- 1 week ago
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00:00It's tough to see everything that she's been going through.
00:02I think she's been handling it like a rock star.
00:04I'm so glad that she's found somebody.
00:06Jeff seems like a super supportive, amazing guy.
00:09So, yeah, I'm super happy for her in that aspect
00:13and really commend how she's been navigating everything.
00:19Virtual Reality.
00:22Justin Glaze, welcome to Virtual Reality.
00:23Danny and I are so excited to spend some time with you
00:25while we're in Los Angeles.
00:27And there's so much fun stuff to talk about.
00:29You're in a movie.
00:30You got your own beverage line now.
00:32And we are also Bachelorette Nation fans.
00:35So we're excited to get into it.
00:37Yeah, let's get into it.
00:40Because LA wasn't your first move after Bachelorette.
00:43It was.
00:44It was?
00:44I thought you, oh, okay.
00:45No, so I'm born and raised in Baltimore.
00:47Stayed in Baltimore for a couple years after the show.
00:49And then finally picked up and moved here in 2023.
00:52What made you feel like that was the time that you're like,
00:54okay, I think I'm ready for a change?
00:56Honestly, I love my city so much.
00:59And it was hard.
01:00But I feel like I kind of reached my glass ceiling there,
01:04you know, where it's like a lot of people.
01:06It's one of those cities where, you know, you know everyone.
01:09It's like you're born there.
01:10You grew up there.
01:11And you kind of move to the suburbs, like live the life,
01:13you know.
01:14And I just feel like I wasn't really being challenged creatively,
01:18you know.
01:18And I feel like I kind of just like reached my cap.
01:20And I was like, you know what?
01:21While I'm young, I have nothing tying me down here.
01:23Like obviously my family's there, which was hard to move away from.
01:26But it's like now is the time to do it.
01:27So I knew it was either between New York or LA.
01:29And I used to go to New York all the time when I was living on the East Coast.
01:32I was like, let me try the far one.
01:34So I moved out here, did like a little three-month temporary lease to try it out.
01:37And I was like, I love it here.
01:38So then I found my spot and the rest is history.
01:41Did you come here with acting aspirations?
01:43Or is this movie kind of like an unexpected thing?
01:45Oh, really?
01:45No.
01:46Oh, my God.
01:46Literally, no.
01:47Like I had always had like friends and family like, oh, you should get into acting.
01:51But it was never like, I'm going to move to LA and live the dream and like try to be
01:54an actor,
01:54you know.
01:55I came here and I really, I didn't have a plan.
01:58I was like, I just need to go out here.
02:00Because I was still working in finance at the time.
02:02And so I was starting to dabble more into like the social media, the creative avenue.
02:06And I was like, you know, like, let me move to LA, give myself the chance and see what
02:09happens.
02:10So I started my business.
02:11And then the acting kind of came as like a byproduct of the social media, I guess.
02:16So through the social media, started doing a couple commercials and did a commercial with
02:21Lifetime.
02:22And it was so much fun.
02:24And then one of the directors was like, hey, would you ever want to be in a Christmas movie?
02:27And I was like, yeah.
02:28So she was like, I'll send you the script and like, let me know if you're down.
02:31I was like, honestly, the script could say whatever.
02:33I'm going to be down.
02:34So she said, I think like 10 minutes later, I was like, yeah, I reviewed it.
02:37And I think I'm in.
02:38We can do this.
02:39I'm ready for this.
02:40That is really exciting.
02:42Was there any part of you that was like afraid to tackle it?
02:44Or were you just so ready?
02:46Oh, I was definitely a little afraid.
02:48I had never landed anything.
02:50Aside from the commercials, I had, I was working with like a small boutique acting agency at
02:54the time who scouted me from social media stuff and reached out.
02:57I was like, hey, would you ever want to get into script?
02:58And I was like, yeah, like I didn't come out here trying.
03:00But if the opportunity comes, like I would love to dive into it.
03:03So I read for a lot of like great shows and never landed anything.
03:07So I had a little bit of like, dip my toe, like my little pinky toe in it, in the
03:11water.
03:12But I was like, I was nervous.
03:14I was like, I've never really, I kind of felt like an imposter.
03:15I was like, I've never done this, you know?
03:17And so I was like, let's just dive in.
03:19Some of the shows that you auditioned for, like what did you, because even getting an
03:22audition is a big deal.
03:23It's big.
03:24Yeah, no, there were like some, there were some CBS shows.
03:27There were some, some Netflix, Hulu shows, a variety of roles.
03:32And like my coach at the time was great.
03:35You know, it's, it was such a different art form.
