especially cuz like I'm just the stuff I put up is basically just what I do anyways. Mhm. Like I I a lot of times it's just me sitting down and playing a video game. Mhm. And I enjoy the sharing of that experience with a lot of people. And I think I have a decent eye for like what makes something funny in in in the moment while playing a video game or or with friends. Um so I I would do it even if I I think I would do it even if I I didn't have subscribers or or was gaining money or anything from it. That's interesting. So after 6 years of doing this, you dropped out of college and how seriously did you take it at that point? Were you like, I got to double down on content, I got to do more? Oh. How do you maximize that? So okay, well that's that's funny that you mentioned that. Okay. So let me set the stage. The year is 2018 again. Uh so like uh during my freshman year of college, uh I was I was sitting back and I I was not having a good time in college cuz I felt like I I could be doing more with my YouTube. And I went to my parents uh before the end of my freshman year and I did a PowerPoint presentation. I I laid out here's here's how much I think I could make as this for doing this as a summer job and taking this seriously. And I I had a whole PowerPoint presentation. I I showed off friends of mine who who were bigger YouTubers than me and and what they were making. And I I took that opportunity and and and really just expanded on that. And then they said they said yes and I started pumping out content that summer and that's what led me to blowing up because I had a whole new idea for how to do my stuff and that's when I started doing the discord videos and and I was like pumping those out at like at least one a week. like for you? What was the first video that took off? So it was actually kind of like a set of videos, but there was one that initially boosted me like 3000 subs which was really big at the time it was probably like 18,000 to 21,000. Um and it was the first invading discord servers video which I mentioned earlier where I went in two discord servers it sounds like I'm like being a pill and raiding people but what I was really doing was just like trying to make them laugh by going in with with a with a little comedy routine little bit. Um and something about it really stuck with people because no one had seen anything like that at the time. And it it just it it popped off and then I did another one and that's the one that really pumped it. Like I went from probably 40,000 to 100,000 subscribers in in like a week. Jeez. Yeah, it was like 15,000 subs in a day. It was it was absurd. So what was going through your mind when that happened? I was like woo. I did it. Good answer. I mean it's just Dude, I cried when I hit 100k. I was like finally. I was like finally I did this, you know, because it had been like it'd been my goal for so long to be able to do that and I was I was just proud of myself from from for finally like proving to myself that I could do it. Um and I I was just happy. It was cool. Can you talk about your income throughout all of this? Like obviously you know, when you first started Yeah, we got to talk about your numbers. We want to know how much money you make and save. Okay, well well through and spend. Okay, well, like through 2018, I don't think I made that much. Like, I could pull up the numbers if you guys really want me to, but it it was probably like I probably made like 60 70k just in 2018, and that was like the second half of the year. But still, you must have been 20 at the time? Yeah, I was I was really young. 20 years old. I don't think I was even 20. I think I was 19. Yeah, 19 in college, that may as well be a million bucks. Right. Yeah. And then 2019, it was was when it really I was like, "Oh, that's a lot of money." Yeah. Um and I'm sure I'm sure there was a point that that you you you I mean, I don't know about you, but you hit with with the money from YouTube where you're like, "Whoa." Unless you already had a ton of money. I don't I don't actually know. Uh well, it started adding up to be something substantial, but yeah. But it it ramped up so gradually, I feel like. Mhm. What was the What was the time when you were like, "Okay, like this is getting serious?" It was the It was the first day I made I think it was like I I'd only been doing YouTube, I think, for 3 months, and there was one day after 3 months where I made $180 in a day. And that to me was the first point where I was like, "Oh, wow, like I I can actually make money doing this." And that's pretty incredible. And that's the point I knew I really got to take that very seriously. Before then, I was posting two to three videos a week, but there was no set set schedule. It's like, "Oh, I'm going to post this morning." And I'd just post it. Uh but when that came up, I was like, "Oh, wow, it like it's adding up." But it just to me it was more fun to make internet money. Right. It's less like, you know, when you sell a house or you lease a place, like you get a commission or you're investing and you get a, you know, return. But this was like it's it was almost like imaginary money cuz it was like it's on the internet. It's something different about it that it's like internet. Do you play video games? No. Okay. Do you You play video games? to a lot. Okay. Yeah. It's like it it really feels like a video game when you when you're making YouTube money. Cuz cuz it is it is like an imaginary thing. It's It It's because like sometimes YouTube is just like, "Yeah, we'll just give you extra money for this video for no reason." And you're like, "Why? I didn't do anything different. What changed?" Yeah. It but like you want to know why and and I I've always found it fun to try to up those numbers because it's like a video game for me. Mhm. Um and did you guys know I'm a little bit of a little bit of a gamer? Are you? I play video games here and Yeah, yeah, right. Sorry? You sometimes you play video Occasionally. You're working most of the time, right? Why Why don't you play video games? Um never been interested. I I see for me I look at video games and I think This is going to sound bad. This is probably the wrong time to say this. I think I would I'd rather be I It sounds weird. I'd rather be doing something else that is that money. money. Wow. My strength is not video games. I just after Nintendo 64, that was the last console I had played. No interest after that. Interesting. for me was focused around like I I'm more into business and uh I don't know. I I look at it and I'm like, "Well, if it's not making money, it's taking time away from something else Right. that could be making money." What if you made money playing video games? I wouldn't have an interest in it. Just I think It's It's just I think if it was enough, you would. But if it you know, if it wasn't bored. I cuz I look at it and I'm thinking, "What am I What am I accomplishing from this?" Cuz even if I win the game Even if I win the game, then what does that do? But I have a thing called fun. But I I What do you do for fun? What do you What do you guys do for fun? So Graham is one of the most Graham is one of the most interesting people that I know because it's very difficult for him to have fun outside of work. It just is. Stuff that isn't work related, he doesn't enjoy. It's It's I've never met anyone like it. It's Obviously, it's admirable because it's It's getting you somewhere, but he just can't Sports? No. Like Watching stuff? He'd rather be working, you know? Video games? No. I I like to watch a good movie. You like to play music? I like music. I like the reef aquarium that you saw when you walked in and I didn't I didn't actually I didn't actually see it. Oh, yeah. I got to see that on the way out. It's right there, right? Right there. Was it near the shoes? I was so focused on taking off my shoes. 