Transcript
Speaker: I saw the other day on ah somewhere on the internet. I think it's real. I saw somewhere.
Speaker: i is saw. It has to be true. Somewhere on the internet. That they're they're going to make a Theo of Golden movie with Tom Hanks. no i'll try to go I'll try to go find it. Now, again, that could be fake.
Speaker: I guess. But anyway, so. And you're and good friend. He was the one who, he was the one who got us up to 700 views.
Speaker: That's right. Has anybody, have you checked the thing for Malibu? The listens on the podcast? ah Yes. It's not as many as you would like it to be.
Speaker: 55 50 but but it' i think i think our i think our win is gonna be with the social media attraction picking up and then getting people to go listen later go listen back through um we'll see i just said i said remember the donut guy the donut guy he was he was schlepping for like 15 years right which guy oh yes yes yes he was like dude i've been hustling this thing for 20 years taven dillard yeah hey i tell you i had i had a really wonderful uh night last night did you what's wonderful about it is what happens is is that every once in a while like these little moments happen in your family where
Speaker: kind of it just becomes just a very pleasant, kind of a pleasant moment, you know? Things that you don't necessarily plan, but that everybody kind of sees...
Speaker: seize a little bit of a moment it's pretty cool you know um and again you know me i i tend to enjoy the the little moments in life and and uh last night we we had dinner we had dinner with a family uh, a family that we had never met before, you know?
Speaker: And then, and then we came, then we came home and I was like, you know what? It's a nice night for a stroll. It was, it was evening time. There's little bit of crisp in the air here. Uh, and, uh,
Speaker: And i I was going to go, you know what I'm going to go for a walk. And I said, Heidi, would you like to go for a walk with me? And she's like, yeah, I'd like to go for a walk. So we just went for a stroll, really quiet and in the neighborhood, just had a pleasant stroll together and chatted. Then we came we came back and was like, you know what, i I feel like kind of watching something. So you know how you go where you go into Netflix and you don't know what you're going to watch, you know?
Speaker: and So looking around and I said, oh, there's this there's this film that i I heard was good. And the film was fantastic. Man, you're hitting on all cylinders.
Speaker: Well, you had a nice night. I had a nice morning because this morning I went to get donuts for Josiah's birthday, turns 18. And the lady at the window called me baby.
Speaker: Now, I want to ask you, what do you think about that? Now, the reason that I'm asking you that is ordinarily I would feel like it's a little weird to get called baby by a stranger. But the way that she said it took me back to South Carolina where it's much more customary to be called honey, baby. And it kind of, I'm going to be honest, it kind of picked me up.
Speaker: Right? Yeah. saying, listen, i just, I enjoy you. hey good to see you. A little, a little bit of a a little bit of a kind social endearment that's appropriate and and nice and, and she's, you know, yeah.
Speaker: You know, it that's it that's what i think that's what I think is the kind of the wonder. You know, remember when we talked to Alan Levi? Yeah. And he was talking about wonder.
Speaker: Yeah. You know, just the discovery of the ordinary and and enjoying that. And i just, that's really stuck for me, you know? Yeah. And I think that's ah that's one of the things I really appreciate about the show is Just the the ah discovery of ordinary moments through, you know, just really interesting, really interesting people.
Speaker: Now, today, today we got, yes i we got somebody today. all All I know, all I know is that this, this guy, oh there he is. There he is. This is a Elias. Elias, what's up? Did hop in too early?
Speaker: No, you're good. You're right on time there is never There is never a hop in too early on this thing. It's great. Right on, right on. Great to see you. Look at you. What's happening? this I like, I have to, now for our listeners, Elias has a very cool beanie on and I want to firm, I want to firm the beanie. The beanie and the short sleeve shirt, man. It's a thing. I dig it. I dig it. I appreciate it. Dig it, man. I just get these on Amazon here.
Speaker: Oh, that was the Amazon? Yeah. yeah That's where I get them on. Look at that. See, I also like that too. When people, you know, when there's a little bit of a fit happening and somebody goes, yeah, I got it on Amazon. It kind of feels like you're like, you know, navigating through the matrix, you know, it's like you kind of won a little bit, right? You're like, oh, this, this whole thing. Yeah. I got it from, you know, what my kids do eli this is that they have, um, is that the thrifting thing is really big, you know, do you thrift? Do you thrift? I don't, I used to a ton, but no, I don't.
Speaker: Oh man. Yeah. i did Listen, as a parent, I love the thrifting trend. It's fantastic. And I also think it's weird that they're wearing t-shirts that I wore like in high school. Yeah, those are cool now. That's cool. Yeah, totally. Totally. Man. Anyway, it's nice. And I'm Joe, by the way. And this my friend Rush.
Speaker: and ah And we're so glad that we get to hang out with you for a little bit today. Yeah, I'm excited. so where where are you in the where are you yeah world? I think Russia is saying that. Where are you exactly? Yeah, we're in the Treasure Valley in idaho So we're up north.
Speaker: Idaho. Makes sense. yeah ah Californians know Idaho. Oh, yeah. Let me tell you that. Yeah, let me tell you. I know. I know. There was like this... man there's this There was this mass exodus of like, really oh hey, you where are you going? Going to Idaho. Where are you going? I'm going to Idaho. Where are you going?
Speaker: I'm going to Nashville. Oh, where are you going? Oh, I'm going to Idaho. Yeah, there's so many. I mean, that's where I originally came from, so I can't really say much, but I've been here since...
Speaker: is Is from California? Yeah. yeah I'm from the central area, Stockton. so ah Elias, describe for us what your world is like. you you're You're a young guy. You live in Idaho. ah Are you on a farm? Because obviously I've seen you with the cow in that very kitchen, which is incredible. Yeah, dude, that kitchen's famous. Yeah. What is your whole world made of?
