Aris Yeager on Turning Rich-Kid Satire into Real Influence
Privileged parody hides a blueprint for authentic success
I just sat down with Aris Yeager.
3.5-million-follower satirist behind the viral “European Kid” persona.
In this episode you’ll learn
Flip rich-kid envy into relentless drive
Comedy + honesty that converts hate-watchers into superfans
How Storytime lets creators trade one post for a free meal
We dive into the details later in the conversation.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:46 Privilege & Drive
05:19 Motivation vs Complacency
10:58 Comedy of Class
16:21 Louis Unmasked
23:09 Prank Risks
27:21 Ultra-Wealthy Insights
29:10 Storytime Launch
35:17 Celebrity Authenticity
40:13 Social Currency Future
45:13 Meaning of Life
Listen
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Here’s the full transcript:
Speaker 2 (00:00.206)
Aris, you’re extremely well known for your online satirical personality, Louis, aka European Kid, character of a spoilt, ultra wealthy European 20-something. How did the context of your early years shape your connection to this character to the point that you were able to resonate with audiences around the world, resulting in over 3.5 million followers?
across your various platforms and hundreds upon hundreds of millions of views on your skits.
Yeah, so I I grew up in an environment surrounded by a lot of like wealthy kids and like the character that I portrayed are definitely people that I’ve known growing up in my life. mean, growing up in Belgium, I went to a pretty private school and yeah. Yeah.
Did you find some of the experiences you had like ridiculous or were you super well off yourself and it just came like, or were you kind of outside of that circle, but you saw a lot of it.
Speaker 2 (01:09.644)
Yeah, I definitely grew up privileged with a great quality of life. But the circle that I had was like, yeah, was a next level. Yeah, just witnessing. I guess I did grow up feeling a bit outside of it. And for me, that was like how I kind of paid more attention to it, maybe. Yeah.
What are some examples of some experiences you had growing up that made you think like, this is kind of crazy.
I mean I was like, yeah I had like friends like people like one of my friends was part of the Qatari royal family. Yeah his uncle was like the king of Qatr. I want to pronounce it correctly. That was pretty sick. lived like just like a palace. He lived in a chateau like literally a chateau and just like had like driver wheels around him like it was a crazy like.
Yeah, it’s just so crazy. when you have like growing up in Brussels, it’s very diplomatic. So a lot of the kids that I was friends with also, they’re all, yeah, they all have like diplomatic. So for instance, like we go to like when I was like 14, I would go to like a nightclub, you know, and like these kids would like spend lavishly and we would like walk out of the nightclub. And it’s like, we already felt like bad ass because we’re like underage and we would like, you know, flip off the police and then like
run into the diplomatic car and be like, can’t touch us. CD license plates. You know, it was so funny.
Speaker 1 (02:45.23)
That’s crazy. What’s that movie called with the kid who, the like Russian? Anora. Anora. Yeah, it’s kind of like that with Anora. So it was a little bit like that. You just kind of have a bunch of money and...
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:00.494)
Okay, but no, like when you’re like 14, you’re going to strip clubs and picking up like random, marrying hookers and doing like old like doing drugs. you’re like 14, you’re like getting in the club, like you already feel like a badass because you’ve got it in with like a fake ID and you’re pouring a Dom P like that’s, that’s yeah, that’s like, that’s what you do is only you got like cocaine and like crazy like
I didn’t
Speaker 1 (03:08.556)
...carrying random hookahs.
Speaker 1 (03:13.57)
done it wrong
Speaker 2 (03:30.124)
drugs like
That happens at 21.
I guess, yeah, like later at 20s.
that’s funny. Well, I mean, it sounds like you were exposed to this world, but you weren’t quite in it as much. I’ve heard that you weren’t always like super confident and a big prankster. You mentioned being bullied as a kid. Yeah, was. So.
Where’d you hear that from?
Speaker 2 (03:58.03)
I was bullied all the time for being fat, being short, yeah it was really hard I was very short, fat, I used to be like super fat Did notice I got really fat and I had an eating disorder I’m kidding obviously
You’re short and
Speaker 1 (04:09.89)
And then what happened?
Speaker 1 (04:16.846)
I’m the new way
I was never not confident I was always confident growing up So who the fuck did you hear that from?
You’re coming
Okay, well nevermind.
Speaker 1 (04:29.262)
So it wasn’t, you didn’t develop this.
I would say like honestly growing up in that environment where it’s like I think no part of who I am and what motivates me like is that I grew up in this environment with yeah I was surrounded by these very wealthy individuals and I’m like I want like you build up like if I was part of those if I had that also crazy like that crazy lifestyle I maybe I think I would be more complacent and I wouldn’t actually aspire to get
But like for me, I was like, oh, this is like sick. Like it motivates me a lot. Yeah. Personally. Yeah.