300 gallons, right? Big water Big water jug. Yeah, it's like right when you walk in. It's what you have to look through. know what? Is Bailey. It was It was the dog. The dog. Oh my gosh, I love that dog. That dog is so cute. it's It's good. I just get a natural enjoyment from working. And even even if I'm not like working working, it like it makes me feel happy to to clean the house. I think somebody beat you in Mario Kart a little bit too hard when you were younger. Yeah, yeah. Just left him scarred. This guy's weird. You're weird. What do you mean you don't like cleaning the house? Yeah, there was one weekend. Uh this is years ago, but uh the front door The The some painter wanted like $200 to paint the front door. I was like, "Yeah, I'm not I don't I'm not going to pay $200." So, I went to like I was looking forward to this like on a Saturday because I didn't have any This is before YouTube. I was like, "I'm going to paint the door today. This is going to be really nice. I'm going to get this door done." And got to Home Depot, got the paint like 30 bucks. I painted the door myself, and I felt so accomplished afterwards that I painted the door. Like that Well, that's what made me feel like I was alive. Like I got this door done. Dude, like I I want to like suck your lifeblood. I cannot do that. I I can do anything but being productive in a day. Oh, yeah. We're We're We're very opposite, you and I. This is so interesting. just how different everybody is. Cuz for me, it's just like it's It's easy. Just work more. You don't have enough hours. Wake up early. Work late. What about your weekends? Just go and work the weekends. Oh, Sunday. You don't need to You don't need to hang out with your friend. Uh just cut everything out and work. Like, to me it just comes naturally, but uh But I mean, like I think some people I think some people would look at that and be like this that's that's not that's not good for you. I'm not I don't I don't think that Does anyone ever tell you like this is not Oh, all the time. But like if it's fulfilling for you I Why Okay, so I have my theories. I've said it before on the podcast and I will I still believe it. I think Graham thinks he likes working. What? But I don't think that he actually Like I know you like working, right? But not to the degree that you do work. It's not healthy. You always look like you got an hour of sleep the night before. It's like How could you live like that? It's like It seems unhealthy. There are times. There are certainly times that that that happens, but 80% of the time Dude, even my mom said. She was like tuning into a podcast. She's like, "Is Graham okay?" And I'm like, "Yeah, like I think so. I don't know." Depend on what podcast was that? All of them, man. All of them? Dude, I'm sure you could point to a few where it's been like back-to-back to back to back and like after a podcast I got to plan a video because I have to film it for the next day. You don't have to. I do. No, you don't. I You set a schedule and you got to stick with it. That's That's That's so dope. No, you know what's dope is moderation. Working is dope, yes. And knowing your hours is dope, yes. I agree with that. But understanding moderation and balance in life, I think is also pretty Imagine Imagine if I gave you, let's say uh you get one day in front of a a big container of money and you get 24 hours in that container and you have to grab as much money as you can. After that uh you know, 24 hours is up you can't go back in the container. Or imagine there's a 50/50 chance you could go back the next day. You don't know that. In those 24 hours, do you say, "You know what? I'm going to take a nap. I don't really feel like it. I got a 50/50 chance tomorrow of going back in the container." I don't know. I view YouTube the same way. That is such a false comparison. Nothing is guaranteed. What if Okay, so what if instead it's your entire life that you can grab from that container, right? And then you In front of you, you have a family. You have vacations. But you have no time to do it. Now is the time before you have the family, before you have kids and all that sort of stuff. Now is the time to be in the container. I think I think there there are windows of opportunities in everyone's life where you're in a container. And that's And that's your And sometimes it could be an hour, a week, could be a year, could be 10 years, but you're in that container. Yeah. And then those those opportunities come up and people not you know, sometimes they'll they'll let that slip or they take it for granted. They get too used to it. Oh, the container. I've been in here 10 hours. Oh, this feels like forever. I'm It's too long. Sure. it's a balance, Graham, because here's the thing. Like Jack said, that container is there your entire life. So imagine you're just collecting that money from the container your entire life. You never got to use it. You just spent your entire life collecting money from a container for no reason. So why not collect money for from the container for a few days and then use some of the money and then come back and collect more money from the There's nothing to use the money There there's a couple things I need to provide for context. So Graham said to me a few years ago he wasn't this way. But lately, since he started ramping up production, he's been more irritable, sometimes angsty, sometimes He goes around punching people in the office. No, he doesn't do that. But it's it's like it's Seriously, guys, he doesn't do it. No, but seriously, um He You know, he's been Alex laughs, it turns into a cry. He's been angsty, you know? I think he's been like a little angsty Like a little angsty teenager. And and you said you used to not be like that. And We've been having problems, okay? We have This is an intervention, guys. Listen. Listen. Okay, but I I need to preface this. Yeah. After-face, whatever it is. Uh it's unpopular opinion amongst our audience to go anything like, "Oh, maybe you should take some time off and work less." It really is. I've said Really? Yes. I've said I've spoke my mind. Interesting. Yes. I've said this before on the podcast, and people say, "That kid's a slacker. He probably doesn't know what it's like to work a 14 15-hour day." And that's not true. It's like for most people, they can work more, actually. But for Gram, someone I deeply care about, a good friend of mine, I see you, and you look stressed out, and you look you know, angsty. Sometimes you're irritable and annoyed. And it's like if you just took a little bit more time for yourself. but you know what? But you can't. I don't have the luxury of It's the coffee. I don't have There's sometimes not the luxury of that. It's just sometimes you got to get something done, and that's it. And it's just like If if I'm on a schedule, and a video has to go out the next day, It doesn't. get it. It doesn't. I'm not going to not post. If I posted on time for like 5 years, I've I've only missed ever maybe two to three uploads ever in the 5 years. Okay, if he's on a strict, I get it. I'm on a strict. You're on a Dude, he's on the strict. He's missed uploads. Like You missed uploads, bro. Yeah, you have, though. It's not a strict, Gram. It's not a strict. No. No, there's name name If a video's doing really well, and it's long-titling purposely. Yeah, and it would be purposeful if you You do it on purpose if you The only time I miss an upload, a major holiday like a Christmas. I've I posted on New Year's Day. But like Christmases, you know, big holidays like that, I'm not going to get views anyway. It's It's strategic. Oh, you think you won't get views on Christmas? Wait, why? Yeah, views are significantly lower. Interesting. It might be a demographic thing. They go down by like 30 35% on Christmas Day. So, I do I don't want to waste a video that I think is going to do well on Christmas Day cuz people aren't going to watch it. So, I posted the next day. My audience is all like 12-year-old boys that have nothing better to do on Christmas got that iPad. They're watching They got that iPad. Yeah, they're at dinner watching you. But yeah, so like the only times I don't post are strategic. I don't think I I think once there was a time where I I missed an upload because just like either something wasn't going on or I didn't have the video ready in time or it was something where I was like I felt better missing that post that to then get ahead. I think there's one time Jack where I I Jack and I had a major discussion about missing an upload. I think it was that Wednesday where I I said to you like I don't I don't have the video or I we were going out of town or something like that and I had to get a video ahead and I wasn't going to be able to do it. And the prior video did well, so I was like well, if I miss this upload, I'm going to do the next one and I did. So. 5 years, you know. It's just a matter of when do you take some time for yourself? That's it. You You don't get off the horse when the horse is full force, you know? You You if a car's driving on the highway, you're not going to get off in the middle of the highway. Enough is not an amount. It's a mindset. but you know what? It's It's not about enough. It's about you got to carry the streak. If If I've been this disciplined for 5 years, I'm going to carry it forward. And I know myself once once I scale back there's no going back to it. I've I've built up to such momentum where it's it's only it's only downhill Yeah. from here. So, it's like if I go down to two a week, I stay at two a week. If I go down to one a week, it's going to be impossible for me to get back to three. Yeah. This is so interesting. Okay, I've I've been on your side where I'm where I I'm in the moment and I'm like I got to keep pumping stuff out. I because like this is something I have to do because