Jeff Lewis is a Nice Guy

Not Skinny But Not Fat

Amanda Hirsch interviews Jeff Lewis about his return to Bravo with the new docuseries Still Flipping Out and his massively successful daily radio show,

Key takeaways

• Jeff Lewis returned to Bravo for Still Flipping Out after an eight-year hiatus, primarily to drive listenership to his daily radio show, Chumpalumps.
• Lewis pays his employees well, including a babysitter who earns $37.50/hour plus travel bonuses and foot massage tips, while also covering their meals and premium flights.

Main topics

• Return to Bravo & Still Flipping Out
• Chumpalumps radio show & fan culture

Notable quotes

I don't read it. That's fun. And I'm so much happier living in my bubble.

Conclusion

The episode offers a candid look at Lewis's business philosophy, perso

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:00) The following podcast is a Dear Media production. Speaker 3 (0:03) Welcome back to the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Hirsch, and I still can't believe that I get to chat with some of my favorite stars on my very own podcast, where you'll feel like you're just talking shit with your best friends in your living room. Speaker 3 (0:27) I, you guys should be really happy. You can't smell my breath right now. I just finished my breakfast. I've been on a hyper fixation breakfast meal of can of tuna plus hard boiled egg situation, which when I first made it, I was like, oh my God, what is this epic invention? And of course I'm on the 30th time in a row of eating it. And at this point it's just like. you know, the protein that I'm like, it'll keep me full. Cause a lot of things don't keep me full. Like, unfortunately I love like what's delicious to me is more of a sweeter breakfast. So like chia seed pudding, but I have to say like even times that I've added protein powder, like I just say yogurt sometimes, even though if it does have the chia seeds, which has tons of fiber and like the protein powder, it's still not like really filling me. Same as with like a scrambled egg. I don't know what's wrong with me, by the way. But this is very filling. Like hard-boiled egg plus tuna, it's like you're going to explode. So it keeps you full. And but at this point, it's just like disgusting. Like I'm just like. I'm like, not again, but it's a good breakfast. And until I get another idea or see another reel that is super easy. I love those super easy ones. Take an egg, add a can of tuna, add some light mayo, some Greek yogurt. A little bit of spices, whatever floats your boat. For me, a hyper fixation has been the ranch seasoning from Trader Joe's, which I'm also going to get sick of because I've been using it in absolutely everything. Spread that on a little rice cake and there you have it. A meal that used to be good 30 times ago. Anyway, let's get into today's guest because I posted before I went to the studio and I wrote that I am intimidated by this guest. which a lot of you guessed him. I don't know how you do it. I don't know how you guys do it. And I don't know why I was intimidated because I've met him before and I was intimidated the last time and then was proven that he's was really great and there was nothing to be intimidated by. And it's like I forgot it. Here I was going into this podcast with him, even though I've done I was on his show and I saw that he wasn't intimidated, like intimidating, like I thought he would be. But I but I forgot it. OK, and I was re intimidated. OK, re intimidated because his show just came back on Bravo, still flipping out. I saw all the memes and the things and the interviews. And I was like, oh, my God, you know, he's a sassy. He's a sassy guy. He's a snarky guy. He's a snidey guy. And he's quick and he's could look you up and down and kill you with his. Laser eyes. So I did go into it intimidated, which I even shared with him. And he just is the best. Like he's so great. So fun. Wait, did I say it's Jeff Lewis yet? It's Jeff Lewis. You guys, Jeff Lewis still flipping out is on Bravo back on Bravo flipping out was on for years. Now it's still flipping out and he has a mega hit mega successful podcast slash radio show. Chumps, chumpalumps. If you know, if you're a chump, you know who you are. And it's just great to have him back on our TVs. And like I said, not intimidating at all. Me lying. I'm just kidding. Not intimidating at all. Like actually so sweet. Like I feel like