This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Elliott Mattox: This is Hungover, a new miniseries where we follow some of our favorite theater artists on their way back to the stage. We're going to be checking in with these artists before rehearsal, during rehearsal seeing the process, and then afterwards during performances. So you'll get a unique perspective on their journeys to getting back to normal. So grab your hair of the dog, because this is Hungover. Cheers! Welcome to this week's episode, a very special episode in our Hungover series.

[0:41] Caleb Dicke: Exactly, yeah. We say it in addition. Yeah, bonus tracks.

[0:48] Elliott Mattox: Yeah. We are here with two of our collaborators from our recent photo shoot that we did. If you haven't seen it, what are you doing? Okay. We are on it today. Are we synced up?

[1:04] Caleb Dicke: Yeah. The cycles are synced.

[1:06] Elliott Mattox: Yes. It's the moon.

[1:08] Caleb Dicke: Yes, it is.

[1:12] Elliott Mattox: Caleb, do you want to introduce our guests?

[1:18] Caleb Dicke: Yes, we have Benji Rivera and Greg Dassonville here. We have to talk about this photo shoot that we had, among many other things. Hi, friends.

[1:23] Benji Rivera: Hi.

[1:24] Greg Dassonville: Hello.

[1:25] Elliott Mattox: How's it going?

[1:26] Benji Rivera: So good. Thanks for having us.

[1:28] Greg Dassonville: Good.

[1:29] Caleb Dicke: Of course. Thanks for being here. I know we were working so much in all of our interactions the last few weeks.

[1:35] Benji Rivera: So busy. Can't wait.

[1:36] Elliott Mattox: We actually get to have fun. But I mean, full disclosure, you know, you know us. If we're showing up to a photo shoot, the booze was flowing.

[1:40] Greg Dassonville: The booze was flowing.

[1:42] Benji Rivera: Not to everyone.

[1:44] Greg Dassonville: And the gummy bears.

[1:46] Benji Rivera: They were. Oh, we had gummy bears at the photo shoot, too.

[1:50] Greg Dassonville: We did. I ate some.

[1:51] Benji Rivera: I ate many. You had them poured all over you.

[1:54] Elliott Mattox: Well, Benji, so you were our photographer for the shoot and, you know, friend and collaborator of the podcast for a long time. And Greg, you are our stylist for the shoot. So we're definitely going to get into kind of like that process and what we all worked on. But we start each podcast by asking our guests what first got them interested in the arts when they were young. So, Benji, do you want to take off?

[2:18] Benji Rivera: I'll lead the way. All right. Let's think way, way back. I haven't answered this question in a while. I haven't done art in a while.

[2:25] Greg Dassonville: Yeah.

[2:26] Benji Rivera: So I started off, I was in an all sports family. And so I feel like for me, like the very, very like beginning phases of it were like church choir and like, you know, like the church summer camps where you'd go like learn. Our shows were like the rubbables and trouble.

[2:41] Greg Dassonville: Oh, like really like, oh, honey, like Bob's Burger type, like Bible and story names. AmeriKids.

[2:46] Benji Rivera: Yeah, right, right, right. Like that was the vibe. Totally. So like very young, like through like music first, singing was always like where I started, started. And then when I became a gymnast, my gymnastics coach kind of led me to start dancing. And, you know, between the singing and choir and the dancing and gymnastics, the musical theater world kind of was born. Then all through like school, I was always doing, you know, show choir, jazz choir, barbershop choir, acapella, anything I could get my hands on in small town Iowa. That was like a performing opportunity. I obviously was like obsessed in some sense. I just didn't know to what level or what degree or, you know, not really sure you could make a living on it, but I loved it. So that's where it like started, started for me. And it really, really took off when I got to college.

[3:51] Caleb Dicke: Where we met, where we all met together.

[3:53] Benji Rivera: That's great. Everybody is here now. Save the best for last.

[3:57] Caleb Dicke: Yeah. Then got to college and studied dance. So when did you, what was your journey into starting with being in gymnastics and being a gymnast?

[4:02] Benji Rivera: I think it was like a very like, you know, natural progression as far as like being in such a sport family. Like, you know, getting in gymnastics was, you know, very in our realm. Cause I was like baseball, basketball, you know, all the sports sports. And I was the kid in my family who was like three years old and like on top of a tree or like, I learned how to do back handsprings on my couch at like four or like, my parents just like saw the energy there and saw my like desire to like do chaos. I think my neighbor, when I was like really little taught me a cartwheel. She was like a cheerleader. I think there was like little nuggets that like got that rolling. And so I think they figured they'd might put me in something quickly before I like broke an arm in the backyard.

[4:41] Greg Dassonville: Get some good training under your belt before you hurt somebody.

[4:44] Benji Rivera: Save on medical bills by paying for lessons.

[4:46] Greg Dassonville: Yeah. Very bad.

[4:47] Elliott Mattox: Greg, what about you?

[4:51] Greg Dassonville: Um, for me, like, I feel like as a little kid, I always knew that I wanted to do something in the arts and I just was so drawn to like the spotlight and I was a class clown and just loved the attention. Right. I also think too, you know, as a little kid, I was definitely very effeminate and ostentatious. And, you know, as you continue to get older, like kids make fun of you. And it was a way for me to escape all of that craziness.

[5:17] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[5:18] Greg Dassonville: So I found just like joy in being able to leave my own life to be who I wanted to be always. Yeah. And in doing that, I got to like feel the praise for that. Right. I got to just like sit in that spotlight of feeling normal and valued. So, you know, yeah, through like childhood, middle school, high school, like it was something that was always like a part of me. It was like in me. Right. And I went to school for it, went to Syracuse for musical theater and toured after school and came here and did things. And yeah, it just kind of has evolved into what I'm doing now, which has been really cool.

[6:03] Elliott Mattox: Yeah. What was there anything like in those kind of like formative years, younger, like being involved in the arts that you look back on now and you're like, oh, my God, everything like makes sense? Like, did you have this like eye for fashion, like an interest in it early on?

[6:09] Greg Dassonville: So I was obsessed with Disney, like so obsessed. And I used to like sit in my room and draw like Disney inspired wedding dresses. And I would always draw them with my sister in mind of like, I'm going to design your wedding dress. Right. And my mom's also a brilliant like seamstress, like makes a lot of clothing, like all the costumes I ever wore, like for like madrigals, like for our show choir or whatever, like she would make them and they were always so beautiful. And I was always like offer her up. I'd be like, oh, my mom's going to make that. No problem. But I never like took the time to like sit with her at the sewing machine and like learn all that. But it was definitely in my world.

[7:07] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[7:08] Greg Dassonville: So looking back on it now, like I was always playing with fashion to some degree. And I always loved being a little eccentric with my clothing, you know, and wanting to be best dressed and like have the look right, you know, in what was current. So it's not a surprise that it has shifted this way. Even when I was in college, I wanted to minor in fashion. But like on a BFA curriculum, there's just no time to do that right now. You can't like major in musical theater and then have a fashion minor. It's one or the other. So it's been kind of cool, like stepping back from my performing career to say like, all right, I'm going to focus on this and just see where it goes. And it's kind of launched in a really nice way.

[7:45] Elliott Mattox: Yeah. So that's good. That's so cool. I'm so jealous that you had a mom to make costumes because I was over here like gluing paper on myself. My mom would sometimes sew my ballet shoes, but I would do it and just like glue them together.

[8:02] Benji Rivera: Oh, my mother.

[8:03] Greg Dassonville: No, I had to sew my ballet shoes. It was the worst stitch ever. It was just like not on one side enough to where it stays. And then, yes, my mom, I think, was a little too intense with the ballet shoes, just like with the sewing machine.

[8:11] Benji Rivera: Oh, my God. For extra support, you know, and I'm like, it can just be a stitch.

[8:17] Greg Dassonville: Very sturdy, though.

[8:18] Benji Rivera: Yes. There was a time where the kids do not do this. But girl, I was dancing with safety pins.

[8:22] Greg Dassonville: Oh, I didn't sew mine until college. So dangerous.

[8:30] Benji Rivera: In college, I was duct taping mine.

[8:32] Greg Dassonville: Joe didn't see your toe. Speaking of which.

[8:36] Benji Rivera: Exactly. Oh, my God. This is just trivia because mine's going to be embarrassed. When was the last time you bought a pair of ballet shoes?

[8:40] Greg Dassonville: Well, I'm going to ask you another question. Okay. When was the last time you bought a dance belt? Because mine is like losing elasticity and I need a new one.

[8:51] Benji Rivera: But ballet shoes, I actually just bought some.

[8:53] Greg Dassonville: You can have all mine. I'm not here to take them.

[8:56] Benji Rivera: I truly just started taking all mine from past shows. I'm not going to buy any of these, so I'll just keep stocking up and I literally only wear one maybe once a year. Maybe.

