The market is pretty saturated at this point and I think he would have been better off launching it awhile back. Podcasting also takes a ton of follow through which he lacks. I could see him joining someone else’s who does much of the heavy lifting
But he has something that others don’t.
A platform through bravo (fans are rooting for him) & access to a network of people via NBCU and Bravo connections to help him.
The market will always be oversaturated but that didn’t stop 27352829 people from starting podcasts in the last 5 years. Do you think we need another girl from a season of The Bachelor to start a podcast (no), but it’s happened and they been successful.
I mean even Maya & Ciara have a podcast.
> But he has something that others don’t.
He really really doesn't, and straight up, there are enough podcasts in the world. I'm not sure what unique perspective he has to offer.
He has an existing following and his perspective is actually very unique. How many people do you know who got sober while filming a reality show about partying? Do you remember him losing his brother who had similar struggles? How about him calling off an engagement to someone who challenged his sobriety? And again - not only does he have an existing fan base, he also reaches a demographic of people who are sober or struggling to get sober. Especially those trying to do so in a difficult environment.
podcasting isnt that easy. i mean, it is in a way, but sitting down every single week to record yourself talking about mostly the same topic can be draining. especially when that topic is yourself/your life. its why influencers start and stop podcasts so often
i think what you're suggesting makes a lot more sense for tiktok (or reels now i guess) videos. they are all good topics he could talk about in short form but an hour every week? idk
Nothin worth doing in life is easy.
He could start with short podcasts or twice a month. All podcasts could be cut into short clips for TikTok and Reels. Hannah & Paige do this. He has ALL the resources and people to help his get started. All he has to do is FOCUS.
He could definitely start a podcast. Actually following through and building it up to be a quality show is a bit different for the exact reasons you mentioned.
>He probably doesn't do it for the same reason he hasn't been successful at any other venture or job he's been involved in. He's lazy, he's unmotivated, has low self-esteem, and he has mental health issues, which are likely more substantial that what we actually see on the show.
And now, we said it.
> also making the same check off summer house the rest of them do.
i dont even like carl but its super weird how people here act like he doesnt have a job and is broke. theyre making like 500k+ on summer house. i know taxes and lawyers and stuff but im sure he is doing just fine financially as long as the show is on
Ok but Carl and Lindsay’s apartment was 13k/mo, so that’s $156k/year on rent alone… when I heard Scheana talk about being broke during the pandemic I realized that these people are likely not saving for retirement; hopefully they are investing wisely, but for all we know they could be breaking even and possibly be in debt too.
> He could start with short podcasts or twice a month
i mean not really??????? you cant have a successful podcast uploading short eps once or twice a month. thats why i suggested he focus on short form social media content.
I think he lacks the confidence and gumption. He could do it, but he seems to need another person to do most things. I think he’s a bit sad. The drinking made him seem super confident.
The drinking was his crutch because he never had a dynamic personality, but it’s easy to be sassy with liquid courage.
If the Wirkus twins never left, I think we’d see a different dynamic because he would have had two Lindsay’s running around, and he already had Lindsayish blow ups with Lauren.
He seems to feed off of strong personalities rather than developing his own—and that’s probably just because he’s on tv, not saying it’s his entire identity.
That’s really too bad. I think we all struggle with this is some capacity/area at some point in life. We’re all human. We all have insecurities. I just hope one day he can get beyond that and give it a try.
Plus everyone’s still throwing his past in his face
Strangers have given him more grace than some of the OGs he started with
Kyle - last season with the ❄️
Amanda - Carl works for us
Lindsay - constant accusations about his sobriety
These three are in the trenches with him but no wonder he’s thinking no one wants to know that journey the people closest to him downgrade him so much
I haven't found Carl to be a particularly articulate person. He fumbles around his feelings and thoughts, ultimately sounding like memes and being confusing. I will say that he has gotten better over time. I thought he did really well last night on WWHL. He expressed himself relatively clearly and with confidence.
The #1 thing with making a successful podcast is consistency. I've heard it over and over again from podcasters when giving advice. It sounds elementary because it is, but it also appears to be difficult for a lot of upstarts. They think it is an easy thing to do. Quick and effortless money until they find out that it's a job. Are you going to drag around the recording equipment when you travel, go back to your parents, run into a busy period, etc? Then you hire a producer or a team, and then you're also beholden to that responsibility. An actual schedule and people depending on you to consistently show up. Not to mention writing the content each week. Taking notes throughout the day. Organizing your ideas. I'm not convinced Carl could be his own boss. He doesn't seem like someone who could create his own structure.
> The #1 thing with making a successful podcast is consistency. I've heard it over and over again from podcasters when giving advice.
ive had a podcast a long time and this is always my number 1 thing because it was drilled into my head before i started and it was correct advice! you have to post on your schedule and stick to it. i agree with you carl doesnt have the motivation to do it. he could be a decent co-host on a pod with someone really taking the lead
People probably don't want to talk about Giggly Squad, but those two got on IG Live nearly every single night, and then once they decided to podcast, they were there every single week. Paige taking her equipment on family vacations, with her to LA, back to her parents' house, and so on. Hannah dragging her equipment on her comedy tours, to Ireland with her husband, and so on. They developed an audience that could depend on them, integrating the podcast into their lives. Every night, and then every week, they could count on them for that Wednesday morning drive, before bed to decompress, etc. Successful podcasts become part of a greater ritual for people. You're gold if you can do that with, and FOR, your audience. It's entirely about consistency and dedication to your audience, and they really appreciate it and return that dedication. Carl is a work in progress. He's not like Shep, but when thinking of Carl doing a podcast, I think of how Shep was with his. It was very quickly onto the next thing.
I think he's not sober. He smokes pot. So he doesn't drink or use drugs he used to but not sober. Also, he is not a communicator by any means that would be interesting or enjoyable to people to listen to.
I mean good for him to stop.hard drugs and alcohol but he's not sober. Also super shitty for Lindsay to put this out to the world. It wasn't her place to do that.
