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00:00In my teens and 20s, I moved around a lot, like dozens and dozens of times.
00:05And either roommates would steal things or I'd, you know, get evicted from somewhere because I was so poor.
00:11And like, I just ended up losing everything.
00:14I'd have stuff.
00:14Yeah, and so I learned.
00:16I was like, oh, none of that stuff really mattered.
00:21Virtual reality.
00:24Bobby Burke from HGTV's Junker Jackpot.
00:27We're so excited to chat with you and we're so excited about this new show.
00:29You must be so thrilled.
00:30I am.
00:31I am.
00:31Thanks for having me.
00:32Yeah, of course.
00:33So tell us about the concept because it's really interesting.
00:35It's kind of like Marie Kondo energy, but make it Bobby Burke.
00:38I love mess.
00:39Yeah.
00:40So it was actually created by John Cena.
00:43Which, the wrestler.
00:44Yes, the wrestler, renaissance man, actor, everything.
00:47He's like the hardest working man in Hollywood I've come to realize.
00:50He had this idea one night out with friends talking about collections and he wanted me to host it.
00:57He was a Queer Eye fan and when John Cena asked you to host the show, you say, yes, sir.
01:00Yes, of course.
01:01Yes, daddy.
01:03You guys are like the hardest man in Hollywood.
01:05I'm like, his muscles seem so strong.
01:07Yes.
01:07Yes, it's insane.
01:08And also just the sweetest man ever.
01:11So, so genuinely lovely.
01:14So we go out and we find people who had these amazing collections and at one point in their life, they were their pride and joy.
01:20And what, as Marie Kondo would say, sparked joy.
01:22Yeah.
01:22But they have kind of taken over their lives, their homes, their relationships.
01:26They've kind of been a detriment to their relationships and their lives.
01:29So I go in, I help them get it under control.
01:32We bring in experts to evaluate it, kind of like an Antiques Roadshow-esque.
01:36We have found some major jackpot in their homes, like six-figure jackpots.
01:41Holy s**t.
01:42And we go through the exercise of having them part with a little bit of it.
01:46And so they, yeah, so they can, whether it be online auctions or in-person auctions or even yard sales to where they, they learn that parting with it isn't as hard as they thought.
01:57Okay.
01:57And they can get it under control.
01:59So that way when I leave, it doesn't go right back to normal.
02:01I'm like, you know what, keep collecting, but learn.
02:03Like, let's get rid of some of the other things and don't let them take over your lives.
02:06Because we had, our first episode is a couple who the husband had left.
02:10He had moved out.
02:11There was, he's like, there is no room for me left in this house.
02:14And until you get this under control, I don't know if we can be together anymore.
02:17What were they collecting?
02:20A lot of Disney stuff.
02:22Okay.
02:23All right.
02:23That's later.
02:24Yeah, yeah.
02:25And, and also.
02:26So pinball machines and they had like seven pinball machines in the living room and it's, it's a condo.
02:31So it took up the whole living room.
02:33Yeah.
02:33Yeah.
02:33So the husband and Roger had moved out.
02:35Yeah.
02:35Yeah.
02:35Yeah.
02:36Oh, it's funny.
02:37There is a whole thing about the, it's a small world ride that I did.
02:41Oh, really?
02:42Yeah.
02:42It is a small world after all.
02:43Wow.
02:44But that is, because also, but that's the thing where like, even that as an example, like a Disney fandom runs so deep and it's so, that's where you're like, it's tied to childhood.
02:53It's tied to everything.
02:53He worked at Disney in his teens.
02:55And it's like, it was, it ran deep.
02:57Oh, my God.
02:57I mean, managing the emotions of Disney adults and also people who are like very tethered to their collections.
03:03Yes.
03:04Were you emotionally prepared to help people walk through those emotions?
03:08I mean, my years on Queer Eye, you know, prepared me for emotional renovations.
03:13And also just as designers, we always call ourselves marriage counselors as well, because home renovations, home builds, a lot of emotions run deep.
03:20They run hot.
03:21A lot of decisions, a lot of fights.
03:23So as a designer, I was always kind of in the middle of marital fights over design choices or money.
03:30Yeah.
03:31Yeah.
03:31Were there any crazy, like aside from the Disney stuff, like anything that you were really shocked by or that you thought were really cool?
03:36Um, I mean, to me, they were all crazy because I'm a minimalist.
03:39Okay.
03:40So you're not collecting anything.
03:40Were you like breaking out into hives during filming sometimes because you're like, ha, ha, ha, ha?
03:45Yes.
03:46Yes.
03:47Um, but luckily, like none of our, none of our collectors were hoarders.