I I'm in the container, right? And I changed. Mhm. I I don't think it's as valuable to to think of yourself in a container as as it may seem because I think I think if you're capable you're capable now you're you're probably going to be capable later in your life. I think no matter what you can put yourself in the container, you know? It's the abundance mentality. That's what it is. don't know. I you know people say the abundance mentality. I agree with that but there's also but there's also a very tangible thing right in front of you that's like well that's you know you you have to be real that sometimes the career of like athletes, musicians, actors and that includes entertainers or influencers on YouTube does not last forever. Sure. Very few people have a career that last longer than 10 years. Almost nobody has a career lasting over 5 years. So it's you know when you're at that point it's like what you really got to make the most of it and I know myself yeah so I know myself keep three a week as long as I feasibly can. There's a point I'll go down to two a week. Uh-huh. Do that as long as I can. There's a point I'll go down to one a week. Do that as long as I can. So you know that's the I think I think that's valuable. I I think I think you're completely fine and and I listen I see both sides here. Like I I I completely understand wanting to keep up that streak and being motivated to do that and I I think that's great. I just don't think that that's the right strategy for everyone. Um and I definitely know it's there's coffee beans in this table. Yeah you didn't notice that? Well I like he said it earlier. Yeah look right over here. You can see them like way better. Oh. Yeah. Are they real? Yeah. Wow. They're coffee beans. What was I saying? It's not for everybody. Yeah it's it's uh sorry. I saw the coffee beans. Um yeah I I just don't think I just don't think for me personally that that like constantly thinking of myself in the container is is the right way of going about things. Especially because like in the past, you know, I I've messed up on on on numerous occasions. And I know some of that is due to thinking of myself in the container, you know, and and not letting myself breathe and think through my actions. And I I never want to put myself back in that position. And maybe I'll find a way of putting myself back in the container without it harming me or or people around me. But like for for me that's that's where I'm at, you know. And I I I think it's a valuable discussion to have. I think I think each person should come to a conclusion of what they should do for for their own container, I guess. You know. I think that's fair. Everyone is different. It's just a matter of me looking out for a friend. I just think yeah, never take anything for granted and things could change very quickly. And so, you know, when when the sun is shining, you make hay. Yeah. That's the way I see it. I think I think it's good that you have a yin to your yang. Because I mean like he's But if you go off the deep end and one day you do start, you know, you you got a machete, you know, you you start Yeah, I don't know, man. I He'll He'll be there to stop you, you know. Yeah. But you know what? But you need that push. Because there have been times uh that you know, I've been pressing for a podcast. I'm like, Jack, we got this podcast right now. Jack's like, "Well, I'm going to go visit my family." That's not true. Yeah, you did. an outright lie. Graham, you're You're lying. Dutch one millionaire. And what did we do? We filmed it, right? because I pushed Jack. Jack didn't want to do it cuz he was visiting his family. Do you want me to explain the story? I will explain I'll explain it better. I Okay, it was getting late. The drive to my family is 5 hours. It was 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. No, it was getting 3:00, 4:00 and I get very tired on the road at night and I feel unsafe driving past, you know, leaving here past like 3:00, 4:00 because then I'm driving at night and I like to be awake and keen on the road. And I didn't want to wait a long time because then I would have been sleepy on the road and I don't like that. It's You're safe and competent driver. and competent. I drive like a grandma. Graham hates it, but I do. She is very slow. Graham drives like a crazy man. With his machete in hand. It's the yin and the yang. You know, with his machete waving it at the world. I'm painting you as like a crazy villain. I'm so sorry. But this is the peak Dogecoin mania right before SNL and we got the Dogecoin millionaire, the guy was on, you know, CNBC across every outlet of turning his life savings into $3 million. And we had him sitting in the living room and he had the time to do a podcast at peak SNL Dogecoin popularity. I'm like, "Jack, we should do this." I got to get going. I'm got to visit my family. I'm like, "Jack, we got to do it now. We got to do it. If you don't do it now." I'm like, "Trust me, Jack, we got to do it now." And they have a lot of Christmas presents for me and stuff. I but I guess how well that episode did. Was one of our best performing videos until that until that point. But sometimes I'm like, "Jack, you just got to do No, I know you were In that case, I will say you were right. But then again, I was going to leave at like 8:00 and you guys needed me for a bunch of stuff over and over. So, I like I was going to leave at 8:00 and then I ended up leaving like 5:00. It was like very late. So, you were right. Yes, thank you for that push. Yes. And but see, but that's the push Jack needs sometimes cuz sometimes well, it's not convenient, but you got to you got to push. You got to push. You got to You got to make it happen when it comes up. Uh and that's it. And that So, that's the way I view a lot of YouTube is like when something comes up, you have to act on it. Someone else will and if you don't take advantage of the opportunity, it's gone. So, that that's been a lot of it. Same thing with um in real estate when I was working with a lot of clients there was some opportunities where a client would call you at the worst time at like Saturday 9:00 p.m. Hey, I want to see this house right now and you're like I got a life. But no, but part of that is like if you want those opportunities, you have to act on it. And I've sold houses to people who have called at the worst times. Friday, you know, 9:00 p.m. I've got plans, but the guy's super serious. I'm like I'm going to cancel the plans, I'm going to show the house and some of those turn it out to be either great relationships, great clients, great sales. So, it just it depends how badly I guess you you want that. Anyway, tell us how much money you were making. So, 2018 probably made 70k. 2019 probably made like 500k. And then 2020 probably like And this is just gross income. This is not counting taxes. Taxes knock that way down cuz it's all self-employment. Um but 2020 I think Ooh, I think I had over a million gross. I'm not sure. Um but I I'll tell you this, I do not have a million in my bank account. Yeah, where did it go? Uh taxes. No, mostly just taxes. I don't I don't spend my money except for coming here on your podcast. You're pretty frugal. No, yeah, no, that was good. Cuz I would imagine your cuz I would imagine your expenses being pretty low. Cuz you don't do you have a high production cost? Graphics cards are pretty cheap though. Or pretty expensive. Well, I I don't buy new PCs either. I I think what I spend most of my money on is paying editors and paying my assistant. Um and that's that's about it. Like like I prefer to not put my money into into too much and I just have most of it invested. Um, because like I don't need much. Yeah. I'm I'm I'm plenty happy just watching anime every day. Yeah. You know? How much how much is your overhead? Like in terms of do you do you rent? Did you buy a spot? Car payments? no. Oh, my friend warned me about this question. You're you're going to start being you're going to start interrogating me. Well, let's see. Uh, I don't I don't have uh, anything. I live with my parents. Uh, so there's no rent. Uh, and I don't have a place or anything. Um, so I'm not I'm not renting out to anyone. Yeah. Yeah. I knew this was coming. No, I mean it's it's Graham's so proud now. I am. To make a million dollars living with your parents with almost no overhead. I'm just I'm just saying. You want to hear something funny? It's like that that is what you sh- I don't want to say that's what you should do, but like I don't have my driver's license. How do you get around? Your mom? Like, "MOM, I CAN'T." "MOM, I'M GOING TO THE PET STORE." "The goldfish needs more food, Mom." Oh my. "Hatcho, now." "I'm so hungry." Yeah. "Where's the toaster strudel, Mom? I'm hungry." No, my my parents are super supportive, and the main reason I haven't