Lauryn and Michael Bosstick work hard and self-care harder. They’re both entrepreneurs and CEOs, creating separately – Lauryn with The Skinny Confidential blog, book, podcast and products, Michael with the podcast network Dear Media, which hosts over 70 primarily female-facing podcasts. Together, they co-host popular podcast Him and Her. They met as kids in California and now live in Austin with their two children, Zaza, 4 and Townes, 2.
The Bossticks are voracious learners adept at implementing much of what they learn into their lives, and interested people are often interesting, so our conversation was much more extensive than could fit in these pages. Below is an intro, check out their podcast and follow them on social media for more.
What led you to move to Austin?
We were after a more serene, tranquil lifestyle. After having our first baby, we decided to do an overhaul of our life and health. Moving to Austin helped us set these new goals in motion, and it was the BEST decision.
We wanted to create a sanctuary and have more outside activities for our kids. Austin has a high vibration where we could focus on being well. Once we moved we built a custom show studio for our podcast and got back to the simpler things in life.
You seem extraordinarily disciplined, with both work and self-care, have you always been that way?
L: In my head there’s a method to my madness and I thrive on organized chaos. If I could relate to one Disney character it would be Merlin in The Sword and the Stone when all the potions and lotions are exploding and there’s stuff everywhere, but there’s a method to what he’s doing. That’s me to a tee. There’s a very relaxed side of me in my personal life, but when it comes to work and wellness I am like a blood-hound and super disciplined. Execution is my favorite word, I thrive while executing. The discipline is like a brick house. I lay the foundation with our businesses, then add layers with fitness and weightlifting, hot/cold therapy, drinking electrolytes every morning, reading, setting boundaries with my phone and it all kind of ties in together.
Every single minute of my life is examined and I take inventory to see where I can be better. I don’t always get it right, but discipline is a really important in the recipe for success.
M: I’ve always been disciplined with things I'm interested in and a complete disaster with things that don’t catch my interest. If I believe something is important, I will apply extreme discipline, but if it’s something I don’t find interesting I can be undisciplined. Luckily, I find the line of work I am in and self-care to be very interesting.
Were you entrepreneurial as a child?
L: Yes, incredibly. The word was not what it is now, so it was very confusing to a lot of my teachers when I was younger. I wish there were classes geared toward entrepreneurs. I would've loved to have had a business fair where I could’ve shared goods and made my own custom store.
Creating things from scratch is something I’ve always loved. From lemonade stands to embroidery stands, I’d get my Dad to go to Home Depot so I could build my own shops and I’d always sell more than lemonade and bracelets. I’d decorate and merchandise my stands to always upsell my customers. My parents were both entrepreneurial. They let me try anything I wanted to pursue. Looking back on it, every single thing led to this life as an entrepreneur.
Do you have a gratitude practice?
Everyday before I start work I write in my planner to set the tone of the day. I used to do this on a sheet of paper until the team and I created our own The Skinny Confidential planner with specific prompts. From the music and podcast you’re listening to, to the intention of the day, to goals and to-dos it has a space for every little detail of your day - one of which is gratefuls. I write down 3 things I’m grateful for and it can be super small and specific or something big. This very much helps the brain shift to what you ‘have’ opposed to what you ‘have not.’
Another thing that’s been really helpful for me is waking up and instantly thinking of things I ‘get’ to do. It’s so common to wake up and dread the tasks ahead of us, but trying to reframe it from what you ‘have’ to do, to what you ‘get’ to do, has been really helpful.
M: I thank God every day for my health, wife, children, and family. I think how lucky I am to have all of them in my life and I remind myself every day that they are the most important thing. We spend so much time worrying and stressing over the stuff that doesn’t matter. I always try to put into context the stuff that does. You can always build another business, or earn another buck, but the other things are irreplaceable.
How did you meet and end up together?
L: We met when we were 12 on the playground at school. He and I ‘dated’ from 12 to 15 and we had a very intense connection at a young age. I can’t explain it. It was a very mature connection for two people who were so young. We broke up and dated other people but we always stayed friends. We just had an intense chemistry from the second we met.
We got back together toward the end of college and once that happened, we were inseparable. We really like being around each other and don't spend much time apart. He’s someone I'm in a comfortable silence with all the time.
We love to read, we love business, we love to constantly evolve. As a friend, Michael is a person who is always evolving and it’s easy to be friends with someone like that because through every season he’s constantly pushing himself to be better, so he never really flatlines. He’s always expanding his knowledge and I like that in a friend. I just love his brain so much.
He’s smart, clever, crafty and he’s scrappy, resourceful and well-read. I’ll always remember when we first started dating and went to sushi for a date night. He started talking about the history of salt because he’d read a book about how salt was one of the world’s first currencies. He told me this whole history and there was so much depth to his explanation. I thought ‘Wow, this guy is so interesting AND THIS IS WHO I NEED TO MARRY!”
Do you have any rules you think help contribute to a healthy relationship?