03:52Okay.
03:52You know, yeah.
03:53That's a different show.
03:53Like a lot of our collectors, like their homes were, the collections were organized immaculately and spotless.
03:59They just, it was their whole home.
04:01Yeah.
04:01Like everything.
04:02And how, because being a minimalist, when did that start for you?
04:04Like, did you, like, what is the, because I don't like to have a lot of clutter and because I come from, my mom loves clutter.
04:10So I kind of feel like I don't, it was the inverse of how the home was.
04:13I know a lot of people like that, that their parents were borderline hoarders and it made them go exactly the opposite.
04:17Yeah.
04:18That wasn't the case with me.
04:19My mother always kept a very tidy home.
04:22Um, I don't know.
04:23I think it's like in my teens and twenties, I moved around a lot, like dozens and dozens of times.
04:29And either roommates would steal things or I'd, you know, get evicted from somewhere because I was so poor.
04:34And like, I just ended up losing everything.
04:38I'd have stuff.
04:38Yeah.
04:39And so I, I learned, I was like, oh, that none of that stuff really mattered.
04:42You know, I was so devastated when I lost it all.
04:44And then a week later, I'm like, I never thought of it again.
04:46So I've just never really allowed myself to accumulate stuff.
04:51And it's funny because, um, Bethany Frankel, just at the Architectural Digest, whole little spread.
04:55And she was talking about how she likes a minimalist approach.
04:57A, because she loves to flip houses.
04:59So she's like, I always want someone to see this and be like, I want to buy it.
05:01Yeah.
05:01But also she was kind of saying that it's like, I, she doesn't, she likes to speak for herself, I feel almost.
05:06Or she's kind of like, why would you put a lot of stuff on a table just to kind of like tell it?
05:09Like, what, what does that even tell?
05:11Yeah.
05:11I think it's a little messy.
05:12Yeah.
05:12Do you, you know, like, you throw things out.
05:14I, yeah, I don't like clutter, but I will collect things.
05:18Like, I went through.
05:19Wait, can you imagine, guess how many LeBooBoo's he has?
05:21It's not as much as you think, but it's more than a 34-year-old married mansion.
05:24Please don't embarrass me, Danis.
05:26Yeah, I know.
05:27Oh, Six isn't bad.
05:28Okay.
05:28Six isn't crazy.
05:29But he bought them off market.
05:30I bought them off market.
05:31I had like a really high price.
05:32No, Bobby, it was an issue.
05:33Bobby, I went crazy.
05:34And he just bought brass balls?
05:35I thought you, I thought it was going to be way more than six.
05:37New York is a tinier apartment.
05:39Yes.
05:40So they all watch and sleep at night.
05:41No, it's the sixth big one.
05:43Oh my God.
05:43I really, I really wanted a big one.
05:45He's in a polyamorous relationship with these little guys.
05:47Are you getting the outfits for them too?
05:48No, not the outfits.
05:49I have a friend that went way overboard.
05:51It has way more than six.
05:52Tons of outfits.
05:53Oh my God.
05:54I kind of love that though.
05:55Well, now you, now you're equipped to help them part ways.
05:57He's banned.
05:57He's banned from showing up with them attached to his bags.
06:00Oh no.
06:00See, that's the thing.
06:01I never even put them on my bags because I heard that people were getting mugged.
06:05And so I was too scared to bring my little boo-boos out in public.
06:08So they just stay sequestered.
06:11Exactly.
06:12I know.
06:13I know.
06:14I really went through a phase.
06:15That's why I feel the show's coming out.
06:17I mean, because there's been like people that collect things forever, but this show's coming
06:20out at such a genius time because there is such with TikTok, an hyper obsession with people
06:25getting the next thing and then wanting it in every single color, every single style.
06:29And then it's like, someone has like 250 new Bratz dolls.
06:32And you're like, what?
06:33See, I think you guys are too young, but I lived through the Beanie Baby cons.
06:36Oh, we were, we were, I was kind of there.
06:37I was buying, those were supposed to pay off my college.
06:40They didn't do anything.
06:40Wait, so many people that were obsessed with it.
06:43I actually had a friend whose parents owned just a Beanie Baby store.
06:47What?
06:48Yes.
06:48All they sold, they started out as a gift shop.
06:50And then when the craze happened, they just converted it, all the Beanie Babies.
06:53Wait, wait, wait.
06:53And I just, back then I was like, this is stupid.
06:57Crazy.
06:57So you, these things are not going to be worth money.
07:00Did you have any Beanie Babies?
07:01I don't think so.
07:02No, you're like, no, if I did, it was given to me.