gotten my driver's license is just anxiety, you know. Okay. Um, and so like I don't there's there's couple weeks here and there where I just don't go out of the house. Um, That's that's all of us. That's me at this point. Really? Yeah. Yeah. What What do you do on a day a daily basis? I like not leaving the house. Well, yeah. It's awesome, right? Uh, but it's very easy to get used to it. Uh-huh. Like so sometimes I I will go like three to four days without leaving, and at that point it's usually Macy and I will go to a dinner, and then that way it's like you kind of leave the house Um, or usually Jack and I once a week we plan well we try to plan where we just grab a dinner and just catch up and we talk like podcast stuff or strategy or channel stuff. So that's usually when I go I mean it's it's otherwise there's there's Everything I need is here I mean the gym's down the street walk to that everything's here I just work and then by the time I'm finished it's like well you're kind of tired at that point so Yeah. Make food at home. So Follow up question. So you don't have any like office building or anything everything's here. Yeah. Why? I love I love not having a commute and I thought Interesting. I thought briefly there's a time in 2020 where I thought It might be cool to get an office and I remember as a as an agent I saw this place and it was like one of those townhouses right on the beach in Marina del Rey. Mhm. And I remember walking to this place and being blown away by it and it was leasing for like 15 grand a month and it was incredible it's like Big sliding doors that opened up and a foot out was sand and then like 50 feet down was the beach in Marina del Rey in California and I thought oh This would be so cool to lease a place like that and I could work there all day and then then I didn't have more separation between like when I'm home cuz I had always had an office to go into Mhm. And I'd work at the Oppenheim Group so I'd go there I'd show some real estate I would stay late I would plan there but I would film at home but I still had that separation between you know I'm home I could I could film and stuff but I prefer working in the office so when I was full-time at home That first month was a difficult transition because it's just you kind of go stir crazy in the house not leaving so I thought yeah I'd get an office But I never did that and then I came to really enjoy working from home and everything is here and you it's if if I need to film something really quick walk down the hallway. Right. Anything I need is right here. I guess it. I guess the reason I asked is because of that separation of work and and life, but you really like work. work, but but there is no separation. That That is the downside. Now, it does save me on a on a commute because it's like And Right. Office space. Um yeah. So, I'd rather just be here all things considered. And and now I look at like every 30-minute chunk of time is like that's something time I could be spent working. Mhm. So, if I'm in the car, you know, it's I'm being less productive. But Yeah. car time could give you think time. I I like car time, but usually once a week I'll I try to go to the aquarium once a week, the aquarium store. Oh. And uh I I like were I thought you were just going outside and staring at your your little No, I didn't know. You you get you get your coffee in your hand and you're He really does. Oh, I know. That's what He do. Yeah. That's his favorite thing. Describe me to a T. Yeah. Like instead of watching TV, I just sit there with it with my coffee. I just sit there. Okay, that's actually so cool. I check everything in the tank multiple times a day. You got to look at it and make sure it's all it. That's cool, actually. So, the torch coral, one of the torch corals died. No way. Wait, what's a torch coral? So, a torch coral, it was a it was a neon green. I think it's called the Hulk. Yeah, the Hulk torch. I'm so sorry, man. It's okay. Now, I enjoy it, but uh yeah. You're a confusing human. Like I like stuff that stresses me out. Like uh What? He's fueled by stress. That is what fuels him. Like work is a good challenge. try YouTube drama. Yeah. Oh, no. Let's try it. Have you thought about tweeting? Gosh, you know what? I Yeah. Same thing. I've stayed I've stayed off of Twitter. I've uh I have a Twitter, but I rarely ever post. I got to start posting on that. Have you thought about becoming president of the United States? Ooh, I've heard that it doesn't make your hair go gray. did. I thought for a long time his thing. Yeah, I Really? You want to be president? Yeah. Whoa. We had an episode titled Graham wants to be president of the Ice Coffee channel. It was like the seventh episode or so. And the reason why is because I thought, you know, I've taken a very middle ground approach to personal finance. It's like, here's just the facts. This is what you need to know. That's it. Let's not waste our time with anything else. And I thought you need a guy like that in uh in politics. I think economic approach. Yeah, who just could take a sensible approach to things. Let's not, you know, pander to one side or the other. No, no, listen to me. I thought honestly, because I don't like, you know, people ask me am I Republican or am I Democrat? I honestly have nothing. Oh. I truly have nothing. I'm right in the middle. Well, that's not going to get you elected. Well, here's the thing. It's like I don't I don't identify with either side because I disagree with things on both sides and I agree with things on both sides. But you have to pick a side, otherwise you're not going to get elected. is he's smart. Like this is I I appreciate that and I respect that. Being Being in the middle, that's good. We do need someone that's sensible, but it never made sense to me to to pick a side because if you pick a side, then it's like, well, what if there's something on that side you disagree with? Uh you know, are there are there varying levels to how much you agree with your side versus the other? So I thought take a middle ground approach, that's what the country needs. And you know, and this this is a far-off pipe dream. Mhm. And then I saw our buddy Meet Kevin run for governor of California. Oh. And seeing what he went through, I'm like, no, I cannot. Yeah. I was Just just Go yeah. I just seeing what what he went through and all of that, I was like, that's what I want. governor. Yeah, and that's governor. Um now, granted, that's governor of California, which is extremely I don't want to say polarizing, but you have people that really agree or really disagree. Yeah. Um but I would imagine same even more so for the country. Yeah. So, I saw that and I'm like, "No, it's not. I I don't want that." I want to So, I want to know about your experience um living with your parents. Sure. Have you found that that hinders you in any way to No, they kind of let me do my own thing. Okay. Um The only I mean it The only thing is like I mean at some point I want to you know be a little bit more independent and and a lot of ways, you know? I don't think I want to be 24, 25 living with my parents, you know? I just don't think it's a good look. But um it has its advantages because I you know, I I get to eat dinner with my family, which is dope and then I get to go upstairs and and record a stupid video where I make poop jokes. And you know, I'm happy doing it. And then I and then I watch anime for like 3 hours. I'm curious, do they charge you rent? No. So, uh they used to and then I helped them pay for a house. I see. Okay. Yeah. And and so like I I don't pay rent anymore. That's good. So, you paid a one-time upfront cost with the the benefit of housing in perpetuity. I was I was like, "I have the money, you know? Like, why not?" Got it. I think maybe getting your driver's license. Yeah. What's holding you back? I mean, we've we've been saying, you know, for you know, like 6 years. That I could do that. What if you need to go somewhere? Where? Do you know where you go? No, I don't know. Not really. What What What Where Where Where Where would Where would do you suggest I go? On a date. Not right now. Not right now. That's That's a whole That's a whole debacle. Are you Oh, it is? Oh, yeah. This is I'm not dating until I'm 35, okay? Are you not on dating apps? No. Why? Cuz I don't want to be. I'm not ready. I I don't think I could see you on a dating app. I don't know. Really? No. Oh. Yeah. No, I think even even well, I guess for you Jack, it's like I'm I'm kidding. For me? Yeah, I'm saying I wouldn't be successful. Is that what you're saying? No, I just think you don't need it. You don't need it. Yeah. For someone like me, God, yeah, I need I need all this. Well, I guess I guess who was it that uh um I remember seeing some some sort of thing like celebrities on Tinder. And there were people on Tinder uh in this