Matt Carriker, King of The Demolitia & Fashion Icon Joins The Herd Has Spoken. Episode 1

At MuskOx, we make clothes that harness the spirit of the outdoors for your everyday adventure. But more importantly, we help men to be a better version of themselves while having a lot of fun along the journey. With the help of the MuskOx men that are part of our herd, we sit back on the virtual porch and talk shop every now and then. We love quality, strong flannels, and comfortable pullovers -- so it’s no surprise that The King of The Demolitia is part of our herd.

We Welcome Matt Carriker to The Herd Has Spoken

As part of The Herd Has Spoken, this go-round, Brad (founder of MuskOx) chats with a man that absolutely fits with the ruggedness and American can-do spirit of MuskOx: Matt Carriker. Like MuskOx, he’s always up for any challenge and he’s such a close ally of the brand that all of our products are fulfilled out of his warehouse at Bunker Branding. 

In this lighthearted conversation that’s sure to bring a laugh to your stay-at-home adventure, Matt & Brad chatted through everything ranging from Matt's Kindergarten crush, what it’s like to have Rob Terkla as a wingman, and how to launch your passion projects.

And if you look carefully at Matt’s videos on YouTube and posts on Instagram, you’ll regularly see Matt wearing our performance pullovers with comfortable fabric and technical features.

Enjoy the Conversation Between Matt and Brad

Brad

We have Matt Carriker, big YouTuber. He needs no introduction there but what I think is particularly crazy, Matt, you're also a hit country singer these days.

 

Matt  

Oh, we don't need to bring that up. We don't. No. So I yeah, I just I wanted to just try it out it. It was so good that I decided to never try it again. 

 

Brad  

Ah, well, I know for a fact you've done some pretty good stuff singing at the beginning of your YouTube videos, right?

 

Matt  

Yeah, I've done that a bit. 

 

Brad  

That's good. 

 

Matt  

That's actually where my talents should stop, I've now realized.

 

Brad  

But what about the middle ground where you're with Granger Smith and some other YouTubers just partying it up? While he's singing?

 

Matt  

Yeah, that I can handle. That's where my talent lies is hiding behind a good singer.

 

Brad  

Okay, so you got to keep experimenting things. We'll take that as a lesson. So what what is the silliest thing you've done during this quarantine to entertain yourself, or your kids or your family.

 

Matt  

So we actually as far as what we do here hasn't changed a ton because we like to stay home anyway. And we have room to roam out here. And so I still can make my videos because I pretty much film myself alone in the woods all the time. And we hang out with family, we go swimming in the pool, and we go playing in the field and like kids are, you know, they they're pretty unaffected by it. So our quarantine has been very normal. It's been very similar to my normal life. And so silly things. Just the normal silliness, that always happens. And the good thing about it is I film it all put on YouTube.

 

Brad  

Alright, so we're not going to give you extra nuggets there. Fair enough. So we're gonna have to dive a little bit deeper into your past maybe,

 

Matt  

Alright.

 

Brad  

Okay. So let's start out with an easy one: best 80s movie.

 

Matt  

Best 80s movie? Well, the problem is I really didn't start watching a lot of movie. I was born in the mid 80s. And so I don't really know what 80s movies are, like is umm.. 

 

Brad  

Karate Kid, Goonies. I know you've seen those. 

 

Matt  

I've seen those. We actually just watched Karate Kid the other day with my kids because they had never seen it. And that is a good one. It's like, it's like Lethal Weapon. That was 80s or is that 90s?

 

Brad  

That's a great question. There's a lot of those.

 

Matt  

Yeah, there's a bunch in there that I'm really into. But I think actual 80s movies. I didn't. I don't really watch too much.

 

Brad  

You ever see Airplane?

 

Matt  

Airplane was Leslie Nielsen or... 

 

Brad  

Yeah, exactly. 

 

Matt  

Yeah, I've seen that. I love that movie. 

 

Brad  

That was a good one. 

 

Matt  

Yeah, my dad let me watch that one. That was good.

 

Brad  

Yeah. So first album.

 

Matt  

The first album I ever owned?

 

Brad  

Yes.

 

Matt  

Okay, so when I was in high school, I was super into alternative rock. And so I thought country music was dumb. I thought rap music was dumb and pop music was dumb. So I only listened to alternative rock and classic rock actually because my dad listened that kind of stuff. So I had, I had Black Sabbath was one of my first ones. I had Pearl Jam. And then I started getting into like the alternative like The Offspring, and I love Metallica and all that kind of stuff. That was kind of my style of music back in the day. And then I went to college at Texas A&M, where it was a bunch of rednecks there, and I started listening to country music and a bunch of hot girls there and I start listening to pop music and I was like, I like these two and so now I like everything but back when I was in high school like all those other musics were really dumb. Only rock was cool.