07:05And I, did you come in contact with any Beanie Babies during your Junker Jackpot journey?
07:08No.
07:08No, okay.
07:09Not even the Princess Diana Purple one?
07:10No.
07:10No, because everybody knows they, they were worthless.
07:14Yeah.
07:14Have you seen that documentary?
07:16I haven't, but I know it's, I do want to watch it.
07:18Yeah.
07:19It looks good.
07:20It was amazing.
07:21With this being your relationship for yourself, because we are around the holiday time, if
07:26Bobby Burke is coming over for the holidays, are you bringing a gift or you're like, that's
07:29a waste?
07:29I mean, I, I find bringing gifts for people's homes risky.
07:37I honestly hate it when people bring me, I guess.
07:39I would be too intimidated to bring you home before you.
07:41Because you're like, now I have to find a place for it.
07:43And it's probably the garbage.
07:44Yeah.
07:44So I think if you bring a gift, I think you should always show up with something, but
07:47honestly, I think a nice bottle of wine is great.
07:51Like bringing somebody home decor, like unless you just know them so, so, so, so, so, so
07:56well, don't do that.
07:57Like someone walks into your house with a sign that says, like, love lives here.
08:00You're like, what?
08:01Get out.
08:05No.
08:05What are your thoughts on, since you don't like clutter and obviously, you know, all
08:09about design.
08:09What are your thoughts on like home goods and like that kind of culture?
08:12Like the store?
08:13Yeah.
08:14Like the store and like the live, laugh, love signs and all that kind of stuff.
08:17I mean, like that shelf of home goods?
08:18Yeah.
08:18Not for you.
08:19No.
08:19We have, um, I have this boutique resort in the desert that we rent out for short-term
08:25riddles and like groups rented and bachelorette parties.
08:28And I walked in one day and somebody had brought like a laugh sign carved out of
08:35wood and had put it like on the ledge above the stove.
08:38And the crew, cleaning crew just thought maybe I had brought it.
08:42And so they left it through multiple guests.
08:45And I finally show up and I was like, I was so embarrassed.
08:48I'm like, what is that doing there?
08:51I took a picture.
08:51I'm like, what is this?
08:53And they're like, oh, we thought that maybe you brought it.
08:55I'm like, you should know better.
08:56How dare you?
08:57You should know better.
08:58I'm like, now we've had guests that thought I decorated with them.
09:00Oh my God.
09:01That's also such a funny sign.
09:03Like, look at the kitchen.
09:04Laugh.
09:04Ha.
09:04Like, what are you supposed to, what does that even do for you?
09:06I did see it.
09:09It's a nice reminder.
09:11It's a nice reminder.
09:11Wait, I did have a friend.
09:12I'm not going to call them out.
09:13Actually, I don't even know if they know that I clocked it, but they, on Instagram, they
09:16should put on their close friends because I should never have seen this.
09:19In their kitchen.
09:20It's amazing.
09:21Sometimes, sorry to interrupt, but like the close friends feeds that you get.
09:23I'm like, we're not close friends.
09:24Wait, we were just talking about that.
09:26I know, like, I don't, how do I even know you?
09:28And you're like, there's another website for where you post a list.
09:30Yeah, why am I on your close friends?
09:31Well, anyway, sorry.
09:32This close friends post was the kitchen with a massive sign.
09:36Like, I'm talking like, floor to ceiling, eat.
09:39Like, floor, like, it was like the big, it said eat.
09:41Just like this, I know.
09:43It's, wasn't that terrible?
09:43And you're like, was it Applebee's?
09:45It was, no, it was giving Applebee's energy.
09:48It was Chili's with the Wicked Margaritas.
09:49I used to work at a lot of different Applebee's.
09:52Oh, really?
09:52It was always my, it was always my fall-by job.
09:54I love the burger quesadilla.
09:55The burger quesadilla, did you ever have it when you worked there?
09:57They don't, they didn't have that.
09:58It was amazing.
09:59We had the tequila lime chicken.
10:01That was really good, but this was in the 90s.
10:03I've had that, I think they hold on to that for a while.
10:05Really?
10:05Because I remember having tequila lime chicken.
10:06The decor of Applebee's.
10:08How'd you think about it?
10:09Because they, they liked a lot of overabundance.
10:11It was called flair.
10:13Yeah.
10:13There was lots of flair.
10:14Yeah, it was a lot.
10:16Or like, remember like the Ruby Tuesdays with the Tiffany lamps?
10:18I worked at Ruby Tuesdays.
10:19I love the salad bar.
10:20Yeah.
10:22This is my culture.
10:23I worked a lot of places.