Do you, from the experiences of the people you met that were super wealthy, do you feel that they just don’t have any drive in their life? Like what are they like usually?
I mean, look, I think most people, yes, I think they don’t have drive, like growing up. I think most like, but not to say like some of my best friends who are very wealthy, like they have incredible drive. And I’m like always blown away by like how real of people they are. And again, it just goes back to how you’re raised.
Speaker 1 (05:25.078)
Active with money on home.
Speaker 2 (05:45.814)
Yeah, it’s honestly incredible. Especially friends that I made in Boston. And obviously, I think most of the wealthy kids, yeah, it’s true. don’t have any aspirations, they don’t have goals because they’ve been given everything and they’ve been told that you’re always allowed to fall and like...
get like you’re gonna get you’re gonna get caught like yeah and there’s just like why would you want to move to like why would you want to move to New City and and and like try like working a nine to five and it’s like yeah but like at the same time honestly I was the other week like I was with with this great I won’t even like I’ll start saying like I was with this girl who started like this
this very really cool clothing fashion brand, a fashion tech brand that basically like tells you like when you’re buying something on like for instance, sometimes on like Farfetch’d, I want to buy something like for instance, I’m buying these Moncler shoes. It’ll tell me instantly like where I can find cheaper options. It’s called Fia. It’s a really cool app. And the founder of it, one of the founders is Phoebe Gates.
Okay. wait, that’s in.
the daughter of Bill Gates. And met her and honestly, I was like, everyone have so many like ideas of what she would be like, but she was very confident. She was just very intelligent. like I’ve met so many kids that just like act a certain way. And like, just, so I’m always like, I never, never assumed that like every wealthy kid is like, some of them are raised very well. So I absolute respect like for her, like I’ve never seen such a like,
Speaker 2 (07:43.304)
from her like case of her father being Bill Gates, she was just, she’s very confident like, and I think that’s admirable like, because not a lot of rich, honestly, most rich kids are like, not confident. Like they always, the reason why they spend, the reason why they show off is because my character is like, because they’re not confident. And the way to like, to get that attention is by being like, hey, you know, I can, I can do this and
My father is this person.
Well, I wonder if she’s making she’s hustling because Bill Gates is just is going to give away 99 % of his net worth before he dies. I think that’s the whole thing. Yeah, like the Bill and Melinda Foundation, the whole thing is like 99 % of the net worth charity. So she’s probably got like 100 grand. I should know what 1 % of $50 billion or whatever he’s
Is that
Speaker 2 (08:37.291)
Subscri-
Probably 100. Regardless, it goes to say, I’ve and not even heard of, I’ve honestly met people who are arguably even richer than Bill Gates. I think I’ve met some Russian kids who are probably, honestly, because you know net worth of people’s net worth, it’s old BS. There is like, I’ve met
unless it’s really leaked.
Speaker 2 (09:10.062)
people that are linked to like governments and like old like dictators of countries. Those people have like crazy wealth, like African money, like, and those people are just, yeah, they have like, they have no goals. well, I mean,
What do do after you’ve got everything? Also, by the way, it’s 1.15 billion. It’s 1%. Still plenty. Still plenty. Never mind. Never mind that idea. Yeah, it’s interesting how the lack of confidence, even though people are like super wealthy, where do you think that comes from? Yeah, like just a family dynamic or like the.
lack of confidence.
their parents have done so much that like they feel like they could never amount to the
I don’t know. I think it’s not like you can analyze everyone’s different. Like it’s sometimes the person. But what I will say like again, growing up with my experience of going into this private school, yes, I build a lot of like, I think I build a lot of envy towards like ultra rich. And I was like, it’s so cool. And that’s why I kind of also started the character maybe because I was like, I also wanted to make fun of it. But once I started making fun of it, I can tell you, I literally met like almost
Speaker 2 (10:28.878)
I’ve met so many ultra wealthy people and I realized that they’re literally just basic people and like there’s I can tell you like growing up in it everyone thinks it’s like I think that’s for me that that’s what I realized I got out of doing it like I did the character for I don’t yeah it’s just funny witnessing actually like yeah it’s really not yeah
not that different.
So what do you think, I mean, a lot of the comedy is like the clash between Americans and like obscenely wealthy Europeans. Like the general American versus the wealthy European. And I see that a lot in New York. Like I’m from pretty small city in Australia. Australia, yeah, I wasn’t exposed to much wealth in Australia. Not at all. So I don’t know, not to this level.