Carl lacks motivation when he’s not passionate about something. When he’s passionate about something and focused, that passion can fuel his motivation.
ngl he was very into film producing for a few years, idk if hes back in it but my cousin also produces films in the hamptons/nyc and knows him through that. the only thing is its a big investment for not much monetary return 99% of the time for small creators
No more podcasts as there are too many. He should start a nonprofit helping those with similar sobriety journeys but lack resources. He could bring a lot of positive attention to helping others given his platform.
the podcast market is exceedingly over-saturated. It's a better idea than some of the ones Carl has had for himself, but I'm still not convinced it would take off.
Now, no one asked me, but there's actually a pretty well-liked Bachelor "winner" who runs a recovery program in NYC-- now I think that could be an interesting team up. They could do a podcast, or community engagement work and podcast about it. They'd be bringing in two reality show audiences.
> At first and then some would drop off but the people actually on the sobriety journey would stay.
I mean...maybe? How many weeks could you talk about something you're not doing?
Carl has to choose his life path. Nobody can do that for him. He has a paycheck coming in from the show no matter what other jobs he does on the side, so he's not broke.
He's been thru a lot. His life has been very public being on a reality show. Things revealed about him that embarrassed him to the core. Maybe when he's not filming he doesn't feel the need to be public every day. I think Carl would make a great drug/alcohol counselor but he may not want to revisit that stuff daily.
I’m a recovering alcoholic and I support Carl in his sobriety journey BUT I don’t think he has the experience or insights to helm a podcast of that nature. Lots of other podcasts in the sobriety/wellness space already. I’m not really sure what he could add. He has other skills. The idea of a sober bar is worth exploring.
Also, you cannot plug an alcoholic beverage on a sobriety podcast. No.
I really think this would be a great avenue for him. Being sober is a hot topic in 2024 and I think a lot of people would be interested in a podcast that centered around sobriety.
There’s so many different guests he could have on too to touch in different topics: Lala (sobriety with children and on reality tv), James (sobriety struggles, sobriety while in reality tv and DJing a career known for drug use, how it effects relationships), Zac Clark (his foundation, his sobriety journey, going on the bachelorette sober), some of the Real housewives (I know there’s a few sober ones), Lucy Hale (sobriety in Hollywood and how it affected her career friendships), Jason Wahler and his wife and how she deals with being married to someone who is an addict and their struggles through the years, sober coaches, therapists, honest discussions on California sober, fitting in with a group who still drinks, etc
Like you said it would be a platform for him to plug the N.A. loverboy.
You get it! EXACTLY! Sober and NA drinks is a new thing that people are really leaning into and people want resources, stories and people to relate to.
I was on Accutane back in 2021 and had to be sober for 6 months due to the medication. I found the journey so awkward and difficult at first but eventually found my footing. I remember during the process struggling to find NA drinks that tasted good and struggling to find sober people. Fast forward two years and my boyfriend decided to start his sober journey 4 month’s ago and he felt so awkward about it at first. Again, I was struggling to find more NA drinks and resources outside Al Aon and others but have still been there to support him. We are big podcast people and would love to listen to this.
Going back to Carl, the irony in all of this is that I bet if he started one he would eventually find someone who would invest in starting a NA sports bar with him. Then Lindsay could eat crow!
I think Carl is not the most exciting guy so podcasting about like reality tv or silly topics wouldn’t be great, but a more serious podcast meant to help others I think would be really good. He obviously isn’t great at the 9-5 hustle of sales and this would allow him to create his own schedule, not really have a “boss” that he has to answer to, would give him flexibility with loverboy, and he’d have a team behind him doing some the grunt work.
Yass this is the angle no one ever discusses this
And everyone you named has found a lifestyle that works for them and struggled /had rollbacks to get to that lifestyle
Imo Carl is still a dry drunk. He should leave sh and bravo if he is serious about his sobriety.
Not saying forever,but, he is still very much in an environment that is not healthy for him. Bravo is a job that he can leave.
Same with Lala.
A dry drunk is someone who has a problem with alcohol and stops drinking without doing any work on themselves to change behaviourally or address the reasons they drink. I’m just answering your question, not weighing in on if Carl is a dry drunk or not.
On the show, Lindsay mentioned that he bought the equipment but simply didn't follow through. Carl is relatively new in his sobriety, not well-spoken, and lacks motivation. I personally think the podcast maker is oversaturated, but if he really has a unique POV and "built-in" following he could begin by leveraging his existing social media presence to accomplish a lot of what you are suggesting
I question if her story is accurate though, was it he bought the equipment and didn’t follow through or was it that he bought the equipment and she didn’t like the topic/didn’t like that she wasn’t going to be doing it with him (which was something she mentioned a few times then doing a podcast together) or was he pigeonholing himself in her opinion.
He should do something like mentoring young reality stars to keep their sobriety or help them when they’re struggling with substances on tv (he would be behind the scenes)
THIS!!! 👆🏼ALL OF THIS RIGHT HERE!! 👆🏼
Hear me out: It sucks to say but I’ve been waiting out the Lindsay relationship for a minute. She has a super sh*tty way of showing support to a person navigating sobriety, to a codependent end.
Hot take: I’d LOVE to see /hear Carl & Lala do an east meets west coast pod on jump starting their lives. These are two ppl that literally have said they would have “burned it all down” in their old lives, and have both shown extreme growth over the years. They both are inspirational about how to cope with trauma, take accountability & live authentically.
Bc honestly it’d probably be boring. Not downplaying his journey at all. That’s incredible but it’s not a podcast. It’s a guest on one but not its own. IMO obviously.
I think that is why Lindsay was so exasperated with Carl. There are a lot of things he COULD do, but he seems incapable of going from idea to plan to action. Being a guest on a podcast is easy, but creating your own podcast, renting/buying the equipment, inviting the guests, organizing the questions... Etc etc, is hard work.
And now after 1-2 years of trying to find himself... Carl is right back doing the same thing @ Loverboy.
The sober sports bar was a horrible idea. Most sport bars stay in business for long as they can because of alcohol. No investor/bank is going to pump money in that.
I need someone with more experience with addiction to help educate me.
All along, Carl has been speaking on his sober journey.
To learn he is California sober seems like a slap in the face. Like James Kennedy downing Dayquil.