03:38You know, like when I do my stuff on social media, you know, like I kind of create the
03:41character, right?
03:42And like I have control over all of that.
03:44But it's like, you know, you're seeing a script for the first time I developed kind of like
03:49my methods of like, okay, how am I going to memorize these things?
03:51Like, I'm very like, I'm like, I got to highlight color code stuff, like read, you know, like
03:54I had my own little situation going on for like practicing and how to retain the lines.
03:58But then it was like such a new art form of like, okay, I, and she was really good about,
04:03I would be like, hey, how do you think this character should be?
04:05And she's like, well, I want to see how you do it first.
04:07And then like, I'll give you some notes maybe.
04:09So you're reading through the script and you're trying to like feed off of the other characters in
04:13the scene.
04:13And like, okay, based on their demeanor and their lines, like, how do I think that?
04:18You know what I mean?
04:18So you're kind of like developing what you think the character should be, but you're like
04:21stepping into somebody else's world and trying to embody that.
04:25So there were so many little unique, like tips and tricks that I just like was not privy
04:29to.
04:30So it was, it was very eyeopening and like tough, but, um, but I had, I gained like a, a
04:35very vast appreciation for it.
04:36It was, it was really cool.
04:37And do you feel like having your business as me?
04:41I don't know if you want to call it your, your main passion or your main focus.
04:44Do you feel that made your approach to acting a little bit more like easier or less stressful?
04:50Cause you're like, I don't, not everything's riding on your acting.
04:53A hundred percent.
04:53And it was like, I always refer, it was like a nice to have, right?
04:56It's like, I have my pillars here of like the socials, my, my drink business and all
05:00of that.
05:01Like I didn't come out here trying to be an actor, but like if the opportunity started
05:04to come and I will take this serious and I'll pursue it for sure.
05:06But like you said, like it took a lot of the pressure off.
05:08I was like, this is fun.
05:09And if I land something great, but it's not like I've got my whole life riding on like,
05:13I gotta land something.
05:14This is what I came out here for, you know?
05:15So.
05:16I also love that the stigma around reality TV talent and doing big acting projects.
05:20I feel like it's almost disappearing because you're starring in this movie, this Christmas
05:23movie, All for Love with Whitney Levitt from the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
05:27And she has been killing it in the acting space of Broadway.
05:30Now this film, what was it like working with her?
05:32Yeah, she was, she was great.
05:34I mean, she's super kind, super talented.
05:38But to your, I think it, it is really cool because even talking to some of the directors,
05:42it's like, you know, the stigma has definitely changed because I think once upon a time it
05:45was like, oh, like, look at this reality TV person that's trying to get into acting.
05:48Right.
05:49But now I think a lot of shows and movies are kind of leveraging the fan base or platform
05:56and audience that these people from reality TV or social media in general have, you know,
06:00like there's the girl Veronica is cool on Instagram.
06:02She's like on SNL now.
06:04And like, you see all these other social media personalities that are getting into acting
06:07because, you know, the way they put it, it's like we could find, like a lot of these people
06:11have the personality and the talent to do it.
06:14You don't have to have like an acting background and go to acting school.
06:17Like all those things definitely help.
06:18But it's like we, it's more, it's almost more beneficial in certain circumstances for them
06:22to find someone that has the talent and the platform and the audience and put them on a
06:26show.
06:27Right.
06:27And it's like, you know, you're kind of getting a two for one there versus somebody
06:30who's like, came here wanting to be an actor.
06:33And, you know, I don't know.
06:34So the stigma has definitely changed, which is great.
06:38Were you a fan of Mormon wise before you met Whitney?
06:40Yeah.
06:42I'm into it.
06:43Oh my God.
06:44You're into it.
06:44Because we always laughed that she was like the villain on the show when we're like,
06:47she's kind of like, there's the normal cool girl.
06:49No, the rebrand is crazy.
06:50Yeah.
06:50The rebrand is insane.
06:51The rebrand is crazy.
06:51I don't know how she like figured it out.
06:53I don't, she did it so seamlessly, like, I don't know if she had like a meticulous plan
06:59behind the scenes, but like, I didn't catch it.
07:01I was just, all of a sudden she became the hero.
07:03I think it was like the perfect storm of like whatever she was doing, but then also other
07:07personalities on the show started to like become more, you know what I mean?
07:11Me, Taylor, Frankie, Paul.
07:13Yeah.
07:13It was kind of like the perfect storm.
07:14She was like, let me sneak onto the good side now and let y'all have the heat.
07:17As someone who came from Bachelor Nation, thoughts on Taylor, Frankie, Paul's Bachelorette
07:21season, getting scrapped, all that kind of drama.