Speaker: Oh, there it is. It's perfect. I love it. um So I actually have an acre and a half, so it's not anything crazy. I think a lot of people get this idea of me that I'm like some farmer or farm kid or something like that. But like you know we just talked about, I was born and raised in Stockton in the city. So I was around um cows a little bit.
Speaker: My uncle owns a dairy in Escalon, which isn't too far from Stockton. And ah so we'd spend a lot of time out there, but it wasn't I was never like involved with taking care of these animals or I was just running amok out there, you know, doing my thing. up I didn't raise animals or anything, but um I moved out to the country.
Speaker: three years ago, excuse me, three and a half years ago and ah got bruised because I was like, we got acrid, so we got to have a cow for sure. And so I got bruised and ah he was three days old when I got him, bottle fed him and So how how much is a cow? Because when I was in high school, there were this was in ah the South, South Carolina, there were always people talking about, like students, about pranking people by buying for $50 a calf and tying it to their front door and just leaving it one night. And then they have to learn to do- What sort horrible world do you live in, don't know. That sounds horrible. It wasn't my idea.
Speaker: Good night. I would love to be there. I have a fun story. whiz rush. Elias, I need know how much is a cow. How much was your cow?
Speaker: a cow how much was your cow I'd like to be on the receiving end of that. I used to take kittens and put them in a shoebox and put them in the mail. That's a horrible story. Okay, sorry. Go ahead. good Rush wants to know how much a cow is so he can relive his childhood.
Speaker: Specifically a calf. Okay, fair enough. Specifically a calf. Depending. So when I... When I bought Bruce, he was $100, three-day-old bottle calf. See? Inflation. and That's a great prank. Oh, yeah. That's a horrible prank. That is a horrible prank. That's a horrible prank. But it is true. It is true. are Like our family, again, not you know nothing to do with cows, but-
Speaker: you end up You end up finding yourself where your friend, where it's it's the old like goldfish that you went at the carnival. you know that You're like, oh, you went to goldfish. like What am I going to do with this goldfish? And you hold on to it. you know it's like It's like that, but you put a cow instead of a goldfish. you know i i i can see the you know maybe the similar, like what am I going to do with this cow? Now I have to take care of this. Exactly. Sure.
Speaker: So tell me about Bruce. I mean, Bruce must be, mean, don't know if I was a cow, I would love to hang out with you. So I think that that's kind of a, I mean, Bruce seems to me that he lives a pretty happy life. sure. Tell me little bit. Tell me a little bit about Bruce. Because now again, I know nothing of cows. I think maybe I've touched a cow once. Actually, as a matter of fact, true story. Down here in LA, we have a thing called the Gentle Barn. Oh, cool. Where they take cows and other animals that have aged out.
Speaker: and they And they have this barn and it it essentially is like an adult petting zoo of like really big animals. And they have this large cow that you can go and hang out with and, you know, kind of connect with. And, you know, and so I took my daughter, I took my daughter, she wanted to be a veterinarian. Oh, cool. And so we went down and and checked it out. And so it's kind of like a sanctuary. I would imagine, I would imagine that Bruce, you know, does Bruce have like caviar on Thursdays and, you know, kind of, you know, What does Bruce's world look like? Because what what I've seen captures of is that you know he's hanging out with you. Yeah, for sure. So he's he's got a really healthy diet of mostly hay. That's typically what they eat. and they
Speaker: okay I mean, it depends on who you ask, but you're asking me. So about 2.5% of their body weight in dry material is what they want to eat. You know, hay, alfalfa.
Speaker: kind Every day? Every day, yeah. Two and a half. So what's, what's a, what's he weigh? um Is that insensitive question? weighed him last year and he's way bigger now than he was. And he was 1700 pounds last year and And he's 5'8 to the top of his back. So he's it doesn't look like it in the videos for whatever reason, but he's as tall as my fridge. The top of my fridge, his back is to that. Whoa. Yeah, he's massive. That's enormous ah animal. yeah So I got him and Buttons, which is the the heifer. She's the female.
Speaker: And then Bert, he's a newer one. We just added a younger calf. And so that, you know, 2.5% of all those guys is a good amount of hay. That's a lot. Yeah. Yeah. yeah I'm probably spending 15, 20 bucks a day just in hay to feed them.
Speaker: Whoa. And then the grain. I spend, I spend more on when I hang out with rush. So that sounds to me. so yeah it's not Maybe that's not so bad. thumb but So, So now now I've picked up on something. ah So um when you describe when you describe your home, you say we. Who's we? Is we is we the the cows? Is we's, is there somebody else? Is there somebody else there? You know, my ah cows, my animals, and then I've got four boys as well.
Speaker: awesome tell us about that tell me about your boys so i've got uh 14. they cost more than 20 bucks a day i'll tell you that right now yeah not only in food but whatever else they think they require Yeah, tell me tell me about that. Yeah, so I've got a 14-year-old, a 12-year-old, a almost 10-year-old, and a 7-year-old.
Speaker: And they're just they're awesome. They're my whole world. i don't i don't keep them too involved with the videos. There's a few out there where I've used ah my younger boys to...
Speaker: act like me when I was younger, I guess, with a ah calf and I don't know, like a look back or a flashback. So there's a couple of them on there. And then the older boys, they'll help me with videos. We went to ah Roaring Springs is what it's called. It's a water park. I took Bruce and my oldest boy came and helped and So they're they're involved with it. They're not super stoked about it, but but they're involved for sure. yeah they're not They're not into holding the bucket just in case you know an accident happens, but somebody's got to do it.
Speaker: So what's the rest of your life look like? what what what How do you spend your time other than hanging out with your boys, hanging out with your cows? um I mean, that's pretty much it. like it The cows, they take up so much time.
