Caleb’s Newsletter

I made it back from Burning Man in one piece!

And it was actually my favorite burn, despite the rain and mud. Granted, it was only my second Burning Man. But last year was definitely worse because it was 115 degrees. At least this year we could be outside during the day.

As for the conditions, it was definitely muddy. But it was bearable. I walked around barefoot for three days straight and got to hang with friends. Life could be worse.

I made two rules for myself heading into Burning Man: no cell phone and no photos. The goal was to disconnect from social media and be fully present, which I achieved. I learned that when you’re hanging out with friends without any distractions — no phones, no social media, no technology — the things you come up with to entertain yourselves are ridiculous. It was straight comedy.

I feel refreshed after the mini social media cleanse and am going to be more mindful of screen time moving forward.

Today, September 14, marks one year of going viral! Exactly a year ago I posted a video of a tiny NYC apartment renting for $650 and it took off. I remember uploading it right after getting back from Burning Man.

My life has changed so much since then. This year at Burning Man I felt like I was stepping into a new life while letting go of an old one.

I’m excited to hone in on what’s important to me and figure out exactly what I want to build and create.

In case you missed my recent content …

Tim Tebow gave me a tour of the Heisman House! Tim is a big deal in football — he was quarterback for the Florida Gators and became the first underclassman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007 — and I got to play catch with him!

The Heisman House is not a real house, by the way. It’s a fictional place where former Heisman winners spend their days and Nissan builds it every year for an advertisement.

Tim is a cool guy and gave a good tour. But I also met the Oregon Duck, who was quite the character. I still have no idea who the person behind the mascot is … but whoever was in there was hilarious.

I also toured photographer Dave Krugman’s $2,500 Bushwick apartment.

I’ve been a fan of Dave’s work for years. Back in 2016, when nobody knew my name, I sent him a video I made in Bushwick and told him I liked his work — and he actually responded!

Getting to tour his place seven years later was a neat full-circle moment.

Home products spotlight

If you’re new to the newsletter, this section is dedicated to highlighting some standout products I come across touring people’s apartments all the time.

This week’s products include:

Mirror disco ball: $17.99

Bring the party to your place with this accessory.

Cat exercise wheel: $159.99

Because exercise isn’t just for humans! Let your cat gets its cardio work in, too.

Pop-up storage bed: $1,599

Functional AND aesthetic. Especially if you live in NYC where quarters are tight … now you have a place to store bedding, linen, and clothes!

Ask me anything!

Send me your questions and I’ll pick one to answer in the next newsletter! (Full disclosure: I’m still trying to figure out the best way for ya’ll to submit your questions. For now, I’ll keep responding to the ones I get asked a bunch.)

This week’s question: How do I choose who to feature in the apartment tour series?

I try to keep it spontaneous, whether I’m literally stopping someone on the streets of NYC or I’m in a friend circle and someone connects me in the moment. That happens a lot when I’m not in New York. I’ll be hanging with a group and someone introduces me to someone and says I should tour their apartment. I’ll go do it right then and there.

What I’m looking forward to …

I’ve got a lot of upcoming travel for a speaking engagement and some weddings.

I’m also hosting a red carpet event with someone you might have heard of … Matt Damon :)

More on that to come!