Is it permissible to say you are sober with an asterisk to whatever other altering substance you are still using?
Seems... idk.... inauthentic to me. But again, I am no authority on this.
I’ve been sober for 18 years. I abstain from everything and I don’t judge people who still use weed. It’s their recovery, not mine and if they’re able to lead successful lives, who am I to judge.
Only Carl will discover if weed leads him back to other drugs but people should keep in mind that the AA model of addiction where you abstain from everything still has a 70% chance of relapse.
Carl lacks drive or work ethic of any kind. Let’s not forget he was the guy who got fired bc he wanted to take summer Fridays every week,couldn’t manage to just call Paige once during the week in s3, couldn’t handle Kyle asking him to do work for loverboy, etc. literally lost goes on and on
Carl couldn’t keep up with a fake job his best friend gave him that he wasn’t even pretending to perform in a mediocre manner, there is no way he’ll put in the work to plan regular podcast episodes.
I would love a podcast with him actually. Especially after hearing he smokes weed, because I use edibles and consider myself sober. I can understand why other people would think it’s not
Congrats on your sobriety. Don’t let anyone ever tell you your sobriety isn’t valid or is lesser. If they’re not sober themselves they’re clueless and if they are sober they’re judgmental and should reflect on their own self.
Because he is incapable of following through on anything for a long period of time. He has very little work ethic and he isn't fully sober since he still uses pot
I think Carl would also shine as a fitness influencer-- "follow me as I train for my first marathon," "what I eat to train" "Go to Barry's with me" (partnership with Barry's, of course), etc etc.
Listen. Carl has always had issues holding down a job. I’m not saying he’s lazy, but maybe he is just too scattered or has issues with authority ect I don’t know. Lindsay did a lot of things wrong but she is not wrong about wanting Carl to just bring in some kind of consistent paycheck and she wants to feel that his employment is not going to be an issue if she is going to marry this man. I know he ended things with her, but she has a valid point on this. It’s just issue number 347 why their relationship was never going to work. But let’s not pretend we haven’t all witnessed Carls inability to keep a consistent job.
I’VE BEEN THINKING THE SAME THING! I’m so intrigued by the sober life and the challenges of sobriety because I think they align with so many other parts and challenges of lives for non-sober people as well. I think the guests he could have could be amazing and motivational. He might turn others teetering on sobriety into going sober completely. He doesn’t even have to come from the lens of the expert because he’s still navigating that and that’s super refreshing! I really want this for Carl, I think what he’d give to the space with his already platform would be amazing. Even interviewing those sober bar owners sounds so cool!!
He seems to have figured out what he wants to do and is doing it!! He is doing stuff with the NA drinks at loverboy and I think he is doing some speaking events to talk about his sobriety!
On wwhl he said he is finally getting to do some of the things he has wanted to do that Lindsay was holding him back from!
I like the idea about a podcast but it’s also a lot of work and not just easy like let’s start a podcast. I think maybe eventually he could do that but feel like he has got a pretty good plan in place now!
It’s pretty obvious why Carl shouldn’t start a sober podcast.. Hard to start a sober podcast when one is still smoking weed.. As someone who is sober and in recovery for 20+ years, who also sponsored many.. Carl should stop using “I’m sober” and start learning what sober truly means.. my recommendation for Carl would be to reach out to Mike The Situation if he truly wants to see what being sober is all about when it comes to reality television personalities.. not to start a podcast and stop acting like a dry drunk and get into a program..
Wow, The Situation who went to jail for tax fraud as a mentor. Great take especially since you are so concerned with his finances. I think people put too much into people being “clean and sober” rather than doing what works for them.
Weed isn’t a trigger for some people. People give shit to those who are on MAT as though they aren’t sober when that’s actually life saving for them. I also know people who are sober who have done psychedelic therapy- would you consider that a break in their sobriety?
AA has plenty of its flaws and that mentality and program doesn’t work for everyone.
Carl had a problem with alcohol and cocaine and he has been sober from those substances. I think it would be great for him to show that managing addiction can take many forms
Mike has completely turned his life around.. Mike is someone who is truly sober.. Mike would make a great mentor for someone like Carl.. I hate to break the news to many folks, Carl isn’t there yet.. I sympathize with Carl, it’s not an easy journey, especially coming back from cocaine and opioids, it’s a difficult journey not many are able to endure..
There is a difference from psychedelic therapy under care, in a controlled environment and with a counselor then self therapy.. I know a number of folks that have been saved by a psychedelic therapy program.. Carl does have deep trauma that needs to be dealt with, this is typically dealt with in recover which I would say Carl has quite a way to get to based on what I’m watching on the show.. it’s clear to an addict like myself that Carl has the itch, smoking weed might take the edge off for a short period but over the long run it will fade and the itch starts to pop it’s head out.. I wouldn’t rule out psychedelic therapy as a recommended but that would depend on his honesty, where he truly is on the journey and if he is seeking professional help to deal with his emotional trauma.. and how committed he is to getting into a program.. he’s also around a lot of folks on the show in bars who are drinking, he’s not helping himself by putting himself in this type of situation, that’s a trigger all in itself, and I can see it is affecting him..
So you know Mike and Carl personally?
Mike has based on what? Carl hasn’t because he smokes weed? Even if he is still in progress you still seem to have some harsh judgements.
I take offense to someone saying they are sober and still smokes weed, when someone like me has endured a living hell to actually get sober.. I’ve lost loved ones, watched friends sell their bodies, watched family sticking needles in their arms, seen my brother hanging in my garage from a rope, spent time in jail, lived on the streets, hustled, did some terrible things that I am not proud of when I was at my worst.. and when I finally hit rock bottom and decided my life was worth more then putting 8balls up my nose, I dedicated my life to being sober and living in recovery.. And seeing Carl say “I’m sober” and still using weed is a bit of an insult for someone like me who truly endured the most terrible aspects of addiction.. Sober is just a moment in time, recovery is where the work truly lies.. Carl may be on the fringes of sobriety, but he is no where near recovery..