list and and I think they were verified, but like he was like, why are they on Tinder? Like that that makes no sense to me. Well, I know celebrities and just people in LA have their own little Yeah, Raya. Yeah, oh, he knows it. Are you on Raya? They declined me. Wow. no idea how. I signed So, Raya on the you're second on the Yeah, you got to move me first. No, I mean, I guess I do know why. I'm I'm not as popular as the other people on Raya. And they have like a list, so like they go through your contacts, you like allow access to your contacts, you allow it. And then and then like they're like, okay, these are your contacts that are on Raya and then you can like send them so they can like you know, be like, yeah, sure, Jack's with us. dystopian. Yeah, it's very elite. like a list of gladiators where it's like I'm on all of them. So, what's another one? Why do you want to be on Raya? know. I just want to Dude, I'm on all of them. So, may as well. Why? Why am I on all of them? Yeah. Uh Why do you leave your house? Why do I leave my house? Why do you have your license? Because I have my license because my parents weren't huge fans of driving me places. I get that. And I get that. Yeah, but they still do it. No, uh I guess that I like leaving my house. I paid for the house, so she wants to keep the house. I I like to I like to go outside of the house cuz it makes me happy. Like I there was for example this kind of nuance but like I would say 3 months ago I was at the house and I realized I was so unhappy and I was so lethargic and I felt sleepy every single day and I was talking with my housemate. I was like, "Why do I feel like this? What's going on?" And then I was just like, "I haven't left the house in like a week." And I realized that and then I literally went outside and I sat in the sun for like 40 minutes and it was like euphoric. And I went inside I immediately felt better. It was like I was vitamin D or whatever deficient. It was weird. I'm with you, man. But Yeah, I mean I I'm okay. Come on. Come on. It it made me feel so good. Maybe a touch. But I don't know. I just went outside and I felt amazing and it fixed everything. It's crazy. Wow. Do you go outside? Uh In the sun? I try not to, honestly. If I do now now I'm actually wearing sunscreen. Cuz now now yeah now I have a So I had a scare where I convinced myself I had skin cancer like melanoma cuz my my grandfather and and my grandmother, too, um both had melanoma at some point. And they had it removed. Um but yeah, so I had like so I have what's called it's called atypical mole syndrome and it means that I get like a lot of these little like the little dots everywhere. And some of them are bigger than others, um but because there's so many of them and because they're varying in sizes and shapes and colors Yeah. that I have a higher likelihood of getting skin cancer. Got you. I got one mole that I was like, "Oh, crap." I just convinced myself because uh my skin was dry in Vegas and I was like it started itching. It's like skin cancer. Okay, but you have a valid reason. Right. Yeah. But yeah, so now now I We just don't like the out Well, he likes the outdoors now. He's a changed man. But I will say a more a more vain reason is uh I got these little wrinkles on the side of eyes now. My eyes are just because I squint so much. And um the sun makes it worse. So, I'd rather told you you have the eyes of Tom Cruise? Yeah. Yeah, that's like a very You get a lot I'm so sorry. it all the time like he looks just like Tom Cruise. Have you guys seen the new Batman movie? Yes. No. Everyone keeps saying I look like the Riddler. Oh, Paul Dano. Uh I guess. Yeah. It's not It's just cuz of the glasses and I have hair. No, it's not. I have a completely different shape nose. same shape of face slightly. And then he also has a very clean shaven face. Mhm. Um I could kind of see it, yeah. I can't grow a beard, so Graham, give give us the lowdown on the Batman. Do you recommend it or what? it. I loved that movie. You really? I really did. It's long. So, I went into it it's almost 200 minutes long. I don't know if I could And I I thought it and I'm not like a big Batman sort of like I I don't really follow it, but I've seen like the last two. I watched it so good. Mhm. It's one of the few movies that's like hooked me from beginning to end. It did not feel like I don't know, man. Imagine how much work you could gone done in 200 minutes. Ooh. If I add up the cost of my hour per you know, cuz of my time per hour multiplied by three Yeah. Wow, you could have produced a whole damn movie. freak you. Yeah. You have the numbers and everything. That's probably not healthy. Uh I think we should go back to talking about Carson and how you continued to scale your business. What's Did you have like strategies that you employed to to scale your business? What was Oh boy. Oh, no. Uh no. Uh I mean not really. I It It pretty much was just Okay, I had one successful YouTube channel. What do I do next? Um okay, I'll I'll make another YouTube channel and do a completely different style of content that I find fun. And I did that and then it grew my Twitch and then I did that kind of thing for a while while also doing main channel occasionally, which maybe I should have done more main channel or or or whatever, but um and then I I did a short stint of doing merch and and stuff like that and then and now I'm kind of passionate about that and I don't know I I want to dip my toes into all sorts of little pools or aquariums if you will. Um but uh I mean I I don't know exactly what aquariums I want to dip my toes into at any given time. Right now I I just made a Minecraft Let's Play channel cuz I just felt like it. Hm. I don't know if I'm going to continue it. That's fun. It is fun though, right? Yeah, it's fun. So, how's your income broken down between like YouTube, Twitch, sponsorships? So, I I don't I don't have any really sponsorships anymore. Um right now I'm not making money cuz I'm doing a year charity um after It was a whole thing. Okay. Um but uh so everything's everything I make is is going to a charity each month. Um but in the past it was um I would make uh to give an example, it would probably be like main channel would make 20 grand. Uh live channel would make 40 grand. This is like middle of the year, not not January or February. And then Twitch would make uh 10 to 20 grand. And that that that would pull together and be my my grand sum of like 80k in a month. Got it. Um which was pretty good. Yeah. I was pretty happy with that. Um around right now, I think we're making like 20 to 40k a month for the charities, which is pretty good. I remember Louis is like 35 K. Um he he does the numbers for me. My my Sorry, my assistant's uh off camera. I wanted to check on the numbers. My my attorney over here. My my guy. My my guy in the chair. Um But yeah, no, it's it's been going really well. That's good. Yeah, and and like my numbers are are way down. Let's Let's not Let's not kid around here, but that's completely fine with me cuz like I'm still making pretty good money and I'm having a good time doing it. Yeah, so what's your plan after the one year? You just I don't know yet. Investing or Um I mean I'm I just have a guy that invest my money for me. Uh which I don't know how you feel about that. Do you have Do you have a guy? You don't have a guy. Do you have a guy? the guy. No. I am the guy. Graham is the guy. You're looking at him. How do you feel about having a guy that does the investing for you? Depends. Uh I think for some people it makes sense when they want nothing to do with it and they just say here's my money, allocate it. I don't want to think about it. That's me. Yeah. I want to watch anime. That's what I want to do. Yeah. And maybe thing you don't need a lot of money to watch anime. That's so true. Like 10 bucks a month. Do you guys watch anime? I don't. Well, do you I Yeah, there is a There's probably like five or six so much more of like a nerd than you, but like you stare at your aquarium. This is so What an interesting podcast. I think we should also talk about the rest of your entrepreneurial story. We should talk about Carson more. What Is there anything else that you have to to say? What I've What What do you mean? income You You stopped in 2020, right? Uh yeah. Well, beginning of 2021 um is when like I I took a big break. Mhm. Um and then I came back September and and started the year charity stuff. Um and that's been going pretty well. I think I think we've raised about 250,000? Just just That's that and that's just like from my revenue, you know? And that's I'm really proud of that. I think I think that's sick. And and like I How How So, have you guys done much charity stuff? I like Team Seas. So, I did some Team Seas stuff, yeah. Yeah. So, I saw you did a video on with Team Seas. it? did. Wow. That's