Transcript
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Kwame
What's up, everybody? Welcome to today's episode of Beyond Influence. I'm Kwame Appiah. I'm here with my co-host Scott. And we have with us today, somebody I'm very excited to talk to. One of the newest members of the Love Is Blind crew. The pasta master himself.
Scott
We have to keep him coming. We have with us today, Nicholas Dorka.
Kwame
What's up, Nick? How are you, man?
Nick
I'm doing well. I hope you guys are doing suave too, suave too, you know.
Scott
Awesome. And he's coming live from his cell phone. Brought to you by Mom Dorcas. Thank you.
Nick
That's a go-on, man. Yeah. Thank you, Mom.
Scott
No. We love you. Thanks for coming on. We're really excited about this one. So many people, you know, know you and came to love you throughout the process of Love Is Blind and, you know, just want to get to know you and see how life has been unpacked. You know, what's happened post-Love Is Blind? Maybe dive a little bit into what happened and how that's been for you. So, you know, how's life? What have you been up to recently? How's the kind of post-Love Is Blind treat you?
Nick
Yeah, it's, it's, it's been great, to be honest. I've been having a lot of fun with it. I like to keep things light. You know, I'm. I'm the type to throw memes up about myself. It's been a really cool experience. And I think the cool part is there are so many different avenues that are going to open up for me in the next month, two months to a year. And, I was telling Kwame the other day, I'm one of those people who's very structured, right? And I like to know what I'm doing the next day, you know, a month from now. And, this is a period of uncertainty. You know, a lot's going to kind of open up, you know, and it's a blessing to use this platform and this experience to kind of just experience things I wouldn't have before. So, you know, I'm still doing real estate. We're watching my Commanders get that dub tonight against Philly. I got 29-27 Commanders. But yeah, just hanging out with my people and taking it all in.
Scott
That's awesome. What has the response been? You know, I imagine with your kind of crew at home, it's like, you know, the crew that knows you really well is there for you. You know, how has that reception been kind of after everything aired?
Nick
It was crazier before it aired. A lot of secrets and hints and questions and stuff like that. But, I'm actually very grateful that Netflix decided to come out with one of the deleted scenes of me and three of my boys and Hannah because, you know, there were a lot of good moments when, when she met my sister and when she met my people, that they didn't show. So, my friends have all been supportive. The only person I was worried about was Mom. You know, she wanted to make sure her baby boy was going to be okay. But she's been so, so supportive, and she was a boss on the show. You know, she did her thing.
Kwame
Yeah, that's dope, man. You know, going through that experience myself, you know, I had a mom who was, you know, very, very focused on what the outcome was going to be for her son. You know what I mean? And I think it is interesting, right? Like you said, you were worried about Mom. The perception of everything, the protection of making sure that everybody knows Mom is in the right. Because ultimately, Mom does want what's best for their baby boy. So. Yeah. No, I feel you, man. And obviously, a lot of cool things have been happening for you. And I'm seeing, you know, one thing I'm jealous of. Can I be honest with you? One thing that I'm jealous of, man, is that Kehlani follows you. I'm very jealous of that, bro.
Nick
He told me when I want to pull up to a concert and let her know the concert, and she’s got me. Yeah.
Kwame
That is amazing. You're doing all these cool things. You're going to Ravens games. Hopefully a Commander's game soon. You know, what is one really, really out-there thing that you would want to do right now that, you know, shoot for the moon?
Nick
Yeah. So, can I, can I pick two things?
Kwame
Yes, 100%.
Nick
Okay. So one, you know, I kind of want to be on Dancing with the Stars, right? You know, I think I'm built for it with my Cuban background. And then two, you know, GQ and Vogue, where are you guys at? I would love to do the runway. I'd love to do commercials. I'm really into, you know, fashion and different styles, unique styles. And, I threw up a couple of picks the other day, and, you know, they caught some buzz, especially with the women. So, that’d be something really cool.
Kwame
Before I pass it back off to Scott, you segued right into a perfect question because this is something we ask our guests occasionally. As you can see behind me, I've got my sneaker wall, which I'm a little disappointed in myself right now because I usually change up the sneakers, but today I didn't. But with that being said, as a man of fashion and style, a demure gentleman, what would you say is your favorite pair of kicks right now or the kicks that you wore today?