07:23But maybe not scrapped, but I think it's still scrapped.
07:26Because some people were saying like, maybe it'll air.
07:28No, it's not.
07:29You know, I had heard, you know, so it went from scrapped to then I heard it was supposed
07:33to air in the summer.
07:36Now the summer's kind of over.
07:37Now it's like, you know, I think it's sad.
07:41You know, I feel, I feel for a lot of the guys and I've met a couple of the guys
07:44on
07:44her season.
07:45I really feel for them.
07:47I think, you know, who am I?
07:49But my unsolicited advice, just put the phone down for a little bit.
07:53Because I think it was like, they want to air it, but it's like, every time you turn
07:57around, there's something.
07:58There's something new.
08:00What is the overarching thought from the guys that you've met that were going to be on
08:04her season?
08:04Like, are they angry, disappointed, sad, or?
08:07Yeah, I think kind of all of the above.
08:09I think that you're just like super bummed, you know, when you kind of put your life
08:12on hold and you go through the experience, right?
08:14It's like, you want to get something out of it, right?
08:17Like you want to, even if it's just like being able to watch back with your friends and family,
08:21right?
08:21Like you spent the time, you built the relationships, and it's such a unique experience, right?
08:25You want to feel the gratification of like having that unfold and, you know, aired and
08:30all that.
08:30So it kind of just feels like a waste of time.
08:32Well, also, yeah, I was going to say, because they already put themselves out there, so
08:35now they're not really getting to...
08:36Right, like, for what?
08:37Yeah.
08:38Yeah.
08:39Yeah.
08:39The lead on your season, season 17, Katie Thurston, totally different individual than
08:44Taylor, Frankie Paul.
08:45She is going through a lot right now with her cancer battle.
08:48Do you keep in touch with her?
08:49Have you reached out to her?
08:51Well, like, it's been a while, but like loosely through social media, like every once in a
08:57blue moon, but, you know, I don't have like a relationship with her, but we're definitely
09:01like on great terms.
09:02And like, it's been a while, but I've seen her at events and like, hey, how you doing?
09:06Like, great to see you.
09:07So like, we're on really good terms.
09:10Yeah, tough to see everything that she's been going through.
09:13I think she's been handling it like a rock star.
09:15I'm so glad that she's found somebody.
09:17Jeff seems like a super supportive, amazing guy.
09:20Um, so yeah, I'm super happy for her in that aspect and really commend how she's been navigating
09:26everything.
09:27She's a, she's a tough one.
09:29Yeah.
09:29She's definitely a fighter.
09:30I know.
09:31And also, cause we were mentioning too, how you do feel very, you feel a little more secure
09:36in pursuing acting because of your drink business.
09:38Can you talk to us like what inspired you to get into that lane?
09:41The drink business?
09:42Yeah.
09:42Oh my gosh.
09:43Yeah.
09:43So I'll try to make a long story relatively short, but, um, I am.
09:50I am such an overthinker and like, okay, what's my five, 10, 15, 30 year plan?
09:55Oh, a 30 year plan.
09:56You know what I mean?
09:56That's like, that's a whole organ.
09:58No, I know.
09:59I drive myself crazy.
10:00And so when I was still in Baltimore working in finance and I was starting to feel the pressure
10:05from my job of like, Hey, like I can't juggle both of these and do them both to the degree
10:09that I would want to.
10:10Right.
10:10I, I had a decision to make, I'm like either going to put all this stuff aside and just
10:14go back to my career and full steam ahead, or I'm going to take the chance and see what
10:19I can make happen with this.
10:20But it's like, you know, like the brand deals are great, but what am I going to be doing
10:23when I'm 35, 40?
10:24Right.
10:24Like slinging, you know, laundry detergent.
10:27So I was like, okay, well, I want to like have something that I can call my own.
10:30And so I've always loved espresso martinis and I love, I travel all the time.
10:34So I had already started this series where I would travel from state to state and kind
10:37of be like, Hey guys, like I'm in Philly, New York, whatever.
10:40What's the best espresso martini?
10:41People would write in like, you got to go to this bar, you got to go to this restaurant.
10:44And I would go, I would try it.
10:45I would rate it.
10:45It came up with this whole system and it was like a thing.
10:47Right.
10:47So every day, like I get tagged in espresso martini stuff, which is great.
10:50So it just became a part of my brand.
10:52And so I was like, okay, what's something that I could build that would feel organic to me,
10:55but I'd be passionate about and it could have some longevity, right.
10:58That I'd be really proud of.
11:00And I naively was like, let me put an espresso martini in a can.
11:03I had no experience whatsoever.
