The Joe Budden Podcast
The Joe Budden Podcast
May 14, 2026

PATREON EXCLUSIVE | The Snake Pit (feat. Salehe Bembury) | The Joe Budden Podcast

YouTube · jRLIJIQIYeo

Quick Read

Designer Salehe Bembury joins The Joe Budden Podcast for a candid, humorous discussion on podcast dynamics, social media habits, and the surprising business insights found in everyday conversations.
Podcast guest dynamics are driven by perceived relationship depth, not just status.
Social media habits like 'doom scrolling' impact long-form content consumption.
Successful individuals should 'share the codes' of their business journeys to empower the next generation.

Summary

Fashion designer Salehe Bembury returns to The Joe Budden Podcast, sparking a lively and often chaotic discussion among the hosts. Topics range from the humorous politics of podcast guest invitations and the 'Best Guest' chain, to the hosts' personal social media habits, including liking old posts and the phenomenon of 'doom scrolling' through short-form content. Bembury challenges the podcast's focus on 'Verzuz' and 'battle rap,' advocating for more business transparency from successful figures to 'share the codes' with younger generations. The conversation also touches on personal 'broke' habits, the challenges and benefits of hiring assistants, and the hosts' views on counterfeit fashion and personal grooming.
This episode offers a raw, unfiltered look into the dynamics of a popular podcast, highlighting how personal relationships, social media trends, and underlying business principles intersect. Salehe Bembury's perspective as an entrepreneur provides valuable insights into content consumption, mentorship, and brand building, even amidst the show's signature comedic banter. It underscores the importance of authenticity and strategic transparency in both personal and professional spheres.

Takeaways

  • Podcast guest Salehe Bembury was voted 'Best Guest' by fans, sparking humorous debate among the hosts.
  • Relationship depth, rather than celebrity status, dictates guest invitations to personal events, as explained by Salehe.
  • Salehe observes a shift in content consumption, where 'doom scrolling' on short-form platforms interrupts engagement with long-form podcasts.
  • He advocates for greater business transparency from successful figures to provide 'codes' and accelerate learning for aspiring entrepreneurs.
  • The hosts humorously debate their 'broke' habits, like eating McDonald's Filet-O-Fish or wearing Faded Glory boxers, despite their success.
  • Salehe shares his strategy for hiring motivated assistants to offload mundane tasks, freeing up time for creative work.
  • The hosts discuss the ethics and practicality of wearing counterfeit items, with Salehe viewing bootlegging of his own brand as a 'kind of honor.'

Insights

1Relationship Depth Drives Invitations and Perceived Value

Salehe Bembury explains that his invitations to personal events for the podcast hosts are based on the depth of their individual relationships, not just their presence on the show. He differentiates between surface-level interactions and those involving shared experiences or practical advice (e.g., tech or real estate advice), which led to invites.

Salehe details inviting Joseph to a GQ party and receiving tech advice from Ice and real estate advice from Ish, leading to invitations to his Brooklyn Museum talk. He explicitly states, 'relationships exist on a spectrum.'

2The Impact of Short-Form Content on Long-Form Consumption

Salehe highlights a personal struggle with 'doom scrolling,' where he pauses long-form podcast content to engage with short, immediate stimulus on social media. This behavior, he notes, is a conditioned response to the constant flow of quick content, even for someone who 'religiously' watches the podcast.

He describes watching the show, pausing to check a DM or post, and then realizing '30 minutes have passed' while consuming short-form content, even though he loves the podcast.

3The Need for Business Transparency ('Sharing the Codes')

Bembury urges successful individuals, like Joe Budden, to be more transparent about their business journeys and 'share the codes' of their achievements. He believes this transparency can significantly accelerate the learning curve for younger generations who are seeking inspiration and practical guidance.

He states, 'the generation above me never shared the codes, and so now I try my best to share the codes.' He emphasizes that simple statements from experienced individuals can inspire and educate.

4Strategic Hiring for Creative Focus

Salehe explains his decision to hire assistants, realizing that mundane tasks like breaking down boxes or taking photos of gifts were consuming valuable creative time. His hiring philosophy focuses on finding motivated individuals ready to tackle tasks, rather than solely relying on resumes, to build a supportive team.

He recounts, 'a few people made me realize that we only have like 17 hours in a day... I should be focused on the creative.' He prioritizes 'motivated people that I could build' over just qualifications.

Opportunities

Celebrity Closet Sales for De-cluttering and Profit

Inspired by fashion designers and celebrities like the Kardashians, hosts could host a 'Joe Budden Podcast closet sale' to sell old clothing and shoes. This allows for decluttering and converting unused items into cash, even if sold at a fraction of the original price, leveraging their personal brand for sales.

Source: Salehe Bembury's personal experience and observation of other designers/celebrities.

Hiring Entry-Level Assistants for Content Management

Joe Budden, who currently handles all posting, editing, title descriptions, and timestamping for his content, could hire an entry-level assistant. This frees up his time for more critical creative and strategic tasks, improving efficiency and allowing him to focus on higher-value activities.

Source: Salehe Bembury's advice on delegating tasks to motivated assistants, and Joe's self-identified workload.

Lessons

  • Prioritize building genuine relationships, as they can unlock unexpected opportunities and support networks.
  • Evaluate your content consumption habits; consciously manage 'doom scrolling' to maintain focus on long-form, high-value information.
  • If you've achieved success, consider sharing practical 'codes' or insights from your journey to mentor and inspire emerging talent.
  • Delegate non-essential tasks to an assistant to free up your time for creative and strategic work, focusing on motivation over just experience in hiring.

Notable Moments

The 'Best Guest' Chain Controversy

A humorous and recurring segment where the hosts debate who truly deserved the 'Best Guest' chain, highlighting internal podcast dynamics and audience engagement.

Joe Budden's 'Floating Shirt' Profile Picture

A running gag about Joe's distinctive profile picture appearing on old social media posts, illustrating the hosts' playful teasing and the permanence of online activity.

Salehe Bembury's Critique of Podcast Content

Salehe challenges the hosts' continued discussion of 'Verzuz' and 'battle rap,' offering an external perspective on content relevance and audience interest, sparking a debate on what constitutes engaging topics.

Quotes

"

"Relationships exist on a spectrum, right? Like I've actually spent time with Joseph... Ice gives me like tech advice... Ish has given me some like kind of like real estate advice. So because of those just like slightly more than surface level relationships..."

Salehe Bembury
"

"I think the hardest joke should come after the guest leave."

Ish
"

"I'll be watching it, I'll pause, I'll start doom scrolling, I look up, 30 minutes have passed..."

Salehe Bembury
"

"The generation above me never shared the codes and so now I try my best to share the codes."

Salehe Bembury
"

"I think the most valuable thing you can be is a sponge constantly absorbing."

Salehe Bembury

Q&A

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