Nick
I mean, Jordan 1s. I got ten, and I would say I got seven. You know, I threw a couple of them out. I got seven pairs of Jordan 1s. You know, I love a great Chelsea boot. I just love a great Chelsea boot. So that's a little different than a sneaker, right? You know, obviously, you can, you know, mix and match and stuff like that, but, man, like, I just got a pair of, you know, another pair of Chelsea in gray, and they look great. So I'm going to have to go with that. But I have to say I'm a little disappointed. You're from the DMV, but you’re repping Boston right now, man.
Kwame
Listen, listen. Hear me out. I have the Boston hat on because our HQ is in Boston, and I went down one day. And, you know, here’s something you might be able to do at some point. I hit up the people at Fenway, and I was like, “Hey, I would love to get a tour of Fenway.” They took me around, and then they pointed me to the store, and I went in there, and I got this hat that has Fenway on the bottom. And look, as much as I wish I could be wearing a DC United hat right now, I will say ultimately, this is probably one of the nicest hats I've ever owned, so I had to throw it on.
Nick
Yeah. There you go, man. Good answer. And, Scott, where’s the hat from? Because I think I have the same hat.
Scott
It’s a Travis Matthew golf hat. I think I have, like, yeah.
Nick
Yeah. Got the same exact hat, man.
Scott
Yeah, I'm pretty simple. I just had hoodies and black hats. Yeah, I’m not too complicated.
Nick
There you go. There you go.
Scott
So I love it. GQ. Nice Chelsea boot. I'm curious, you know, after everything comes out, you're, you know, you're doing media, you're going around doing interviews. What's it been like to kind of transition from you're in the public eye on the show, now you're in the public eye, like live in these interviews, and, you know, social media is blowing up. Like, how have you tried to approach all the attention, all the different aspects of your time? I'm sure there are brands reaching out, just want to command your attention. How do you prioritize? And you still have real estate going on, and you're still trying to, like, prioritize family. How have you adapted to, like, all those different demands?
Nick
Yeah, I have. I would say the hardest part is just my schedule. You know, real estate isn't something where you have a set schedule 9 to 5. It's, you know, someone hits you up that day and wants to see homes that night. There you go. You know, I've had to implement a lot of, like, Love Is Blind stuff. You know, I’m about to partner up with a managing agency. And just talking about all the different avenues and kind of what I want to pursue, who I want to reach out to. That’s the different part. But honestly, I’m the same guy, man. It’s been a lot of fun. Just go through the process of meeting people like you guys. And if anyone wants to take a selfie, you know, I’m the type of guy—even if I’m in a bad mood, I’m going to say, “You know what’s up? Of course, like, send it to the group chat.” You know? So I haven’t really changed up at all. But my schedule and budgeting time have been a little bit different. You know, I can’t sleep in until, you know, eight anymore. I gotta wake up at, you know, seven, and get my workout in ASAP. But, it’s been really cool, man. I’m just blessed to have this opportunity, and, you know, I’m going to build something sustainable with this platform.
Kwame
Yeah, man. You know, before we get to the "after"—because I feel like we've gotten to, like, the, I guess, the results of everything—I’d love to just dabble a little bit on your experience from Love Is Blind in itself. Because, you know, as somebody who is an alum myself, it’s an interesting experience. You know, I’d love for you to dive into how you felt about it as it was going on and then how you were going about your life after. Like, how did it impact you since that time? What did you really learn from that experience?
Nick
Yeah, a couple of things in particular. I learned being open—not only with your partner but yourself—is super important. And there were things that I kind of said to Hannah and, you know, a couple of people on the show that I had just been holding in, and it feels great to be open. And, you know, I would say, yeah, my experience on the show was a lot of fun. I don’t think I had a single bad moment. There was nothing that I had to complain about. Anything we wanted, we got. I’d seen previous seasons. I’d seen you and Chelsea do your thing, so I knew kind of, you know, what I signed up for. I knew, you know, what went into the show. But a lot of people, what I saw was they were changing up their personality a little bit, becoming—you know, going into their shell of themselves. And for me, you know, I didn’t really think about it, but it just came naturally just being on the show. And it’s such a unique opportunity. You would hate to, you know, look back in ten years and be like, “What if?” Right? “What if I would have done that?” You know, maybe I would be here instead of, you know, sitting on my couch today. And I’m a risk-taker, man. So, life’s about having fun, taking a risk, betting on yourself, and making yourself uncomfortable. That’s pretty much what the show’s about, right?
