Josh Richards - Sway LA, Angel Investing, and Podcasting
1 Nov 2020 · 31 min
Casey Adams talks with Josh Richards about his move from TikTok fame to building Sway LA, angel investing, and launching a podcast with Dave Portnoy. Richards discusses managing creator talent, his energy drink venture, and how he turned social media influence into business deals.
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What is going on, everyone? Casey Adams here. Welcome back to the Rise of the Young podcast. On today's episode, I sit down with Josh Richards and talk about making money, angel investing and podcasting. Josh Richards may be known as a TikTok star with over 22 million followers, but he is much more than that. Josh is the co founder of Talent X, co founder of Annie Energy and the CSO of Triller. And he recently got involved with angel investing. Also, he recently launched a podcast with the founder of Barstool Sports, Dave Portnoy. Last week the podcast went public. BFFs, a new weekly Barstool podcast co hosted by Portnoy and Richards. And it became the number one business podcast and they absolutely crushed it. Before we get into today's episode, please take a moment to subscribe share this episode with a friend. And with that being said, let's dive into today's podcast with Josh Richards Foreign. What is going on everyone? Casey Adams here. Welcome back to the Rise of the Young podcast. Today we have Josh Richards on the show. Thanks so much for coming on, bro.
Hey, thank you for having me, man.
So we originally had you on the podcast. I think it was back in February at the old house and a lot has been moving and grooving since then. Man, you got a lot of stuff you got your hands in.
How long ago was the first one?
Like February. We dropped in February. Yeah, it was me, you, Bryce and General.
That was like, that was like literally my start. I feel like, of like blowing up.
In social media when you were out there. Like I want to talk to like talk to the people. Like what was that point in your life? Like what was the transition? Because now you're in angel investing. You just came out with Annie Energy. You have a lot of things going on. But back in February, like, what have you done since then and what has changed?
I mean, there's like literally so much. I could sit here and talk to you for two hours about everything that's changed. But I think a lot of the things also just took time. Right? Like the energy drink we've been working on for five to seven months now. So, like, yeah, we might have been talking about it way back then, but people are just seeing about it now. Right? I mean, guys, we're coming out with podcasts now. Like a lot of the Sway boys are doing podcasts. I got one coming up with Dave Portnoy actually soon. So that's going to be absolutely amazing. It's called BFFs. We have, I mean, all started YouTube. Me and Bryce decided to like start trying to do our best to take over in like the tick tock coming over to YouTube space. Right. I mean, chief strategy officer at Triller. Didn't see that one come.
Yeah, I'd love to talk on that because obviously trailer TikTok, you guess you kind of look at them as kind of competitors in a sense. And especially with everything that happened where it's like, are they gonna ban TikTok? And you see Triller coming out like, what's your involvement with Triller and how that, how did that come about? Right.
Yeah. So it actually all started when we started seeing all the rumors in, you know, social media with China's involvement with TikTok, the privacy of all these users, and it actually kind of goes back to, I guess, like my plan with entrepreneurship in the social media space. When I first co founded Talent X, it was because I saw that there was no one looking out for that creator, not one person. Tours were scamming creators, there were these managers scamming creators. And it was just like left and right, these, these young kids are being manipulated. Right? So that's why Talent X started. Brought a lot of my friends in there and it was, it was to help those creators. And then when I saw that TikTok was actually doing things to hurt the creator and as well, like they weren't, they weren't hearing us out, like when we were pitching ideas, like nothing was changing for the, for the better of the creator. And I mean it was like that was my mission, right? Like, that's, that's. I felt like that was my duty to be like, yo, look, all these followers. I had 20 million followers at the time on TikTok. And I was like, I'm responsible for all of you in A. In a sense, right? Like, I'm influencing you. So I. I felt like it was my duty to bring them over to an app that's going to be safe for them. And same with all these creators that I. I mean, got to be involved in Talent X and, like, really push their TikTok. It's like, wow, I put you on an app that's kind of unsafe. So it's like, how do. How do I, you know, help you out? And that's Triller.