Shalya.
Speaker 2 (11:15.566)
Shall I enrich kids? No. No. Shall I enrich kids?
Speaker 2 (11:23.65)
definitely some Australian roots.
I don’t know any of them, not running in those circles. But what makes a dynamic work felt like? Why is it so entertaining?
It’s because it’s like controversial and at the same time, know, it’s like so it just drive there’s so much engagement. Yeah, you’re like, my god, like this guy is being so pretentious. Like how can you say that? And then you want to comment on it and you’re just driving more engagement. And then it’s the same idea. It’s ideally is European. There’s like that whole like, especially when I started it, I started posting when I was in Boston and it really went viral in the US because that it’s like that whole European. there’s like
It’s that exotic thing. And then I think there’s something that like, you know, the irony of like my following that I grew is that it’s all, it’s like all rich kids. I go to Sao Paulo, I go to like, you know, I go to Dubai, I go to all these places and it’s rich kids coming out to me saying, I love the character. It’s like, you want to hate my character, but at the same time, I feel like you also build, there’s people build love towards it. Cause as pretentious as it is and like,
It’s almost like, yeah, it’s just amusing. It’s funny how it’s so amusing to rich kids.
Speaker 1 (12:38.094)
I love it. mean, I think it’s so funny. I saw your video with at Castle Blanker and just like lost it. I genuinely, when I first looked at it, thought it was real, but like you kind of, hey, like given that, given that I know Fabrizio and I know the venue and I was like, it’s highly unlikely, but you have to be hyper localized to know that that might not be real. And even then I was sitting there thinking, wonder.
That’s the point, it’s supposed to look real. Maybe it was real.
Whatever else is there.
Speaker 2 (13:05.635)
Yeah.
It’s so good. It’s so funny.
It leaves everyone on the tip of their seat like what?
Yeah, 100%. So what do you think the difference between the two European and American cultures are when it comes to like money, business and all those kind of combinations?
I don’t know how answer that, but I can tell you, mean, I think Europeans have a lot more taste in class than Americans. I think Americans are just something like some of them are just some of them are, you know, like, know, honestly, like growing up in the environment and when I came to the US, like I am shocked when I meet like a rich American kid, like how just like random.
Speaker 1 (13:35.31)
Yeah
Speaker 2 (13:58.784)
It is like I’m just like like you meet a wealthy European kid you you know you can feel it American kids are just like you don’t I’m like what this kid is like his dad’s billionaire I’m like this kid is like
dressed to, I don’t know, I don’t know. I just think Europeans are just so much more classy and like it’s part of our culture. Not to say that I always love it. Like I think if there’s one thing I like about the US that I can go to like a high end venue in a t-shirt and just simple jeans like this. And not get scolded. Cheers. But like in Europe it’s like
What do think it is?
Speaker 1 (14:37.208)
fit on.
Speaker 2 (14:41.716)
You have to be dressed in your little loafers and a shirt, linen shirts. So for me, like that New York City, you have billionaires walking around in t-shirts. Honestly, sometimes you wouldn’t even look twice at them. So I do like the goal? Is that the goal?
like is that their goal do you think just like not trying to have anybody actually have any interest in them and being under the radar versus like I mean there’s so much history in Europe like America’s a pretty young country so there’s a lot of that history and culture takes a long time.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:22.2)
Exactly. To build.
There’s some pretty, pretty old money around there. I feel like in America, like there’s a lot of turnover of wealth as well. Yeah. Yeah. It’s, it’s super interesting because I feel like you’re the content you’ve done as well, touches on a lot of culture as well, which is fascinating. What do you think the, what do you think the cultural sentiment around like wealth and privileges at the moment?
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:32.908)
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (15:53.576)
that you’ve noticed from your comments and from how people interact with the work you’ve done.
I think a lot of like the most real like right now like we’re in the era of like succession and like the wolf Wall Street was a very big one and those like could have defined like what’s it like getting rich? What’s it like being wealthy? And I think the reason most people consume my content is because there’s a fascination with like, okay, ultra wealthy, how do they act? like, is your question more like, what do you think like, tell me.
define your question a little more.
So the idea is that this work, what you’ve done has worked and your experience has really resonated with people because there’s like a fair bit of truth to a lot of it. And if you’ve noticed by like checking comments or just like seeing what works and what doesn’t work, whether there’s a, you don’t check comments? no, it’s too full time job if you don’t. Really?
comments.
Speaker 2 (16:56.27)
I get really hurt sometimes. Why? It’s her forcing the comments. Really? Damn.