Scott
100%. And I’m curious, how did you come to the idea of being on the show or getting involved with the casting process? I’m always curious, like, you know, did someone recommend you, or were you on a whim like, “Hey, this sounds fun; I want to do it”?
Nick
Yeah. They slid in my DMs. I’m interested to hear how Kwame got hit up.
Kwame
Yeah, you know, I’ll touch over mine real quick. So, mine’s actually a lengthier story, but I’ll try to trim it down to 30 seconds. I got hit up in 2018 when I came back from Sweden for the first time. I used to do some, like, modeling gigs for a friend of mine right before I left to go play soccer overseas. So, when I came back, I was kind of on the internet somewhere at the coincidental time. It was interesting because as soon as I got back, maybe two or three months, I was living with my sister at the time, trying to figure out what my next step in life was going to be. Somebody hit me up out of nowhere and said, “Hey, would you ever, like—I don’t know—want to get married, like, on a TV show?” I was like, “Probably not.” It was a lady recruiting for a show called Married at First Sight.
Nick
Okay.
Kwame
Yeah. And so, I, you know, turned it down at first. And then my sister, who’s a big fan of Married at First Sight, said, “You know what, Kwame? Go do it. I think it’ll be, you know, it’s a new perspective on life, right?” At that point in time, there was just—there was no movement or motion in my life. And so my sister said, “Look, go try this new experience. You might not get all the way through it or actually find a wife or whatever, but you will connect with people.” And actually, I connected with so many people. And that’s one cool thing about any of this casting and any of this experience is that people think, like, the only thing you get out of it is the ultimate prize. And the ultimate prize was my wife, obviously. But a lot of the great parts of this experience lie in the other people that I met. Like, I’m going to Vegas tomorrow with Marshall and Brett, right? And so, yeah, right. So the purpose of it initially was really cool, just kind of thinking about doing it. So I went through Married at First Sight. I made it to ten because they did a whole squad casting filming day, and I got roasted on the internet for that for a while. But fast forward—the same studio that makes Married at First Sight is the same one that makes Love Is Blind. And so they kept up with me for some time. And then they checked in with me when I moved to Seattle—or when I moved to Portland—about a different show. It didn’t align, but they said, “Hey, we might be casting for Love Is Blind in Seattle. Would you be interested?” And I was like, “You know what? Love Is Blind is actually the only reality show that I’ve ever watched in its entirety.” Because at that point in time, you know, I think like 2019, 2020, reality TV wasn’t as big as it is now. It’s massive now.
Nick
Right.
Kwame
Yeah. And so I was like, “You know what? I’ll try.” I loved season one. I loved Lauren and Cameron, I loved Mark. I loved, you know, all of them. I thought they were cool, so I thought I’d try it. And yeah, I ended up going through it, you know, my six to eight months of casting, all the interviews, all this, all that, and boom. So it all started with a call from a random lady about Married at First Sight, and here I am.
Nick
I mean, they wanted you bad, bad.
Scott
They hit you up three separate times.
Nick
They were like, “This guy.”
Kwame
Yeah. You know, hey, it worked out, right?
Nick
Yeah, man, that—that’s crazy. Life works like that, you know? It’s the third go-round where, you know, you actually went on the show, and you found your person. Exactly the kind of setting where you are talking to us, you know, from that. So, it’s pretty cool.
Scott
It’s funny, thinking about that process and just—I feel like rolling up to, like, start the show, I would just be like, “Am I really doing this? Is this, like, really happening?” But I don’t—does it feel that way? Or like, you’ve already gone through, like, six months of interviews and all this? Is it still like—does it feel like walking out of the tunnel, and like, you’re like, “Oh, I’m about to go play,” you know, “in front of all these people. My mind’s going to get rocked and destroyed.”
Nick
Yeah. I know Kwame knows the feeling before a game—have you ever visited service? But it’s the same feeling. You know, when you’re on the flight or once you touch down in LA and you’re actually like, “Oh, man.”