[9:07] Greg Dassonville: Yeah, it's so rare. I just wear other underwear.

[9:09] Benji Rivera: I think I've paired mine down to two and now those two are kind of dead, so I'm in the market for a dance belt.

[9:13] Greg Dassonville: I have two. I feel like that's a good amount to just have.

[9:18] Benji Rivera: That's plenty. The very back of my underwear drawer. I like to wear them around the house.

[9:23] Greg Dassonville: But you avoided the question. When did you last buy ballet shoes?

[9:27] Benji Rivera: When did you last buy ballet shoes? 2018, I bought a nude pair that I love.

[9:33] Greg Dassonville: Wow, you know.

[9:34] Benji Rivera: Oh, a nude pair?

[9:36] Greg Dassonville: A nude pair.

[9:37] Benji Rivera: A beige pair?

[9:39] Greg Dassonville: Skin tone of your skin tone?

[9:41] Benji Rivera: Of my skin tone, yes.

[9:43] Greg Dassonville: I think mine are still from senior year of college.

[9:46] Benji Rivera: All right. Mine's high school for sure.

[9:48] Greg Dassonville: Yeah.

[9:49] Benji Rivera: Greg, did you ever buy ballet shoes?

[9:52] Greg Dassonville: I did, but I stepped, so I'm trying to think. I'm like, I stepped out at like the end of 2017, so probably like 2015, 2016 is like my last pair.

[9:59] Benji Rivera: Yeah, like showing up to BDC ready to take a dance class, you know?

[10:07] Greg Dassonville: Home at the bar.

[10:08] Benji Rivera: Home at the bar. No, I didn't even, I never took ballet in college, and so I didn't have to.

[10:14] Greg Dassonville: You didn't need them?

[10:15] Benji Rivera: No, and if any, I don't even have a pair right now. I think if any audition asked for them, I just wouldn't have them. I would just wear socks.

[10:19] Greg Dassonville: Yeah. I wore neon orange tennis shoes to a Peggy Hickey ballet call, and she called me out. I got dragged.

[10:31] Benji Rivera: Never again. Didn't get the job either.

[10:33] Greg Dassonville: She's got to see those feet.

[10:36] Benji Rivera: Yes. She's like, from the corner, and go. Uh-huh. We all know the combo.

[10:43] Elliott Mattox: So, we've been talking with some of our guests about what they've been doing throughout the pandemic, and how they're preparing to go back to work in theater. Benji, you started, you're back at work, right? On Monday.

[10:54] Benji Rivera: Oh, yeah. Our new hire started this week.

[10:56] Elliott Mattox: Okay. So, the returning ensemble will start Monday. So, you start, oh my god, that's so exciting.

[11:01] Benji Rivera: In Moulin Rouge!

[11:03] Elliott Mattox: Yes. The Spectacular Spectacular. The Musical.

[11:06] Benji Rivera: That would be Beetlejuice. It's been a while. How are you feeling? Are you excited?

[11:11] Benji Rivera: Yeah, I mean, it's funny, because I thought it was just going to be like raw excitement going back, and then as we're like approaching, there's been, it's like a mixed bag of things. You know, I'm feeling a lot of different things, because, you know, I'm sure as we'll talk about more, I've really loved getting into photography this year.

[11:31] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[11:32] Benji Rivera: This year and a half, it's like really become such a home for me, and such an incredible creative outlet that's like fully in your control. Most shoots, you know, unless your client really has an idea. But, so I'm definitely like super pumped, and like again, morning, like a little bit of like a slower pace. I love my bedtime. I've been going to bed by 9 p.m. every night, all of pandemic. Not happening anymore.

[12:02] Caleb Dicke: Yeah, and I'm like, I'm like not even done with act one by nine o'clock.

[12:06] Benji Rivera: No. So, you know, it's like it's a lot of, it's all good, but it's like hard changes, you know, growing pains. I mean, like Connor went back on tour, so like going back to work meant like us being apart again, which is like not the ideal thing, but working and saving money is the name of the game for a while now, and so I think when it really like hit me, that was my costume fitting. When I like went back in the building, and like the confetti's still on the floor from like our last show, and there's stacks of playbills in the back for the matinee that we canceled.

[13:01] Caleb Dicke: Wow.

[13:02] Benji Rivera: Like I was like in makeup, in house, like you know, for like lift call for that matinee when it was canceled. Because it was on a Thursday.

[13:07] Caleb Dicke: Yeah, Thursday matinee was when ours, we canceled midday before that night.

[13:11] Benji Rivera: Right before the league canceled everything. Because we had two people who were out confirmed with COVID that day, and so that was before we knew we had like 18 cases in the building. So going back into the space with such like a, like getting it ripped away from you, so like you know, going back into it looking the exact same. Like it's, it was bizarre.

[13:31] Greg Dassonville: Yeah, it was, and it was like, also I was overwhelmed with how like excited I got, actually, because it was finally real. Because I mean, how long have we been given dates? I just stopped believing, because it was like hurting. It was like, you know, I was getting whiplash from like getting excited with each new date that we were being told, and then it not being real, and then the new day, and then it not being real. And you know, I feel like, I don't know. I'm like such an optimist, but kind of was like unsure we'd actually make it back. I don't know. I mean, there's only one New York City and one Broadway, so I'm like hopeful about it. But once I was back in the building, it felt real, and I'm now like so, so ready. I'm so pumped.

[13:46] Caleb Dicke: It's exciting, but you were talking about like with, you know, you kind of like dug into your photography more throughout the pandemic. You had been doing photography for, yeah, here and there for a long time.

[13:57] Benji Rivera: Five or six years before, yeah.

[14:03] Caleb Dicke: But what are you, what are you looking at it like, and kind of striking that balance of like, how do I do this now that my schedule's different, if I want to keep pursuing it?

[14:11] Benji Rivera: Yeah, that's a great question, because I mean, I'm a little like, yeah, that's the goal is trying to figure that out for sure. Because, you know, my initial thought was like, well, if I only shoot on Mondays, I know for sure I always have Mondays off. But then I was like, no, you like can't give up your only day of the week.

[14:28] Greg Dassonville: Like a photo shoot, you know, every week. And so it's just going to be as, you know, the theater schedule where you like, you think you can plan your life out in advance and then you find out Sunday night that you're called in rehearsal Wednesday, Thursday. And you're like, Oh, well I was supposed to, you know, ABC Wednesday and do this Thursday. And so how do you like build clientele? How do you like say, yeah, I'll book you for a headshot on a Wednesday and like five weeks. And then that Sunday be like, just kidding. I'm called to rehearsal. Right. So I'm definitely like a little nervous and anxious about it. Cause I don't want to lose what I've gained. And I feel like the momentum and like also the skill.

I mean, just like anything is practice and getting back in the studio and then staying back this year and like really, really delving into it. I'm like, I don't want to lose my steam. And so I think I'm just really, I'm trying to be super, super thoughtful about how and when I schedule it and like blocking it out in a way that I like offer out the dates in advance rather than waiting for clients to come to me. And so we'll see, it's, it's a work in progress. It's like balance is the name of the game. As far as like, as we all learned in life too. I mean, our personal life this year got so much love and attention and we got, we had space and time for breakdowns and meltdowns, but then the space and time to like, you know, thrive from those things. And so yeah, balance will be the, the focus for sure.

[15:51] Benji Rivera: Yeah. Greg, now over the pandemic, you know, you, so you're in fashion and you do that for work. And I feel like I've seen before the pandemic, I saw you, I know that you were kind of, you were a stylist, you did this, but as in the middle of the pandemic, you kind of like exploded as like, like theater style, like stylists for theater people, or that was kind of what I'm seeing from my perspective. So do you want to talk about kind of like what that time was and anything that seems to happen very quickly, anyone who has worked for something like that knows that it takes a long time and a lot of like thought. And so I would wonder your perspective on that.

[16:38] Greg Dassonville: Yeah. So when I started this business, I was just like leaving my performing career. I was taking a setback because I was not in a good place. And I was like, it's time to channel my energy into something a little bit more positive and something that I can do without permission. And that was my whole like goal. I was done waiting to hear it's your turn. So it started and it started moving nicely. And just, there was like a really even steady pace, but the moment the pandemic hit, everything disappeared overnight. And I knew that was going to happen and I was okay with that happening, but I didn't realize that it was going to happen to the extent that it did. So, you know, like everybody, I thought we were going to be in this for like a month tops, you know, not six months.

Crazy. Like I honestly was just so naive. And I had this moment where I was like, you know what, I need a break. This is fine. And then the month like went by and I was like, okay, I need to do something. So I started like just styling myself just to like keep it alive. But when you're a stylist and you're not somebody who's like followed largely by like, you know, people, it only really gets to like certain people that you know, right. It's not going to hit the masses. So I was like, okay, great, whatever. Like, at least I could do it for me. And then I was, got to do this Glenn Livitt commercial last summer, which was wonderful. But then after that, come the end of September, everything was gone.