a interesting video. Yeah. Well, I've I've seen all the I've seen all the Team Seas videos. What did you think of my Team Seas video? good. You liked it? Yeah. Wow. Did you see my see your Team Seas video. Yeah, it didn't Well, it didn't do as well as the other videos, but not, because I made a fan fiction about Mr. Beast and Mark Rober. Oh. And I And Mark Rober like comes out of the seas shirtless and then like Maybe I did see that. And then he shoots like a laser out of his eyes. And then Was that a It was a Was that a while ago? This was a This was like Team Seas. So, this was like This was like four or five months, maybe? No, I haven't seen it then. Okay. Um and then at the end Mr. Beast and Mark Rober kiss and Karl Jacobs and and Chandler and and and they're all there, you know? Celebrating. Of Of course. They're always there. Have you noticed that? They're always there. They're always there. They're always there. I imagine like Mr. Beast like tries to go to the bathroom and then they're there. They're just there. They're always there. They hand him the toilet paper. Karl Jacobs has the toilet paper in hand. Here you go. They're just reacting to it. Every everything is constant at that point. Yeah. The subtitles like just appear in Mr. Beast's vision. Today, I am going to the bathroom. And the first person to give me toilet paper wins, $10,000. 15 million views. they have the FBI chasing them. So, whoever gets here first wins. Dude, I would watch that. A lot of people would watch that. That would be funny to do a parody of all that sort of stuff. Like, "The first person to bring me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich gets a million dollars. Go." But, there's like an alligator in the and then gets you. It's so terrifying whenever anyone says that they've like seen my content cuz I'm like, "What have you seen?" Which which which video where I did the stupidest bit have you seen? Because it's it's so interesting that you've seen the Mr. Beast and Mark Rober video because that video is is absurd. But, it doesn't matter. You know, I I think Is that what you watched to get like an idea of me before the podcast? No, no. I've been familiar from before the way before the podcast, but uh that was like the latest one a little while ago. I was like, "Oh, I'll just click it." But, um it reminds me very similar to iDubbbz. Interesting. I bring up is like, "I loved your earlier videos. It was crazy when you were unboxing stuff." And he made it very clear. He's like, "Oh, yeah. That's you know, that's it." He's so normal in person, but you would see him with like lipstick all over, you know, just going crazy unpacking these things. And uh you know, he kind of plays into that character, but it's hilarious. But, just very different in person. Like, just a well-rounded funny guy. Does that make that uh your fan interactions kind of unique? Oh. Dude, fan uh dude. Dude, my fan interactions are weird because because like, okay. Today, he he's laughing over there cuz what happened today? We're we're walking into our hotel. Two 12-year-old kids I'm assuming 12-year-old. I I'm just throwing up a random age. Come up and they're like, it's Call Me Carson." And their mom's with them and one of them goes up I'm like I'm like holding drinks cuz we were getting Raising Cane's. Um I I'm awkward, especially when it's like when it's like, "Okay, this is this is some kids with their mom like trying to take a picture of them taking a selfie with me." And it's like, "This is this is so beyond me." Cuz like I don't view myself like that, but obviously they do. And it and so it's very it's very hard to know how to um appropriately respond to a situation like that. And I'm not used to it yet. You charge for a picture. You say, "Did your mom for a picture. have $5? Well, that's how much a picture is. Do you want a picture?" I do know like PewDiePie doesn't let people take pictures with him. And and I've thought about it before I'm like, "Is that what I want to do?" Cuz like there's there's a certain point where his reason for that? Just because everyone would want one? Yeah, like if everyone that doesn't even watch him is going up to take a picture with him just cuz he's PewDiePie, why why would he want to? And there's no way for him to know, you know? Um and I kind of get that. Like I know I know most of people that recognize me in person like don't watch my content right now and that's fine. Like I don't expect them to. This guy right here stopped watching my content. He hasn't even seen stop watching his content, dude? He doesn't You stopped posting for a long time. cuz I fell off. He's he he told me that like I came in here and he was like, "Dude, you have got to get back on the the wagon here." He He was giving me He He He picked me up the podcast, Jack." He picked me up by by by my by my shirt. Held me up for It was some superhuman strength. yeah. Yeah, and and he was and he and then he slapped me a couple times. And then he picked up your machete. Oh, yeah. No, we got a baseball bat, too. It's for Yeah, home to do a wheelie to do a wheelie. Yeah, home security. Got you. Yeah. story. I So, this was in 2018, too. It sounds like all of my cool stuff was in 2018. This was not cool, actually. I was working for a YouTuber who I like Minecraft, okay? He He did Minecraft videos, and he had a little channel called Pink Sheep. And Pink Sheep was like it was it was like an AI voice and like text-to-speech reading a script. Whatever video. It was It was It's a kids' channel. Um but like he hired me for like the guy running it hired me for like like a month to just come up with ideas and thumbnails and stuff for this channel. And I don't think he turned down a single one. And one of them I was like, "Dude, wouldn't it be funny if Pink Sheep was in a tank and then he tried to get out of the tank and then he was just in a bigger tank?" And they uploaded it. They made a whole like 3-minute long video out of it. That idea isn't 3 minutes long. Why did he do that? I still I I still do. I always feel so bad. If I give an idea and it doesn't do well, it's like it's on me. I said it as a joke. Yeah. How big is the channel? Uh it's I don't remember, like 400,000 subs. Yeah, I mean decent size, yeah. Yeah. It's It was It was a interesting day. I'm I'm kind of like proud of it cuz it's like that's so funny that I did that and I gave him that idea and then he made the video and it didn't work. Oh, man. What are some other ideas that you've come up with? Okay. Well, okay. What What do you mean by idea? Because that's a broad spectrum cuz I have ideas that are just so bad. Oh, I don't know. Um Oh man, okay, there's a YouTube channel I made with a friend called the official Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson YouTube channel and it's all just clips of the same interview of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson with a different punchline edited from the clip. Um and it's like it's got like 20 videos and like the the top on the channel is like 1.6 million views. Wow. That sounds like a great idea. Yeah, isn't it great? It's not bad. I think that's No, no, no, that's that's not a that's one of the good ones. I I I can't think of any at the moment. I have so many stupid ideas. I got an idea that that I think might do well. I don't know if I'm going to do this idea maybe at some point, but I use in the background a fireplace sometimes in my videos and it's just a fireplace. Real fire? Uh No, no, it's it's on the computer, but I put the computer in the background I film it and it kind of looks it blends in with the background so it looks like there's a flame going. You ever heard of this thing called green screen? Yeah. But I don't I don't think that's a You can put so many things on it. but Do you use iMovie? I used to use iMovie. good. I use I use iMovie Oh, you think it's good? it's good. Why? I like it. Well, that's fair. Yeah. He likes it. Do you use iMovie? He taught me on iMovie, but I do I I I do Final Cut. Oh. Yeah. What What do you think of Premiere? Uh it it didn't like mesh well with iMovie cuz I knew iMovie really well and Final Cut was nice. So, I use it. What What do you think of anything besides Why Why iMovie? I like Because it's Yeah, it's too scary. Is it simple? Everything I need is there. It's like I just need to cut, zoom, b-roll, and text I do with a PNG file. Done. Everything I need is there. So easy. I don't need anything else. It's worked. I guess I guess for me it's like so much of my videos rely on the edit. So it's like I I can't imagine trying to make my videos in iMovie. Yeah, see mine's more about the information. So when you're just you know, info like Meet Kevin could just do a straight 20-minute video of him just talking. No cuts. That would be the other finance YouTubers. Yeah, and that that could get