I wanted to also bring up, too. I know that we talked about, right, for the podcast. Michael Gruen. How did you meet Michael? Because we were just saying, like, having someone that can help guide the ship and actually help you along your journey is critical as a creator and anyone that's doing anything. So how did you and Michael meet?
Yeah, I mean, that's a. That's a pretty funny story. Can I get into that?
Michael?
Can I talk about it? Okay, so about over a year ago now, I just got off the two tours I did for social media, and I went to Bryce Hall's house. So I'd known a Bryce, but not really. Like, he would see me at parties, like, social media events, and he'd be drunk as fuck, and he would just come over to me and be like, I've seen you on social media. Keep killing it. And that was it. That was our conversations. So I DM'd him. I was like, let me come over. Let's hang out. And he was like, yeah, sure, went over there. And I was smoking, right? So I asked my friend to smoke with me, and he was like. He was like, oh, no. Like, I'm on a tolerance break. Like, someone's doing a bet with me where it's like, 45 days, none of that. And then I get a free trip to Hawaii, right? So I was like, dude, come on. Like, 45 days, you can be tested and you'll be fine. Like, just do it once now and then. Don't do it again for 45 days, right? And then Michael was sitting in the corner, and Michael was the guy that made the bet.
Okay?
So. So Michael starts chewing me out, and he's like. He's like, just because you're a loser doesn't mean he has to be like. We get. We get into this argument like, we did not like each other.
Oh, really?
Yeah, like, we were not friends at all. And, like, after we talk, I walk out of the room and I go to Bryce. I'm like, why the fuck is this guy your house? Like, who Is this guy, like, why is he being a dickhead? And Bryce was like, no, that's just Michael. Like, you'll learn he's blunt, and you're going to learn to love him. I was like, all right. Later that night, we get into a boxing ring. It's three in the morning. I'm about to crash. I'm about to go to bed. I'm watching, like, everyone kind of, like, box, because Bryce used to have a ring in his house, and Michael told me to come up. So I go up in the ring with them, and I'm like, let's do it. Let's do, like, you know, real box, like, face shots, everything. And then he's like. He's like, no, no, no. Body shots only. And I'm like, Dude, I'm 110 pounds. I'm not doing any damage to you at that point, right? So we ended up fighting or whatever.
You and Michael?
Yeah, me and Michael ended up boxing. Body shots only. He. He was just ramming into my body. I mean, just going. And, like, it's all bone, right? So I literally just reflexes. I played hockey. Left hand, right to the face. Punched him right in the face. And I mean, talk about a first interaction.
Yeah.
I think that was, like, a really good first impression to leave on Michael. And then we started a company together.
Wow. Well, that's dope. And speaking of Bryce starting a company, I know that we spoke on Annie Energy. I tried for the first time upstairs. Why an energy drink?
I think that when people look at my content and Bryce's content, they see that it's like, it is just the most out there. High energy, crazy. And what we used to do is we would shotgun Red Bulls because we weren't allowed to shotgun alcohol in our YouTube. Right? So we would shotgun these Red Bull cans, and everyone started doing it. We saw tick tocks of people, like, tagging us shotgunning energy drinks. And, like, they would send us videos or challenge us to video. And we were like, dude, we are blowing up Red Bull right now. Like, all these kids are, like, drinking these Red Bulls the way we are because we're posting it. Why not do it ourselves? So then that's kind of where the idea came from. It's like, let's pitch it to these people that they can have just as high energy as us grabbing any energy.
Yep, yep. And I. I want to bring up, you guys launched with two flavors.
Yes.
It was black, cherry, lemon, lime. Why those two flavors?