Speaker 2 (17:08.27)
If I was... If the commons got to me then I would never do this. Caught in like so many people trashing on me.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:16.897)
What’s the craziest comment you’ve gotten?
Speaker 1 (17:21.806)
Why?
I don’t know, some military people like, if I see you in the street, I’m gonna kill you. Yeah, I’ve had people follow me on the streets. It’s a crazy world out there, gotta be careful. No, literally following me. I’m looking back, like, this guy was following me. And he’s with his phone next me. I’m like, do you want a photo? Because you can come up to me for the photo.
Really?
Speaker 1 (17:35.957)
way or like a
Speaker 1 (17:47.486)
Is it normally like a positive like fan thing or like it?
Oh, it’s like, oh, it’s positive. I’ve never had a negative interaction where someone says, they come up to me and say, I don’t like your character. I don’t like your videos. I’ve never had that. But I’ve had thousands of comments like that.
Yeah, well, mean, people are kind of pussies in the real world.
Everyone just wants to be behind their phone like a bunch of shit.
I’ve seen that. I ran a bunch of festivals in Australia. And one of my festivals I ran, we had some issues with some operations. And I got so much heat on all the comments. Have you seen events where they just start getting roasted by customers? What I did was I personally messaged every single person that commented and was like, hey, here’s my number. Call me.
Speaker 2 (18:38.708)
Shut up! How many messages are we talking about?
I got probably like 30, not it was a huge festival, but it was like big enough where people were like, and a few people told me to fuck off. But most of the people we spoke on the phone and I ended up like the conversation was completely different to
Wow.
Speaker 2 (18:59.31)
I just thought that I would have a refund on my ticket. Yeah.
It’s like, no, I can’t give you a refund, I’ll give you a free ticket to the next one. Yeah, give you a flat white. So yeah, mean, people, you stand in front of someone, even if you call someone, they’re completely different.
I’ll give you free coffee. That will do.
Speaker 2 (19:24.142)
People who chat shit who are insecure, it’s the best thing they
Broken insecure.
Speaker 1 (19:34.286)
So how much is Louis an act versus parts of you?
Oh, it’s definitely parts of me. I would say like it’s 30 % of who I really am.
30 % like the leg.
Like a lot of, yeah, like I do think like obviously that when I moved to the US to study, I moved to Boston, like I was like so European and I was always like shocked by like American things, the things that Americans did. And there was like such a big part of that comedy was like things that I, yeah, it’s like some of it’s actually what I think. Obviously exaggeration. That’s fun. Yeah.
What were some big shocks that you had when you came to America? So how do you when you came to America?
Speaker 2 (20:20.622)
I was 18. I was studying. honestly, like food is a big shock. Eating at the canteen, I was disgusted by the food there. I was like, wow, that’s the reason why Americans are so fat. It’s because they eat shit food with very shitty ingredients. And then just like the way people interacted with you. Europeans are very conservative and like...
Like, you you walk into an elevator, you’re not going to say hi to anyone. I grew up in Belgium, it’s so like cold, not as cold as like Germans, like, know, like, so just like that whole like change and like that shift and like the way you can just go up to someone and like, hey, how are you doing?
I’ve got a theory on the weather of a country and the coldness of the people. Yeah, so if you think about it, like, the colder the weather in a lot of places, the colder the actual people.
Do you think that... interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:22.53)
What about Canadians? They’re so nice. I’m ruining your theory.
Okay.
Yeah, it’s pretty cold in Canada, isn’t it? Yeah. But they have really good summers still.
Yeah, but I definitely think like Scandinavians.
really cold and they’re very closed and like northern, you know, Eastern European, again, very cold and then culturally cold. But then you go to like Spain and they’re like, it’s hot as fuck. It’s hot as balls. Looking at like some of your content, you know, most people think it’s real. Are they ever real?
Speaker 2 (21:45.656)
Thanks for watching!
Speaker 2 (21:51.534)
Spain... yeah. But it’s not always like...
Speaker 2 (22:05.186)
Most people like they thought it was real but it’s been like over two three years now Yeah, so I think people know that it’s fake. Yeah. Yeah, I’m like I think it hits new people sometimes some of the videos but You guys should know it’s fake by now. And if you don’t then Stop being so gullible stop believing everything you see on social media, but people know yeah, like let’s be real They’re like, on the same guy gets in a file every all the time. Yeah
wrestling.
Yeah, it’s like wrestling. You’re like a wrestler. We know those guys are all paid and like when he throws him on the ground, like he’s not actually like injured in any way.