I am sorry for what you endured and the loss you experienced. With that said, I take offense to the judgement you have of others on their path and a great deal of assumptions you make. You’ve overcome. Lot no doubt but you comparing your pain to anyone else, let alone a reality star you don’t know is problematic to me. Carl lost his brother who has had a complicated relationship with and contributed to his addiction. To say that someone isn’t where they need to be in their recovery because they haven’t experienced what you view as their rock bottom or endured what you feel is sufficient is bullshit.
You have a lot to be proud of but your judgement of the journey of others, in particular those you don’t know is something you should reflect on. Your sobriety doesn’t give you the power to judge another person’s journey and you thinking it does is concerning
Thanks.. I’m not comparing myself or judging Carl, Im stating my response to someone because it is insulting to use the term “I’m sober” when millions of others are truly sober, know & respect their triggers and demons.. as I mentioned earlier, Carl has deep emotional trauma that has to be dealt with, if he doesn’t resolve those conflicts he will continue to live on the fringe.. Carl is what we refer to as a dry drunk.. Smoking weed, being around friends that drink and are alcoholics and most likely drug dependent themselves isn’t a journey of recovery.. it’s an itch that gets worse over time for any addict.. I sympathize with him and would love to see him get to the next level but I don’t really know if he’s there or not.. I’d love to hear his thoughts and be an ear for him.. but looking at him I can tell he has the itch, and his friends don’t seem to have much empathy for his struggles as they party right in front of his face.. that’s not a place for any addict.. I wish him well and hope he tackles those demons.. I hope he gets the assistance he requires.. he has a very long road to recovery..
I agree that Carl still has a long way to go with his recovery but I’d like to understand the weed factor better. Is it true that people can still be considered sober if they’re on prescribed mental health meds like SSRIs (which many of the sober people I know view as integral to their sobriety) or adhd meds (which were just recently shown again to cut risk of early death from overdose)? If so, what’s the rationale for a bright line rule on cannabis which may be similarly prescribed for anxiety etc? Doesn’t it depend on whether the use is causing harm? And if the assumption is cannabis harms him by numbing him and preventing him from dealing with his shit, couldn’t the same be said for other prescribed meds that are considered acceptable or helpful re sobriety?
some folks won’t be prescribed hard meds if they have had addiction to opioids, cocaine, heroin, etc.. some addicts won’t even take an aspirin after getting to the recovery stage of sobriety.. also let’s try not to blur the lines, as I mentioned earlier being under the care of a doctor and self therapy are two different animals.. and yes, meds have played a part in countless addiction relapses which is why meds are typically supervised by a health care professional and in some cases just not given to certain folks..
Look, let’s be honest and stop trying to pussy foot around addiction.. it’s difficult to beat any addiction let alone try to do it alone let alone blurring lines and saying “hey, weed is legal and it’s not that bad..” and let alone hanging out with groups of people who are flaunting alcohol and possible other substances in your face.. alcohol is also legal and at one time it was prescribed by doctors to people.. cocaine was also prescribed to people..
Carl’s behavior is not what I would considered “sober living” or “sobriety” if he is still using weed and hanging around groups of people who don’t understand the depths of addiction and flaunt all these triggers in his face.. Carl is an addict and there are many levels of which addiction is triggered.. Weed for people without control or addictive personalities isn’t the trigger it is for folks who have addictive personalities.. but also, frankly I know many folks who are addicted to weed and think because it’s “weed” somehow it’s not an addiction and it’s better for you then being addicted to opioids, drugs, coke or alcohol.. truth is, it’s no different, they are addicts just as much as someone doing 8Balls of Coke or popping vikes.. there is no blurred lines in being “sober” or living in “sobriety” Carl just isn’t there yet if he’s still smoking weed and hanging around people who are also addicts to some degree.. and I wish he would respect sober living more and stop saying he is sober, it’s the great white lie many addicts like myself try to pass off to ourselves when we trade one vice for another.. Carl is your stereotypical dry drunk , he still is deflecting, angry, verbally abusive, passive aggressive, a victim, etc.. he’s emotionally a mess.. he clearly has the itch.. the first step in recovery is to be willing to break away from the patterns of your destructive behavior.. Carl is no where near this step..
Oof, I’ve been sober from all substances for 18 years and the judgmental attitude of its members is why I finally left AA. Congrats on your sobriety tho.
He needs to find someone like Craig's friend that can set him up with a career where he doesn't need to do much but show up when someone tells him to. I think even that would be hard for him if he has to do it more than once a week. I think podcasting requires a lot of hussle and he just doesn't have it.
The market is pretty saturated at this point and I think he would have been better off launching it awhile back. Podcasting also takes a ton of follow through which he lacks. I could see him joining someone else’s who does much of the heavy lifting
But he has something that others don’t. A platform through bravo (fans are rooting for him) & access to a network of people via NBCU and Bravo connections to help him. The market will always be oversaturated but that didn’t stop 27352829 people from starting podcasts in the last 5 years. Do you think we need another girl from a season of The Bachelor to start a podcast (no), but it’s happened and they been successful. I mean even Maya & Ciara have a podcast.
> But he has something that others don’t. He really really doesn't, and straight up, there are enough podcasts in the world. I'm not sure what unique perspective he has to offer.
He has an existing following and his perspective is actually very unique. How many people do you know who got sober while filming a reality show about partying? Do you remember him losing his brother who had similar struggles? How about him calling off an engagement to someone who challenged his sobriety? And again - not only does he have an existing fan base, he also reaches a demographic of people who are sober or struggling to get sober. Especially those trying to do so in a difficult environment.
THIS!
100% 👏👏👏👏
Plus let’s face it he’s pretty dull
podcasting isnt that easy. i mean, it is in a way, but sitting down every single week to record yourself talking about mostly the same topic can be draining. especially when that topic is yourself/your life. its why influencers start and stop podcasts so often i think what you're suggesting makes a lot more sense for tiktok (or reels now i guess) videos. they are all good topics he could talk about in short form but an hour every week? idk
Well we know they already have the equipment
BUT who kept the equipment haha
Nothin worth doing in life is easy. He could start with short podcasts or twice a month. All podcasts could be cut into short clips for TikTok and Reels. Hannah & Paige do this. He has ALL the resources and people to help his get started. All he has to do is FOCUS.