And I had this moment in January where I was sitting on my bed and just crying. And I was like, it's over. I don't know what to do. And my boyfriend Graham was like, enough of the crying, figure this out. You can, you can do it if you want to do it. And I started reaching out to photographers that I knew, like literally anyone and everyone. And I was like, I'm around, I need to do something. I will do it for free at this point. Like, I just need to like prove that I still have this. And people just kept coming back with, no, I don't have anything for you or no, the timing's not right. And I kind of snapped. And I'm a very, I mean, in true Aries fashion, you never say no to me because when you do say no to me, I'm going to do it in a way that I'm going to make you regret for saying no. So I dreamed up this like plan essentially to do this shoot, to tell the story of the pandemic through my own eyes.

And I just started reaching out to people and that's how I met Benji. And, you know, I still like, will never forget that first day that we were on set doing with Jason and Robert. And I just remember like looking all around and all the pieces had fallen into place and it was happening the way that I actually dreamed it to happen. And I was like pushing back the tears and I was like, this is just so cool. You know, when you envision something and you dream of something, you obviously want it to happen that way, but realistically it doesn't. But to see that happen and to see it get to this place that was on such a level that I just still have no words for it because it was, we all came together to create something so special and I felt so appreciative to like be connecting with people who didn't know me, who believed in what I wanted to do, right?

And we did it together. I couldn't have done that without the four other, five other people that like said yes to doing this. And I knew that if we did this right, it would blow up in a way that would be incredible. And it did. And it's just been like kind of, it was kind of crazy. Like after it was very overwhelming and you know, the Playbill article came out, the Broadway Direct article came out. And then, you know, I started pushing these like features to be published and they were being picked up, which was amazing. And it's led to other cool things, which is like, I got to style Jennifer Nettles. Like all of this came out of like this busy, like creative work, right? Um, so yeah, it's, it's, it's been amazing like being on the ride, but now I'm in this place of like, the ride is still going at a hundred and I'm like, like, it's not a bad thing, but I have to find balance.

And that's where I'm kind of in this place of like, I'm burning the candle from both ends right now. And I personally have to start trusting that I know what I'm doing and I am doing good work. So I don't have to say yes to everything. You know, I think as artists, we live in this place of needing to say yes all the time because we need to be proving that we are doing these things. Um, but you know, it's important to also protect your own space and your mind and your mental health too, right? You can like, cause I also work a 40 hour plus workweek in addition to running this business. So juggling the two, sometimes I never have a day off and I just had my first weekend off since the shoot two weeks ago.

So, and it was crazy. And I was supposed to do a shoot on that Saturday and then it got canceled. So I canceled my entire weekend and I was like, I don't care. It's fine. I don't, it's fine. I don't need it. I can just enjoy the sunshine and go to the beach and just be one with myself. So, you know, baby steps. We're figuring it out, but it's, it's exciting. And I, I'm curious to know what happens now as like Broadway comes back. Like, what does the red carpet look like? What does open night look like? Because that was so much of my business. That was what I was known for. Um, and this last year I've definitely shifted into more editorial work, which I've loved. Um, but my heart will always be in the community and like being able to dress somebody and like bring beauty to the runway, like to any kind of red carpet.

It's so amazing. It's, it's basically me with them. Like it's, yeah, it's kind of hard to describe, but no, I mean, it's what, I think it's what a lot of us love about theater is like that collaborative spirit, that kind of like community and like all working together to make something really special to put out there to people. And I mean, it's, it goes in so many different ways. You know, I, I, whenever I like teach classes or whatever, and kids ask about, like, there's always someone that asks about like, what, going into theater career, like, I know it's hard, like all these things. And I'm, I always say like now, like, if you want a career in theater, there are a million different ways to do it.

It's not just how it looks like it is. You can, you can have a nine to five office job and go to Broadway opening nights in management or whatever. You can style Broadway. I mean, it's like endless possibilities, but it's like finding what works for you and connecting in that way.

[23:47] Benji Rivera: Well, it's that same like thought of like everybody's journey is their own. And it's such a cliche phrase, I feel, you know, and when you're in college and you're just graduating and you're trying to remind yourself that you, it's hard to like sit in that, right? Because you see what's happening amongst your peers. Right. And you're like, okay, this person just booked and this person just booked. And I'm still here, like waiting tables at the restaurant, like kill me. But, you know, every, I don't know, everything happens for a reason. And I like really believe this as of late. Yeah. It's our journey is our journey. And you know, what's meant for us will be, and you just got to keep following it and you just have to trust us. Yeah. You know, annoying as that is to say.

[24:28] Greg Dassonville: No, but it's also like, it's also practical. You can put that into like into motion. Like what you were saying, like you, your goal was to have something where you didn't have to wait for someone to say yes. And then you were trying to like get in the door by having people say yes, but it wasn't until you were like, no, I'm just going to do it on my own. I don't need anyone to tell me that it worked out. So like New York story right there. Yeah. That's the way to thrive here. I feel like, yeah, you just have to like, not ask for permission. Yeah. Ask for forgiveness later. Let's just do it. Also, no one cares that much. No one's going to be like, say, say you're sorry.

[25:03] Benji Rivera: Exactly. You know, because like in a day or two, the story changes. You know what I mean? It's like you get your, you get that five minutes and then it's something else. Well, and everyone's like, they're, everyone's the leading character. You know what I mean? So like, I told myself that a lot, like, girl, no one's, no one's looking at you that hard. You know what I mean? It's like, nobody looks at you the way you look at you. Exactly. No one is featuring you that much. Like relax. It's true. Like that for any career though, no one's going to fight for you the way that you're going to fight for yourself. You have to show up for yourself and fight for what you want. And people are going to look at you like you're crazy.

Like when I was first starting Dastanvogue, people were like, you're going to style legit. Like I was in a holding room and I had people like making fun of me for wanting to do this. Swear to God. Oh no. And I was like, you laugh now, but you'll be calling me later. And I'll be busy when that happens. No, but like not to be, you know, but that's what it is.

[26:09] Greg Dassonville: She still has a long way to go. We all do. Do you want to talk about the shoot?

[26:15] Benji Rivera: No. Yes. I was going to say like, I was going to connect it with a community. Like when we started thinking of this shoot, you two were the first people to like come to mind about Hungover, how we wanted it photographed, how we wanted it styled. So the first idea we had was with Hungover was completely Kesha. So we came to Ben with this idea of a college party house that we had, a foxy manor and Kesha. I think that's the first two things that came to mind.

[26:44] Greg Dassonville: Yeah. We were just like, we were just like, what if we're just like a mess? Cause I think we had done a photo shoot before that was very like polished and like clink and like drinks and very like fun. So we were like, we were like, girl, it's been a long year. Like what if we were just wrecked? Cause that's how we were feeling. I mean, with the podcast for a while, full disclosure, everyone, we stopped. If you didn't notice.

[27:12] Benji Rivera: But we were like, we're not, we don't want to talk about it. We're not interested. It's like, everything was like so depressing. Couldn't do a zoom cabaret. Awful. No. So if you look at the pictures, there's like little bits of pandemic sprinkled and through it, there's face masks and Lysol. And what are some other little items that we had sprung on there from the pandemic?

[27:39] Greg Dassonville: Gloves. So it's like the pandemic hangover where we are coming out of.

[27:46] Benji Rivera: Yeah. That was the, that was the kind of big picture. And then we, we kind of talked about like, we got some like, uh, inspiration images that were all kind of like overexposed and like.

[27:57] Greg Dassonville: They were epic though. That mood board was epic. Your mood board was like far different than most I get, you know, most people send me like really pretty pictures that are like clothes they like. And like, they think they look like this celebrity and they will look like this celebrity in their pictures. And yours were like a Barbie whose hair was like vomiting glitter into a toilet.

[28:16] Benji Rivera: Yeah. Yeah. It was like, it was like a clear through line for me, but also just was like giggling at it. Well, I don't know if this ages us, but like we're not new to like Pinterest. Okay. So we know how to make a board. Wait, Pinterest 2012, Wichita started my first Pinterest board. And I was like, I fucking love Pinterest. I still Pinterest. What was that thing that used to like, you used to go on and it would like, um, roulette you to different websites stumble upon. That website was college for me. That's, uh, that's why I like got C's and D's and like public speaking. So stumble upon was this like website you would go to and you would just kind of like roulette through random websites. Like you would find games or they would be like about like, I,

[28:57] Caleb Dicke: History, awesome. It was so random. It was a weird time.

[29:01] Benji Rivera: It was like that was how we killed time in tech. We would just be like on stumble upon. Or draw something. Draw something!