11:05I didn't know what I was doing.
11:06I just started cold calling distilleries and was like, Hey, I have this idea.
11:09Like, can you guys help?
11:10And a lot of people were like, now we're good.
11:13But all it took was one.
11:14And they were like, yeah, no, I was like, okay, like next.
11:18And all it took was one.
11:19They're like, sounds cool.
11:20Like we're outside of Philly drive up and let's get started.
11:23And I was like, okay, cool.
11:24So they've been great partners.
11:26So I drove up there.
11:27We got started on the formula.
11:28But everything from like the branding, packaging, logistic.
11:31Like I knew nothing.
11:32And I've just had to figure it.
11:33It's just me.
11:34Like I don't have anybody.
11:35Like that's impressive.
11:36So it's been a lot.
11:38And I think like, it's probably a good thing that I didn't know then what I know now.
11:42Cause I like, but it's been the most rewarding.
11:44It's been the most challenging thing that I've ever done, but the most rewarding as well.
11:47Um, to be able to like literally the sketches of like the notes I had from different names
11:52and like design and stuff like that from 2022 when I first started to now seeing it in BevMo
11:57and Total Wine.
11:58It's like crazy.
11:59Wait, that's major.
12:00Yeah.
12:00And Love Potion is such a cute name.
12:02It's so cute.
12:03Wait, what were some like almost names?
12:05Oh my God.
12:06Were some of them bad now in hindsight?
12:08What was the short list?
12:08Yeah, they, um, it's crazy.
12:12Cause one of them, okay.
12:14So I, I always had the vision of like, okay, it's not going to just be an espresso martini
12:17company, right?
12:18Like I'm working on my second skew now.
12:19And so I'm thinking of like a line of cocktails.
12:22I was like, okay, what if I kind of played on my name?
12:24It was like, just, you know, like just like just espresso martini, just whatever the next
12:28thing is.
12:29I was like, could be cool.
12:30You know what I mean?
12:30Kind of cute.
12:31And then one of them was like, cause I always, I always have like my pinky up.
12:35I was like, what about like pinkies up or something like that?
12:36And it's crazy.
12:37He's got, I know a guy now, his wine brand is called pinkies.
12:39Oh, okay.
12:40I was going to do pinkies up, but, uh, it was some, yeah, there was some interest.
12:43Those were like two contenders.
12:45Yeah.
12:45But the name is perfect.
12:47Don't make someone stop in their tracks.
12:48Yeah.
12:48Yeah.
12:48Yeah.
12:49And it also kind of like is embedded in like your history on like a reality dating show.
12:53So I wanted to find something where it's like, this isn't just solely predicated
12:56on like my bachelor world stuff, but it's like, it's got a little, it pays a little homage
13:00to that, but also like the name was derived in the, uh, the late, early sixties, late fifties.
13:06There's a song called love potion.
13:07Number nine.
13:08Basically tells the story of this guy struggling to fall in love, seeks the help of this gypsy
13:12chemist, create this concoction.
13:13When you consume it, you become irresistible to those around you.
13:15Right.
13:15So it's that idea of forming an intimate connection with friends, family, loved ones, whatever
13:19over, over a cocktail.
13:20Yeah.
13:21And espresso martini is like, they are the drink du jour.
13:24And I feel like, I feel like they have longevity.
13:26Like I can't imagine them going out of style.
13:27Like people just love them.
13:29It's never a bad time for an espresso martini.
13:33And how did that factor into the formulation of yours?
13:35It's a great question.
13:36Like it was so, it's so hard because I wanted to create something that was going to be as
13:41close to that behind the bar experience as you can get.
13:44Right.
13:44And so testing a lot of the competitors and getting into the weeds, it's like a lot of
13:48them were using coffee flavoring.
13:50They weren't using like real spirits.
13:52It was like orange wine based.
13:53And I was like, I don't want it's like, tastes phony and chemical.
13:56I wanted something real.
13:58Right.
13:58Yeah.
13:58And it presented a whole set of challenges.
14:00But, you know, for a legitimate espresso martini, like you've got to have real espresso
14:04first of all.
14:06My top two coffee liqueurs are Mr. Black or Kahlua, depending on the flavor profile that
14:10you want.
14:12And then, you know, vodka is like the base, but I like reposado tequila.
14:16So I need a lot of ice, a nice, heavy, like vigorous shake to get that foam.
14:21I get really nerdy about this stuff.
14:23You can then strain it and do a dry shake.
14:24But anyway, three beans on top.
14:26You need them.
14:27For good luck.
14:28Yes.
14:28It's disrespectful if you don't have three beans.
14:30I am personally offended.