he would kill me if I said that, but he really is. And I don't know if he knows this, but he really made my day because I don't know. First of all, I'm on my period and like I'm feeling all types of ways. And also I'm feeling like, you know, sometimes you need a little ego boost in this business. Like it's a roller coaster. I'm sure, first of all, in any industry that you're in, whatever job you have. But in this industry, it's a lot to, you know, feel. You could feel on top of the world one day. You could feel like a total loser the other day, the next day. And I was having one of those days where I'm like. you know, not, not a midlife crisis quarter life. Cause I'm so young, but when he came back, so we already said goodbyes. And then he came back into the studio and he was like, you know, I just want to tell you. And I thought he was going to be like, cut out everything we talked on. He's like, I just want to tell you like how great you are and what a good interviewer you are. And like, That just I could cry like I was going to cry like it was a period day. It was a it was, you know, and then it just made me feel so good. And obviously I told him how much I appreciate that. And he was trying to give me like he was like, you should do another podcast a week. I was like, don't give dear me any ideas. But he was just really, really kind to me and not me being intimidated. And it really meant a lot to me. So you're thinking of giving someone a compliment. because you're feeling it. And he was on his way out. Like he was already at the elevator and he literally turned back to come in to say that to me. And little did he know that he made my day, my week, my month, and hopefully it'll be my year. So I think I've said this before in life, but if you're thinking something positive about somebody, tell them, you know, because you don't know how much it could mean to them in that moment. Damn, I got deep. Well, let's get real shallow. Enjoy this one with Jeff Lewis. I know I did. I'm the ugliest I've ever been. On this recording, I'll know who to blame. Speaker 2 (6:01) Your hair looks great. Thank you. Your makeup looks good. Speaker 3 (6:04) Thank you. You Speaker 2 (6:04) look good. Speaker 3 (6:05) Thank you. Well, you don't know about the right side. Why don't you like your right side? Speaker 2 (6:10) So if you look at my hair pattern, the hair grows forward naturally on the left side. Yeah. On the right side, it grows back and Speaker 3 (6:20) it actually Speaker 2 (6:21) accentuates the hair loss. I Speaker 3 (6:23) see what you're saying. So that's why I Speaker 2 (6:24) like it. Speaker 3 (6:25) Right. it grows that way. Can you not comb the other side that way? Speaker 2 (6:31) No, because it's thinning right now. So when I was younger, it was fine. I had all this hair and then I could do that. Speaker 3 (6:37) Yeah. But Speaker 2 (6:37) now, no. Speaker 3 (6:38) So what do you do? Do you take any of the peptides for hair? I'm taking Speaker 2 (6:41) minoxidil and I'm taking finasteride. But here's the problem. It helps you keep your hair, but you don't really grow a little bit, but not much. So I talked to Andy. I go, how is your hair so good? He's like, I'm taking the minoxidil and finasteride. But he started years ago. So he never lost anything. I should have started. And Speaker 3 (7:02) you don't know Speaker 2 (7:02) if Speaker 3 (7:02) it's like genetics. Speaker 2 (7:03) I should have started a long time ago. No, he's been taking it for, John Hill told me he's taking it for years and years and years. Speaker 3 (7:08) Wait, what's the finasteride? Speaker 2 (7:11) Finasteride and minoxidil. Speaker 3 (7:12) Is that the peptide? Speaker 2 (7:14) They're both for hair loss. HIMSS makes it and they put it together in one pill. Speaker 3 (7:19) So, but okay, that's pills. I'm talking about the new wave. Oh, Speaker 2 (7:22) the BPC-157, all that kind of stuff. Speaker 3 (7:24) Do you do all that stuff? Speaker 2 (7:25) I'm doing that. I do the Glowstack, but I did overdose on the testosterone. And I think it could be one of the contributing factors to my irregular heartbeat. Speaker 3 (7:35) Wait, that's scary. I Speaker 2 (7:36) know I got to go in and get it. They're gonna shock it back into rhythm. Speaker 3 (7:40) Does it give you anxiety when it's irregular? Just some tightness Speaker 2 (7:44) and a little bit of like shortness of breath. Speaker 3 (7:47) That's