like 200,000 views. And he could post multiple of those a There's a lot of YouTubers like that. I mean, if you could do that, that more power to you. I mean, look at I mean, I don't know how much attention you pay to YouTubers, but like Critical Um Penguinz0, you you know him, yeah? Sits down white shirt but in our camera. He plans his videos so meticulous. I sometimes I'm like, how does he come up with this content? It's like I don't know if he does. I think he scripts out his videos or has a script. That he goes from. I know uh funny funny you mention this. Uh Ludwig, do you know Ludwig? Uh he he has a channel called Mogul Mail. He he one takes all of his videos. Sits down in front of the camera, like talks for 5 10 15 minutes. One takes it every single time. It's crazy. He's talks well. I can't do that. How do you do that? Do you script your videos? Dang. Every word is scripted, but I feel better because it's like when I make a video, it finance is boring. And so if I lose any retention at any point, It's clearly not that boring. You know, you you get lots of plenty of viewers. They're so planned. Because I plan it. It's like if I riff and I get off topic and someone loses interest, there's the video. Gotcha. Interesting. But anyway, my my idea was that because I had the fireplace thing in the back, I could very easily create a channel of just a fireplace loop 10 hours Mhm. Um I listened the other night to white noise cuz the room was too quiet. White noise. That had like 10 20 million views on this video. Really? For 10 hours. You just throw so many mid-rolls on that. But but there's But then people listen to it and they're like, "Oh, Walmart." Uh but like stuff like that uh there was another one of just like the sound of the rain. Oh, I love those. what's that like that is like, "Oh man, you you could do 10 hours of of all of those." And just get a channel where where you know, if I shout it out, maybe it gets recommended and people start listening to it. I think that'd be nice. Yeah. Just upload like clown clown horn noises. Yeah. Yeah. You ever You ever see the like You ever like download the sound effects off of YouTube? do. All the time. Like the spring noise like boing. Yeah, yeah. I See, we don't use that in in finance content. But Oh, what if you did? It would be really fun and then you like dress up in like a clown suit. Uh Kevin did that though. Really? Yeah. Oh man, everyone's everyone's got their niche. Well, no, it's Kevin did that too uh cuz he was he was getting some some backlash for selling all of his portfolio. So people were calling him a clown for doing that. So he was like, "Yeah, you want to see a clown? I'll be a clown." So he literally wore a clown outfit in his video. Dang. But you know what the funny thing is? It As soon as he leaned into it, the hate went away. Mhm. I was shocked. But like I mean, that's that I mean, when it's something basic like that, you can you can do that pretty easily. Um if you own it. Yeah. That and and yeah, it was it's it's an interesting thing cuz in the finance space, there's not usually any like drama that goes on. It's very little or nothing. So the Kevin selling was like the biggest thing for finance like in in that month. And it's interesting to see just First of all, how quickly within 2 weeks everyone I don't I don't say everyone, like 90% of people didn't care anymore. Um but then as soon as he acknowledged people calling him a flip-flopper, he was like, "Yeah, I'm a flip-flopper." And then people are like, "Well, uh oh, never mind. You You suck." And then it's just they're like but they went away. And it's it's And and then now it's like nothing ever happened. Right. Um so, plus I don't I don't think the reaction was necessarily warranted. But um anyway, just it's just a a good case at least for for him to lean into it and uh uh then then it takes away someone else's power by doing that. Yeah. Do you think you could ever dress up in a clown suit? Probably not. And own it? Probably not. No. Yeah. Now, I'm the Kevin Kevin's more of a jokester and stuff like that. So, I I I would be too serious to do that. I'd be too tight. I wouldn't be able to do it unless it's like an April Fools video, but What What if because you're so serious, that's what makes it funny though? What if you What if you don't acknowledge it at all? boxing Michael Reeves, which is like so Wait, wait, wait. In the Item's event? Yeah. With that Yeah. Wait, you're boxing Michael Reeves? Yeah. Yeah, and that's so out of character, too, which is so funny. Yeah. I Wait, how tall is Michael? Same height. Really? Same weight? Probably. I feel like he's got to be a little bit thinner than you. Maybe. He's He's so He's where would Yeah, but we're probably within 5 lbs of each other. I'd give that. Interesting. Who do you think's going to win? Dude, he's going to come out with like a a chainsaw. Oh, no, no, no, no. You know, okay. So, you know those little like grabber toys that you can get like the You have the extension ones? Yeah, yeah, yeah. But instead of it being one of the grabber toys, it's it's like one a boxing glove on there. Oh, the boxing glove. boing, boing. And And going to die. Yeah, I know. See, Michael Reeves, I feel like he's such a you can't like can't pin him down because he's so smart that I would worry. beat him. I think you I think you bribe the refs with your with your fat stacks. But he's going to find a way to I don't know. Like I'm I'm a little worried about it because of how smart he is and he I don't want to say he has more time than me, but he could train more than I could. But you can say you can trick yourself and say it's work. You ever think about that? I could. I could. I mean listen, I want to win, but uh What do you What do you get out of it if you win? I don't actually know anything about No, it's for charity. Oh, okay. So I thought from everything, um you know, it's just going to push me out of my comfort zone and do something I would never do. I just thought 10 years from now I'd look back and regret not doing it. But then I also am worried of like like I I don't want to get I don't want to get hurt. Yeah, dude, that's that's my thing is like I'm such like a wimp. So So yeah, so I've been doing light sparring with the the trainer who wears these He wears these very like super padded big gloves so that you know, he'll hit you, but it doesn't It's not like a hit. But still he hits you with those gloves. He He did one to my stomach when I wasn't expecting it because I put my hands up too much and they're like, "Oh my gosh, like that really hurt." And that was with the big gloves. And then he hit me once in the nose. And it's like that it felt like I had sinus pressure for the rest of the night. Like it just And that was with the fat like the the kids gloves that you're just like kids will all, you know, like hit each other with the I'm telling you, machete. It's like, "Yeah." Just bring Just Just bring the machete. Just bring the machete. And tasers. What is he going to She can't stop you. Who's going to stop Who's going to stop you? What do you mean? You bring the machete to the boxing fight. Yeah, I'd get kicked out though. Why? It's not allowed. They're scared of you. They're afraid I'll win. Yeah. Yeah, no, he he asked me if I I think I think he asked me if I had any interest and I was like, "No, but what if I could be a ref or or a commentator or a cheerleader?" Yeah, but why did you say no? Because I'm scared. But would don't you think that in the future this would be a good thing for you to learn how to box? Why? Because it I I think it reinforces that you could try something new and if you succeed at it it's just positive reinforcement for that. It's just a new experience. Nah. Okay, that's fair. It's just not for you. No, I I No, I I get you. I just don't think I don't think I have the motivation to to make myself do that right now. I think if I if I wanted to do it, I would want to do it for something that wasn't that. I don't know why. I think I would want to do it for myself more than anything. Yeah. Yeah, that's certain that's and and that's part of it for me, too. I just remember I was talking to Jack and maybe Macy and we were talking about like boxing matches. Like, who would you box? I said the only person I'd box is Michael Reeves. Interesting. it came up like a year later the opportunity and I was like, that's a sign I have to do it. Why why why only Michael Reeves? Because we're the same height and I felt like it would be a very matched Yeah. event. And fun. It would be fun. it were yeah, if it were anyone else, like let's say like who else like Jesse from Nelk, it's about the same height as me, too. And I wouldn't fight him because I know that like I I've seen how he is with fitness and I know like I could I could never reach that same level. Like I would