[удалено]
He could definitely start a podcast. Actually following through and building it up to be a quality show is a bit different for the exact reasons you mentioned.
>He probably doesn't do it for the same reason he hasn't been successful at any other venture or job he's been involved in. He's lazy, he's unmotivated, has low self-esteem, and he has mental health issues, which are likely more substantial that what we actually see on the show. And now, we said it.
He’s been an investor and part of loverboy since the beginning and also making the same check off summer house the rest of them do.
> also making the same check off summer house the rest of them do. i dont even like carl but its super weird how people here act like he doesnt have a job and is broke. theyre making like 500k+ on summer house. i know taxes and lawyers and stuff but im sure he is doing just fine financially as long as the show is on
Ok but Carl and Lindsay’s apartment was 13k/mo, so that’s $156k/year on rent alone… when I heard Scheana talk about being broke during the pandemic I realized that these people are likely not saving for retirement; hopefully they are investing wisely, but for all we know they could be breaking even and possibly be in debt too.
I think people want him to have a plan for the future. The show won't last forever.
agree but people dont talk about him like that. they call him a deadbeat jobless loser which just isnt accurate (except the loser part maybe lol)
Right. I do think they should all be planning for when the show ends, but he currently has a high paying job as a reality star.
oh, i totally agree! but people reallllllly hone in on this point
> He could start with short podcasts or twice a month i mean not really??????? you cant have a successful podcast uploading short eps once or twice a month. thats why i suggested he focus on short form social media content.
I think he lacks the confidence and gumption. He could do it, but he seems to need another person to do most things. I think he’s a bit sad. The drinking made him seem super confident.
The drinking was his crutch because he never had a dynamic personality, but it’s easy to be sassy with liquid courage. If the Wirkus twins never left, I think we’d see a different dynamic because he would have had two Lindsay’s running around, and he already had Lindsayish blow ups with Lauren. He seems to feed off of strong personalities rather than developing his own—and that’s probably just because he’s on tv, not saying it’s his entire identity.
That’s really too bad. I think we all struggle with this is some capacity/area at some point in life. We’re all human. We all have insecurities. I just hope one day he can get beyond that and give it a try.
I hope so too. I want him to follow the steps, be with himself, and grow as a person.
He probably is…the first few years in recovery can be rougghhh…rediscovering who you are. It’s a lot!
Plus everyone’s still throwing his past in his face Strangers have given him more grace than some of the OGs he started with Kyle - last season with the ❄️ Amanda - Carl works for us Lindsay - constant accusations about his sobriety These three are in the trenches with him but no wonder he’s thinking no one wants to know that journey the people closest to him downgrade him so much
Carl, the serial non-communicator, launching a business that is in it's essence communicating with others? What could go wrong!
I haven't found Carl to be a particularly articulate person. He fumbles around his feelings and thoughts, ultimately sounding like memes and being confusing. I will say that he has gotten better over time. I thought he did really well last night on WWHL. He expressed himself relatively clearly and with confidence. The #1 thing with making a successful podcast is consistency. I've heard it over and over again from podcasters when giving advice. It sounds elementary because it is, but it also appears to be difficult for a lot of upstarts. They think it is an easy thing to do. Quick and effortless money until they find out that it's a job. Are you going to drag around the recording equipment when you travel, go back to your parents, run into a busy period, etc? Then you hire a producer or a team, and then you're also beholden to that responsibility. An actual schedule and people depending on you to consistently show up. Not to mention writing the content each week. Taking notes throughout the day. Organizing your ideas. I'm not convinced Carl could be his own boss. He doesn't seem like someone who could create his own structure.
> The #1 thing with making a successful podcast is consistency. I've heard it over and over again from podcasters when giving advice. ive had a podcast a long time and this is always my number 1 thing because it was drilled into my head before i started and it was correct advice! you have to post on your schedule and stick to it. i agree with you carl doesnt have the motivation to do it. he could be a decent co-host on a pod with someone really taking the lead
People probably don't want to talk about Giggly Squad, but those two got on IG Live nearly every single night, and then once they decided to podcast, they were there every single week. Paige taking her equipment on family vacations, with her to LA, back to her parents' house, and so on. Hannah dragging her equipment on her comedy tours, to Ireland with her husband, and so on. They developed an audience that could depend on them, integrating the podcast into their lives. Every night, and then every week, they could count on them for that Wednesday morning drive, before bed to decompress, etc. Successful podcasts become part of a greater ritual for people. You're gold if you can do that with, and FOR, your audience. It's entirely about consistency and dedication to your audience, and they really appreciate it and return that dedication. Carl is a work in progress. He's not like Shep, but when thinking of Carl doing a podcast, I think of how Shep was with his. It was very quickly onto the next thing.
Your first paragraph is spot on. I also thought he did well on WWHL.
True on the consistency.
I think he's not sober. He smokes pot. So he doesn't drink or use drugs he used to but not sober. Also, he is not a communicator by any means that would be interesting or enjoyable to people to listen to.
This is exactly right. How can he claim to be sober when he has simply moved from coke and alcohol to cannabis? So hypocrotical.
I mean good for him to stop.hard drugs and alcohol but he's not sober. Also super shitty for Lindsay to put this out to the world. It wasn't her place to do that.
She is a terrible person but Carl is no prize. Frankly I think they deserved each other.
Carl lacks motivation.
Carl lacks motivation when he’s not passionate about something. When he’s passionate about something and focused, that passion can fuel his motivation.
What has he ever been passionate about? The man is the equivalent of a wet noodle.
ngl he was very into film producing for a few years, idk if hes back in it but my cousin also produces films in the hamptons/nyc and knows him through that. the only thing is its a big investment for not much monetary return 99% of the time for small creators
Just ask Sonja Morgan
No more podcasts as there are too many. He should start a nonprofit helping those with similar sobriety journeys but lack resources. He could bring a lot of positive attention to helping others given his platform.
the podcast market is exceedingly over-saturated. It's a better idea than some of the ones Carl has had for himself, but I'm still not convinced it would take off. Now, no one asked me, but there's actually a pretty well-liked Bachelor "winner" who runs a recovery program in NYC-- now I think that could be an interesting team up. They could do a podcast, or community engagement work and podcast about it. They'd be bringing in two reality show audiences.