L: After you’re with someone for so long you know them so well, that there’s this certain finesse you need to have. You know what makes them tick, you know what calms them down, and you know how to push their buttons. Don’t push the buttons. Ha!
It’s important to each have your own things going on but have the same common goal. Michael and I have monthly check-ins where we make sure we’re on track and want the same things for the year, month, even week ahead. Michael and I also recover very quickly after a fight and don’t let it linger. We never let resentment build.
Our relationship isn’t perfect- we totally get on each other’s nerves like every couple. However, navigating the show together has been crazy and like 800 hours of therapy. We get to hear each other’s thoughts, but also outside perspectives.
Michael also lets me be 100% myself which is something that I need. My past relationships failed because I was always being put in a box and Michael lets me roam free and be me. That’s a big part of a relationship.
M: Trust, we trust each other. We know we are working on building a life together and that we are pushing the same boulder up the same hill. We spend a ton of time talking about what we want specifically, down to the minor details, to make sure we are aligned. We spend time making sure we do. We put our family first above our ventures or platforms. And we’re best friends. If you can find a partner who is your best friend first a lot can grow from there.
The HIM & HER Show started in 2017. What do you enjoy most about podcasting?
L: The art of being able to mold the conversation in a way that benefits the audience. Having conversations with range, making people laugh and making people question their opinions.
Everything you both do seems to succeed in spades – which I don’t think is luck. What do you think is the recipe for your success?
That’s very sweet to say but it’s not entirely the case. There have been a lot of things that have not gone how I wanted them to over the years. That’s part of the gig though. You throw yourself out there, pivot, evolve and grow.
With the product line, I’ve had 13 years of talking to the audience every day, so the products we launch are very thought out. There is a lot of collaboration with the community, they’re instrumental in the brand’s success.
With the show, we didn’t make a dime for 3 years. But we showed up every week, 2 or 3 times a week, and kept going even when it felt like we weren’t progressing the way we wanted to. We also have an incredible team. People are there to work and that’s a big part of the recipe.
Another ingredient to our success is that we are purposeful with time. I’m constantly learning and being curious about things that could make me and my business better. Every day I try to consume information to level up. Right now I’m reading Blockbusters: Hit-making, Risk-taking and the Big Business of Entertainment by iconic Harvard professor, Anita Elberse.
How have you changed since becoming a mother yourself?
Completely. I’m an absolute savage with my time. Commiting to things has to be worth being away from my kids for, so I say no a lot and I’m constantly learning the art of presence. My home life is very simple and it’s important for me to maintain that. My kids don’t care what I do for work, and it’s humbling and refreshing. When I’m with them, everything is about them.
I’ve also taken a step back in a lot of ways and let my team do their jobs. Going from a team of 1 to a team of 20 is a shift, so I’ve taken my hand out of a lot of cookie jars, so to speak.
What are some of your favorite things about life in Austin?
L: I find Austin to be calming and grounding. It has such a nice energy and there’s not a lot of chaos. It’s the perfect spot to travel from too, right in the middle!
M: We love that it’s a capital city with small-town vibes. We love nature and the ability to get outside and be active. We love the food. We have yet to have a bad meal here. The people are great and welcoming. It’s calm and peaceful with a community of people who also went to get stuff done. We love that our children are safe here and that they can play outside regularly. We have also fallen in love with the time zone. On the West Coast we always felt behind.
What are your plans for Thanksgiving?
M: This year we’re going to visit family in San Diego. We grew up there and haven’t been back for Thanksgiving for three years. My mom misses her grandkids, if we don’t go visit this year, I’ll be in trouble.
QUICK FIRE
If trapped on a desert island you’d bring these 5 things:
L: Mouth tape (it’s changed my life), Mold-free coffee (and raw milk), Kindle loaded with all my favorite books, The Skinny Confidential Caffeinated SPF and travel roller and Lineage Provisions meat sticks- 60 grams of protein and full of organs like liver (which is such an underrated beauty hack)
M: Kindle, a rifle, a water filter, a solar charger and a satellite phone with built in GPS.
If you could have any superpower?
L: To learn quicker would be cool, and to freeze time.
M: Teleportation, to save time.
I’d still like to…
L: Write more books, create more fresh products, host more live events to meet the community, interview compelling guests for the show, and spend more time being present with my family.
M: Travel to Japan and spend some time wandering around with no real plan.
Your happy place?
L: In my sauna, walking in nature with my kids, margaritas on the boat with my husband, interviewing, and creating new, innovative products.
M: Anywhere with my children and wife.
Favorite book?
L: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. And I just finished The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne and I loved it. Currently reading Lucille Ball’s autobiography and it’s fascinating.
M: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. For fans… my son’s middle name is Call.
Best advice received?
L: “Your opinion of yourself becomes your reality. If you have all these doubts, then no one will believe in you and everything will go wrong. If you think the opposite, the opposite will happen, it’s that simple.” said by 50 Cent to author Robert Green in The 50th Law.
M: Find the right girl and the rest will work out well. Pick the wrong one and your problems will exponentially grow.
*Shot on location at Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, a private social club