Speaker: I got a bunch of goats yeah and the boys, but you know they go to school and stuff. So lately I've really been getting into pickleball. That is a good time. I don't know if you guys played it, but you should if you haven't.
Speaker: Oh man. Let me tell you the pickleball it's around here. You know, what's interesting about in our town about pickleball is they started um making annual, once you, once you think about this, you can't, you can't unhear it, but it's fascinating that in our town,
Speaker: in our town, they started doing like ordinances for where you could have pickleball courts because the sound the sound of hitting the ball, that it registers at such high frequency.
Speaker: that it travels really far. wow. That's true. we have a pickle bar that's close to us. I'm like, I've never heard pickleball. Now I can't not hear it. You know? Cause it's really, it's almost like, it's almost like the same sound as like ah an air hockey. If you've ever been in a hockey, you can always hear the air hockey that, that pickleball is a lot like that, but it's super, it's super fun to play. It is super. My boys.
Speaker: So I have three boys. Oh, nice. Yeah. I have three boys and a girl and my boys have like, it's the pickleball is the best. And again, as a dad, I'm like, yeah, you want to go play pickleball? It's like, go for it. And then they all just hang out and it's an equalizer. You know, it's like you can invite anybody to play. It's co-ed, you know, anybody can kind of jump in yeah and do all that stuff, which is like, which is super, which is super fun.
Speaker: what kind of What kind of paddle do you have? Oh, what is it? A SLK, I think. or I don't know what the brand is exactly, but I'm fairly new. I've just been playing for the summer, so I've gotten into it pretty good. Elias, what took you to Idaho? so My mom did. I was 14.
Speaker: fourteen um Yeah, and we moved out here, and so I went started going to high school here and just kind of stuck around. i really liked the The people, I hated it at first, honestly, with such a change from Stockton to come to a country, you know, town. And so I wasn't a big fan, but now it's like, I can't imagine living anywhere else. It's so chill. And I don't know, the people are just so different. It's really slow pace.
Speaker: I enjoy that a lot. So describe, yeah, describe to me, describe to me how the people up there, because, um I mean, we're we're really interested in people and really think, you know, it's it's people, right? That it's not it's not pickleball and nature and, you know, those kinds, but it really is people, right? Your kids and the people that you're around. What is it about people or the kind of people that you really love to kind of hang out with? Yeah, for sure. Just like easy going. And you know, everyone out here, it's what you would imagine with the country living. It's just wave at everybody, you know, how's your day going?
Speaker: ah Can I help you take your shopping cart back to the, you know, if it's a older lady or something, it's just easy going. And I don't know, there's not this rush to get to wherever you're going and just consumed with yourself, you know, there's a community and other people in the world that you should worry about.
Speaker: I think a lot of that gets passed up in bigger cities. And ah unfortunately that's, that's how it is, but it's a little slower pace here. I enjoy it.
Speaker: So, so if you're thinking about people that way, what is it, what is it ah about you they you would say, you know, these are the things that kind of I bring to my mind, to how I see life. right so if you if I'm getting a little bit of a sense right as you're talking about it, that the community and being with people who are like, listen, I'm going serve, I'm going to connect, I'm going to be chill relationally. what what is it that What is it that you most enjoy about life? so
Speaker: All the different things, because I'm because i'm curious about i'm curious about how you think about your world, what's important to you. Like how, let's say, Oh, let's say this. Let's say this.
Speaker: Let's say your boys, your boys, ah hear this hear this podcast one day, right? and they And they want to listen to how their old man thinks about and what he values most about life that he would even want them maybe to enjoy or to see or a window into your own life. What is it what is it that kind of drives you? What are the things that you're ah most excited about? What brings you what brings you joy in ah in the world that you're in Yeah, for sure. That's a good question. That's deep too. That's that's a deep one. Hey, listen, you know, we're not the shallow end of the pool here. You know, we might be all, you know, good looks and fun, but you know, we like to get to the good stuff. Yeah, for sure. um
Speaker: You know, we get so caught up, I think in our own worlds and it's really easy to just focus on what we have going on and, and not think about what someone else has going on in their lives.
Speaker: And so, Really, i think at the end of the day, just counting your blessings, you know, I like to look at life that way. And it it makes me really happy just to just to have my health, just to have...
Speaker: my my children just to have a roof over my head because there's so many people in the world that do not have any of that. and And it's so easy to forget about that and forget about the rest of the world when you have it and you just take it for granted.
Speaker: So it's it's good to try to remember that. it's It's hard to put it into perspective, I guess, when you're when you don't experience it ever. But it's It's good to remind yourself of those things, all the blessings, everything.
Speaker: Yeah, you you mentioned ah just um you know identifying with what people are going through in life. And so I'm curious, how has that become a value for you? you know what What has been a part of your life that that put you in touch with... you know Life can be hard.
Speaker: ah There are challenges. it's It's hard to be a parent. Sorry. It's hard to be a parent. um And so I wonder kind of what your life has taught you over, i don't know, maybe the last five or 10 years that has tapped you into just a ah concern for what people go through.
Speaker: Yeah. I mean, kids will definitely you know open your eyes to so much. Yeah, for sure. And they've they've absolutely done that to I mean, when you when you have to worry about your kids and your family and not just yourself, it it changes your like reader perspective on everything, you notice just on on life in general.
Speaker: um I don't know if i'm getting off track here. I don't remember what the question was. like no you're on track. I'm just, ah i was, yeah, I was just asking about, you know, are there things in the, in the recent years of your life that have, uh, just sort of awakened you to that, um, deeper value for people and the people around you?
Speaker: Yeah, this has helped a ton just being involved involved with social media and, uh, I get a lot of people reaching out just saying, hey, I had the worst day my life. And of your videos popped up and it just hit my day. No kidding. Yeah.