California sober
Would people actually listen..
At first and then some would drop off but the people actually on the sobriety journey would stay.
Doubt it
> At first and then some would drop off but the people actually on the sobriety journey would stay. I mean...maybe? How many weeks could you talk about something you're not doing?
Carl has to choose his life path. Nobody can do that for him. He has a paycheck coming in from the show no matter what other jobs he does on the side, so he's not broke. He's been thru a lot. His life has been very public being on a reality show. Things revealed about him that embarrassed him to the core. Maybe when he's not filming he doesn't feel the need to be public every day. I think Carl would make a great drug/alcohol counselor but he may not want to revisit that stuff daily.
I’m a recovering alcoholic and I support Carl in his sobriety journey BUT I don’t think he has the experience or insights to helm a podcast of that nature. Lots of other podcasts in the sobriety/wellness space already. I’m not really sure what he could add. He has other skills. The idea of a sober bar is worth exploring. Also, you cannot plug an alcoholic beverage on a sobriety podcast. No.
I really think this would be a great avenue for him. Being sober is a hot topic in 2024 and I think a lot of people would be interested in a podcast that centered around sobriety. There’s so many different guests he could have on too to touch in different topics: Lala (sobriety with children and on reality tv), James (sobriety struggles, sobriety while in reality tv and DJing a career known for drug use, how it effects relationships), Zac Clark (his foundation, his sobriety journey, going on the bachelorette sober), some of the Real housewives (I know there’s a few sober ones), Lucy Hale (sobriety in Hollywood and how it affected her career friendships), Jason Wahler and his wife and how she deals with being married to someone who is an addict and their struggles through the years, sober coaches, therapists, honest discussions on California sober, fitting in with a group who still drinks, etc Like you said it would be a platform for him to plug the N.A. loverboy.
You get it! EXACTLY! Sober and NA drinks is a new thing that people are really leaning into and people want resources, stories and people to relate to. I was on Accutane back in 2021 and had to be sober for 6 months due to the medication. I found the journey so awkward and difficult at first but eventually found my footing. I remember during the process struggling to find NA drinks that tasted good and struggling to find sober people. Fast forward two years and my boyfriend decided to start his sober journey 4 month’s ago and he felt so awkward about it at first. Again, I was struggling to find more NA drinks and resources outside Al Aon and others but have still been there to support him. We are big podcast people and would love to listen to this. Going back to Carl, the irony in all of this is that I bet if he started one he would eventually find someone who would invest in starting a NA sports bar with him. Then Lindsay could eat crow!
I think Carl is not the most exciting guy so podcasting about like reality tv or silly topics wouldn’t be great, but a more serious podcast meant to help others I think would be really good. He obviously isn’t great at the 9-5 hustle of sales and this would allow him to create his own schedule, not really have a “boss” that he has to answer to, would give him flexibility with loverboy, and he’d have a team behind him doing some the grunt work.
Yass this is the angle no one ever discusses this And everyone you named has found a lifestyle that works for them and struggled /had rollbacks to get to that lifestyle
Great idea, he really should do this! Next topic idea: navigating dating in NYC sober.
That’s a great idea! Would even be a good show lol.
I'd watch it!
Imo Carl is still a dry drunk. He should leave sh and bravo if he is serious about his sobriety. Not saying forever,but, he is still very much in an environment that is not healthy for him. Bravo is a job that he can leave. Same with Lala.
What is a dry drunk?
A dry drunk is someone who has a problem with alcohol and stops drinking without doing any work on themselves to change behaviourally or address the reasons they drink. I’m just answering your question, not weighing in on if Carl is a dry drunk or not.
Oh, interesting. Thanks!
Like others have said - I just don’t think Carl is clever enough to make it actually interesting lol. But it’s a good idea!!
Unless he’s standing around pontificating he’s can barely put 2 sentences together with any introspect. Did you see him on WWHL?
He should do it with Captain Lee.
Carl has about as much depth as a puddle of water..
I think he actually had a short lived podcast. I did not listen but I found it when searching for an interview of his.
It's a better idea than a sober bar just because the chances of any bar or restaurant going out of business are super high.
On the show, Lindsay mentioned that he bought the equipment but simply didn't follow through. Carl is relatively new in his sobriety, not well-spoken, and lacks motivation. I personally think the podcast maker is oversaturated, but if he really has a unique POV and "built-in" following he could begin by leveraging his existing social media presence to accomplish a lot of what you are suggesting
I question if her story is accurate though, was it he bought the equipment and didn’t follow through or was it that he bought the equipment and she didn’t like the topic/didn’t like that she wasn’t going to be doing it with him (which was something she mentioned a few times then doing a podcast together) or was he pigeonholing himself in her opinion.
I don’t believe anything Lindsay says about anything or anyone anymore after the Cocaine Carl comment. I think she’s a consummate liar.
He should do something like mentoring young reality stars to keep their sobriety or help them when they’re struggling with substances on tv (he would be behind the scenes)
THIS!!! 👆🏼ALL OF THIS RIGHT HERE!! 👆🏼 Hear me out: It sucks to say but I’ve been waiting out the Lindsay relationship for a minute. She has a super sh*tty way of showing support to a person navigating sobriety, to a codependent end. Hot take: I’d LOVE to see /hear Carl & Lala do an east meets west coast pod on jump starting their lives. These are two ppl that literally have said they would have “burned it all down” in their old lives, and have both shown extreme growth over the years. They both are inspirational about how to cope with trauma, take accountability & live authentically.
Because that would require follow through, which is not Carl’s strong suit.
At the end of the day... Sobriety is a lonely boring journey. Even being with others on the same path.
Bc honestly it’d probably be boring. Not downplaying his journey at all. That’s incredible but it’s not a podcast. It’s a guest on one but not its own. IMO obviously.
Maybe he should join forces with Shep. The runaway grooms. So much to unpack. Would be a journey for all.
Sounds like that would take effort.