[29:04] Caleb Dicke: Caleb cheated though and drew on his iPad.

[29:08] Benji Rivera: Oh yeah, I had it like...

[29:11] Caleb Dicke: All of us were like doing on our tiny screen with our like big fat fingers and because... If anyone has ever played games with Caleb, he's a cheater.

[29:17] Benji Rivera: He's a cheater. A dirty cheat! This is true.

[29:21] Caleb Dicke: Yes, and cheaters never win. Well... period!

[29:25] Benji Rivera: Debatable. So Ben, we came to you with this idea. So like what are some of your first thoughts when someone comes with you to an idea? Like what's your thought process?

[29:32] Benji Rivera: I mean it's definitely like... It was nice to know that Greg was on board because you know first and foremost it's like what kind of clothes are they bringing, you know?

[29:38] Benji Rivera: Because some people like send you a mood board and then just bring you stuff from their closet that they've had for years.

[29:43] Benji Rivera: And you know it's like one of my favorite photographers says like to take a good picture you got to put like good stuff in front of the camera. You got to like shoot interesting things and you know there's no magic, you know? It's just straight up what it is.

[29:52] Benji Rivera: And so mood board usually the first step is like what are they thinking they're going to wear? What do they think they're going to look like? And you know then it's like what are these pictures for? Are they for like their Instagram? Are they for their website? Is it a headshot, you know?

[30:11] Benji Rivera: Those are kind of my first thoughts as far as like who's the audience and what's their goal with these pictures. And so you guys as mood board knowing like you had a stylist on board and you know you're like well aware you're bringing on a makeup artist and you know and it was for this podcast.

[30:26] Benji Rivera: And so for me it's like those like you guys I check my boxes first and like going through that kind of question first and then it goes straight into like imagery. And you know thankfully you both were pretty knowledgeable about lighting and you're like overexposed and we could talk oh we wanted a hard light then.

[30:40] Benji Rivera: And you know it was like an easy conversation very early whereas sometimes I don't really decide till I'm like in the room on the spot seeing what they brought and then I decide what lighting I'm doing or what color backdrop will look good with what they brought in.

[30:51] Benji Rivera: So it's like thankfully mood boards usually help me do some homework beforehand so I can be creative in this space. So I like have like check boxes that needed to be checked, thought through things that need to be thought through rather than like showing up in like problem solving the whole time.

[31:05] Caleb Dicke: Yeah. Yeah doing your homework.

[31:09] Greg Dassonville: So Greg we sent you the same mood board, yes?

[31:12] Greg Dassonville: Yeah.

[31:16] Greg Dassonville: So like what were you like okay yeah. Well no I mean it was I loved it and also in the same like vein as what Benji was just saying like when I heard that Benji was on board I was like great it's done we're we're.

[31:24] Greg Dassonville: Because as a stylist you can send me a mood board and be like this is what I want to capture but if your photographer can't capture that.

[31:30] Greg Dassonville: Right. Then it puts me as a stylist in a place of like I'm gonna pull these from a showroom but then I also have to deliver this photo back to the showroom so if the picture is not that then I'm gonna have to come up with a million and one reasons as to why the photo looks the way that it does.

[31:46] Greg Dassonville: Right. Right. Or I'm gonna have to be like I'm so sorry we just didn't run it you know like that's the other thing and then it makes it's a reflection of me.

[31:56] Greg Dassonville: So obviously this talented human over here this photographer extraordinaire I was like okay great we're gonna have a stellar photo but seeing the imagery that you sent over I was like great I get to play outside of the lines.

[32:08] Greg Dassonville: Yeah. Yeah totally. Because so much of what I do is so like meticulous right and so polished but there's also something about in coloring outside of the lines that way you still have to be meticulous right you still have to have a point of view yeah it is more right.

[32:25] Greg Dassonville: Even it's like I think about when you pulled me over and you were like what do you think about a black lip and I was like absolutely not.

[32:32] Benji Rivera: I don't think I said a black lip.

[32:35] Greg Dassonville: Somebody said a black lip.

[32:38] Greg Dassonville: Somebody said a black lip and I was like nope.

[32:43] Benji Rivera: No. Well I think it was a conversation you think Caleb wanted a bold lip.

[32:47] Greg Dassonville: A bold lip. Let's just say that. The idea was this is a bold lip. By the way Kaylee we are our amazing makeup artist. You are incredible.

[32:50] Benji Rivera: Yeah she's dreaming.

[32:54] Greg Dassonville: But I told her I was like it's a bold lip but we've kissed maybe one too many boys at night so it's a little bit smudged so the black would be on my face.

[33:01] Greg Dassonville: But what we ended up moving into with that bubblegum pink was perfection right.

[33:05] Greg Dassonville: So for me it's like how do all the elements fit together and you know when I started the process of like okay I knew that we had to have like something more tailored right but in chatting with both of you like it's important to me to make sure that I bring your essence to the table as well.

[33:15] Greg Dassonville: It's not just about pulling nice clothes that's my biggest pet peeve when it comes to styling like anybody can style right.

[33:24] Greg Dassonville: Anybody can go and pull nice clothing and throw it on people and be like you look nice.

[33:28] Benji Rivera: Right.

[33:32] Greg Dassonville: But like what's the POV. Like what are we telling. What's the story here.

[33:35] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[33:42] Greg Dassonville: And who are you showcasing you know. So when we figured out what the like the first look was or you know the dressed up look let's call it was then for me it was like okay I'm going to just pull all of these things that could work for the drunk look for the hungover look essentially.

[33:54] Greg Dassonville: And that's where we got to have a lot of fun. We saw that camouflage moment and knew right away that that's what it was going to be.

[34:00] Benji Rivera: We got to play with everything in the box.

[34:04] Greg Dassonville: There were some looks that came out of that.

[34:09] Benji Rivera: Yes. I mean to the point where I was trying them on in my apartment.

[34:15] Greg Dassonville: You know so it was so fun to see how it all kind of came together and usually going into every shoot I have everything planned out to a tee.

[34:25] Greg Dassonville: But for that one look I couldn't plan it out until we were there.

[34:29] Benji Rivera: Right. You know but I knew we have all the pieces so we're gonna find something that does work.

[34:33] Greg Dassonville: So that was a new way of working for me which was also very fun. So thank you for letting me explore that.

[34:41] Benji Rivera: That's a good room to be in.

[34:44] Greg Dassonville: Yeah. It was a safe space.

[34:49] Benji Rivera: It was. Yeah. With the music going.

[34:53] Caleb Dicke: And I think to what everyone is saying like number one we all trust each other. We were all like okay this is gonna be great.

[34:56] Greg Dassonville: But also we all came and had we did our homework.

[35:02] Benji Rivera: Yes. Right. You know we had our images like you know I mean I'm sure that maybe some in some rooms it might be too strong a perspective depending on who you're working with but like I was like I was like knew exactly where the shot was gonna be and like started just kind of like throwing shit all over the floor.

[35:17] Greg Dassonville: Right. Truly.

[35:20] Benji Rivera: But wouldn't you rather have that than somebody who comes in who's like I don't know.

[35:21] Greg Dassonville: Right.

[35:25] Benji Rivera: Yeah. And you're like well uh yeah.

[35:28] Greg Dassonville: Just like okay take take the lead. This is your shot.

[35:32] Benji Rivera: Truly. I didn't have to do like any coaching for either of these two.

[35:35] Greg Dassonville: You know there's there's shoots that are like hard work.

[35:38] Benji Rivera: Us models?

[35:38] Greg Dassonville: Because you're like constantly. You're pulling it out of them.

[35:42] Benji Rivera: Pulling them out.

[35:42] Greg Dassonville: Yeah yeah. And that was not the case.

[35:46] Benji Rivera: No definitely not. It was like Caleb's like how about I use this disco ball now.

[35:48] Greg Dassonville: You know he's like pulling props out of nowhere you know.

[35:55] Benji Rivera: And like this pizza pizza. Classic Caleb.

[35:55] Greg Dassonville: We brought like props to play.

[36:01] Benji Rivera: Oh so many.

[36:05] Greg Dassonville: Yeah. A new experience for me was you know we're very you know we love our gummy bears. We love our drinks. We love to have random pieces of pizza around.

[36:10] Benji Rivera: Yes.

[36:17] Greg Dassonville: I never thought about when we have gorgeous um.

[36:17] Benji Rivera: Garments.

[36:21] Greg Dassonville: I know I was having hard time. You know I was like. Can we get a piece of pizza on Caleb's chest?

[36:24] Benji Rivera: Like nope.

[36:28] Greg Dassonville: When we have gorgeous gorgeous garments that we're going back to where they belong then we have to hold the pizza far away.

[36:31] Benji Rivera: It has to be.

[36:33] Greg Dassonville: I think at one point I was like should I go pat the grease off the pizza.