14:31Do you eat the beans for good luck, right?
14:32I don't go that far.
14:33Okay.
14:34You're like, I am my luck.
14:36I'm like, okay, thank you for wishing me luck.
14:38But we'll leave it at the bottom of the coop.
14:39Yeah.
14:40I'm going to let you have the bar.
14:41Give the bar luck.
14:42Yeah.
14:42Do you like it creamy?
14:43Because I know some people are.
14:44I think putting any creamer in there is a bit sacrilegious.
14:49Oh, okay.
14:50Like I'm really like I took a master class from the from the daughter of the creator of
14:54the espresso martini.
14:55What?
14:55How did you do that?
14:56Now, where is she?
14:57Yeah, what?
14:57So she's in the UK.
14:59Okay.
14:59Well, you really like put in the time and effort.
15:01Oh, yeah.
15:01Yeah.
15:01No, like I'm in it.
15:03Wow.
15:04Like she explained like how her dad came up with the drink, like the three beans, like
15:09everything.
15:09When was it invented?
15:12Fact check me.
15:12It's either 1974 or 76.
15:14Okay.
15:15Wow.
15:15So it's been around for a minute.
15:16But she started to pop off like just recently, I feel like.
15:19Yeah.
15:20Oh, my God.
15:20Wait, that's very cool.
15:21Wait, and also because you were teasing, you're already thinking of expanding.
15:25Do you have a short list of what other drink you would want to add to the?
15:30I do.
15:31I do.
15:31We the formulation is almost actually complete for it.
15:35I'm doing some a couple of little focus groups right now.
15:39Okay.
15:39Getting some.
15:39That's probably a fun focus group.
15:41Yeah, exactly.
15:42Come over and drink and let's have fun.
15:44Yeah.
15:44Just tell me what you think about it.
15:45So, yeah, it's the fun part of, you know, refining the formula and getting to the place
15:50where you're proud of, you know, something.
15:52And so I'm excited to have like a second skew out there.
15:55And how soon do we think out there will be?
15:58You know, I would love.
16:00There's like so many dominoes that have to fall.
16:01And just like, I would love.
16:03I would love sometime in Q4.
16:05Oh, shoot.
16:05Okay.
16:06Yeah, no, like this is like the formulation is the toughest part.
16:09And then once you get that, like I'm wrapping up the branding and packaging for that.
16:12But then once you get that, it's just lining up production from like the boxes, the cans,
16:18filling them, getting them out.
16:19It's like, that's the part that takes the longest or just the trickiest, I guess.
16:23But if you're at a bar or a restaurant and there's not an espresso martini on the menu,
16:27what are you ordering?
16:30Or you're leaving the bar?
16:31I'm out of there.
16:32Yeah.
16:32Okay.
16:33Yeah.
16:33Thank you for your service.
16:35No, I'm a tequila guy.
16:36Okay.
16:37It's actually crazy.
16:37When I don't order an espresso martini, my friends are like, are you okay?
16:40I'm like, I drink other things as well.
16:43You know what I mean?
16:43I love your emotional jacket.
16:44Literally, they're like, are you doing okay?
16:46I'm like, sometimes I'm not.
16:47I'm like, you know what?
16:47You're right.
16:48You're like, thank you for asking.
16:49Get a score.
16:50Let's end the loneliness epidemic.
16:51Seriously.
16:52Seriously.
16:52But if it's not an espresso martini, I'm like, I'm a tequila.
16:55I actually, I don't want to sound like an alcoholic.
16:56I'll drink whatever.
16:57Okay.
16:58I'll drink whatever.
16:59I'm easy.
17:00When it comes to the cocktails, literally, sometimes I'll just be like, hey, what are
17:03your top three cocktails?
17:04And if the bartender, I love running into a knowledgeable, I love seeing the passion
17:09from bartenders.
17:11And if they recommend something, I'm like, let's run it.
17:13Let's do it.
17:13Oh, I love that.
17:14And I also love the idea that maybe by Q4, we could have not only a new movie from you,
17:18but a new drink from you.
17:19That'd be crazy, right?
17:20That's a good way to end 2027.
17:21A Justin Glaze Q4.
17:23And that'll glaze us right into 2027.
17:25Ooh, right.
17:25I like that.
17:26Right?
17:26There we go.
17:27I'm going to use that.
17:28Well, please, it is all yours because we are obsessed with you.
17:30I appreciate you.
17:31Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us.
17:32Thank you so much for having me.
17:33I appreciate you guys.
17:34Oh, my God, please, cheers.
17:35I just have regular espresso than that cup.
17:36It's less fun, so you don't have to choose.
17:38I'm going to less fight.
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