I’ve got this weird as core memory of going to the wrestling with my dad when I was like, I must’ve been 14 or something like really young. And I’m sitting behind these guys and this guy’s just like swearing. He’s like, yeah, get him like really. So he’s like 30, just getting into it. And this dad and son were next to me and the dad was like, hey, can you just settle? You know this isn’t real. And he turns around and he’s like.
not real did you see this bunch of and i remember looking i was like this kid and i looked at this guy and i was like
Speaker 2 (23:22.804)
Are you f***ing serious mate? I f***ing came here to see them get beaten and shit
It’s like, can you hear that punch? Strange. Anyway, so some people... You you got a reasonable accent.
never been to Australia.
Really? No. If I went to Australia, I need to spend time with Australians. Yeah. And then can adopt the accent. Yeah. I was like, said African accent.
That was like kind of That was a little South African. It’s close, it’s close, but not quiet.
Speaker 2 (23:52.046)
A part I know nothing of. I love, as a kid I used to always do accents. I love accents. think that’s also why I just chose to do a random French character. Because I grew up in Belgium, I speak French and I was like, French are just obnoxious. I did it just because I was mocking friends that I knew, but like it didn’t, it wasn’t intentional. I was also doing it, I was also doing an Italian one. Like at the same time I was doing an Italian character.
Yeah, why French? It’s very...
Speaker 1 (24:09.292)
Just generally the
Speaker 2 (24:21.326)
And the French one was just getting so many more views. I stick to the French.
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They’ll give you a discount and they’ll also provide the podcast a small kickback. These are two very easy ways for you to support us as we continue to grow the podcast that we absolutely love doing. Thank you for your support and I’m back to the episode. Has there ever been a any disasters during a prank? any like thing got something’s gone like really, really pear shaped.
I mean, I almost got punched. That’s just because people are not informed, like by a bouncer. Yeah, was like, yo, it’s joke. Right before it happens. I didn’t get punched. Yeah, wouldn’t want to get punched by a bouncer. Big and scary. Yeah. I’m like, yo, yo, it’s a prank.
Bye.
Speaker 1 (25:24.811)
really?
Speaker 1 (25:29.774)
You didn’t get punched there. That’s good. That’s a worth.
Yeah, some of them.
Speaker 1 (25:40.302)
That was the worst. mean, that’s not so bad. You’ve done it right. You’ve got now.
No, it’s not that I mean I did it I think okay the only real skit that I’ve ever done is the one I was in India okay I was in India a couple months ago I was in Mumbai and I went outside of Ambani’s house the richest person in India and I filmed this skit trying to get in that was real I put mics on and I’m sure that that I’d posted that video when I left India because I know that was in a
I was like, alright, I’m going to post this like, because I’m like, I know that, that I don’t know about the legalities of filming content outside of the most rich person, the richest person in Asia. So I was like, I’m going post this video when I leave the country just to be extra safe.
owns all of telecommunications.
Speaker 1 (26:31.574)
If did you get anywhere with him?
No, he had like a military outside of his house. Have you seen the video? No, I seen the video. It’s like this video of me trying to like, yeah, enter the car and it’s like this military people like, he’s not here, isn’t this not? And I’m like, you just said he was here. Like this is not a restaurant, it’s a house. And I was like, yeah, but can you let me in? Thank you. But I loved India. India is a beautiful country. Really? I must recommend that everybody goes.
You actually do pretty good in it.
Speaker 1 (27:02.348)
I’ve never been-
I’ll just go on with the Chinese accent
the rest of the- God, I’m kidding. I love it so much. Wait, so why is a French accent okay but an Indian accent’s not?
yeah, it’s so clumsy.
Speaker 2 (27:19.534)
That’s so true. What if I want to do an Indian rich kid? Yeah. What the fuck man? You did not buy the most expensive table in Mumbai. Are you fucking kidding me bro? What the fuck?
Have a
Speaker 1 (27:31.214)
I think I saw the Indian variation of you on TikTok once. Yeah, I feel like I’ve seen this content before.
Yeah, I should do an Indian-Mishke character. Give me an accent, I’ll do it. Russian? Okay, this is a Russian accent. Hello, my name is Dimitri. I’ll just do a Russian accent for the rest of the podcast.
Russian.
Speaker 1 (27:57.006)
Yeah, let’s do that. So you started this for fun, right? You started this to pick on your friends back home and then turn into a business. So the New York Times wrote that you have gotten up to $30,000 for a sponsored post before. It’s pretty cool. So how did making real money from Mocking the Risk change your perspective on wealth?
Cheers.