I think that also, like, in the energy drink space, all energy Drinks kind of taste like terrible. Yep. Right. It's like it's jet fuel. You're drinking like the most high caffeinated, unhealthy drink. And we were like, all right, how do we bring, you know, a good tasting energy drink to the market? And so what we did is we tried to do something more on the lifestyle area. And it's like something you can drink on a Monday morning. So something you can drink when you're going out on a Friday night. And black cherry. I. I personally just, I. I love cherry. Like, that's a flavor that I loved a lot. So I was like, I don't see energy drinks doing it. Let's do it. And then Bryce was like, you know what? I think like a, a flavor that everyone kind of loves is like a Sprite or a lemon lime. So I think that's just kind of like the two ideas we went down for.
Sure. And then you said something at the beginning. You're starting a podcast. David Portnoy, Barstool Sports. Let's talk about it. What are you excited about regarding a podcast?
Dude, I just have always been someone that's like, enjoyed conversation. Right. Like, I love like the freeform talking back and forth. Like, I feel like you really get into conversations that you wouldn't in YouTube content or Tik Tok or like it.
Shows like personal and not like crazy.
It adds so much depth to it.
Yes.
Right. And I think that's just so important, especially for the viewers, like watching. Like, they want to know more about us. Right. So let's give it to them. So also just like Dave, absolute savage. Like, he is an animal. So much respect for him.
So what are you guys gonna be talking about? He's a, he's a very outrageous type of person. I love him to death 100.
And I think that's like the exciting thing about it is that you're never really gonna know what you're gonna get.
Right.
Like it's, it's always gonna be this big crazy thing with Dave and I. So I'm just super excited.
Yeah. And then with Barstool and the podcast, like I said, the conversations, you're never going to know what it is. What's it based off of. And say the title one more time.
It's called BFFs.
BFFs?
Yes. It's like, like, who would expect a 18 year old tick tocker.
Yeah.
To pair up with the like face of Barcelona Sports. Right. Like, it's just like the weirdest pairing ever.
Yeah.
So that's kind of why we named it bfs. We thought that was kind of funny.
You said.
I think you should also touch on how, like, we. A lot of what your strategy is, like peering in someone. Right. Yeah. Anyways, you can keep going. All right.
For sure. Do you want to base it off that? We'll go to the next question. For sure. Yeah. All right. So the podcast, Dave Portnoy, everything you're doing there, talk to me about what you guys gonna be talking about and how that even came to fruition with him.
Yeah, Well, I think first of all, we're trying to do these pairings that are just, like, out of this world, right? Like doing something with Dave Portnoy. Completely unexpected. How it all started was from tweeting out about the Chase Hudson and Nessa and myself, like, that controversy that blew up the Internet for, like, two days. And he tweeted out about us being like, wiggle dickers. And we're like, this. This pairing is just so out there and perfect at the same time. Like, so crazy. It might just work, right?
Yep.
So that's why we did that. And I think, like, just like on the podcast, the first episode when. When we filmed it, like, it was like just me and Dave talking about how different our two worlds are and kind of just me hearing about his and him hearing about mine talking about different worlds.
You talked. You said you identified as a tiktoker, but recently I see that you've been getting involved angel investing, and there's been a. A transition with not only your identity but the positioning of who you are. So talk to me about angel investing, why you got into it and what that looks like.
Well, so I've always been someone that knew I needed to do something with my money, right? Like going out and being these, like, social media influencers that buy two cars and like, I'm always gonna wear Louis Vuitton and I'm gonna be like, rocking Rolexes. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, that is stupid. That is the dumbest thing you can possibly do. Especially when these kids are literally making money from paycheck to paycheck, right? It's not like, oh, I have a 3, 4, 5 year contract. It's. You have one brand deal at a time, and they're spending it all. So what my idea was is like, how can I turn my money into more money? And I talked to people I knew, and they were like, here's a few options. And angel investing. Angel investing was the most interesting to me. Very cool. So I've always Been someone that's like when I was younger I had like two little companies, right? Like I had a hockey shirt company and I had a lacrosse company. So when I get to hear.
I played hockey and lacrosse too. Yeah, yeah.