Speaker: No kidding. It's pretty regularly that that the that will happen. And it makes my day for sure. you know It makes it all worth it. Because and initially when I was starting to do this, that was kind of my goal. I wanted to just make people smile and not have...
Speaker: there's so much um content online that's so negative, you know, it's, it makes you feel a certain way or it's pushing something negative or I don't know, making you think a certain way where with my stuff, the goal was to just be,
Speaker: Aimless humor, just make someone smile. And that's that's it. There's no nothing behind it. I'm not trying to get something from anybody or push something towards anybody. you know and and that's but what got you so What got you started with social media? Did you... what was your entry point into even being on social media and then, you know, coming to this idea of, you know, I'm going to spend time, effort, clean up. I assume it's a huge cleanup. Oh, there's an enormous animal in a small space. Yeah. Eating your food. Yeah.
Speaker: Now he's got one of his boys with a bucket, man. I picked that up. I'm going to use that. Yeah. Yeah, the buckets for just the the accidents, the the bad stuff. Oh, yeah. oh ah People think I'm crazy and I feel crazy saying it, but Bruce, I think, is potty trained. It's been probably six months since he's went to the bathroom in the house and it was just... Really? He just peed in the house.
Speaker: And before that, was probably another six months. Yeah. but But the younger girl have her buttons, she yeah she just goes whenever she wants and wherever she wants.
Speaker: So that's pretty annoying. So is there like a big sliding door? How is Bruce getting in there? Welcome to Rush. Welcome to Rush. I've got a lot of questions. How does this actually happen? That's where he comes in. Okay. And there's my short bus there that I was hauling Bruce around in for the back to school video.
Speaker: I think we did that last year. Yeah. Yeah. So so what got you what got you started? Why did you think ah to do that? um So with social media, I've always been really interested in videography and making content. I mean, not even content. Before you know all the social media stuff was out, I was doing just...
Speaker: home videos with my brothers and cousins skateboarding or whatever. It was mostly skateboarding. But um once I got older, I got into a lot of fishing videos for YouTube.
Speaker: Didn't do well at all. And ah then from there, I ended up starting a like kids YouTube channel with my kids where we would dress up as whatever, Spider-Man and Batman and just do just funny stuff or fun stuff for them, I guess.
Speaker: That's fun. Yeah. So I ended up making a living doing that for i was probably five years of of YouTube with the kids channel. And then YouTube hit...
Speaker: a lot of the kids content with uh i don't know it was ah it was a big deal for a second there but i went from making i was starting to make like 10 of what i was making so it was like a huge hit and uh so i was like i need do something different and i'm kind of into Like the discipline and the mental therapy type stuff that was popular there for a minute, the, ah ice baths and whatever else. yeah So yeah I think it was my third year of doing it every January. I'll get in the ice bath every day for the whole month of January.
Speaker: And that first year I wanted to film it and I was getting in Bruce's trough, his water trough. And up here in Idaho, it's really cold that time of year in January.
Speaker: Yeah. So it's just froze over. I got to break his ice trough. And and then I was feeding him different stuff. Yeah. I had this idea that he liked sweets because I got a whole bunch of donuts, put them out there for my chickens. And I'm i'm talking a whole bunch of donuts.
Speaker: It was like, like a garbage bag full of donuts. And I was like, my chickens will eat them. I come back the next day and they're completely gone. And I was like, what? I didn't think it was him. i thought it was a chickens. I was like, how did they eat all of those donuts? That's crazy.
Speaker: And then I, I've had that same question about Rush too. Yeah. yeah where did all the Where did all of these go? like you know I don't know. must So all the donuts are there and they were gone and you're like, wait a second. Yeah. So um I figured out it was him.
Speaker: And so I had this idea that he likes sweets. And so I was getting in the water trough. And every day I would try a new food, like a human food or whatever, anything.
Speaker: So I'm like, do cows like donuts? Do cows like carrots? Do cows like Doritos? I don't remember what I did exactly, but just random stuff. And I did that for probably two months straight. I ended up doing longer than January because it was fun and it was gaining some traction on social media. I had a couple of videos that did over a million. So I was pretty stoked on that.
Speaker: And I had this other idea in the back of my head. I've always got ideas in the back of my head. But these folks, they have beagles. I think it's called Kiki and Coco.
Speaker: um But they do something similar where they try to cook with their dogs. And so I messaged them and was like, hey, just out of respect for you guys, can I do something similar with my cow? I i think it would go all right, or it would be fun.
Speaker: and ah And they were like, yeah, absolutely. We'd love to see this done with a cow. And so one day it was really cold, really windy. i was like, I do not want to get ice bath. Let me give that a shot.
Speaker: Brought them in the house. uh, we did pancakes. I made pancakes and put them at the table and he devoured them. And that video got like 50 million views in a week or something.
Speaker: And so from there on, was like, no more ice baths. Wow. That's crazy. I think we're onto something. I think we're onto something. And so it's been just trying to incorporate,
Speaker: him as like a house pet, you know, like he actually lives with me daily routine stuff or cooking. What was, what was that experience like for you and your boys to hit that first success? Oh, it was so cool. i like it.
Speaker: they don't I don't think they really understand it or care much because they were involved with the YouTube stuff for the kids. Obviously, they were in the videos and whatnot. So they're just like, oh, dad's just filming again. No biggie, whatever.