Kwame
Yeah, it’s crazy. It’s so funny. This is going to end up becoming a Kwame interview, to be honest. Like, that time was so crazy. There’s the small story of when I actually got to LA when I got on my flight since Brett and I were the only two people from Portland. I actually walked past Brett, and I looked at him before I got to my seat, and I was like, “This guy’s going where I’m going.” I just knew it in my heart. Yeah, right?
Nick
Yeah. I have a funny story. So, on the way to LA, Garrett was sitting behind me, like in the big-ass plane. Garrett was sitting behind me, and to my fellow real quiet, to his friend. And like, he’s being real secretive, but I know he’s going to the same place I’m going to. So I turn around, and I’m like, “You really doing this?” We’ve been boys, you know. We talked the whole trip there, and yeah. That’s funny. Similar to your story.
Scott
It’s funny. They have to—they have to fly out the women on different flights, or there’s got to be some separation, right?
Kwame
Yeah, it’s crazy. I think it’s like the men fly at a certain time and the women—because when I talked to Chelsea, she said, like, her flight was way early in the morning, right? Like, they make sure that, like, there’s no possibility of overlap, even if there’s a missed flight. So the women are getting there at like 6 a.m., and then the guys are getting there at like 12. Right. And then you go to, like, separate hotels and all this stuff. But it is crazy because when you do get to that airport, when you do get to LAX—because everything is, you know, filmed in LA—you go to baggage claim, and you just know. I’m standing there, and there’s like at least three six-foot-five guys around me, and I’m like, “Oh my God.”
Nick
You start piecing things together first.
Kwame
Yeah, yeah. So that—that initial was really crazy, and it just like—it hit me. I was like, “Wow, we’re really about to do this.”
Nick
Yeah, yeah. And that’s how you know it matters to you, right? You care. It’s because you get nervous, and you’re questioning yourself.
Scott
So it’s interesting. I mean, I talk a lot about the, you know, the edit and kind of the reality versus what shows up. And, you know, I think with your story, there was, you know, there’s some, like, tough conversations, that feedback and things with Hannah, like, going through the process. Do you feel like actually living the relationship at the moment was worse, or was it, like, worse playing it back with the edit?
Nick
Worse playing it back, for sure. But, you know, I just want to tell the people, man, I’m doing well. You know, I was doing well after the show. Obviously, there are moments where, you know, you’re in some hurtful situations, you hear some things you don’t want to hear, but you have to take the high road, right? I was raised the right way. And, you know, I would never rebuttal or throw shade back at someone and, you know, kind of stoop to that level. So it’s like I kind of have thicker skin. And so it was so much different watching it back, though, because it’s like they’ll pick—if you see it on TV, you know, the show—they picked it for a reason. So, just watching it back, you know, like I was—I was laughing at it, but it was—it was a lot, you know. And I think a lot of people think that it’s, you know—people handle, people handle or, you know, themselves and different situations differently. And I understand that you know. I try to put myself in their shoes.
Kwame
I mean, as a man who, as we saw, likes to write out his goals—your 30s, 60s, 90s. Now that you’ve gone through this experience, now that it’s out in the world, now that you’re starting to feel the impact of it, what would you say is your, you know, current—maybe, you know what? Give us your current 30. You're currently 30.
Nick
Okay. So that’s going to bring us up right before Christmas, right? Okay. One of them I can’t share.
Kwame
Okay.
Nick
Yeah. So—
Kwame
Is that like a GQ photo shoot that we’re—
Nick
Not even going to get into it. So, you know, one of them was to definitely sign with an agency and get that ball rolling so that, you know, when we hit January 2025, I’ve signed with companies or people or events, and we have a routine down. And, you know, we’re doing good things. So, you know, I just kind of sent them my list—my long list of just opportunities that I would do. And I’m an open book. So even if it’s like a Trojan condom, you know, I’ll do it. I’ll do a commercial for that, you know? And so, one of them was to sign with someone. And then the other one would be—I mean, if we’re doing real estate, you know, in the next 30 days, two homes. I have one under contract that’s going to close next Monday. So that would, you know, hit. And to end the year strong would, you know, mean a lot to me. And those are the two goals right now. I mean, get in the best shape of my life. Learn how to boil some pasta. Can I add that?
Kwame
100%. Yes, you can. For the people, you definitely want to add that.
Nick
Yeah.
Scott
I do love making headlines with that.
Nick
You hear everything, you know? I needed to do it. Thank you, Hannah. You made me famous on Love Is Blind.