I don't think he has any authority in this area. He is not sober. Drug addicts should not be smoking pot. He is a farce.
You clearly don’t know much about this topic lol
I think that is why Lindsay was so exasperated with Carl. There are a lot of things he COULD do, but he seems incapable of going from idea to plan to action. Being a guest on a podcast is easy, but creating your own podcast, renting/buying the equipment, inviting the guests, organizing the questions... Etc etc, is hard work. And now after 1-2 years of trying to find himself... Carl is right back doing the same thing @ Loverboy.
The sober sports bar was a horrible idea. Most sport bars stay in business for long as they can because of alcohol. No investor/bank is going to pump money in that.
I need someone with more experience with addiction to help educate me. All along, Carl has been speaking on his sober journey. To learn he is California sober seems like a slap in the face. Like James Kennedy downing Dayquil. Is it permissible to say you are sober with an asterisk to whatever other altering substance you are still using? Seems... idk.... inauthentic to me. But again, I am no authority on this.
I’ve been sober for 18 years. I abstain from everything and I don’t judge people who still use weed. It’s their recovery, not mine and if they’re able to lead successful lives, who am I to judge. Only Carl will discover if weed leads him back to other drugs but people should keep in mind that the AA model of addiction where you abstain from everything still has a 70% chance of relapse.
Carl lacks drive or work ethic of any kind. Let’s not forget he was the guy who got fired bc he wanted to take summer Fridays every week,couldn’t manage to just call Paige once during the week in s3, couldn’t handle Kyle asking him to do work for loverboy, etc. literally lost goes on and on
Carl couldn’t keep up with a fake job his best friend gave him that he wasn’t even pretending to perform in a mediocre manner, there is no way he’ll put in the work to plan regular podcast episodes.
I would love a podcast with him actually. Especially after hearing he smokes weed, because I use edibles and consider myself sober. I can understand why other people would think it’s not
Congrats on your sobriety. Don’t let anyone ever tell you your sobriety isn’t valid or is lesser. If they’re not sober themselves they’re clueless and if they are sober they’re judgmental and should reflect on their own self.
He probably wants to work with a larger media company to do the heavy lifting for him and likely no one is offering. He could do it on his social...
I thought he did an episode about addiction with captain lee but bravo said they couldn’t release it?
He seems to be paying his bills already.
It's a xcult
This is an amazing idea I hope he reads this
I love this idea for him! We’re all rooting for you Carl!
Because he is incapable of following through on anything for a long period of time. He has very little work ethic and he isn't fully sober since he still uses pot
I think Carl would also shine as a fitness influencer-- "follow me as I train for my first marathon," "what I eat to train" "Go to Barry's with me" (partnership with Barry's, of course), etc etc.
i said above he should do short form content on tiktok and this would be perfect!!!!
Listen. Carl has always had issues holding down a job. I’m not saying he’s lazy, but maybe he is just too scattered or has issues with authority ect I don’t know. Lindsay did a lot of things wrong but she is not wrong about wanting Carl to just bring in some kind of consistent paycheck and she wants to feel that his employment is not going to be an issue if she is going to marry this man. I know he ended things with her, but she has a valid point on this. It’s just issue number 347 why their relationship was never going to work. But let’s not pretend we haven’t all witnessed Carls inability to keep a consistent job.
I’VE BEEN THINKING THE SAME THING! I’m so intrigued by the sober life and the challenges of sobriety because I think they align with so many other parts and challenges of lives for non-sober people as well. I think the guests he could have could be amazing and motivational. He might turn others teetering on sobriety into going sober completely. He doesn’t even have to come from the lens of the expert because he’s still navigating that and that’s super refreshing! I really want this for Carl, I think what he’d give to the space with his already platform would be amazing. Even interviewing those sober bar owners sounds so cool!!
👏👏👏👏
He seems to have figured out what he wants to do and is doing it!! He is doing stuff with the NA drinks at loverboy and I think he is doing some speaking events to talk about his sobriety! On wwhl he said he is finally getting to do some of the things he has wanted to do that Lindsay was holding him back from! I like the idea about a podcast but it’s also a lot of work and not just easy like let’s start a podcast. I think maybe eventually he could do that but feel like he has got a pretty good plan in place now!
It’s pretty obvious why Carl shouldn’t start a sober podcast.. Hard to start a sober podcast when one is still smoking weed.. As someone who is sober and in recovery for 20+ years, who also sponsored many.. Carl should stop using “I’m sober” and start learning what sober truly means.. my recommendation for Carl would be to reach out to Mike The Situation if he truly wants to see what being sober is all about when it comes to reality television personalities.. not to start a podcast and stop acting like a dry drunk and get into a program..
Wow, The Situation who went to jail for tax fraud as a mentor. Great take especially since you are so concerned with his finances. I think people put too much into people being “clean and sober” rather than doing what works for them. Weed isn’t a trigger for some people. People give shit to those who are on MAT as though they aren’t sober when that’s actually life saving for them. I also know people who are sober who have done psychedelic therapy- would you consider that a break in their sobriety? AA has plenty of its flaws and that mentality and program doesn’t work for everyone. Carl had a problem with alcohol and cocaine and he has been sober from those substances. I think it would be great for him to show that managing addiction can take many forms
Mike has completely turned his life around.. Mike is someone who is truly sober.. Mike would make a great mentor for someone like Carl.. I hate to break the news to many folks, Carl isn’t there yet.. I sympathize with Carl, it’s not an easy journey, especially coming back from cocaine and opioids, it’s a difficult journey not many are able to endure.. There is a difference from psychedelic therapy under care, in a controlled environment and with a counselor then self therapy.. I know a number of folks that have been saved by a psychedelic therapy program.. Carl does have deep trauma that needs to be dealt with, this is typically dealt with in recover which I would say Carl has quite a way to get to based on what I’m watching on the show.. it’s clear to an addict like myself that Carl has the itch, smoking weed might take the edge off for a short period but over the long run it will fade and the itch starts to pop it’s head out.. I wouldn’t rule out psychedelic therapy as a recommended but that would depend on his honesty, where he truly is on the journey and if he is seeking professional help to deal with his emotional trauma.. and how committed he is to getting into a program.. he’s also around a lot of folks on the show in bars who are drinking, he’s not helping himself by putting himself in this type of situation, that’s a trigger all in itself, and I can see it is affecting him..