10:24What are some of those other thoughts?
10:26I mean, Ruby Tuesdays, Get and Go, TGI Fridays.
10:30Get and Go is now called Come and Go.
10:31Oh.
10:31Oh, I've seen those before.
10:33That's a close friend.
10:33With a K.
10:34Yeah, with a K.
10:34K-U-M.
10:35I'm like, who thought that?
10:36Rebranding was smart?
10:37Oh.
10:39Walmart, Target, Gap, Body Shop, Structure, Express, the Bombay Company.
10:46Wow.
10:46A lot of jobs.
10:47Wow.
10:48Your recipe is like a CVS receipt.
10:50Outback, yeah.
10:51Oh my goodness.
10:52Wow.
10:53HGTV.
10:54We're adding more and more to the list as the day goes on.
10:56That's crazy to see like where you started and where you are now.
10:59It shows you your work ethic.
11:00Yeah.
11:01I've lived on my own since I was 15.
11:02So I've been working for a long time.
11:04And with that too, how do you have, do you even have the time for self-care?
11:09Like how do you take time to kind of like not be burnt out from all the work you do?
11:12So my teens, 20s and 30s, I work like seven days a week, 16 hour days, 363 days a year.
11:18Holy crap.
11:19I won't do that anymore.
11:20COVID made me like take a step back and be like, oh, I need to prioritize health.
11:24So every morning I block out a few hours in the morning that nothing is allowed to be scheduled.
11:28I go to the gym.
11:29I stretch.
11:30Like in my 40s, I am prioritizing health.
11:34Did you, were you always manifesting fame?
11:36No.
11:37Like did you ever expect that you would end up having a career in television?
11:39Sometimes I'm like, I should have thought this through.
11:42But do you like, do you like it?
11:44Do you enjoy it?
11:45Like is it fun for you?
11:48Most of the time.
11:49Yeah.
11:49Yeah.
11:49No, it's honestly like I used to have retail stores around the U.S., furniture retail stores.
11:53And that's how I kind of got involved in home.
11:55And like TV stuff was always just like, oh, this is a really great way to expand my brand
11:59and bring brand awareness.
12:00And, and it just, it kind of spiraled from there.
12:03I mean, it's been great.
12:04But yeah, no, it was never like, this was never something on my list of things I wanted.
12:08Is there anything that you wish you would have known when you started all of this that
12:12you kind of like, no, not like any advice you would give your younger self before you,
12:16you know, jumped into TV comments.
12:19Don't read the comments.
12:20Do we not do that anymore?
12:21We try really hard not to.
12:23Yeah.
12:23Stay off of Reddit.
12:24Don't read the comments.
12:25Oh, yeah.
12:26Because also it's like someone posting something that like they don't even, if they, if they
12:29were sitting here, they wouldn't even say it.
12:31You know what I mean?
12:32Right.
12:32Of course they would.
12:33Because if they were in person, they'd ask you for a selfie and be like, I love you so much.
12:36I love you.
12:36I forget what.
12:38What was wrong with his face?
12:40We were talking to someone who's on reality TV and they were saying that they took a photo
12:44with a fan and they put it on their stories and they were able to like, they're about
12:48to reshare it.
12:48Then they're like, wait, you have a history of trash.
12:50Like you sent me such awful.
12:52You're like, so do you like me or not?
12:55I don't think people realize that.
12:56We often do read the filtered DMs that come to us.
12:59Just don't respond to them.
13:01But like the roller coaster of emotions sometimes that you'll find with fans, like somebody
13:06will send something nice and you'll scroll up and you're like, oh, oh, oh, okay.
13:10That was horrible.
13:11And then nice and horrible.
13:13I'm like, okay, girl, pick a struggle.
13:16Do you love me or do you hate me?
13:18You're like, just let me, you're like, let yourself know.
13:20Because I think it's taking up a lot of your pace of time.
13:22How have you learned to let the comments sort of just like roll off your back now?
13:26Or did they bother you at one point?
13:28Of course.
13:29Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course.
13:31I just try not to read them.
13:32Yeah, that's the best way.
13:34Abstinence.
13:34Yeah.
13:35Stay away.
13:36And I also like, I have to realize whoever is making a comment like that is clearly not
13:41having the best time in life themselves.
13:43So just kind of give them a little grace.
13:45Okay, that's very, I'm all doing it.
13:47Because what do they say?
13:47What they hate in you is what's missing in them.
13:48And then go on your Finsta and just comment really mean back in my car.
13:51Wait, okay.
13:52I'm kidding.
13:53That would be my collection.
13:55I mean, just shady things I'm going to say to people.