[36:35] Benji Rivera: I was like you're being crazy. Just relax relax.

[36:41] Greg Dassonville: It was greasy dollar pizza so it was like greasy.

[36:43] Benji Rivera: Yeah. It looks good.

[36:45] Greg Dassonville: It did. But one of my favorite shots from the shoot. It'll be out soon.

[36:48] Benji Rivera: Yeah we're getting we're released.

[36:51] Greg Dassonville: Oh. You'll be sick of them. Trust me.

[36:55] Benji Rivera: Oh my god. We're like splayed out on the floor and uh Greg's shoes are in the shot.

[36:59] Greg Dassonville: So it looks like we're like drunk on the street and they're just like hot guy shoes.

[37:03] Benji Rivera: We don't see anything besides like legs. It's like one of my favorites.

[37:08] Greg Dassonville: I haven't even seen it.

[37:11] Benji Rivera: It's such a small detail too that Caleb was like are those Greg's feet? And I was like oh my god.

[37:15] Greg Dassonville: But you have your perfect little like white Nike sock.

[37:17] Benji Rivera: White Nike shoe.

[37:19] Greg Dassonville: Like it's like that was styled too.

[37:22] Benji Rivera: Exactly. You're welcome.

[37:25] Greg Dassonville: It's a great shot. So fun.

[37:28] Benji Rivera: But again those are like happy accidents.

[37:31] Greg Dassonville: Yeah yeah.

[37:36] Benji Rivera: And also you know depending on the day sometimes an overhead shot not going to be your favorite.

[37:41] Greg Dassonville: Which angle? We don't know.

[37:44] Benji Rivera: I know I never want to be photographed for overhead.

[37:48] Greg Dassonville: So like good for you for like.

[37:51] Benji Rivera: We're like let's lay down. You're like okay.

[37:54] Greg Dassonville: Greg was like I'll pull up the ladder let's go.

[37:58] Benji Rivera: No but it's just funny too because we're like when when we're thinking of it in our heads we're like oh like an overhead shot.

[38:03] Greg Dassonville: We're like those are a lot of the images we sent you were like right people on the floor.

[38:07] Benji Rivera: Yeah we don't all look like Nicole Kidman and like you know Moulin Rouge.

[38:11] Greg Dassonville: Like you know.

[38:12] Benji Rivera: Yeah so it was just like but then it's like you also have to trust everyone's eye to be like when Benji says hey let's sit up and move against this wall.

[38:20] Greg Dassonville: Then we're like it's not working. We're not gonna spend a ton of time here.

[38:25] Benji Rivera: Right. We'll have options.

[38:28] Greg Dassonville: Yeah.

[38:30] Benji Rivera: I mean it was just such a blast. We love getting to like play like that. It's very very fun.

[38:35] Caleb Dicke: It's not often you get to play with your best friends like.

[38:39] Benji Rivera: Yeah. So I mean there was like what four OCU people in that room.

[38:43] Greg Dassonville: Four out of six of us had you know known each other since college and then you know Greg and I've been working together for months and my assistant Emily and I've been working together for months.

[38:49] Benji Rivera: So it's like pretty easy crowd.

[38:52] Greg Dassonville: Yeah. Have a boyfriend there and Michael took endless like behind the scenes stuff and I was like babe where like where were you?

[38:57] Benji Rivera: I was like all the shit that he took and I was like yeah I didn't even feel like I didn't even see you throughout the shot.

[39:01] Greg Dassonville: But it was really fun.

[39:04] Benji Rivera: I would say like like what you were saying too with like you got to put something good in front of the camera.

[39:10] Greg Dassonville: Like being in like some nice clothes that are like new and felt really fancy.

[39:14] Benji Rivera: It felt like really cool.

[39:17] Greg Dassonville: Yeah.

[39:20] Benji Rivera: Have a good makeup artist on you know who like.

[39:22] Greg Dassonville: Yeah.

[39:25] Benji Rivera: Well it definitely brings something out of you right.

[39:28] Greg Dassonville: Yeah. You like yeah to transform because it like brings that energy that you want.

[39:33] Benji Rivera: And you know you could pull from your closet but you're not going to feel that same like sparkle.

[39:37] Greg Dassonville: It's different.

[39:39] Benji Rivera: No. It is different.

[39:41] Greg Dassonville: Right. The elevation of it.

[39:44] Benji Rivera: They can tell it's different.

[39:46] Greg Dassonville: Yeah.

[39:48] Benji Rivera: Of course. So like if you're gonna do I would say if you're gonna if anyone's gonna do like an Instagram shot shoot or like photo new headshots or something.

[39:55] Greg Dassonville: Get a new shirt.

[39:57] Benji Rivera: I don't know or have Greg's style available. Call me.

[40:01] Greg Dassonville: Call Greg.

[40:03] Benji Rivera: I don't know if Greg's gonna want to hear this. Maybe we can like mute his headphones but I always just tell people like go buy stuff off the rack or like whatever a mannequin's wearing head to toe.

[40:10] Greg Dassonville: Like stylists do this all the time.

[40:12] Benji Rivera: If the mannequin is wearing it obviously like whoever Banana Republic Zara has designed this look to be worn together.

[40:17] Greg Dassonville: Buy it all.

[40:18] Benji Rivera: Leave the tags on. We'll shoot it and we'll return it.

[40:21] Greg Dassonville: Just make sure though it meets the brand.

[40:23] Benji Rivera: Right. Right. You know it's very important. Know thyself.

[40:27] Greg Dassonville: Right. But now I know.

[40:29] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[40:31] Greg Dassonville: Now I know Greg so I don't always have to like say that.

[40:34] Benji Rivera: Well and that's something too that like I think that you know we Caleb and I are pretty aware of like not only our brand as the show but also each other.

[40:41] Greg Dassonville: Like we were able to say like I like these colors. I like bold patterns.

[40:44] Benji Rivera: Like all these things.

[40:46] Caleb Dicke: Caleb was like I'm into playing with like more fluid wear. Like I'm down for a skirt or something flowy.

[40:51] Benji Rivera: I was just gonna say like if we had done this shoot let's say five six years ago would we have done it the same way that we did it this last time?

[40:57] Greg Dassonville: You know I think right this last year and a half or so we've learned so much more about who we are as people but the world is also evolving too.

[41:05] Benji Rivera: And I think you know if you think about like our earlier selves we would have played it very safe.

[41:10] Greg Dassonville: Right.

[41:12] Benji Rivera: We would have wanted it to be so tailored and just like very tongue-in-cheek and that like jewel tone like showcase.

[41:18] Greg Dassonville: You know what I'm saying?

[41:20] Benji Rivera: Express men.

[41:22] Greg Dassonville: Yeah with the nude pump.

[41:24] Benji Rivera: Style x1 or something like what was the thing Express?

[41:28] Greg Dassonville: It's like very specific brand of like the shirt.

[41:31] Benji Rivera: I love that shirt. They stretch really well.

[41:34] Greg Dassonville: Good stretch.

[41:36] Benji Rivera: Throw a vest on.

[41:38] Greg Dassonville: I'm never gonna put on a vest.

[41:40] Benji Rivera: I didn't either. I couldn't.

[41:42] Greg Dassonville: I think I had a vest.

[41:44] Benji Rivera: You definitely did.

[41:46] Greg Dassonville: I definitely did.

[41:48] Benji Rivera: In high school.

[41:49] Greg Dassonville: I think I got rid of them in college.

[41:51] Benji Rivera: I had a sweater vest in high school.

[41:54] Greg Dassonville: I love a sweater vest.

[41:56] Benji Rivera: Nice. A casual sweater vest to high school.

[41:59] Greg Dassonville: They are.

[42:01] Benji Rivera: With nothing underneath.

[42:03] Greg Dassonville: A chunky oversized sweater vest.

[42:06] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[42:08] Greg Dassonville: I love them.

[42:10] Benji Rivera: Nothing underneath this one?

[42:12] Greg Dassonville: Nothing underneath.

[42:14] Benji Rivera: For school?

[42:16] Greg Dassonville: No for like life.

[42:18] Benji Rivera: I used to wear like t-shirts underneath my tank top.

[42:21] Greg Dassonville: For school?

[42:23] Benji Rivera: Yes.

[42:25] Greg Dassonville: I know that's edgy school.

[42:27] Benji Rivera: Yeah oh my god no.

[42:29] Greg Dassonville: No no no way.

[42:31] Benji Rivera: Adults not eighth graders.

[42:34] Greg Dassonville: I don't show my armpits in high school.

[42:36] Benji Rivera: Eighth graders are just wearing t-shirts.

[42:39] Greg Dassonville: You just started sprouting hair under your arms.

[42:41] Benji Rivera: Oh yeah. T-shirts under tank tops.

[42:43] Greg Dassonville: Yes.