scary. So Speaker 2 (7:48) if I do that today, don't worry about it because I'm good. I'm good. I'm fine. I'm not Speaker 3 (7:52) going Speaker 2 (7:52) to pass out or anything. Speaker 3 (7:53) Okay. But why would you overdose on testosterone? Speaker 2 (7:56) Because I wasn't doing the follow-up checkups, checking my blood. I didn't know. I didn't know I was overdosing, but I was. Speaker 3 (8:04) So the doctor prescribed you too much. Speaker 2 (8:08) Well, it's not his fault because I was supposed to be doing the regular blood. You were supposed to be getting Speaker 3 (8:12) checked. And I didn't go. I didn't Speaker 2 (8:14) do Speaker 3 (8:14) it. Okay. Well, Jeff Lewis is here. I was intimidated by you. I still am a little bit. Speaker 2 (8:21) That's so crazy because you were on my show and you did great. Speaker 3 (8:24) Okay, so I was intimidated before your show. And then I did your show and I was like, oh my God, he's not intimidating. And then I got re-intimidated this time even though I reminded myself that I was on your show and you were so nice. But you just you kind of have that do people not say that to you they Speaker 2 (8:39) do but you're smart and you're competent I don't have issues with you know functional people. It's the dysfunctional people you know I mean like I don't have You've got to know like we probably never have a problem Speaker 3 (8:52) never no, Speaker 2 (8:53) okay. Speaker 3 (8:54) That makes me happy Yeah, Speaker 2 (8:56) I Speaker 3 (8:56) I wonder because I was watching the new at the new show. Yeah still flipping out episode one so funny so good And I was like, okay, I see what I was intimidated by. But then I see this other guy who's like best friends with his employees, cracking up all day, making jokes. So you really like kind of walk that line of like, you do have it in you to like scare people if you want to. Speaker 2 (9:23) Right. But okay. So you notice the ones that are competent, the ones that get their job done. We can joke around because I still know they can multitask. They can joke around a bit, but they'll stick at the work done at the end of the day. So, you know, someone like Shane, I very rarely have any problems with Shane. Very rarely. Kian, very rarely any problems. Speaker 3 (9:41) Kian, is that the good looking one that Speaker 2 (9:45) is spelled? Shane would say he's the good looking one. No, Speaker 3 (9:48) but Shane, Speaker 2 (9:48) I Speaker 3 (9:48) know he's Shane. But then there was another boy. He's Speaker 2 (9:51) handsome. Speaker 3 (9:51) C-I-A-N. Speaker 2 (9:53) Yes, Kian. He and Shane are like my strongest employees. So they're kind of, I mean, I say they're MVPs. They are. Are they friends? They're friends. Yeah. I mean, yes, but I don't think they hang out on weekends. I mean, they spend all week together. Right. Speaker 3 (10:07) You Speaker 2 (10:08) don't want to spend, you know, what was that girl I just met? Speaker 3 (10:12) Well, they're working in the studio. Oh, but you don't Speaker 2 (10:14) want Speaker 3 (10:14) to hang out with her. Yeah, Speaker 1 (10:15) yeah, yeah. Speaker 2 (10:15) Like, she's nice and cool, but if you're working with her every day. Speaker 3 (10:18) But do you hang out with Shane on the weekends? Speaker 2 (10:19) Well, Shane and I are codependent. Speaker 3 (10:21) You have a really deep relationship. Speaker 2 (10:24) Yeah, yeah. It's. It's borderline that movie obsession. Speaker 3 (10:29) Who's the girl? Speaker 2 (10:30) Probably me. Speaker 3 (10:34) Wait, so how many years has it been? Also, he looks 24. Speaker 2 (10:37) I know, he's young. Young looking. He's like 29. He's almost 30. But God, I always ask him, is it six years? When was COVID? Speaker 3 (10:46) 2020, so six years. Speaker 2 (10:48) Six years. Speaker 3 (10:48) Are you scared he would ever leave? Speaker 2 (10:52) I don't think he'd ever leave. Speaker 1 (10:54) Wow. I Speaker 3 (10:55) think we have a lot Speaker 2 (10:56) of Speaker 3 (10:56) fun together. And then now he's chief of staff? Speaker 3 (11:01) Did you give him that title? No. He chose it? Speaker 2 (11:05) Self-appointed. Speaker 3 (11:05) Wow. But Speaker 2 (11:06) you know what? He kind of is. He handles everything. So it makes sense. It completely makes sense. How Speaker 3 (11:11) do you balance the... He's angling Speaker 2 (11:13) for a raise right now. Speaker 3 (11:14) Okay. Yeah. Speaker 2 (11:15) Does