Speaker: But... what i do i do love that i do love that about our homes you know that i think russia and i experienced something different you know we we do stuff and we get to be engaged in uh and things that that are very meaningful right and fun and bring blessing to others and uh and then we come home you know we come home and the kids are like you know you're my dad this is this is our home and this is a it's a wonder it's such a wonderful thing our homes right we're like you're just you're just you it's like oh yeah that's what that's what dad does dad you know hanging out with the cow in the in the kitchen that's just kind of what my dad does it's like all right you know i wanted to uh i always keep this in my head that i want to
Speaker: ah you know, work towards better and better and bigger and bigger and, um, get, attain these goals that I, that I have. And just to show my boys, like,
Speaker: Hey, my dad did it. I can do it. You know, if, if I've got whatever yeah the goal was hitting a million followers and now they're like, Oh, I know somebody that did that. I can do that. And it was my dad. Like, yeah, that's easy. Yeah. And so I want to keep that going and at least be an example for them and show them that.
Speaker: Yeah. That's a good example. That's a good example. It seems so much more attainable when you know somebody that's done something that you want to do. Yeah. Well, you know, joe Joe and I are, are goal oriented guys. So I'd be interested to hear kind of what are your, what are your goals?
Speaker: What, what kind of goals are you trying to reach? Where, where is yeah what's this life of yours going? yeah Right now I'm going to try and hit 4 million followers across Instagram and TikTok um I've kind of slowed down on filming at the moment.
Speaker: And, uh, but I mean, it's the same amount of stuff. It's just not as much involvement yet, but I'm, I'm ramping up again. We're getting there again.
Speaker: um So that would be a cool one. And then get my YouTube stuff going a little better. i had a lot of issues with people stealing my content, putting it on YouTube.
Speaker: And i was getting i was getting strikes for copyright on my own stuff because they would... They would screen record it from TikTok or Instagram, put it on YouTube before I could get to it.
Speaker: And then I'd put it and they'd be like, Hey, you're copying somebody else's content. you're Oh, right. Oh, no kidding. That's crazy. see that's all yeah That's all the insider yeah we know insider stuff that you would that you would run into. Yeah, it's rough. So my YouTube kind of has sucked from the start just because of that reason. I got you know i got strikes and all kinds of stuff.
Speaker: content removed. So I'm going to try and get that going as well. But as far as... Have you had to take it take action against people for taking your content? Yeah. How does that work? or you or Or do you just let it go? I don't know. At first, I was really... it really bothered me a lot. like Just all this yeah work I put in and yeah They just took it and get credit for it. you know They would get a million views on some videos and I'd post the same video and to get like 10,000 views.
Speaker: It's just like really... Oh, see, I get it now. yeah I understand. so i mean I would take action and and report them and ah YouTube would just come back with like, no, this is legit. You're you're the fake one.
Speaker: and so With all that stuff, it's like I'm nobody to YouTube. being all Even if I had... 10 million subscribers, you know, it's like, yeah, they, they could replace me so quickly. There's so many people online doing the exact same stuff. You can't say, you can't say look at me. I'm, I'm the guy in the video.
Speaker: This is my cow. yeah This is not there. You know, how how can they look at you and say, You're like, what part of Bruce doesn't mean that this is my house? Well, it's it's like that with most platforms. Instagram has been the best. it's They've been really, really cool, like pushing my content and reposting my stuff on their official page.
Speaker: Oh, that's good. Like with TikTok, I was permanently banned actually and the beginning of all this for for the day. Luckily, they gave me an option to appeal it and they re-approved my page and I haven't really had any issues since then, but...
Speaker: No kidding. In this context, they're saying, hey, listen, you're the bad guy and we're going block you. Like, wait a minute, I'm not the bad guy. I'm the good guy here. Oh, man. That was for animal cruelty stuff.
Speaker: ah like animal cruelty stuff like Oh, I see. Animal lovers. No way. You know what? that is that is a That is an interesting point because ah because when um when you see when you see some of your content, that there's just joy and kindness in it. like That's just the... yeah and And again, as we talk as we talk, that's something that just strikes me is that, and this really aligns with Rush and I, and and even like what we're doing here is is for the sheer joy of it,
Speaker: And, and that if others can, can enjoy, you know, what, what we're creating and how we're wanting to live, that that's a real blessing to us, you know, yeah ah that, that as you, as you're, as you're doing that, I would imagine, i would imagine that having,
Speaker: ah Having someone say, no, listen, that's not that's not joyful or that isn't the right that that that would impact that would impact to you how do you. How do you work through that? so let's say Let's say something just that that happens like that, either misunderstood or taken advantage of.
Speaker: How do you how do you process that? you know I think everybody does that a little bit differently. I'm interested when those hard things come like that, um for somebody that man wants to do good and to bring joy and creativity, um how do you How do you process that? And what do you tell yourself to help you not to go down that dark rabbit's hole, right? That that that people can be tempted to go down, you know, that's dark and yeah dark and damp, you know? What is it for you that that that helps to pull you out of, don't know, just the the dark side of of engaging with kind of a greater community? Yeah, for sure. um
Speaker: You know, I think it all comes back to patience, as weird as that sounds, but being patient and knowing that it's going to work out eventually, you know, it's, it's gonna pass, you know, it's not going to always be in that state. And it is, it is really frustrating at times, but,
Speaker: not expressing that out. And as you guys know, with with having kids, it's like, I don't want my kids to see me in a bad position or being short with them because I'm having a bad day or, you know, something that yeah it reflects through your relationships and through your personality when you're having a bad day. I mean, it can, it doesn't have to, but a lot of the times it does.
Speaker: And so just, just being patient and, doing everything you can, as long as you're doing everything you can, you can feel good about yourself, you know, and just ah let it go. Really just let it be. and whatever happens, happens.
Speaker: Man, Elias, I tell you what, ah tell you what, you want to really encourage with just chatting with you is that you're very mindful, very mindful and thoughtful about what you do, how it positively affects others.
Speaker: And that mindset, I'm telling you, man, that mindset is a real gift to other people. And just be really... yeah Be really encouraged because you know Rush and I get a chance to talk to all different kinds of people.