[42:45] Benji Rivera: I have lots of pictures of white t-shirts under tank tops.

[42:48] Greg Dassonville: Oh I love that. Work.

[42:50] Benji Rivera: Nobody was helping me. I was getting hand-me-downs my entire life.

[42:54] Greg Dassonville: Okay.

[42:56] Benji Rivera: You know I was like and one Nike like Adidas hand-me-downs.

[42:59] Greg Dassonville: Yep.

[43:01] Benji Rivera: I didn't know what I was doing.

[43:03] Greg Dassonville: You're forgiven.

[43:05] Benji Rivera: Yeah. We love that but you can make make your hand-me-downs chic.

[43:09] Greg Dassonville: Hello.

[43:11] Benji Rivera: Hello. Styling. TikTok.

[43:12] Caleb Dicke: Okay are we ready for some fun questions?

[43:16] Greg Dassonville: Oh yes. They're easy.

[43:18] Benji Rivera: No stress.

[43:20] Caleb Dicke: Okay. No stress. No stress. Ready?

[43:24] Caleb Dicke: What was your favorite store at the mall as a kid?

[43:28] Greg Dassonville: Abercrombie. Done. Sold. So quick.

[43:32] Benji Rivera: Yep. Did you get like the.

[43:34] Greg Dassonville: Do you want to hear an embarrassing story?

[43:36] Benji Rivera: Please.

[43:38] Greg Dassonville: I once walked into an Abercrombie in seventh grade and said I'm home.

[43:43] Benji Rivera: No.

[43:44] Greg Dassonville: How disgusting is that? The podcast is over.

[43:48] Benji Rivera: Yeah. Revoke the styling card.

[43:51] Greg Dassonville: I think my mom slapped me across the face at that point. She's like are you crazy?

[43:55] Benji Rivera: Oh my god. She actually slapped me just for the record. She's not.

[43:25] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[43:55] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[44:25] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[44:55] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:02] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:05] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:07] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:11] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:13] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:18] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:22] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:25] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:32] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:35] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:39] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:42] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:45] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:47] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:48] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:50] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:53] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[45:57] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[46:00] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[46:04] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[46:08] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[46:10] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[46:13] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[46:16] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[46:18] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[46:20] Benji Rivera: HUNGOVER.

[46:23] Benji Rivera: That is, like, kind of almost childlike sun dresses.

[46:27] Benji Rivera: It's very, like, that kind of, like, dichotomy of, like, adult woman and, like, too young of a sundress, which is, like,

[46:35] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[46:36] Benji Rivera: a dark picture.

[46:38] Caleb Dicke: Angle of the camera!

[46:40] Benji Rivera: Oh, the angle!

[46:42] Caleb Dicke: The angle!

[46:43] Benji Rivera: Really showing off that.

[46:45] Benji Rivera: This shift, shift, shift.

[46:46] Caleb Dicke: That's where Benji's like, sweetie, sweetie, just change the angle.

[46:49] Benji Rivera: Chin down, chin down, chin down.

[46:51] Benji Rivera: I am Paris Eleanor Britney Spears.

[46:54] Caleb Dicke: Do you want to say it with me on three?

[46:56] Benji Rivera: Yes.

[46:57] Caleb Dicke: One, two, three.

[46:58] Benji Rivera: Lindsay Lohan.

[46:59] Caleb Dicke: Oh!

[47:00] Benji Rivera: I can see that for you.

[47:01] Caleb Dicke: Oh, I love her!

[47:02] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[47:03] Caleb Dicke: I mean, what's not to love?

[47:04] Benji Rivera: I mean, I love her and, like, I wish that she hadn't fallen off so,

[47:07] Benji Rivera: you know, the deep end the way she has.

[47:09] Caleb Dicke: You guys are both bringing her careers back.

[47:11] Benji Rivera: Yeah, we're like, everybody just needs lifted up.

[47:13] Caleb Dicke: Paris doesn't need any help.

[47:14] Benji Rivera: She's on Netflix right now.

[47:15] Caleb Dicke: She's got her own Netflix, yeah.

[47:16] Benji Rivera: Have you watched her show?

[47:17] Caleb Dicke: I haven't yet.

[47:18] Benji Rivera: I just started last night.

[47:19] Caleb Dicke: It is so funny.

[47:20] Benji Rivera: But no, for me, it's Lindsay.

[47:21] Benji Rivera: I've, like, been Team Lindsay since Parent Trap.

[47:23] Caleb Dicke: Parent Trap is, like, top three movies of all time for me.

[47:26] Benji Rivera: But also, like, Lindsay and Mykonos, Dancing.

[47:29] Caleb Dicke: Oh, yeah.

[47:30] Benji Rivera: Sorry, Mykonos bitch.

[47:31] Benji Rivera: I'm, like, the biggest fan and so, therefore, I would definitely say Lindsay.

[47:35] Caleb Dicke: Great.

[47:36] Benji Rivera: I love that.

[47:37] Caleb Dicke: What is your part of your daily routine that you can't go without?

[47:40] Benji Rivera: Oh, Dunkin' Donuts iced tea every day.

[47:43] Caleb Dicke: Oh, iced tea!

[47:44] Benji Rivera: Iced tea.

[47:45] Benji Rivera: I don't drink coffee.

[47:46] Benji Rivera: So, and I don't drink soda.

[47:48] Benji Rivera: So, I need an iced tea.

[47:50] Caleb Dicke: Wow.

[47:51] Benji Rivera: Is it sweet?

[47:52] Benji Rivera: No, unsweetened.

[47:53] Benji Rivera: This is, like, a new thing.

[47:54] Benji Rivera: So, once I did Whole30, I was, like, I need to figure out a way to just drink black tea.

[48:00] Benji Rivera: So, now, I can't have a sweetened.

[48:02] Benji Rivera: I'm, like, great.

[48:03] Benji Rivera: I just have it plain.

[48:04] Caleb Dicke: I'm the same with my coffee.

[48:05] Caleb Dicke: I can't put sugar in it anymore after doing Whole30.

[48:07] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[48:08] Caleb Dicke: Wow.

[48:09] Benji Rivera: So, and I don't feel so bad when I have, like, two of them.

[48:11] Benji Rivera: Because I'm, like, it's just, oh, yeah.

[48:12] Benji Rivera: It's just tea.

[48:13] Benji Rivera: It's just water.

[48:14] Benji Rivera: It's a bag of tea.

[48:15] Benji Rivera: It's water.

[48:16] Benji Rivera: It's leaf water.

[48:17] Caleb Dicke: It's literally leaf water.

[48:18] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[48:19] Caleb Dicke: Love it.

[48:20] Benji Rivera: Love.

[48:21] Benji Rivera: Same question?

[48:23] Benji Rivera: Yes.

[48:24] Benji Rivera: Oh, absolutely would be my morning coffee and cartoons.

[48:25] Caleb Dicke: Can't go without?

[48:26] Benji Rivera: Can't go without.

[48:27] Benji Rivera: Okay.

[48:28] Benji Rivera: You know, I feel like mornings are, like, time for yourself.

[48:30] Caleb Dicke: Yeah, totally.

[48:31] Benji Rivera: You wake up two hours before I need to be somewhere.

[48:32] Benji Rivera: So, I have, like, two hours.

[48:33] Caleb Dicke: Two hours?

[48:34] Benji Rivera: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[48:35] Benji Rivera: Well, I have to walk the dog.

[48:36] Benji Rivera: I do.

[48:37] Benji Rivera: You know, that's part of my morning.

[48:38] Benji Rivera: We'll, like, sit on a bench for a moment.

[48:39] Caleb Dicke: Oh.

[48:40] Benji Rivera: And then, I need to, like, sit on the couch for, like, a beat, have my coffee and my cartoons before I'm, like, getting ready.

[48:44] Benji Rivera: I do.

[48:45] Benji Rivera: I'm a bad dad.

[48:46] Caleb Dicke: Oh, man.

[48:47] Benji Rivera: You need your mornings.

[48:49] Benji Rivera: I, you know, I do it all in an hour.

[48:52] Caleb Dicke: Look.

[48:53] Benji Rivera: Parenting is not an exact science.

[48:54] Caleb Dicke: No, it is not.

[48:55] Benji Rivera: In all my life.

[48:56] Benji Rivera: Have you seen the, like, clip of Benny Drama, like, being, like, a mom?

[49:00] Benji Rivera: Do you know who that is?

[49:01] Caleb Dicke: No.

[49:02] Benji Rivera: Yes.

[49:03] Benji Rivera: It's so funny.

[49:04] Benji Rivera: Like, Anastasia Beverly Hills.

[49:05] Caleb Dicke: Yes, it's so good.

[49:06] Benji Rivera: Like, that's me as a mom.

[49:07] Caleb Dicke: Yeah, that feels right.

[49:08] Benji Rivera: That's very right for me.