Speaker 3 (11:16) that get awkward when there's stuff like that? Speaker 2 (11:19) No. I told him. I'm like, yeah, you deserve a raise. We just got to figure it out. Speaker 3 (11:23) Well, that's the other thing. Okay, so there's like Jeff Lewis can be intimidating, but then you see how friendly and... and great he is with the people that work for him. And then you're very open about money stuff. You talk about it a lot and you're very comfortable talking about it. I feel like, which you're all over the press right now with the comment you made to Andy. Oh, Speaker 2 (11:42) about the babysitter. Yeah. Speaker 3 (11:43) Did you see how crazy that went? I thought Speaker 2 (11:45) that was of all the stories to go viral. Speaker 3 (11:48) And like you type in your name, that's like the 20 articles about it. Speaker 2 (11:53) But I mean, I really, I mean, look, I have an idea. Speaker 2 (11:58) the kind of money that Andy makes, Speaker 3 (12:00) right? Speaker 2 (12:01) I think $30 an hour is on the low end, especially for two kids. But Speaker 3 (12:05) what if she said that's the price that she takes? Was he supposed to, you think, as a wealthy person, been like, let me give you more? Speaker 2 (12:12) Yeah. Okay. That's what I would have done. Speaker 3 (12:14) So you're generous. I'm Speaker 2 (12:16) generous. And again, I pay for competency, right? So if they're really good at their job, I take good care of them. Speaker 3 (12:26) Because you said yours makes 37 and she's watching just Monroe. 37 Speaker 2 (12:30) .50. However, this week, not only is she making 37.50, she's going to get a nice travel bonus because she's here with me in New York with Monroe, my daughter. And she gives the best foot massages. So I've been giving her an extra hundred for a 30-minute foot massage to put me to sleep. Speaker 3 (12:48) How did you discover that she gives good foot massages? I Speaker 2 (12:51) don't know how we discovered that. Speaker 3 (12:54) I don't Speaker 2 (12:55) know how we discovered that. But I mean, she's done three this week so far. So she's made an extra 300. And I fall asleep. Speaker 3 (13:01) For how long? Speaker 2 (13:02) It's until I fall asleep. But here's the thing. I fall asleep in 30 minutes. It's good money. Speaker 3 (13:07) So she has to like look over and be like, he's out. Speaker 2 (13:10) Well, last night she tried to like sneak out a little early. And Speaker 3 (13:13) you were like. Speaker 2 (13:13) And I go, you forgot my calf. She goes, oh, I thought you were asleep. Speaker 3 (13:17) So the lines. So she Speaker 2 (13:18) came back and then she did my calf and then I went to sleep. Speaker 3 (13:20) So she's making good money. Yeah. Wait, Speaker 2 (13:23) is Speaker 3 (13:23) Andy mad at you for bringing that up and now it's everywhere? I don't Speaker 2 (13:27) think so. Well, you know what? In the moment, if you see it, he was defensive. He was like Speaker 1 (13:32) texting Kelly Ripa and shit. Speaker 2 (13:35) Like, what do you pay your babysitter? Did she Speaker 3 (13:36) answer? Oh, Speaker 2 (13:37) he was texting. Kelly Speaker 3 (13:38) Ripa's kids are 30. He Speaker 2 (13:41) was texting all his famous friends. I want to say like. He texted three people, at least three people, live on the radio. Like, this is such a big deal to him. Speaker 3 (13:50) Yeah, and then he said that he, it was actually 70 for two hours. No, 70. Two hours Speaker 2 (13:56) and 15 minutes. And I said to him, you know, I probably would have given her 100, which I would have. So Speaker 3 (14:02) you are very Speaker 2 (14:03) generous, Speaker 3 (14:03) which people maybe take advantage of since, what, your employees racked up $9,000 in lunch bills? Is that true? That's the true number. Yeah. One month. Ninety three Speaker 2 (14:14) hundred. That's in one month. And that was breakfast and lunch. Speaker 3 (14:18) You give them breakfast and lunch. Speaker 2 (14:19) Yeah. But here's the problem. They were I think they were ordering more than they needed and taking it home. Speaker 3 (14:26) And it wasn't Speaker 2 (14:26) goop that was expensive. Goop is reasonable. What they did is I got tired of goop because we were eating goop every day. And I go, I don't want to eat goop. I go, we got a little pause on goop. So they started looking at other restaurants, but they don't ever look at price tags. So that's why I gave them free reign to choose