Speaker: And man, when you when you're walking along the path of life and you see people that that get up and go, you know what? My days are actually not my own, but I need to steward them in order to care for others and to do that in a thoughtful way while they create and do things that are helping them flourish. But knowing that the circle of the circle of joy that i think this is the thing that i'm seeing evident in you tell me if this resonates but uh there was a um there was a a writer and a thinker that had communicated that that joy that joy isn't actually fully satisfied until someone else enjoys it
Speaker: And so it's like, because if you just think that, oh life is about me and what I do and how I handle things and I'm, you know, that, that it actually isn't as satisfying, but when you actually do live in a way so that others, when others enjoy the things that you enjoy, when others are cared for out of a heart of, of love, that that actually brings more, um and complete joy in the midst of all that. And, um, I don't know. Does that resonate with you? Have you heard that before? Does that that kind of ping into how you're thinking? Am I hearing that right? i haven't heard that before, but it makes sense for sure. It's absolutely contagious. You know you can easily see that just by talking to a stranger. and
Speaker: you know it It doesn't always go that way, but most of the time, if you talk to someone and you're positive and ask them about their day, it's going to spread that that joy, and then they're going to be in a good mood and spread it elsewhere. you know it's It just starts with one. And we've got to, as people and as fathers and men, we we need to be that example. You have to live that example. You can't just speak it. And i I try really hard to do that.
Speaker: It doesn't always work that way, but that's that's my goal is to just spread joy and make make people happy. And we're here such a short time. It's it's bizarre. The older you get, the quicker it goes too. right And so, yeah I don't know.
Speaker: Why waste a day being grumpy? and i can You can have one bad thing happen in the morning and your whole day is just... yeah Yeah. Bad moods. Now who, now who modeled, who did you see that in first? Like who gave you a taste of that, that, that went, wait a minute, this is the way that I'm experiencing this. This is something that, that I want to be a part of.
Speaker: Was there somebody who modeled that for you? Was there something that you, what, what introduced you to this, ah the beauty of living life in a way that goes, you know what?
Speaker: I'm not going to live this way selfishly. And again, and I, and I hear what you're saying. I think Russia and I would agree, right? It's like, listen, not every, like there are choices to make. There are hard things, you know, and we got to engage in the hard things too, for sure. yeah But was there somebody who modeled that for you? Is there something that introduced that to you? Did Bruce like whisper your ear one morning going, this is awesome. Yeah.
Speaker: I don't know about anybody specifically. For the most part, though, my family on both sides of my family, my mom and my dad's side, everyone's really easygoing.
Speaker: and no They don't stress about much. They're not... in a fight with each other. They're they're just really chill people. So i don't it's I'm sure it came from that.
Speaker: But I've just taken it to a the next level, I guess, or gotten deeper with it or tried to understand it a little better, maybe that's it. Especially with with the boys, you know it's it's interesting not having a girl. you know I've got four boys, so the the example can be so much more like, you know I'm a father and I just need to do it exactly this the way I want you guys to live as well when you're fathers someday.
Speaker: and adults. So I think it's a little easier. i don't know. I can't speak to having a girl. I would probably be the opposite and just be like, do whatever you want. you Yeah. I've kind of gathered that for most dads, you know, that they're just like, that's their weak spot. It is a, it, It is a different is a different relationship. Now, Rush has a lot of growth.
Speaker: He's actually married, has a couple of daughters that are married, and he's actually, you know, again, he's actually a grandfather. Wow. I am a grandfather. Yeah. We think about that, Elias. Don't let the long gray beard fool you. This guy's a grandfather. Rush, tell me about that, I'm so curious about being a grandparent, like what that feels like.
Speaker: Yeah, it's been a really sweet experience to become a grandparent. Now, don't know how old you are, Elias. I'm only 49. How old you? 38.
Speaker: 38. Okay. thought you were in the mid thirties. Yeah. ah So I feel a little young to be a grandparent, um maybe just because it's less than 50.
Speaker: ah But it's been a really sweet experience, I think in large part to see my child parenting another child.
Speaker: And it's given me some opportunity to reflect on what it was like for me to be a parent and how many of the things you're talking about, because you've been talking about how do we pass on to our children the values and the things that are important to us to set an example.
Speaker: There's a unique thing that happens when you see your child parent a child is you're getting to see a kind of fruition. Mm-hmm. of that work, of that investment, because now you're seeing it play out.
Speaker: you know um to to Joe's point earlier, you know it actually is a little bit like, Joe, what you were saying about um someone else enjoying what you enjoy is the fulfillment. there's ah There's a kind of correlation there that seeing your child parent is such a validation.
Speaker: Now, we're not perfect parents. We don't do everything right, but to see that, you know, yeah, did I did i put ah a calf on somebody's doorstep a few times? Yeah, I did.
Speaker: I mean, who hasn't? That was a story about you, Rush. Holy smoke. You're like, how much is that? Because when I did it, see, it all comes out on the podcast, right? That's right. It all comes out on the podcast. That's so cool. But I will tell you, Elias, the interesting thing too about girls has been it hasn't been...
Speaker: incredibly different because the same kind of encouragements that have been given to the boys to do big things, to, to work hard, to, to find something you really dream about and pursue it has been the same kind of, the same kind of, ah same kind of lessons. Awesome. Yeah. Cool.
Speaker: that's both Okay. So, so what kind, what kinds of, okay, so I'm getting a sense here, right? And again, started with the beanie. Okay. That you have a creative you have a creative you have a creative spirit, right? Chill. Hey, I want to hang out with you, but i love to kind of create. What are the things that inspire you to create? Like when you're looking for things that are flourishing for you, things that what what are those things that prompt curiosity and innovation and imagination for you? Music or film or art, like
Speaker: what are What are those things that, uh, that really kind of prompt, uh, your creative spirit? Um, maybe it's, uh, don't know. It's like,
Speaker: I want to do stuff that nobody's done before, but that's what, what the inspiration is. Like, I want to go bring a cow into my kitchen and cook with him. I want to, um I mean, I've got a bunch of ideas. yeah You're definitely doing it. Yeah, yeah man, you're doing it.