[49:09] Benji Rivera: I'm, like, darling, get me this.

[49:10] Benji Rivera: You, like, that is me.

[49:11] Benji Rivera: We'll have to show you.

[49:12] Caleb Dicke: It's really good.

[49:13] Benji Rivera: It's good.

[49:14] Benji Rivera: For our next style and photograph trio, we have Nick Jonas, Harry Styles, or Lil Nas X?

[49:21] Caleb Dicke: Oh, God.

[49:22] Benji Rivera: How dare you?

[49:23] Caleb Dicke: Good ones, right?

[49:24] Benji Rivera: Really good ones.

[49:25] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[49:26] Benji Rivera: Benji, do you know?

[49:27] Benji Rivera: I'm, yeah, I have an obvious one for me.

[49:28] Benji Rivera: Well, go ahead.

[49:29] Benji Rivera: Harry Styles.

[49:30] Caleb Dicke: Harry Styles, yeah?

[49:31] Benji Rivera: Oh, yeah.

[49:32] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[49:33] Benji Rivera: Absolutely.

[49:34] Benji Rivera: I'm so torn.

[49:35] Benji Rivera: Um.

[49:36] Benji Rivera: Talk it out.

[49:37] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[49:38] Benji Rivera: So, obviously, the moment.

[49:39] Benji Rivera: Audio muted.

[49:40] Benji Rivera: Obviously, the moment.

[49:41] Benji Rivera: Lil Nas is the moment.

[49:42] Benji Rivera: He is the moment, yeah.

[49:43] Benji Rivera: Now, come on, now.

[49:44] Benji Rivera: Hello.

[49:45] Benji Rivera: You know what?

[49:46] Benji Rivera: I'm just going to, period.

[49:47] Benji Rivera: Done.

[49:48] Benji Rivera: Done.

[49:49] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[49:50] Benji Rivera: That's it.

[49:51] Benji Rivera: There it is.

[49:52] Benji Rivera: Okay.

[49:53] Benji Rivera: So, we all made some purchases during the pandemic.

[49:54] Caleb Dicke: Totally.

[49:55] Benji Rivera: But some of them we probably shouldn't have purchased.

[49:56] Benji Rivera: But what is the one where you're, like, mm, too late, confirm purchase?

[49:57] Benji Rivera: Something that you made this over the pandemic.

[49:58] Benji Rivera: It's, like, something that we're, like, no regrets.

[49:59] Benji Rivera: Like, we're like, mm, too late, confirm purchase.

[50:00] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[50:01] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[50:02] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[50:03] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[50:04] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[50:05] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[50:06] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[50:07] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[50:08] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[50:10] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[50:11] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[50:12] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[50:13] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[50:14] Benji Rivera: So, like, no regrets.

[50:16] Benji Rivera: No regrets.

[50:17] Benji Rivera: But yeah, it was kind of, like...

[50:18] Benji Rivera: Oh!

[50:19] Benji Rivera: My new camera.

[50:20] Caleb Dicke: Oh, okay.

[50:21] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[50:22] Benji Rivera: I finally upgraded to, like, a professional camera this year.

[50:24] Benji Rivera: I bought a facelifting machine.

[50:25] Caleb Dicke: Word!

[50:26] Benji Rivera: What is that?

[50:27] Benji Rivera: So, I got very into, like, creams and just, like, figuring out the face during the pandemic.

[50:30] Benji Rivera: I was like, I have the time.

[50:32] Benji Rivera: She's getting older.

[50:33] Benji Rivera: I want to hold on to this young...

[50:34] Caleb Dicke: But it looks super tight.

[50:36] Benji Rivera: Thank you so much, right?

[50:38] Caleb Dicke: Somebody the other day told me I look 25, and I was like, God bless you.

[50:42] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[50:43] Benji Rivera: So, I bought this thing called New Face, and it's this little, like, handheld device that has these titanium, I guess, like, balls on them.

[50:55] Benji Rivera: And you basically prime your whole face, and it's, like, an infrared, like, laser, like, in it, and it's non-invasive.

[51:04] Benji Rivera: And you basically, like, rub this along your face, and you can feel your face, like, tightening as you're doing it.

[51:08] Benji Rivera: And you're supposed to do it every single day, and, like, dermatologists do recommend that you do this, because it is, like, preventative, and, like, it lifts the face, and you're supposed to do it for five minutes every day.

[51:18] Benji Rivera: Have I done that for five minutes?

[51:19] Benji Rivera: No, I have not.

[51:20] Caleb Dicke: Maybe you should cut the T and get the face...

[51:22] Benji Rivera: The primer.

[51:23] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[51:24] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[51:25] Benji Rivera: Or wake up an hour earlier so you have more time for all of it.

[51:26] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[51:27] Benji Rivera: I think you're supposed to do it at night.

[51:28] Caleb Dicke: Oh.

[51:29] Benji Rivera: Oh, yeah, yeah.

[51:30] Benji Rivera: That makes sense.

[51:31] Benji Rivera: Okay.

[51:32] Benji Rivera: That's wild.

[51:34] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[51:35] Benji Rivera: Wait, is it, like...

[51:36] Benji Rivera: Do you see a difference?

[51:37] Benji Rivera: I did see a difference, yes.

[51:38] Benji Rivera: And, also, have you ever tried, um, Hanacure?

[51:39] Caleb Dicke: Mm-mm.

[51:40] Benji Rivera: Oh, my God.

[51:41] Benji Rivera: This is this, like...

[51:42] Benji Rivera: So, it's a face mask, but it, like, tightens your face so hard that you honestly can't move it.

[51:49] Benji Rivera: You look, like, 90 years old with it on.

[51:50] Benji Rivera: Like, it, like, shrivels up your whole face, and you're like, like, man, dog.

[51:56] Benji Rivera: Like, it's so crazy.

[51:57] Caleb Dicke: I love that.

[51:58] Benji Rivera: We love a face mask.

[51:59] Caleb Dicke: I love a face mask.

[52:00] Benji Rivera: They're the best.

[52:01] Benji Rivera: So, everybody, order today.

[52:02] Benji Rivera: New face.

[52:03] Benji Rivera: Code Equity1.

[52:04] Caleb Dicke: Oh, my God.

[52:05] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[52:06] Benji Rivera: Okay, last, uh, question, uh, style and photograph.

[52:10] Benji Rivera: Mm.

[52:11] Benji Rivera: This is more than a trio.

[52:12] Caleb Dicke: Okay.

[52:13] Benji Rivera: Okay, we have Eureka, Ginger Minj, Trinity K. Bonet, Kylie Sonique Love, or Raja O'Hara.

[52:21] Caleb Dicke: Spoiler, the top five of All-Star Six.

[52:23] Benji Rivera: Spoiler.

[52:24] Benji Rivera: I'm gonna go with Raja because I hated her on her season, but she's done such an amazing turnaround.

[52:31] Benji Rivera: She turned it around.

[52:32] Benji Rivera: She turned it around hard.

[52:34] Benji Rivera: So good.

[52:35] Benji Rivera: Like, what a, that is a journey that I want to see.

[52:36] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[52:37] Benji Rivera: Like, when she was announced, I was not happy, but that person that's, like, come out of that first experience, and the person that's evolved today, like, that is such a beautiful human.

[52:46] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[52:48] Benji Rivera: There's nothing but love.

[52:49] Benji Rivera: So good.

[52:50] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[52:51] Benji Rivera: Coming through her, and I am so here for her.

[52:52] Benji Rivera: And she makes everything that she's wearing.

[52:53] Benji Rivera: Everything.

[52:54] Benji Rivera: That's fierce.

[52:55] Benji Rivera: And that video, that first challenge where she made the dress in, like, 30 seconds, whatever it was.

[52:58] Caleb Dicke: Yes.

[52:59] Benji Rivera: So good.

[53:00] Benji Rivera: So good.

[53:01] Benji Rivera: I can't even do that.

[53:02] Caleb Dicke: Love.

[53:04] Benji Rivera: No.

[53:05] Benji Rivera: Love.

[53:06] Benji Rivera: Love.

[53:07] Caleb Dicke: I'd say Kylie.

[53:08] Benji Rivera: Yes.

[53:09] Benji Rivera: She's fierce.

[53:10] Benji Rivera: Love her.

[53:11] Benji Rivera: She was, like, a, I was, like, not sure for a while.

[53:12] Benji Rivera: She's growing on me.

[53:13] Benji Rivera: She really grew.

[53:14] Benji Rivera: She's who I want to win now.

[53:15] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[53:16] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[53:17] Benji Rivera: She was robbed of Snatch Game of Love, I'd have to say.

[53:18] Caleb Dicke: I agree.

[53:19] Benji Rivera: You think so?

[53:20] Caleb Dicke: Yes.

[53:21] Benji Rivera: I agree.