Speaker 2 (28:21.526)
I just realized that it was easy to make money when you have... It was for me first time when I was about to get paid for a collaboration I was like is it possible that I’m going to make money from something that was a joke? So I was like okay are they serious? With yes I thought I was like it’s crazy to me that these people want to pay for a video or something that’s so stupid
Okay, Spanish accent.
Speaker 1 (28:57.134)
That was great. And now straight American accent.
Yeah, so no, but for real, like New York Times article and show was like fucking crazy, dude. Like got mad girls from that. Got a lot of girls on the street being like, shit, like I saw you your, I saw your face in New York Times. I was like, that was fucking, dude, that was fucking crazy, bro. Yeah. Dude, like not gonna lie. Yeah. What’s the mad DMs? DMs bro. Sick. Yeah.
So, yeah, got mad damns. Being exposed to, you know, booners and socialites, it’s given you some insight into the ultra wealthy. What are some positive insights that you’ve gained from these people that you can now apply to your life and the way you approach your business? Because I know you’ve got a business as well, the building is tech startup. So have you learned any really interesting and positive lessons?
that you’re now applying in a British accent.
Some of those people that are self-made I’ve learned like a lot from and just genuinely know like some of them are who are self-made just seeing that them telling you how the stories about how they started and how they had so much failure first and then eventually got somewhere is always aspiring and that basically most people that do a nine five
Speaker 2 (30:26.68)
don’t have the balls to do a startup for instance. And I was like, okay, I’m not gonna do this. Can switch? I guess the biggest thing for me with actual billionaires and just, yeah, people who have built, it’s not like I’m hanging around and I’m like, is this guy billionaire status or not?
No, it’s just like you hang around people you like and sometimes.
This person’s built a really cool company and just hearing about how their perspective of like you can really do whatever you want. Sometimes you just have to be the one who does. You have to like just go for it and stuff like that. That’s just like for me that’s just always inspiring.
So just like a permission to actually go for things. See people around you that have done it. I guess if you’re not exposed to people who are successful in their own right, maybe you don’t even know that your world view can change positively. Yeah, it’s interesting. I mean, they do say you’re the product of the five people you spend the most time with.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:23.758)
Exactly. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:30.4)
It’s true. You really are. Yeah.
Who are you spending the most amount of time with right now?
I would say my brother, my co-founder, Lex, my girl that works with me. and my girlfriend. Forgot about her.
Sorry darling. So let’s quickly chat about story time. The company you’ve started. I use it. We met.
I think it’s great. think you’re on to a winner. I think it’s a really, really great idea. So what gave you the confidence to get that cooking and what’s story around this and how did it happen and how’s it going?
Speaker 2 (32:15.842)
Yeah, so story time started with like when I got in the whole space of being an influencer. I just realized I realized so many things about Yeah, I mean, I mean it’s fucking sick being an influencer. Let’s just talk about that real quick. You got a lot of
shit. Irish accent.
or you eat. Top of the morning to ya. No it’s really sick, I’ll be honest with ya. I got a lot of free PR stuff. Got all things in the mail all the time. It’s when my sister just got married to an Irish guy so I feel like I’m supposed to be better at it but I know I’m not so. Cheers. But I feel like for you.
each other.
Speaker 2 (32:59.374)
You like that you think the Irish accent is fine but for the Irish people they get a little offended. yeah, I was going to say being an influencer is super cool. You get a lot of free stuff. And I realized like, I was so fascinated but for a long time also the reason I got started on TikTok was just purely like, TikTok must be a platform for kids that just do TikTok dances.
And I’m like, how the fuck does someone get 100,000 followers? I was just like experimenting. I was randomly posting stuff and I was like kind of just curious. And then I realized like as I got more into it, I obviously realized like there’s a huge market of influencer marketing. Influencer marketing is like such a big topic and it’s just gonna get bigger. And I started working in that space. So actually right after college, I had probably like, I would say 200,000 followers on Instagram.
I studied in Boston. What did you study? Oh, I studied entrepreneurship. OK. I think I knew that. Entrepreneurship and innovation. Yeah. And yeah, I was just convinced. was like, influencer marketing will be huge. It’s going to just get bigger. I want to be in this space. And I started working at an influencer marketing software company. And while I was there, was like, every single day I’m interacting. I interact with so many brands. How do we simplify the process of like,
Please.
Speaker 2 (34:24.686)
creator wanting to get in touch with the brand. And I’m like, how can I just pay for my everyday food with a story? And the future I was like, it’s a type of currency. Like everyone has like an influence, like a social influence. And how do we, how do we do that? You know, how do we, how can you pay with a story? So like the future is that we’ll be able to pay for everyday things with a story. And that is why Storytime will be the next billion dollar company.
I’m ready.
So I’m building the next currency.