Speaker: I've got a bunch of ideas for, I don't know, for converting like a car or a minivan into something I can haul Bruce around in and just stuff that's off the wall where people are going to be like, what is this guy doing? And why has no one done this before? This is awesome.
Speaker: So it's really just that, you know, getting people to be like, yeah whoa, this is cool. Or, you know, make them smile, like I said, by creating content. That's that's where the inspiration comes from. But I mean, I'm i'm not really like a film buff or...
Speaker: book, bookworm or nothing like that. So I don't know. It all just comes through my head, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. Just going, Hey, how can do something different? And that, that thought experiment yeah is a, is a place of creativity. Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
Speaker: Yeah. And it's so much fun. Okay. So, Now, listen, you have been so, I tell you what, you've been so generous with your time. We're so grateful that that you would come and spend some time with us. anytime um What, but what is um what are some of the things, where are some of the things how would you, how would you kind of describe ah your boys right now? What, what are the things that are inspiring to them? What are ways in which that you're enjoying them right now? So you're, you know, you,
Speaker: Because I'm sure, right, that you think about your boys that way. Like, hey, what what's kind of this is who he is and how can I how can i invest and and care for him? What are some of the curiosities and joys that you have ah just with your boys? yeah Oh, for sure. I mean, there's...
Speaker: They're so much fun. they're i don't know. It's really interesting to see the different personalities. With four kids, you would think they would be pretty similar, but they're just vastly different. So each one is...
Speaker: ah individually unique and fun and have their own interests, obviously. And and I try to stay involved in what they're interested in. um But starting oldest to youngest, oldest, he's very creative as well. So that's that's pretty cool to see where he's wanting to create content and do do videos and also like um he's got cal clay that he forms these little figures with and dries them out paints them which is really cool and then the the second boy um he's really into he's more like for lack of a better word like kind of the nerdy type where he's into computers and three d printing and yeah
Speaker: But this catches on really quick. And and so that's been fun too. Like, I don't know if you guys have 3D printers, but they're so much fun. We just print all kinds of random stuff. It's just like, why is that even a file? But it's cool.
Speaker: So ah yeah, he's he's more into that. um And then my my third boy, boy he's trying to do a he's been trying to skateboard a little. And i love skateboarding.
Speaker: Not as much anymore. I'm getting a little too old to where I've hurt myself a couple of times recently. Yeah, be careful. I'm trying to encourage that with him. um And he's he's really gotten into The Simpsons lately too. i don't i don't know if I should be letting him watch that, but he's into The Simpsons.
Speaker: We've been getting these little Lego minifigs of the ah what the Simpsons characters. And so that's been fun collecting those with fun him. and And then the youngest, he's just like a wild child. All the all the older boys are...
Speaker: pretty chill content with life. Um, just, I don't know, listen really well. And like my youngest has been such a blessing in, in the way that he just thinks for himself.
Speaker: He does not need to be told what to do or house outside and, um, break windows out of the car or, you know, just, which is not cool. You know, it's not fun, but, but it's, it's really neat to see that, you know, he can think differently than most people would, or most kids would, or I don't know. I enjoy it because he asks a lot of questions.
Speaker: Um, he'll be like, dad, can I break this glass bottle outside? And i'm like, no, why would you do that? And then and then he asks me, why why why would you bring a cow into the kitchen?
Speaker: Exactly. That's exactly. Why can't I break that bottle? And I'll be like, that's good question. I don't have reason for that. Let's go break that bottle.
Speaker: You're going to have a hard time saying no. Let's do it. Yeah. You're going hard time saying no as a dad. Because yeah once yeah yeah once you're doing the cow thing. But um but ah Elias, let me tell you, I'm really grateful that we've been able to talk to you, especially because I know that our conversation was a long time coming. Joe, I don't know if you realize this, but... Oh, yeah. you know Elias and I first just shared like a DM. like It was probably it's probably two years ago. it was a long time. it was just a matter of finding a good time. and and so You were really great man to put up with all that because you know we're we're flying by the seat of our pants.
Speaker: and You're awesome. Breaking bottles over here. That's right. that's alls right the details answer yeah I'd love to do it again anytime, guys. This is awesome. um Thank you. All right. one one One last story and then we'll we'll we'll ah we'll let you go. But what what is one of maybe your favorite, one of your favorite memories as you've created content for you that's been just like a kind of a core memory for you? You're like, oh man. This is such a great, this is such a great moment as I created, as I did things. It could be like, Hey, this was awesome. I was like, Oh man, this, I came up with this idea. I thought I was going to break some bottles and it ended up being, you know, yeah something totally different. What, what are some of the memories that you have? And maybe you could share for us and our listeners when you're like, man, this is a really great moment for me.
Speaker: Great question. There's so many. i mind So many come to mind. let Let me give you a couple because I'll i'll make them short. All right. Good, good. ah Some big ones were like... ah Getting in touch with Tony Hawk. I've been a huge fan of Tony Hawk.
Speaker: Oh, serious? Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. No kidding. Awesome, man. he like I think he liked one of my videos and then I was like, no way. And so I DM'd him and was like, hey, thanks for liking my video. Or maybe he followed. and Thanks for following. I don't remember exactly.
Speaker: And then he he'd messaged me back and was like, oh, dude, i love the content. Whoa. look This is crazy. What a moment. Okay. Yeah. that' That's awesome. That is awesome. But I told him, I was like, um i I had a signed magazine from him. ah My mom's friend's friend, you know, had a contact with him when I was a kid.