[53:22] Benji Rivera: Robbed.

[53:23] Caleb Dicke: I don't know if it was robbed.

[53:24] Benji Rivera: Robbed.

[53:25] Caleb Dicke: Robbery.

[53:26] Benji Rivera: I don't know.

[53:27] Benji Rivera: I don't think you have an opinion because this is our podcast.

[53:28] Caleb Dicke: Listen.

[53:29] Benji Rivera: Everybody has an opinion.

[53:30] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[53:31] Benji Rivera: I think we, like, liked her so well because it was so out of her character to do so well.

[53:34] Caleb Dicke: Yes.

[53:35] Benji Rivera: And we expect Ginger to do that well.

[53:36] Caleb Dicke: Right.

[53:37] Benji Rivera: Right.

[53:38] Benji Rivera: So it feels different.

[53:39] Benji Rivera: But she, Ginger always performs kind of in, for me, in the same way.

[53:42] Caleb Dicke: Yes.

[53:43] Benji Rivera: Right.

[53:44] Benji Rivera: Agreed.

[53:45] Benji Rivera: I think Kylie is, like, she hasn't peaked yet, right?

[53:46] Caleb Dicke: Yes.

[53:47] Benji Rivera: Every episode is just getting better and better.

[53:48] Caleb Dicke: Which is a great game to play.

[53:49] Benji Rivera: Which is wonderful because in the beginning I was, like, girl, you need to go home.

[53:52] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[53:53] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[53:54] Benji Rivera: But somebody the other day brought this up and I'm going to bring it up here so we can all talk about it.

[53:57] Caleb Dicke: Let's talk about it.

[53:58] Benji Rivera: Do we feel that, like, do you feel like they tried to rig it in a way to make sure that she continues to be, like, in the top?

[54:04] Benji Rivera: Um, no.

[54:10] Benji Rivera: I don't really buy into, like, the, like, they rig the challenges.

[54:15] Benji Rivera: Or, like, guide it in a way.

[54:17] Benji Rivera: Like, even think about, like, Michelle.

[54:18] Benji Rivera: I think I guide it.

[54:19] Benji Rivera: I do.

[54:20] Benji Rivera: Michelle was, like, I know you can do more.

[54:21] Benji Rivera: I know, like, she's pulling this out of her.

[54:23] Caleb Dicke: Sure.

[54:24] Benji Rivera: But I also think that, like, I was of a team where I was, like, she was doing a good job.

[54:28] Benji Rivera: But you think she should have won the challenge that she won the first time?

[54:32] Benji Rivera: Yes.

[54:33] Benji Rivera: Because she looked and acted like Jessica Lange.

[54:36] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[54:37] Benji Rivera: If it was an acting challenge, she had the best performance.

[54:39] Caleb Dicke: I didn't.

[54:40] Benji Rivera: And that one was a terrible episode, too.

[54:42] Benji Rivera: Yeah.

[54:43] Benji Rivera: She was the best part of the episode.

[54:44] Benji Rivera: She was the breath of fresh air in that episode.

[54:45] Benji Rivera: The thing is, is that they say, like, it's overacting.

[54:47] Benji Rivera: It was also theater 101 no-no.

[54:49] Benji Rivera: Don't stand in straight line.

[54:50] Caleb Dicke: Oh, my God.

[54:51] Benji Rivera: Straight line the whole time.

[54:52] Benji Rivera: What was that?

[54:53] Benji Rivera: It was terrible.

[54:54] Benji Rivera: I was, like, can we get in some windows here?

[54:56] Benji Rivera: Can we, like, break it up?

[54:58] Benji Rivera: What?

[54:59] Benji Rivera: What I'll say is I think that this season is, like, a lot of the challenges, kind of like season seven, were are kind of like challenges that someone like Ginger would do very well in.

[55:03] Benji Rivera: So you can kind of count on them doing well.

[55:09] Benji Rivera: And where I think Kylie is kind of, like, doing well in everything unexpectedly is more exciting.

[55:18] Caleb Dicke: Totally.

[55:19] Benji Rivera: For me.

[55:21] Benji Rivera: I know.

[55:23] Benji Rivera: I honestly feel like I've always felt the show had their hands in it a little too much for my taste.

[55:26] Benji Rivera: I understand it's TV.

[55:28] Benji Rivera: Like to us, it's like this killer competition we love to watch, but it does feel a little too manipulated.

[55:32] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[55:34] Benji Rivera: A little bit.

[55:35] Benji Rivera: The judging.

[55:36] Benji Rivera: I feel like this season has been a little.

[55:37] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[55:38] Benji Rivera: But also, when's the game going to start?

[55:41] Caleb Dicke: Exactly.

[55:42] Benji Rivera: Over.

[55:43] Benji Rivera: We're at the top five.

[55:44] Benji Rivera: Robert Postotnik knows and he won't tell me.

[55:45] Caleb Dicke: I don't want to know.

[55:46] Benji Rivera: I want to know.

[55:47] Benji Rivera: Only because I know he knows.

[55:48] Caleb Dicke: Oh, yeah.

[55:49] Benji Rivera: Shout out to Robert.

[55:50] Caleb Dicke: No spoilers.

[55:51] Benji Rivera: Hey, Robert.

[55:52] Caleb Dicke: Hey, Robert.

[55:53] Benji Rivera: Too busy.

[55:54] Benji Rivera: Ugh.

[55:55] Benji Rivera: Busy with the Grue girls.

[55:56] Caleb Dicke: Yeah.

[55:57] Benji Rivera: Just so busy.

[55:58] Benji Rivera: Is that all?

[55:59] Caleb Dicke: That is all.

[56:00] Benji Rivera: Wow.

[56:01] Benji Rivera: Oh, my God.

[56:02] Benji Rivera: It happened so fast.

[56:03] Caleb Dicke: Yes.

[56:04] Benji Rivera: It did go fast.

[56:05] Benji Rivera: Why don't you have fun?

[56:06] Caleb Dicke: I know.

[56:07] Benji Rivera: Thank you all so much.

[56:08] Benji Rivera: Not only for the amazing work you did on our shoot, which you can see on all of our Instagrams.

[56:10] Benji Rivera: Like, find us all where we tell you after this.

[56:13] Caleb Dicke: Yep.

[56:14] Benji Rivera: So, thanks for that great collaboration and also just for this fun night hanging out.

[56:19] Benji Rivera: Thank you.

[56:20] Benji Rivera: This was a blast.

[56:21] Caleb Dicke: Yay.

[56:22] Benji Rivera: Good.

[56:23] Benji Rivera: Where can people find you on social media, both personally and for your businesses?

[56:28] Benji Rivera: My personal account on Instagram is at Benji underscore Riv.

[56:33] Benji Rivera: My photography is at Benjamin Rivera Photography.

[56:36] Benji Rivera: I use the legal name, you know.

[56:39] Benji Rivera: More official.

[56:40] Greg Dassonville: Yeah.

[56:41] Greg Dassonville: For me, so my personal is at Dasaberg.

[56:45] Greg Dassonville: D-A-S-S-A-B-E-R-G.

[56:48] Greg Dassonville: And my business account is at Dasenvogue.

[56:52] Greg Dassonville: And you can also visit my website at www.dasenvogue.com.

[56:56] Benji Rivera: Yes.

[56:57] Benji Rivera: Cheers.

[56:58] Caleb Dicke: This is an exciting day because we have something additional to add to the socials.

[57:03] Benji Rivera: Okay.

[57:04] Caleb Dicke: So, let's see.

[57:05] Caleb Dicke: I think I got this.

[57:06] Benji Rivera: Okay.

[57:07] Caleb Dicke: Okay.

[57:08] Caleb Dicke: I'll pick up where you leave off.

[57:09] You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok.

[57:14] Benji Rivera: What?

[57:15] Caleb Dicke: At EquityOnePodcast and at EquityOne underscore on Twitter.

[57:20] Benji Rivera: Yes.

[57:21] Caleb Dicke: You can send us an email at EquityOnePodcast at gmail.com.

[57:25] Benji Rivera: But then also at this moment right now, please head over to your Apple podcast app.

[57:29] Benji Rivera: Give us a five star review.

[57:31] Benji Rivera: Five star and review.

[57:33] Caleb Dicke: Same thing.

[57:34] Benji Rivera: The Topo Chico is really hitting.

[57:36] Benji Rivera: It is.

[57:37] Benji Rivera: I feel it.

[57:38] Benji Rivera: The one can.

[57:39] Caleb Dicke: Elliott, where can we find you?

[57:41] Elliott Mattox: You can find me at Elliott Maddox on everything.

[57:43] Caleb Dicke: Caleb?

[57:45] Caleb Dicke: Caleb Dickey on everything.

[57:46] Benji Rivera: And until next time.

[57:47] Benji Rivera: Cheers.