just be dead. What are you trying to say about Michael Reeves, man? Are you starting beef before your fight? We're having him on on Friday, right? Yeah, we are. Oh, really? Yeah. Yeah. Guys, Congrats. I'm a huge Michael Reeves fan. Why did nobody tell me? One of you has to pick him up from the airport. I want to pick him up from the airport. I I know Michael, though. Is he coming with Lily? I don't know. He said he's he wanted So, this is how dedicated Michael is to his video. I'm not going to spoil his video. He wanted and he was good He was fully prepared to fly to Vegas just to get a 10-second shot with me. Oh, yeah. Oh, he He does He He loves doing that. Yes. He did that He He did a giant road trip for the Boston Dynamics blog. But, I was blown away. And And that's how this started. And then I asked, "Well, hey, listen, you're coming all the way out here. Do you want to be on the podcast?" He said, "Yes." But, still, if it wasn't for that, he was He was talking about his flights, literally flying in, driving to the house, getting a shot, and then going right back. Really? Yes. What a freak. Yeah. What a freak of nature. then I was looking at the times. I'm like, that's You were you going to have like an hour overlap because of the time you had at the house. Yeah. He's like you. Well, the thing is he doesn't upload. It's It's like Yeah, his last upload was almost a year ago. he doing? He said he does offline TV. He streams. And he only makes a video if he's in the mood to make a video, which means that, you know, If it works, it works. Yeah. Yeah. If that's his system. But, yeah, but he's He's got this down where it's like he only needs to do one video a year with a sponsor. And that's And that's it. And then he goes That's more than a doctor makes in a year. But, that one video has to be perfect. But, knowing him, it is. And And he does like the surgery robot and then he puts his hand down on a wall. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He said, "I need I need you for 10 seconds for the meme." That's literally what he said. That sounds You know what? You needed it for the meme. That's exactly what he would say. Oh my gosh. I don't know him I don't know him very well. That's exactly what he would say. So, anyway, what questions do you have for us? Um so, I did a merch company sort of here and there called Pool Hall. And like at the end of the day, how much do you think a YouTuber needs to be involved in the in the um business of what they're making? Because I felt like at the time, I wasn't doing enough of like the ideation or any of that for for creating the merch. Um and I had late guy named Layne Stallard did all the designs and and um they helped me make it a real thing. And it I I thought it was great. Uh I was very proud of it. But I didn't feel at the end of the day like I did that much for it. Um and I'm curious if you feel the same thing when making something like that, like Bankroll Coffee. How much do you feel like you put towards it and how proud of it are you? Proud of Bankroll Coffee because it looks and tastes really good. Mhm. But I also am in line with my partner Noel on that and we have like the same sort of aesthetic. So, whatever he does, I know I'm happy with it. Mhm. Um but as far as merch goes, it's a lot tougher because are people buying it just to support you Right. or is the design good? What about the branding? Is it only branded because they know you or could it stand on its own? Uh the only two merch companies I really like are Nelk. They've done incredible with Full Send, but they're so involved in that because they weren't making money anywhere else, it was just the merch. So, they had to be cuz that was how they made money. And Danny Duncan uh uh you know, he has so many shirt brands and logos and stuff like that. But Danny Duncan did a really good job at that, too. Gotcha. But he was kind of similar. He he never did sponsors. He uh wouldn't make any money from advert, very little. So, he did merch, but he was so involved in that. Gotcha. Interesting. So, so do you How much do you think a YouTuber needs to be involved in in what they're making? Probably decent enough they want it to be like a Depends if are they happy making a few grand a month selling selling merch to their fans who want to support them? Then probably they don't need to do that much. But if they want to evolve and grow it to something a lot bigger, they have to be. But then you also have to think is merch really the best ROI for your time? Mhm. For a lot of people it's probably not. It's probably you're better off just getting a sponsor. Do you think that's fine as a YouTuber to do? Or Yeah, it I mean if I was making no money and the coffee is the only thing I had, I would be I would not only push that but I try to like expand it. I'd be doing We We would have tea by now. We would have had K-Cups. Um but you know, it's it's just grows slower because it's not necessarily like the main focus. Mhm. Interesting. Interesting. Much to think about. Yeah. I've thought about I've thought about making like a a merch company um to like distribute clothes but like everyone does that. the margins are so thin. Yeah, everyone Everyone's doing it. You don't want to do something that everyone else is doing it unless you have like a very easy in or you have a way to do it better than somebody else. Literally the main reason I want to is cuz I like wearing the clothes that like I make. Like I like the stuff that we made for Pool Hall and not what I'm wearing. looking at this. I mean like what are you wearing? is No, I I put together this outfit for just for this podcast. I was not going to wear it. I was not going to wear any anything that was CallMeCarson branded or anything like that. Um but uh I like having joggers that have my little brand on it, you know? Just I like I like when it's comfortable and when I've made it um or like given the quality pass on it. And I think that's the main reason I want to make merch. It's just so I could wear it. Maybe I should just make merch for myself. But then I wear it and then people are like, I want to I want to I want that. So it's like And sell it. Yeah, then sell it. But like the margins are so thin. Did you find it profitable? Yeah, it was very profitable. But that was back then. It is just different now. making back then? Oh we made Oh, I don't know. I want to say first drop was like I don't know. I like I think I'm going to lowball it here, but above 40k. Okay. Pretty pretty good for And how long did it take you to sell that first drop? I I don't remember. This was so long ago. I'm so sorry. Yeah, that's fine. It's fine. Uh I'm curious if this were like a day or like a week. No, it was probably it was probably like a week. I think I think we had too many products for the first launch. And then the second launch, I think there was less. Like like we we dropped the first launch and there was like there's a bunch of cool items, but there were probably too many. And then we did the second where we did like a little October launch and and it was like Uh it was it was like more spooky themed. You know, just darker clothes. And and that did not sell as well because I think it was a little bit too soon after the first drop. Um but I I I haven't done much in in that vein. And I want to I want to expand like my my business know-how and and make something cool like that that I can like sell to people because I I think it's fun. Any other questions? Any final questions you want to bring up? No, I'm good. Thanks for having me on. I appreciate it. It was a pleasure. When do you leave Vegas? Um Friday? Saturday? Oh, you're here all week. Yeah, we could we could find a time then to to hang out at some point. Yeah, I'd like that. I'd be down. Yeah. Okay. Cool. Cool. Awesome. Thank you. this this was legitimately very fun. Thank you guys for having me on. But did you get your free stock down below in the description when you sign up for public using the code Graham? I don't know. Just say yes. You don't know. Just say you're going to do I'd love to do Just say you're going to do I'd love to do that right now. Before you forget. Can I do an ad review? You can earn up to all the way up to $1,000 actually. Yeah. Oh yeah, someone got a free stock of Tesla by the way. Really? Yeah, it was like 800 bucks. Yeah, it's it's up to 1,000 so most people when they sign up will get like three to 20 usually. Uh but yeah, someone got a share of Tesla. That I thought was pretty cool. So anyway, thank you so much. Make sure to subscribe, hit the like button. We'll put all of our information down below in the description where they can subscribe to you too and you guys can start posting more. it. Oh yeah, I'll I'll post here or I might I might do it like a thing. Till next time. Yeah. Before I forget, let me just get a thumb