Let me know when you’re doing the next raise and I’ll...
Anyway, I’m gonna talk a bit more. I would love to use some of these clips actually for my own, since we’re here. But you’ve, so you, yeah, the way it works, I’m gonna just, I’ll tell you, the way it works, cause for me, like the way that I can, I wanna even grabbing some of these scenes and using them, like right now would be really valuable. So I’m gonna pretend like you don’t even know how works. So the way it works, you know how it works, but.
Speaker 1 (35:07.052)
We’ll talk about that for sure.
Speaker 2 (35:29.198)
You basically get accepted as an influencer and then you can interact with like all these, we have hundreds of brands on here. So for instance, like you want to go into
You might not have internet down here.
That’s okay. So you want to go for instance to like, you know, we’re in Chelsea right now, Loco Nut’s like a really cool, like, I love this spot, healthy, healthy, like real spot. You can get up to a certain dollar amount off in exchange for posting a story tag. Yeah, I have a higher reach than you. But then the way it works is that we don’t actually care about how many followers you have. We care about how many people in New York City you have.
$20?
Speaker 1 (36:08.622)
How do you know?
You didn’t realize you
So you can see all of demographic data.
Yeah, I have access to all your data.
you know, every single follower that I have.
Speaker 2 (36:24.374)
I know everything about your life. know your social income. I know your address. know your social security number. When you apply, you connect your Instagram account, which allows us to precisely what is your engagement in New York City. Cause for us, that’s the most important thing. You’re just getting the offer that you’re getting receiving is based off what the business is putting. And it’s in one of those categories of like tiers of what you’re reaching in New York City.
You’re right, you’re right,
Speaker 2 (36:54.514)
And yeah, it’s the future of influencer marketing. We’re gonna be expanding to fitness, nail salons, hair salons. For me, it’s like I’m creating like the next Facebook marketplace for influencers.
feel like you could probably just go on all the businesses that are currently on class pass and just like hit them all up. Because it’s the same people but just for influencers.
The same thing. It’s a class pass for influencers. Hell yeah. How long have been using it for?
which I love class files. And I love story time.
Well, all of my friends are on it. So I.
Speaker 2 (37:28.632)
Let’s take look at how much stuff you’ve gotten for free. Of course I can see. I had to access all your data.
Can you say?
Speaker 1 (37:36.846)
Well, have I got any good DMs lately in last two hours?
Speaker 1 (37:44.782)
I pretty much just like constantly rinse it at Bayer Bar. No, not Bayer Bar. Bayer Bar. No, no, no. I’m the other Ok.
Oakberry is sick. If you haven’t had an oakberry
This had a story at Oakberry every day for like a whole week straight.
Yeah, man likes his Oak Berry. Seeing the Oak Berry right here. You just hit it with Oak Berry all the time. You love your Acai. You’re going to all the Acai spots.
Hahahaha
Speaker 1 (38:18.242)
Yeah, cause it’s just like a nice little snack.
Genokee Online.
Yeah, like four in the morning.
Macha Wow very unesthetic picture the change that Yeah, man, it loves his oakberry. Yeah a lot of oakberry
I forgot to drink. I forgot I drank.
Speaker 1 (38:37.368)
feel so exposed.
Did you think that we’re not collecting?
I knew you were. It’s so fun. So fun. All right, let’s get back to it. So wrapping up, I want to just like chat to you about some general life questions and philosophical stuff. What’s an example of a small kind gesture that somebody’s done for you that’s impacted you immensely?
I would say having a good conversation with someone. For instance, I had an amazing conversation once with Anne Hathaway at this event. I just met her really randomly and she just came up to me and she threw her arms around me and we started talking about spirituality and all this stuff. I was just like, incredible energy. was like, wow. She obviously, yeah, it was just amazing.
How did you know it? Just... How did you know?
Speaker 2 (39:31.726)
Sorry? What? I didn’t know her. I met her on the spot and I started chatting with her and we got like into deep conversation and she had her arms she was like the whole time she’s like like telling me this like story and like I was like yeah it was amazing.
How do you show up differently for people based on that?
I’m just myself, yeah, I’m just myself. Like, I think I really like for every one thing that, not to call myself a celebrity, but like as someone who does get approached, I realized that like when you can just be authentic and like, for instance, if you actually meet a celebrity that you love, like don’t go up to them and be like, okay, like I love your stuff because everyone will say that. Like, for instance, with Anne Hathaway, I went up to her and I was like,
Like how would you, in one sentence, how would you describe your biggest accomplishments and what you’ve learned in life? I asked that. And then she ran up to me and she like throws her arms. like, for instance, yeah, it’s about sometimes just asking different questions and being confident, like just like realizing they’re also just another, there’s another human being. So yeah, it really is like that sometimes.