Speaker: And this magazine got wrecked in all the moving that I've done in my life. And ah so I sent him a picture. I was like, dude, i have your autograph from way back when. And he was like, oh, that looks pretty rough. Let me send you a new one. And I was like, sweet. So he sent me a signed skateboard.
Speaker: And that that meant so much to me. Oh, man. And so I sent him some shirts, some Bruce shirts. And I seen him wearing them in one of his stories. was like, this is so cool.
Speaker: That is cool. So cool. that so i Dude, I am so with you on that. That is awesome. But on the other end of it too, there's like these super cool moments. There's so many of those, but Other ones are like funny moments where i don't know how deep you want me to get with this, but oh yeah we were in the kitchen right here.
Speaker: Bruce's head is probably right here. His butt's that way. And ah he started to go to the bathroom, number two. But it was starting to happen, and he coughed.
Speaker: or sneeze or something, and it just shot. like oh Oh, no. At five feet. It was so gross. so I mean, that's that's a pretty distinct memory.
Speaker: But that was early on in all this film. Like I said, I think he's potty trained now. I'm glad your boy wasn't back there with the bucket because that would have just, yeah. Oh man. holding it up and it just goes over top.
Speaker: Oh, that was pretty fun. But there's, I don't know. There's endless stories. And as you can imagine, having a cow in your house is wild. Yeah. But it's fun. Yeah. And you're, and you're exploring and you're exploring all of that with just the creativity of, Hey, what can we do? And how can I share that with others? And people are seeing your content and yeah and that you're bringing joy to people and joy in your own heart and your families. And I tell you what, Bruce is the luckiest cow on the planet. He's got a pretty cushy life. And that's something I do want to address.
Speaker: I used to get a lot of hate of people like what's wrong with you? Why are you feeding him this or that? or And it's like, his diet is so, so good. Like he has his grain and his hay. And then yeah these are like little snacks, you know? And a lot of dairy farms will supplement their cattle's milk with candy, sweets, breads. Yeah. This helps produce the milk. But yeah, I used to get a lot of hate of people like, why you feeding him bread? are you feeding him?
Speaker: You're horrible person. That's too bad. Yeah. Every cow deserves a treat every now and then. And Elias, with that, it has been genuinely a treat to talk to you. and Really, really great time. Thank you. Thank you guys so much. You've been a big bag of donuts for Russian. That's right. Thanks so much. That's right. Thanks so much for spending time with us. It has been a real joy to spend some time with you. So thanks for being so generous. You guys are awesome. i really appreciate you having me on.
Speaker: right, important question. Other than the fact that you don't own a cow, if you did own a cow, what's the number one reason why you could not bring it into your house?
Speaker: There are many reasons.
Speaker: Rush, that was your walk away? So Rush. Yes, Joe. If you have a cow,
Speaker: What would you do if I did put... I'm not saying I'm going to, but if I did put a calf... Or that you have. Or that I have. But that i did if I did put a calf on your front porch, rope tied to the handrail, what are you going to do?
Speaker: We would do exactly what everybody would do, is that you... You care for them. It would be so much fun. And then it would probably get too big. And then you'd start calling around for friends and to say, Hey, can I give you my cow? So we probably would love them and have them for quite a while until we realized that.
Speaker: We can't have a cow in our backyard, but I'm sure we would have a blast. It would be fun. It would be fun. And you know what else was fun was talking with the Elias. I mean, i was really enjoyed i really enjoyed and the fact that what drives him is actually...
Speaker: his own, his own innovation and thoughts. Like, Hey, I wonder if I could do this. And I'm like, how much fun, how much fun would it be to have a friend like that? Like, Hey, why don't we do that? And, and the Lord gave him his last one going like, why can't I break a bottle in the backyard dad? It's like, uh, good point.
Speaker: ah Some people, you you know, I've noticed, and I'm sure that you've noticed, and I've noticed in you, some people, not all people, they live on exploration.
Speaker: oh They have a a a tendency, propensity, natural natural draw to exploring things. Even like in in Elias case, hes he's just exploring absurdity and it's fun and it's a weirdly beautiful thing, but there's something about that that I think all of us need a little more of is the ability to explore. goes back to what you've been talking about with wonder.
Speaker: down yeah you're right wonder
Speaker: wonder I'm You always have something to say. with this I think this is the downside. Huh? Was I supposed to pick that up? and like Yeah.
Speaker: Wonder. This is your wheelhouse. down ti You downtalked it. That's a closer. This is the disadvantage of not doing the debrief. 100%. Right away. 100%. Coming right into it. Why don't we why don't we just hit it? We're going to do it right here. Ready? getting All right. Good stuff right now. Ready? Here we go. Ready? Go.
Speaker: What I like about it is is that he's like, hey i really the best part about it is not the fame or even the creativity of it or trying something new or breaking bottles in the backyard, whatever it is, like you could just hear how meaningful it is that, you know, at this world, this world ah can be pretty hard sometimes. And the fact that he can create just a little bit of, know,
Speaker: little bit of joy and wonder and um and the happiness in someone because they take a moment and they see his content and it makes them smile and how much that means to him and that it completes his joy ah to me to me it's just a great encouragement that man, I want to, i want to not just enjoy things, but I want to, I want to be able to share that joy with others.
Speaker: And I think Elias really does, really does embody that, you know, going, Oh, what if I just bring my cow inside? can just grab some to eat. It's that kind of mentality that the world is worth exploring and enjoying.
Speaker: That is what's giving people that enjoyment, not only their own, but to other people. And really, you think about it, that's what we're doing in the most interesting person in the world. We are exploring the world of other people, and it's just a really cool thing to do.
Speaker: It certainly is, man. I'll tell you what. And I love doing it with you. So, hey, we'll, um, you stink. That was a good end. You know, can just end it there.
Speaker: Ding dong.