13:56I could never, because I would always be afraid, I'd like end up like posting from the wrong
14:00account and getting caught.
14:01I've seen too many shows.
14:03Yeah, so I'm just like, I'm just, that's not, that's not my journey.
14:06I could never do a Finsta.
14:06That would be the wrong thing.
14:08And also, I'm like, if I'm really pissed off at someone, I want them to know what comes from
14:10you.
14:10You know what I mean?
14:12Not your style, you're an angel.
14:14Not my style, I'm an angel.
14:15Wait, and also kind of like you said, it's not your style to have an over a
14:18abundance of collecting things.
14:20Yeah.
14:20But if there was something that you would be like, okay, that actually I could buy in
14:24the hundreds, like what would it be?
14:25I love collecting receipts.
14:27Okay.
14:28All right.
14:29Do you like, for returns or do they-
14:31No, I think of actions.
14:32Yeah, actions.
14:34Okay, gotcha.
14:35I like that.
14:36Oh, I like that.
14:37That's smart.
14:37Even in business, I have every single email that I have ever received since like 2003.
14:42And so like in business, people will be like, oh, well, blah, blah, blah.
14:45And I'm like, well, no, on June 23rd at 2.16 p.m. in 2004, you actually said blah, blah,
14:51blah, blah.
14:51Wait, what's your sign?
14:51Yeah, what is your sign?
14:52Oh, okay.
14:53That makes sense.
14:54Yeah, yeah.
14:54Okay.
14:55You don't mess around.
14:56Yeah, Karamo, my castmate for Queer Eye, he would always be like, you don't, can we
14:59curse?
15:00Yeah.
15:00Yeah, he was like, you don't fuck with Bobby.
15:01She keeps receipts.
15:02Oh, okay.
15:04Yeah, yeah.
15:04Fuck around and find out.
15:05But, because that's also the thing when you're like, no, you're not going to gaslight me into
15:08say, well, I have a lot of truth.
15:10I know what you did.
15:11Yes.
15:12Yeah, I have receipts.
15:13Okay, so that means, I was going to say, how often do we use the receipts?
15:18No, I don't, I have a really, I do a really good job of like keeping drama out of my life,
15:23so I don't, I don't have to.
15:24Yeah, but that's good.
15:25But they're there when you need them.
15:26They are there.
15:26Yeah.
15:27And I think that's why the drama stays away, because they know they're there.
15:29Oh.
15:30Oh, okay.
15:31Yes.
15:32Wait, and with, because it is, we're in the throes of the holiday season.
15:36Is there any holiday decor, do you, do you give everybody a pass?
15:40In like November, December, are you like, you know what, just do your thing, or your
15:43face already?
15:44Honestly, I give everybody a pass for anything.
15:45Like, your home is your home.
15:46It's not my home.
15:48Like, if, but like you say that to my, me after looking at my house, I would be like,
15:50okay, he hates it.
15:51No, I'm like, if that thing that you have there makes you, if that eat sign makes you
15:56happy, girl.
15:57Go eat.
15:57Yeah, go eat.
15:58You love no crumbs.
15:59Yeah, like, it's not my house.
16:00Like, would I live in that?
16:01No.
16:02But if it makes you happy, going back to Marie, if it sparks joy.
16:06Right, exactly.
16:07Do it.
16:08Like, your house is like your phone charger.
16:09It needs to recharge you, and if that's what recharges you, great.
16:12Do you still do the minimalism for the holidays?
16:14Yes, we don't decorate for the holidays.
16:15Not at all.
16:16We're never home for the holidays.
16:17Oh, so like, what's the point?
16:18It's the one time of year where I know I won't be on set, so we travel.
16:22Oh, nice.
16:23Are you going anywhere fun this year?
16:24We live part-time in Portugal, so we go home to Portugal for December, January.
16:27Oh, I love that.
16:28I went to Portugal for the first time, like, two years ago.
16:30It was the most magical time of my life.
16:32That's so nice.
16:33You're living life right, Bobby Burke.
16:35You really are.
16:37I need to, like, make sure I don't delete my email.
16:39Yeah.
16:40I need to go to Portugal.
16:41I need to go to Portugal.
16:42No, I think my storage charges are like $80,000 a month.
16:48Like, what is this Google Drive charge that's so much?
16:52I'm like, receipts.
16:53Oh, and you know what we call that?
16:55Priceless.
16:56Mm-hmm, exactly.
16:56And so are you, Bobby.
16:57Thank you so much for stopping by and talking to us.
16:59Thank you for having me, guys.
16:59I appreciate you.
16:59Yay!
17:00Bye!
17:00Bye!
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