Kwame
Right behind you all. Yeah. So I’m a close second.
Scott
I was going to ask, on the real estate front—you know, it’s interesting—a lot of people come into an experience like this with a career, you know, having an established kind of identity. And, you know, you’re obviously kind of back in the real estate game, diving into that. How has that shifted? And then, like, when you think about your long-term plan, is it, you know, you’re going to kind of wait and see how things develop and make a game-time decision? Or do you plan to really lean in on real estate, help bring all this kind of platform of notoriety you have, and get into real estate? Or I guess, what’s your current thinking there?
Nick
Yeah. So real estate for, you know, the next couple of years is my focus, 100%. You know, I want to do it as long as I can because I’ve worked hard to get to where I am now. I’ve been in the business for years and, you know, really worked hard to develop my sphere, my clientele, and put some content out there. So I don’t want that to go to waste. And I honestly love it. But I’d be naive to think, “Hey, one of these opportunities, you know, is going to try and pull you in that direction.” And so, you know, I’m not naive to the fact that, like, I could very well, you know, be doing something completely different, you know, in three or four or five years. But, you know, that’s been the tough part, like I mentioned earlier. It’s just balancing out, you know, the real estate and life and having fun and working out and, the show and everything that kind of comes from it. You know, there’s a lot that you have to do to prepare. But, you know, the better you kind of set yourself up for success and manifest, you know, what you want the next couple of months to look like, the better off you’ll be.
Kwame
And I think it is really interesting. There are a couple of things that I want to talk about. You know, when you do come off of an experience like Love Is Blind, you get put out into the light. The overnight celebrity aspect of it can be insanely overwhelming—like, too much to handle. So much so, now when I think back to our entire cast, I think that within our main cast, maybe two, definitely one person actually kept or decided to stay within the job that they were working. So if you’re capable of doing that, it speaks a lot to your ability to, like, stay grounded and multitask. Because, like, I left my job at the time, Chelsea left her job at the time, and everybody that I know of—except Brett—left their job at the time.
Nick
Yeah.
Kwame
Right? Because there was a point in time when I was, like—I was working, trying to stay focused, and I’d hop on a meeting with, like, my CEO, and we’d, like, make eye contact. And he’d be like, “Yeah, you’re tired. Like, you’re exhausted,” you know? Because you’re just so mentally drained. So I think, you know, kudos to you for being able to do that. And I think one thing that I wanted to speak to for people who come off of, you know, an experience like this, now that there’s a lot more volume, right? People who go on reality TV, make for a good transition to influencing our creator's life. Because there are a couple of things—you know, they’re camera-ready, they’re confident, they have an audience that relates to them and relates to them for who they are and not just for a specific niche. You know, people love things about your life. They talk about you and your real estate. They’ll talk to you about your fashion. They’ll talk to you about, you know, things that you joke about, like riding a duck or whatever the case may be, right? So I think that those things are really important. Your next steps—and we talked about this on the phone—when you get out and you want to become a creator, you do want to, you know, identify what your potential opportunities are. You want to find an agency, hopefully, an exclusive agency for the first six months. From there, you want to establish and see if there are actually, like, genuine opportunities that are being created out of this. And then from there, you want to try to leverage and grow your brand. So, like, yeah, that first, I don’t know, one month to three months—30 to 90 days or so. Yeah, I think you’re correct there. Find an agency, establish that connection, see what opportunities they bring you, and then go on, right? And so, for your first few weeks, now that you are out, have you actually found any cool opportunities? Have you, you know, like, done any brand deals yet? I saw one—we won’t have to mention it—but I saw a brand deal today.
Nick
Yeah. I know you did. Yeah, because I did that one too. You know, I—
Kwame
I guess by this time, by the time this releases, the crowd will have already seen it. It would have been gone. But you did a teeth-whitening one, didn’t you?
