VJ UNION

That One Time

From Finance Guy to Full-Time Creator: How He Quit the 9–5 by Reviewing NYC Diners — Garrett From Goldies

Today I sit down with Garrett Thomas — AKA Garrett from Goldies— who ditched Wall Street spreadsheets for daily NYC diner visits. But it’s not just about eggs and coffee. We explore why virality is fleeting, how comedic storytelling can co-exist with serious topics like homelessness, and why building a deep, supportive community matters more than chasing views. From the accidental birth of his “Diners, Diners, and Diners” series to merging real-world activism with a laid-back vibe, Garrett proves that authentic self-expression can sustain a career. If you’ve ever thought about pivoting careers—or just want to see how everyday breakfast talk can become a phenomenon—this episode is for you.

🕒 TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 The Journey to Content Creation
02:50 Building Community Over Virality
06:02 The Art of Series-Based Content
08:47 The Mindset of a Content Creator
12:05 Pillars of Success in Content Creation
14:59 The Importance of Authenticity
18:09 Engagement and Audience Responsibility
20:48 Philosophy and Content Creation
32:04 The Wisdom of Boethius
35:11 Journey to New York: A Personal Story
39:55 Navigating Life's Inertia
41:27 The Podcasting Journey
46:20 Content Creation Challenges
55:14 Dressing Well: A Form of Respect
01:00:41 Addressing Homelessness in New York City
01:01:30 Funding and Challenges of Homeless Services
01:06:21 Proactive vs Reactive Policies in Addressing Homelessness
01:12:42 Personal Growth and Routine in Content Creation
01:27:14 The Meaning of Life and Personal Aspirations

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💭 ABOUT US:

Each week I’ll be deep diving into the lives, habits and lessons of some of the most successful and interesting people in the world - teasing out their curiosities and aiming to provide actionable insights for your day-to-day life.

The podcast focusses on the pillars of health, wealth, and wisdom - and each episode is an in-depth, vulnerable conversation with a unique individual taking on the world in their unique way.

Expect episodes on business, marketing, health, spirituality, biohacking, mindset, content creation and more!

Hosted by Adam Metwally - (https://www.instagram.com/meetwally/)

Produced by Joe Fowler (https://www.instagram.com/joeefowler/)

🎶 Music:
By — HNNY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r3Paw23_eQ

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