So when I got to hear people like they, these founders, like super intelligent people pitch me their, their brand, I mean their companies, like, it's, it's one, an amazing learning experience for me because I'm growing out my own products and companies. And then two, it's just, it's fun. It's, it's the best. Like, I love those meetings.
How are you like looking at deals? Have you invested into anything yet or like.
Yeah, we've done a couple investments we're looking into. I mean one CPG products, right. Like we have a following that is very loyal to us and when we endorse a product, it's like we're stamping our approval on it, right. So then they're going to listen to us. So when we come across a company that we find, you know, we can either implement very well or it's. It would be important for our fans to know about it. It can help in any way. Like we'll go in there and then we'll get advisory shares as well and then we can blow up this product or move a lot of this product for, for the company.
Right?
And then we're also doing angel investment in just companies that we think are going to succeed. Like, it can be tech, it can be like I said, cpg. I mean, list goes on and on.
Very cool. How do you vet these deals? Because I know you guys have such an audience. You can bring behind a product. Is everything like active and you put your name to it or is it also some passive investments where you're not really too attached?
100, 100% both. Like if there's a company that I just believe is going to succeed, like, but I can't necessarily help in any way, I, I'll put my money down into it.
Yeah, that's what's up. How do you manage your time? You've so much going on. You walk in the house, there's so much happening. Like what does your day to day look like?
I mean, so we actually were going for such a long time with just no schedule at all, right. And like we started realizing it's like, oh, now I have two meetings booked at the same time or I have a dinner and I also have this party, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So it's just like, how are we going to structure our Lives better. So recently all the boys came together with Michael and Warren and we decided to like completely schedule our days. Our days. So every single day we're waking up at around like 8:45, we hit the gym at 9 and we're working out and then we get off, we eat our breakfast, we film our TikToks and our trailers for an hour long. Everyone gets their content done on their social media platforms. If that's Instagram, pictures, stories and so forth. Then Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Those are our YouTube filming days. So from 12 to 8pm Me and Bryce, we go out and we just film YouTube, YouTube bits. Anything we can do for our YouTube account. Then on our Wednesdays is podcast days. So I just have that whole day booked out. I'm doing podcasts. Depending like I'm trying to hit out four podcasts a day. Right.
Like you on or people on your shows.
I mean both. Like that's the days I go on podcasts, that's the days that people come on mine and we just try to bang out as well much podcast content as we can. And then that leaves our, our Tuesdays and our Fridays where we do business meetings. Right. So we have two days of business meetings, like three days of YouTube content and then a day that's for podcasts. So cool. Yeah, we're, we're trying to definitely like get into that more structured and scheduled life because before it was an absolute mess for sure.
For everyone that's watching out there that follows you on social. What do you think the biggest misconception of you is?
I think that people often like associate me as just either a like party guy or like me and Bryce going out and just like wreaking havoc, you.
Know what I mean?
But there's actually like so much more that goes into like my day to day life and like companies I'm growing or, or just dealing with talent X. And there's so many things behind the scenes that no one ever sees because all they see is a TikTok dance or all they see is a YouTube video. And that's why we're trying to like actually do these podcasts is because we want to like show people there is more to us for sure.
The depth. Yeah, sure, I love that. Where do you see creators going wrong? Because I know we talked about all the time, it's like you guys have such an infrastructure and a team behind you which a lot of individuals don't have. So like where do you see creators going wrong and how do you suggest not only find an Agency. But how do you give them some direction if right now there's creating content, they're getting some brand deals, but they don't really have a long term vision like you guys have here, right?
I mean, honestly, like how I first learned what to do, like the, you know, yes and no's of social media was by studying other social media influencers. The people that were at the top at the time, like when I was younger and I was able to watch, you know, like the Paul brothers and, and Cameron, Dallas and David Dobrik and the Dolan twins and I see where all of them wrong and then where all of them went really right, like that, that's such a big learning experience and everyone can go do that like it's on the Internet, right?
Where do you think they went wrong? Because I just getting tangible because people can learn from that from you.