Nick
Yeah. Yeah. For sure. There have been a lot of great opportunities. And, you’re going to see me post a little bit more, for sure. There’s about seven or eight partnerships right now, you know. And it’s kind of cool to see how it works, right? You know, “Hey, you post twice, and we’ll give you $2,000 to post.” That—where do I sign up? Right? You know, that’s what I mean, though. You never know who you’re going to meet, right? In this situation, it’s kind of like love. When you go looking for love, you never find it. You know, like, an opportunity maybe from the agency that, you know, I’ll be working with, maybe from someone I meet in a month, might just change the course of your life, right? So kind of thinking outside the spectrum is, you know, something that I feel I’m pretty good at. And, you know, we talked about this as well, Kwame. I know you said, “I wish I had someone, you know, there for me to kind of, you know, walk me through, you know, the experience once I got off that show, you know. I wish I had some advice from someone like you were giving me.” And, you know, it’s so true, man. You know, I feel like I got a little bit of a head start because, you know, we did—you know, we have had conversations about that stuff. And, you know, you are a cool dude. I do trust your opinion. So, you know, it’s stuff like that’s helped that much more, for sure.
Scott
I think it’s awesome. Like, that’s something we talk about—whether it’s, you know, reality TV or just coming up as a creator—this kind of, you know, creator-supporting-creators thing. It is a challenge. And it can often be, at times, like a challenge that’s hard to systemize or understand. And if you’re coming at it with no prior knowledge, like, what’s an affiliate? What’s a brand deal? Like, what are all these contract terms being thrown in my face? Should I work with this brand or not? Like, this is a really attractive contract, but I maybe don’t love the brand. And you have to start making all these decisions. And so I think, you know, it’s great to have a mentor or, you know, someone who’s walked down there and maybe experienced some of the negative things that can happen. On your journey, like, aside from Kwame, how much are you keeping up with the current cast? And, like, are you guys, you know, talking and strategizing how you’re going to go out and game plan? Or are you kind of all flying solo a little bit?
Nick
It’s solo, you know. It’s solo. It’s, you know, I’ve had so many people—you know, I probably had 70 brands reach out, right? But I’ve only chosen, you know, 7 or 8. And so, you know, I talk with Tyler a lot. I talk with Garrett a lot. We have similar opportunities. But, you know, I feel like if you’re a product or a brand, you wouldn’t want to, you know, have me and Garrett doing teeth whitening, right? You know, I feel like you want to choose one person and kind of run with that. So, everyone’s doing their own thing, you know. Everyone’s going solo. And, you know, it’s just interesting because some people do need to hire, you know, a team around them to help get things done. And other people don’t. You know, other people are going to have different opportunities to talk a lot more than other people. And so, it’s just cool to see how it all works. And, you know, learning some of the verbiage of, you know, this industry, you know, that we’re in.
Kwame
Yeah, there’s a lot of different things to know. And, you know, I think you said—you made a good point—like, some people are fine solo, some people are doing it by themselves, some people are going to manage agencies. In terms of me and what I accomplished, I thought it was better to go with a managing agency. I thought it was great to do it not exclusively because it gave me an opportunity to take as many opportunities as I wanted to or could fit on my plate. But I know, like, you know, I know another guy from—you know, I won’t throw his name out until he gives me the validation that I can—but I know a guy from a different season who I talked to, who decided he wasn’t going to take on an agency. He went out and found massive deals for himself. I’m talking like—I know he had one deal that he found that was a six-figure deal, right? Which is like—
Nick
Yeah.
Kwame
Yeah, which is unbelievable, right? Because there are some people who just—they might have had that savviness, or they did their research before, you know, it dropped, or they used some other people to leverage. But us being able to share that information was really important for me because I’m like, “Okay, if you can do this, maybe I can do it as well.” I think it is really important for creators to be able to lean on creators—creators within the same industry, right? You may not work with the same brands because brands might not double-dip, and that’s great, that’s cool. But I will learn something from you that you got to do with a brand that will then make me think or inspire me to think, “Okay, you know what? Maybe I can find a brand like this, or I could get numbers or money like this as well.” So there’s always great inspiration when it comes to collaborating and, you know, talking to your boys, seeing what they’re doing, seeing what opportunities they’re getting. And I will say, like, there was somebody from my season personally who, at a certain point, I was a little jealous of because he was getting just, like, crazy amounts of deals, all the love. But talking to him about his stuff did inspire me to know that, hey, you know what? This is within the realm of possibility for me. And it may not be happening now, but eventually, through the guidance, through the work, it is happening in this moment. And that’s what’s really important. Because I know talking to people who have been through this and talking to people who are going through it, it helps you understand that, like, your ceiling is much higher than you would have been able to understand just going through it by yourself.