restaurants. And that's how that month went to 9,300. I go, no, no, no, no, no. We got to pull this back. Speaker 3 (14:49) What's your goop order? Speaker 2 (14:51) I like that teriyaki chicken. Yeah, Speaker 3 (14:53) I saw Shane was talking about it too. It's Speaker 2 (14:55) very good. But the problem with me is I pick one order and I do it every day for weeks, weeks, weeks, months. And then all of a sudden I'm sick of it. I don't want to ever have it again. Speaker 3 (15:04) Same. I feel the same way. Speaker 2 (15:06) So Speaker 3 (15:06) that's what Speaker 2 (15:06) happened with Goop. Speaker 3 (15:07) The same thing happened to me with Goop. They opened in New York, you know. Oh, Speaker 2 (15:10) they did. They Speaker 3 (15:10) did open in New York. So I had that. I went through it. I did those summer rolls a lot. The Speaker 2 (15:16) portions are a bit on the small side, but that's good for me. Speaker 3 (15:19) Okay. Speaker 2 (15:20) Because I'll just keep eating and eating and eating until the bowl's empty. So Speaker 3 (15:23) how did you end this spending? And do they have credit cards? Speaker 2 (15:28) They use mine. They Speaker 3 (15:29) use yours. Okay. But taking it home is on another level. That's already an issue. And Speaker 2 (15:34) how I noticed that, too, is I would go in. I have two little kitchens, whatever. So they were hiding it in the secondary kitchen because they never go in the secondary kitchen. So I started looking in the secondary kitchen, and I could see all of this. food. So they all were doing it. They were all over ordering and then taking it home. So just paying for all their meals because I pay for breakfast in the morning. Now I'm paying for lunch. And I did notice they were, it's like, wow, you're eating a lot for lunch today, but they weren't eating it for lunch. Speaker 3 (16:03) They were saving it for later. They sure Speaker 2 (16:05) were. Speaker 3 (16:05) So you're on top of that now. Speaker 2 (16:07) Ish. Speaker 3 (16:09) So that's the thing. It's like, maybe you need to reintroduce the fear into their lives. Speaker 2 (16:16) I know. It's just a lot of work. So we did for a minute, like I picked maybe five very reasonably priced restaurants. Yeah. I didn't want to eat there. Speaker 3 (16:25) Right. So you're not going to order something that they won't eat. Speaker 2 (16:30) We Speaker 3 (16:31) did a food service Speaker 2 (16:32) for a minute. What Speaker 3 (16:33) about flights when you fly? Do you fly everyone with you in this? That's another Speaker 2 (16:37) thing. Sometimes. Yeah. But this time I've got, I have six people with me. So three are in premium econ. Speaker 3 (16:45) That's not bad. Speaker 2 (16:46) It's nice. It's Speaker 3 (16:47) actually not bad at all. It's not bad at all. Speaker 2 (16:49) I don't fly them economy. I fly them either premium econ or business. I'll do comfort. Speaker 3 (16:55) Comfort for Delta or whatever. Speaker 2 (16:57) Yes, I'll do that. That's nice. A lot of times they do business. Speaker 3 (17:00) Wow. Jeff. I Speaker 2 (17:03) know. But can I tell you. And even Speaker 3 (17:05) LA, New York, it's become really expensive. Well, that's why they're in premium Speaker 2 (17:08) econ. Right. Speaker 3 (17:09) Business LA, New York is already like what? At least like three. Speaker 2 (17:12) grand round trip. So I put Monroe and I in business. Yeah. And then we're in row nine. They're in row like 12 or whatever. Speaker 3 (17:18) Right. That's what I'm saying. The premium isn't bad. It's like four rows and it's right behind. It's nice. And they feed Speaker 2 (17:24) them. Speaker 3 (17:25) That's really nice. I've heard. Well, who said this? Kristen Cavallari or some famous mom said that she flies business and her kids are in coach. I Speaker 2 (17:36) think I know which famous mom. Speaker 3 (17:37) Was it not Kristen Cavallari? Speaker 2 (17:39) Well, I was on a Delta One flight and I had all my people in Delta One and Mariska Hargitay, who prints money. She was her and her husband. Everyone was in the back. The kids, the nanny, everyone. I don't know. Yeah. With that law and order money, I probably would have done Delta One. I Speaker 3 (17:58) flew with my assistant once and because I cheaped out on business for both of us, I just flew economy with her. Speaker 2 (18:05) See, that I'm not going to do. I should do it, though. I did it once with Monroe. And she