And you know, I mean also like, I think people can learn where I went wrong because I've done a lot of things where I went wrong. Like there are a lot of situations where either I got lost in, let's say the party scene in la, or I just, you know, thought, hey, guess what? I'm relevant right now, so I'm going to be relevant forever. And that's the mistake most social media creators make, right? Like they, they hit this point, like, let's just say it's 500k to a million likes on Instagram, right? You feel untouchable at that point. You're like, I am a top dog. How is anyone going to knock me off of getting a million likes per post? Right? But the craziest thing is, is like you wake up the next morning and it's gone. Like, you need to prepare for like days and days ahead and you got to prepare for that irrelevancy to come.
Yeah.
So I think that it's just like comfortability is the worst thing. You can never be comfortable in this industry because that's how you lose for sure.
And speaking on that, like the half million likes, million likes, like at that level, what, you have 7 million followers on Instagram, like what is your perception on like you open up your Instagram, you have, you know, you can't even respond to the amount of DMs. How do you personally use social media? Right? Because I'm sure you have hundreds and Thousands of people DMing you and commenting and you are going on there for a purpose. So like, how do you, how do you personally use each platform when you're actually on there? Is it, DMS is It comments is a little bit of everything or what?
I mean, I think it's definitely like a little bit of everything because I want to keep my fans engaged and I want them to know that, like, I care about them and I'm absolutely blessed to have every single one of them following me in my daily life. But also, like, when you get to a certain point as a creator, you have such a networking, like, power, right? Like, if you're verified and you have millions of followers, you. You're going to show up on the top of all these people's DMs, like.
Yep.
Go out and, like, reach out to people. Like yesterday, for example, me and Michael for the. One of the podcasts that I'm doing, which is the movie podcast with Noah Beck, we. We went out and DM probably 50 different actors and producers and directors. Right. Because we know there's a very high chance that they're going to see my message. And I know that not all social media influencers have that, I guess, same amount of power because they don't have that amount of following. But it never hurts to try.
Right. And I think that's important. Like, when you're reaching out to people, like, how often is it you get a yes or a no or. Because that, like, that tastes like, you know, you're selfless, you're reaching out, you want them on the show, and you're just shooting your shot. And I think everyone can learn from that.
I think, I mean, like, I get, I get no's all the time. Like, I got a few no's today, and I think that people, when they see that, it, it gets them scared or it's kind of like, oh, maybe I shouldn't do this anymore. Maybe I shouldn't DM these people, or maybe I should wait till I'm bigger. Right. But if you're in those people's heads and then they, you know, your podcast blows up or your YouTube account blows up, or you just grow as a influencer, they're gonna see that and reach back out to you. Right. Like, they're gonna see that you've been working or they're gonna see that you. You've now taken over in one niche.
Yeah. Do you have, like a, A dream guest that you want to have on your show?
Yeah, I definitely a dream guest for mine, like on the, on the Movie podcast would be Will Smith. He's been like, my favorite actor.
Okay.
Forever.
So when that happens, we'll take this and we'll reflect on it.
Yeah, exactly. When will SM Podcast and comes on. We can roll this clip.
Yeah. Dream guest on the Portnoy podcast.
Dream guest on the Portnoy podcast. Maybe Scooter Braun, because I would just love to see.
Okay.
And Dave just like bash it out, you know?
Okay.
Because that would be hilarious. I mean, it would be so funny.
Yeah.
Like, oh, I just. That's what I love about Dave too. He's so blunt. He's a lot like, very, like, he. He's just like, I'm gonna tell you what I'm thinking. It does not matter if it hurts your feelings. It does not matter if it makes you cry. You are going to hear what I have to say for sure. And I respect that.
Yeah. What about the opposite side of the spectrum? Do you have any podcasts that you want to be on or one in particular that you say, hey, like, this is where I want to be? It was Joe Rogan, whatever it is.