Scott
So, I’m curious. We talked a little bit about, you know, dream brands to work with, you know, maybe like a GQ photoshoot. You know, what—if you were to say what particular brand, maybe outside of like a modeling gig or something like this, but if a brand was to come up to you, and you’re like, “This would be it. This is tops. Like, this is the absolute number one brand that I would want to work with,” who would that be?
Nick
I mean, there’s 3 or 4 clothing brands that I’d pick out there. That’s a good one. I’m going to say Titleist. I’m a big golfer. I love golf.
Kwame
Yeah, you’re a scratch golfer, aren’t you?
Nick
I’m a plus 0.7. So, a little bit better, but yeah, scratch.
Scott
That would be really neat, man, because I’ve always really enjoyed golf and a lot of my trips revolve around golf. So, you know, targeting Titleist would be amazing.
Scott
Golf influence has just gotten crazy—a great YouTube scene. It’s interesting, though. I think Titleist is out there, but TaylorMade is the one that’s been crushing it on social media. They’ve got, like, The Kingdom and all those other cool setups. And then, is it Trottie? He’s, like, a golf fitter, and they’re bringing out, like, Gabby the Golf Girl and Garrett and the Good Good guys. There are just so many different golf influencers. And Rick Shiels is doing all kinds of content in the UK. It’s blowing up—it’s crazy.
Nick
Well, I know you’re a golfer because you have a Travis Mathew hat, 100%. That’s the golf look.
Scott
It’s funny—a quick story on that. My son—he’s six, but he plays a lot. We’ve got a net in the house, and he’s hitting balls all the time. He watches all the golfers on YouTube Kids, and he loves Rick Shiels. So, for his birthday last year, I did a Cameo with Rick Shiels. I sent Rick Shiels a video of my son swinging and hitting a ball. He made this amazing personalized video in response, way over the top, encouraging him to keep golfing. My son thought it was the coolest thing ever. He was like, “Rick Shiels from YouTube sent me a message!” It’s just such a cool connection.
Nick
That’s awesome. And honestly, that’s what I try to do with my Cameos. I make them a minute long, sometimes even longer. I try to hit all the points they ask for and really put effort into it. Because it means a lot to people, right? If someone’s going to take the time and show me support, and love, or reach out on Cameo, the least I can do is give them a thoughtful response. Whether it’s a shoutout, saying hi, or whatever, I make it meaningful. That little bit of effort can make someone’s day. And I know Kwame is the same way about engaging with people.
Kwame
Absolutely, man. And you’re spot on. Chelsea and I actually set up a joint Cameo account, and we’ve had some really cool requests. She goes all out for birthdays—glass of champagne, sparklers, singing “Happy Birthday.” We had one request for a message to someone’s parents, and when we sent it, they tipped us $25 because their mom cried. They said it was so special. It’s funny—some people think Cameos are cheesy or basic, but they can be really meaningful if you put in the effort. And I love how influencer culture today has brought creators closer to their audience. Fifteen years ago, you weren’t getting a video from Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise, you know? But now, because the pool of creators has expanded, the connection feels more personal. It’s made the experience so much richer.
Scott
100%. I agree. I cry every time Kwame sends me a video message, man. It just puts so much thought into it. But seriously, it’s such a great point. I think when you build an audience organically, those early followers mean everything to you. So when you come off a show like Love Is Blind and suddenly have a massive audience, some people don’t know how to handle it. I’ve seen people from old-school reality shows—Jersey Shore, Real World—just treat their audience like they didn’t matter, and that ego killed their staying power. Being humble, engaging, and realizing these people are invested in you as a person—builds a lasting connection. It’s not just about creating content; it’s about building relationships. That’s what separates people who stay relevant from those who fade out.
Nick
Absolutely. I had a moment just today in an elevator. A guy, maybe 35 years old, recognized me from the show. We started talking, and I actually got off on his floor to chat for five more minutes. By the end of the conversation, he was like, “Man, I didn’t even realize you’re just a normal dude. You’re a good guy.” And that’s the thing—we’re just people. We’ve all got things we’re working on, we’ve all been through stuff, and we’re all human. That’s why at the reunion, I went out of my way to remind people that everyone on the show is human. Like, yeah, Hannah said some stuff, but she’s not a bad person. People need to cut her some slack. I try to be that way with everyone—give grace and keep it real.