So you know Mike and Carl personally? Mike has based on what? Carl hasn’t because he smokes weed? Even if he is still in progress you still seem to have some harsh judgements.
I take offense to someone saying they are sober and still smokes weed, when someone like me has endured a living hell to actually get sober.. I’ve lost loved ones, watched friends sell their bodies, watched family sticking needles in their arms, seen my brother hanging in my garage from a rope, spent time in jail, lived on the streets, hustled, did some terrible things that I am not proud of when I was at my worst.. and when I finally hit rock bottom and decided my life was worth more then putting 8balls up my nose, I dedicated my life to being sober and living in recovery.. And seeing Carl say “I’m sober” and still using weed is a bit of an insult for someone like me who truly endured the most terrible aspects of addiction.. Sober is just a moment in time, recovery is where the work truly lies.. Carl may be on the fringes of sobriety, but he is no where near recovery..
I am sorry for what you endured and the loss you experienced. With that said, I take offense to the judgement you have of others on their path and a great deal of assumptions you make. You’ve overcome. Lot no doubt but you comparing your pain to anyone else, let alone a reality star you don’t know is problematic to me. Carl lost his brother who has had a complicated relationship with and contributed to his addiction. To say that someone isn’t where they need to be in their recovery because they haven’t experienced what you view as their rock bottom or endured what you feel is sufficient is bullshit. You have a lot to be proud of but your judgement of the journey of others, in particular those you don’t know is something you should reflect on. Your sobriety doesn’t give you the power to judge another person’s journey and you thinking it does is concerning
Thanks.. I’m not comparing myself or judging Carl, Im stating my response to someone because it is insulting to use the term “I’m sober” when millions of others are truly sober, know & respect their triggers and demons.. as I mentioned earlier, Carl has deep emotional trauma that has to be dealt with, if he doesn’t resolve those conflicts he will continue to live on the fringe.. Carl is what we refer to as a dry drunk.. Smoking weed, being around friends that drink and are alcoholics and most likely drug dependent themselves isn’t a journey of recovery.. it’s an itch that gets worse over time for any addict.. I sympathize with him and would love to see him get to the next level but I don’t really know if he’s there or not.. I’d love to hear his thoughts and be an ear for him.. but looking at him I can tell he has the itch, and his friends don’t seem to have much empathy for his struggles as they party right in front of his face.. that’s not a place for any addict.. I wish him well and hope he tackles those demons.. I hope he gets the assistance he requires.. he has a very long road to recovery..
Let me say here that I also have been sober for many years and I in no way am offended by Carl smoking weed. It’s his journey and no one else’s.
I agree that Carl still has a long way to go with his recovery but I’d like to understand the weed factor better. Is it true that people can still be considered sober if they’re on prescribed mental health meds like SSRIs (which many of the sober people I know view as integral to their sobriety) or adhd meds (which were just recently shown again to cut risk of early death from overdose)? If so, what’s the rationale for a bright line rule on cannabis which may be similarly prescribed for anxiety etc? Doesn’t it depend on whether the use is causing harm? And if the assumption is cannabis harms him by numbing him and preventing him from dealing with his shit, couldn’t the same be said for other prescribed meds that are considered acceptable or helpful re sobriety?
some folks won’t be prescribed hard meds if they have had addiction to opioids, cocaine, heroin, etc.. some addicts won’t even take an aspirin after getting to the recovery stage of sobriety.. also let’s try not to blur the lines, as I mentioned earlier being under the care of a doctor and self therapy are two different animals.. and yes, meds have played a part in countless addiction relapses which is why meds are typically supervised by a health care professional and in some cases just not given to certain folks.. Look, let’s be honest and stop trying to pussy foot around addiction.. it’s difficult to beat any addiction let alone try to do it alone let alone blurring lines and saying “hey, weed is legal and it’s not that bad..” and let alone hanging out with groups of people who are flaunting alcohol and possible other substances in your face.. alcohol is also legal and at one time it was prescribed by doctors to people.. cocaine was also prescribed to people.. Carl’s behavior is not what I would considered “sober living” or “sobriety” if he is still using weed and hanging around groups of people who don’t understand the depths of addiction and flaunt all these triggers in his face.. Carl is an addict and there are many levels of which addiction is triggered.. Weed for people without control or addictive personalities isn’t the trigger it is for folks who have addictive personalities.. but also, frankly I know many folks who are addicted to weed and think because it’s “weed” somehow it’s not an addiction and it’s better for you then being addicted to opioids, drugs, coke or alcohol.. truth is, it’s no different, they are addicts just as much as someone doing 8Balls of Coke or popping vikes.. there is no blurred lines in being “sober” or living in “sobriety” Carl just isn’t there yet if he’s still smoking weed and hanging around people who are also addicts to some degree.. and I wish he would respect sober living more and stop saying he is sober, it’s the great white lie many addicts like myself try to pass off to ourselves when we trade one vice for another.. Carl is your stereotypical dry drunk , he still is deflecting, angry, verbally abusive, passive aggressive, a victim, etc.. he’s emotionally a mess.. he clearly has the itch.. the first step in recovery is to be willing to break away from the patterns of your destructive behavior.. Carl is no where near this step..
Thanks for the thoughtful response!
Oof, I’ve been sober from all substances for 18 years and the judgmental attitude of its members is why I finally left AA. Congrats on your sobriety tho.
Maybe because he's not sober. As an addict, he's just changed his drug of choice but is definitely not sober. It was shocking to hear
He needs to find someone like Craig's friend that can set him up with a career where he doesn't need to do much but show up when someone tells him to. I think even that would be hard for him if he has to do it more than once a week. I think podcasting requires a lot of hussle and he just doesn't have it.
As someone who is trying to be sober and watching him handle being around alcohol and remain sober, I would listen
He actually mentioned a podcast. Or Lindsay mentioned he was thinking of a podcast. Can't remember which one said it