I mean, Joe Rogan is an absolute legend podcast industry. So of course I would always love to go on that podcast. But I mean, I think that. I mean, I think you kind of killed it with the Joe Rogan. That's kind of like the number one in the world. Yeah, yeah. Like, that's the dream. That. But I mean, doing a podcast with Dave, like, I would have said, like, oh, I would want to be on a podcast with Dave. Porno at Barstool.
Right.
But I already have one with him, so I've kind of gotten to that goal of mine.
Yeah, that makes sense. So I want to talk about Talent X. You talked about creators first. What exactly is Talent X for people that don't know? Because like I said from the beginning, you guys have your hands on a lot of different things, but Talent X in of itself. Let's talk about it.
Yeah, So, I mean, it's like. Yeah. So Talon X started talking about it probably like I said a year ago, over a year ago. And really it's like the biggest management agency for social media and tiktokers especially. Right. So what we do a lot is we will sign these kids that we see are starting to a little bit good in social media and we'll try to give them the direction we can. Right. I mean, we've done that with a lot of people. All these new guys that joined the Sway House. Like, I think there's been nine total Sway members. Right. Like, all those people were small when they started. Or besides the core group, which we kind of started with Bryce, myself, Anthony, Jaden and Griffin. And even like all of us were not big. We used each other. Right. And then we saw that, that, that. Like the group effect. Yeah, the group effect. That's what I was trying to look for. That strategy worked so well.
Yeah. Because you're promoting them and it all reciprocates 100%.
And then we started bringing it like we brought it in Keo, like two weeks later and Keo blew up. And then we bring in Quinton and he. And then we have Noah in and then Blake and it's like all these guys are joining Vinnie Hacker, like, and you see their social medias just absolutely take off.
Right.
So I think that Talon X is definitely something that helps creators build their platforms. But also it's one of the only places that OR eight management companies that I've ever seen build products with creators. A lot of them always only care about like, what's the next big brand deal I can get you or how can I make you money right now? It's not the long term thinking for sure. And that's what we build with all these guys in this house and especially with Michael is just like, how can we actually build a company and then own equity exit. And that's a, that's like a time investment. You're putting work into that company, five years later you exit on that company and make millions of dollars.
Right, sure. One thing I've always noticed about you, man, since we met in February, is just you're very humble in everything you do. And I always tell Kim, whenever we're talking about you, I'm like, dude, Josh is just like one of the most humble dudes. Keep it real.
Like, thank you.
I'd love for you to talk about like your, your upbringing. Right. Because I think it. You said no.
Yeah, Michael. Michael. I knew Michael was going to give me a hard time. He literally calls me a douchebag. He calls me the biggest douchebag in sweat. Oh, wow.
Okay. Well, my perspective is you're humble for sure. But let's talk about that.
Like, here's the thing.
Okay.
I don't know. I think, I think I hang out with Michael so much and he get. You've been around Michael, you know Michael, you can't survive with Michael unless you're a dickhead.
Yeah, Michael, you're welcome to join, bro. Come pop up.
But my upbringing, Yeah. I was born really small town outside of Toronto. Like I grew up in a town, I think of like 2, 000 people until I was like 4 years old. Right. I knew one person and was like my neighbor and that Was it like, we hung out all the time, and then I moved from there to still a small town. It was just closer to my dad's work. He was a high school teacher, and I lived there for, like, my whole life on. And I mean, my family, like, I. I have so much to owe to them because just all the lessons they taught me throughout life and how they kept me grounded and humble. Like, that's all because of that. That. That was my upbringing in my parents. Like, I couldn't have had a better family. So, like, they, you know, they bring me to every sport my dad got involved in every sport I played. He was my hockey coach at one point, a lacrosse coach, soccer coach, basketball coach, volleyball. Like, every time I touched a sport, he would be there to help me out. Right? And my mom, the same with, like, school stuff. When I was younger, I had a really hard time putting the words that I thought it, like, out, right? Like, I couldn't really speak well. So she's actually a speech pathologist, so she helped me a ton. I had, like, crazy adhd, so my mind would move a million miles a second, right? And I couldn't even speak, and I would stutter because I was trying to speak so quickly that the words wouldn't even form come out of my mouth. So she helped me a lot with that. And it was just, like, always learning from my parents and, like, how nice they were and how supportive they were when I did. The two companies I told you about, like, hockey, lacrosse, destroyed their basement. Like, I was dying lacrosse mesh and.