Kwame
I appreciate you for doing that, man. Because I’ll be honest, you’re a better man than me. If I were on that reunion stage, I might’ve lost my patience. But I saw the humility, the calmness you kept. And Garrett was right to commend you at that moment. It’s tough to keep your composure when you’re on a stage like that, with all the lights and cameras on you, knowing it’s all being recorded for the world to see. It’s a lot of pressure.
Nick
For sure. That stage is no joke. When I walked out and saw the set up—the stage, the seats, the photographers—it hit me. This is the real deal. And yeah, it’s tough. There were moments when I wanted to respond differently, but I held back. If I can handle that, I can handle anything.
Kwame
I would say that’s definitely the most pressure you feel in a situation or circumstance related to Love Is Blind, right? Because you get all these interviews, and they definitely put a lot on you. But being scared of any word or sentence you utter coming out the wrong way or being used against you in some way—that is the scariest moment. Every camera is on you.
Nick
Exactly. And that’s what happened to me. Like, at the reunion, Hannah and I did our scene, and then we broke for a 30-minute break. I come back, and the producers are like, “Alright, we’re about to revisit this one part.” And I’m thinking, “What?” Then they turn to Hannah, and it’s like they’re trying to get her to talk about the same stuff again but in a different way. It felt like déjà vu. And then, of course, the second take is what gets aired. It’s wild.
Scott
That’s crazy. I can’t imagine having to go through the same argument twice.
Nick
Exactly! And the second time, more people jumped in on me. I’m sitting there thinking, “This again? Really?”
Kwame
Man, I give you props. I know you’ve got thick skin, but that’s tough. Especially when it feels like the group dynamic shifts, and everyone starts piling on.
Nick
It was definitely unexpected. But, you know, I wasn’t going to make it messy. That’s just not who I am. Some people are lucky I chose to take the high road, that’s all I’ll say.
Scott
For real. And it’s interesting because you can see how different casts handle these things. Like, in your season, it seemed like the women had a really tight bond, but on the guys’ side, it was a little different. How did that feel for you?
Nick
Yeah, it was strange. The women this season definitely had each other’s backs, but it felt like the guys didn’t always stick together. Apart from Garrett stepping in to say, “Hey, let’s move on from this immature conversation,” I didn’t feel much support. And I love Garrett, man. He’s a real one.
Kwame
For sure. That’s the unspoken rule, right? You don’t use guy leverage against other guys, and the same goes for women. It’s like an unspoken code. So it was weird to see that dynamic play out.
Nick
Exactly. And I had so much I could’ve said, but I chose not to. I wasn’t going to stoop to that level. It just wasn’t worth it.
Scott
That’s commendable, man. It really is. So, now that the reunion is behind you and life is moving forward, what’s next? You’ve talked about real estate and some brand deals, but what’s your vision for the next year or so?
Nick
Real estate is still the main focus. I want to keep growing in that space. But I’m also excited to see where these partnerships take me. I’ve got some merch ideas in the works—“What the Duck” and “Big Dork Energy.” And, you know, I’m open to exploring more opportunities in media and fashion. I’ve been putting out more content on social media, and I’m just trying to have fun with it. Life’s too short not to.
Kwame
That’s the right mindset, man. And I love the merch ideas. Definitely let us know when it drops because we’ll be rocking those shirts for sure.
Nick
You guys will be the first to know. I’ll make sure you get some.
Scott
I can’t wait. And honestly, it’s inspiring to see how you’re navigating all of this. You’ve got your head on straight, and you’re making the most of the opportunities coming your way. That’s all anyone can ask for.
Kwame
Yeah, man. You’ve got a lot of people rooting for you, including us. Thanks for sharing your journey and giving us a glimpse into what’s next.
Nick
I appreciate you guys. This has been a great conversation, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead. Let’s hit the golf course soon.
Kwame
Oh, for sure. Maybe we’ll do a giveaway—“Come golf with me, Scott, and Nick.” It’d be a blast.
Nick
That would be epic. Let’s make it happen.
Kwame
Alright, man. Thanks again for joining us. This was such a fun and insightful conversation. And to everyone listening, thank you for tuning in. We’ll see you next week on Beyond Influence!
Scott
Take care, everyone.