That was a great question.
Speaker 1 (40:54.902)
I got a little starstruck recently. saw J Cole, he was getting into a car just as I was going by. thought to myself, shit, what would I even say to him if I was going to? Hey, mate. How are you? Yeah, Ripper tunes.
Hey, hey mate.
Speaker 2 (41:14.764)
Literally, bro.
But I shouldn’t come over to him.
Okay, last week, okay, I was outside of Sunflower Organics and I’m this smoothie and this guy comes up to me, he’s a photographer and he’s like, oh, I love your content, I love this, blah, blah, and he’s like, I shoot these photographers. I shoot these like famous people on the streets. I’m like, that’s cool. He’s like, I’m shooting J Balvin right now. And I’m like, J Balvin? J Balvin, okay. I’m like, where are you at? I wanna meet him. And then,
Like he’s like, see him walking with his crew. And then like I go up to J Balvin and I’m like, and this like photographer like just came up to me. He’s like, I’m like, have you guys like, I go up to him, like I run up to him like, hey guys, have you seen Johnny anywhere? Like, you know, and he’s like, I think he’s like over there. I’m like, that’s, that’s cool. I’m like, by the way, like, have you seen him in my content? Like, I would love to, to end.
So like I went directly to the safe haven and I asked for someone else. So like sometimes you just have to like think differently. Yeah. And every everyone’s different but you just got to be like. That’s a
Speaker 1 (42:28.398)
good one just like getting into the circle completely randomly. Yeah. I like it. like it. What’s a lesson you’d like everyone to take away from this conversation?
Like honestly just be your authentic self. Like yeah, it’s fun doing a character and there’s like, it’s fun entertaining people. But at end of the day, just be yourself and stay true to your own state. And honestly, don’t believe everything you see on social media. Like the way people consume things nowadays, like.
When I have kids come up to me that are 14 years old and they’re like, did you pop the don’t pee’s in Sandra Payne? Yeah I pop some don’t pee’s in Sandra Payne but my life doesn’t revolve around that. I don’t aspire for that shit. Honestly I’ve met so many rich kids who are just so unhappy. The idea that certain wealth and the way that you spend money will make you happy, absolutely not. And don’t believe things you see on social media.
I’m not from the richest family in Europe. I’m not related to Bernal Arnau. Yet, the whole internet believed it. it’s honestly so ridiculous. I don’t believe everything you see on social media. Part of the richest Eurasian family in the world. So you’re wrong, because actually my dad, my papa, is an Eurasian oligarch.
So just a guy.
Speaker 1 (43:51.362)
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:55.48)
And I’m
Speaker 2 (44:04.633)
When I’ve been facing this whole time, my dad is oligarch.
My dad is not. My dad is retired as a structural engineer from Egypt living in Australia.
Interesting. You’re Egyptian? Asalaamu Alaikum.
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (44:23.79)
Give me an Egyptian accent in my last question
Egyptian accent. I know about Egyptian accent but...
It’s not bad. It’s It’s not bad. Is there anything you’re excited about at the moment that you want to let the listeners in on?
I’m just excited honestly about Storytime. I really want to scale it to as many cities as possible. I want to bring it to every city, whatever our viewers are right now. New York, Miami, LA, want to take it to Dubai. I want to change the way that we’re, I want to change the way every single day that the way we interact the products. I want people to be able to pay for everything with stories and social currency.
And I’m just excited to scale it and yeah. Bring it everywhere. Storytime everything.
Speaker 1 (45:13.088)
And where can people find you? And where else can people find you if they’re interested? Just Google Bonadono’s son.
Who can find me?
Speaker 2 (45:23.534)
But now who knows fake son? I’ll pop up.
And our last question for you is what is the meaning of life?
Just real friendships and perspective. No matter what you’re going through, if you just wake up and there’s moments where you can always just smile and just be in tune with yourself. And I’ll just be on the West Side Highway listening to music and just singing to myself and smiling. That’s the fucking meaning of life.
Be yourself all the time, just constantly think positively. That’s the meaning of life. Be happy. Enjoy the good moments.
little moment.
Speaker 1 (46:11.948)
Yes, thank you.
Thank you my guy. Appreciate you.
It was fun. And if you’ve made it this far, please head to YouTube search that one time with Adam at Wally, click subscribe, like the video and leave us a comment. Yeah, leave it. Little broke creative boy.
Little broke Brooklyn boy needs a little donation.
Speaker 2 (46:36.888)
I roasting.