Oh, dying the mess.
Yeah.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
I remember I was like, I was designing mesh for teams doing custom stuff, and then I also had, like, a waterproof formula, so I was, like, dipping it and stuff, so it was waterproof.
Okay.
Destroyed the carpet, like, absolutely. They had to tear out the carpet after I was done with that. But they were always just like, yes, let's, like, do it, let's. And they would give me money at the start. Like, they would help, like, if it was just like, I had to do odd jobs around the house to earn it, whatever. But they. They've always just been so supportive and.
Yeah, that's dope. When was the first, like, day you downloaded TikTok? And, like, were you doing anything on social prior to that?
So I had it since musically. So I've actually been doing, like, you can call it TikTok, musically, whatever you want. I've been doing that for four years. I started when I was 14 years old, and I was just like, I Was filming musical lies every day. I was doing like three musical lies, whatever. And then three a day.
From the start?
Yeah, from the start, very beginning. I was doing three videos a day because I saw that it would grow me a little bit quicker than just posting one, even though the three would perform, I guess not as well. Right. So anyways, it worked on my social media a ton. Noticed that you can make money on live streaming, so I was like, hey, I'm gonna capitalize on that. I became one of like the biggest live streamers on musically with only like 90k where there's these people with like millions of followers. Right. And I was just getting number one on the leaderboard. I would live stream four hours minimum a day. So that's kind of what built me switched over to tick tock. I studied the algorithm, figured out tutorials, did really well because people would share them and they would save them to their favorites as well, comment on them. And that's just what pushed everything back then. So I was all doing these tutorials. I would get like 70 million views on TikTok.
Right. Love that. That's crazy.
And that kind of started my whole following. And then I saw these two tours that were Boys of Summer and Lights Out Tour, and I hopped on that opportunity and just from there, met all the Sway boys. And then it turned into Sway.
That's what's up. Well, last thing. Jaclyn, you want to help me out real quick? Can you hand me the box right there? So I gave you to this right before the podcast artists. This is called the Benjamin Bread box, and I want to wrap it up with this. So my buddy Daniel Alan Cohen, he. I literally picked this up on the way to come shoot this podcast and I wanted to give it to you. I. I know you already saw it, but inside of here is 100 grand. Obviously is prop money, but I wanted to wrap it up with, you know, you're. You're an angel investor, you're investing in companies, you have your own companies. What is your number one piece of advice for money management for creators out there and how should they start managing their money better?
First of all, stop buying expensive items. You're an influencer. You get stuff for free. Every single pair of shoes I wear.
Clothing I get for free.
Like, why spend money on that stuff when you can get it all sent to you? And then secondly, don't leave your money in a bank account because it's just depreciating in value year after year. It's not growing. There's nothing. It's just sitting there. So, like, you might think you're saving your money. And guess what? That's still better than going and buying, like, four cars. But put your money into at least. Like, just do something with it.
Yeah.
Make money with your money because it's. It's such a. It's. It's an army, right?
Yep.
So, yeah.
Okay, so let's do an analogy real quick. Someone gives you 100 grand, what's the first thing you do with it?
I would probably angel invest that 100 grand.
All right, that's what's up. Well, my man, this is for you and for everyone watching. Thank you so much for tuning in, Josh. Where's the best place that everyone can stay in touch with everything you got going on?
I mean, YouTube is Josh Richards go over there.
Perfect.
Yeah.
Well, all right, brother. I appreciate it, man.
Thank you.
Number two. We'll have to do it number three. Sometime.
Yes, we'll have to. Have to. When Will Smith comes on, we'll do the next.
All right. We'll wrap it up there. All right, bro. Peace.
Peace.
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