 

Brad  

Very nice. Very nice. Did you ever get a Nickelback?

 

Matt  

I actually did like Nickelback and still kind of do. I'll admit it. I like Nickelback. Yeah

 

Brad  

Everyone loves to hate Nickelback. 

 

Matt  

No one really, like ever thought they were bad until like, they just got played so much. 

 

Brad  

I know. 

 

Matt  

But everyone did like them at first you have to admit. And if you say no, you're a liar. 

 

Brad  

I think you're right. Yeah, a lot of liars out there. That's the one thing that we know. But you Matt, you're an honest man. And I appreciate it. 

 

Matt  

Right. That's right. 

 

Brad  

I need your honesty right now. So Meredith's Great. 

 

Matt  

Agreed. 

 

Brad  

I want to know... 

 

Matt  

You say Meredith's great, but... 

 

Brad  

Yeah, I did. Because I know you had a crush at some point in your life before Meredith because y'all met in high school. But who was your first crush ever?

 

Matt  

My first crush. So I actually I kissed a girl before Meredith, in kindergarten. And I actually kissed two girls in kindergarten, I was kind of a player, what can I say? And then I didn't kiss another girl for like, 15 years after that. But no, my first like, crush crush. I think like Middle School, there were these two girls, one was named Katie. And the other was named Tracy. They both gave me notes on the same day, and I had to pick which one I liked the most.

 

Brad  

Ah.

 

Matt  

I don't want to say who I picked on camera. You know, it was a big deal. Back in, like, fifth grade or fourth grade or something. I felt like the coolest kid ever when I got two notes from two girls, two real girls in one day.

 

Brad  

That's a good day. And do you think he made the right decision? I mean, Katie vs. Tracy in that moment?

 

Matt  

Turns out it didn't last, so it didn't matter. Anyway, you know, it was it was a good like five day relationship. So it's pretty good for middle school, but didn't work out. I hope she's doing well. 

 

Brad  

I'm sure she's doing fantastic. So we're gonna keep this moving here. Three words to describe Robert Oberst.

 

Matt  

Robert Oberst. big, scary and cuddly. Yeah, cuz you got to admit like, like, I'm not into that. But like, I wouldn't mind just trying to be a little spoon with Robert Oberst. I just want to know what it feels like. And he's the guy who could, he's the guy that would cuddle you better than anybody. I just have a feeling.

 

Brad  

You don't get that chance many guys, you're a big guy, strong guy and the thought of having someone a lot stronger than you...

 

Matt  

Just to feel his powerful arms around me and just feel completely safe. You know, I just I want to know what that feels like.

 

Brad  

Yes, yes. Okay, person number two, we're gonna do this for Furious Pete.

 

Matt  

Furious Pete. Kind of same thing. He's kind of big. Let me think Ferious Pete... I would say big, I was going to say lovable, but I'm gonna change to caring because that guy really cares. He's, he's, uh, he's been there a lot for me in the past. And he's funny, I'll say funny.

 

Brad  

All right. That's good. That's good. So speaking of funny, I'm gonna I'm going to end with one that I am really looking forward to your answer on. At this moment. You already know who it's going to be. Let's hear for Rob Terkla.

 

Matt  

Rob Terkla. Ah, all right. All right, Rob Terkla. I would say loving as well. He is deep down a loving guy. But more superficially, I would say ADD, because he's like a squirrel. Like if you're talking about something, and then he's just like, saying something totally different. You're like, What are you? And he's like, Oh, I was. I was talking about the other day when we did that thing. And I'm like, Why? Why would you start talking about that right now? And he's like, I don't know. I was just thinking about it. And, okay, so I got I got loving and then ADD. And what's the last one? I'm gonna go with funny too. I'm going to be pretty basic and boring on that one. He is a funny guy. And every time I hang out with him, I will laugh a lot. For sure. 

 

Brad  

That's true. You can't help but smile when you're around Rob. At some point, okay, so let's keep going with the Rob theme because we both love Rob. So how do you think Rob would be as a wingman if you were in battle with him?

 

Matt  

As a wingman? I think there would be no better than Rob. Probably, you know, like someone who's been there keeping your nerves you know, that'd be good to have someone who's like, whose nerves are steady, because I feel like I'm a pretty tough, dude. I feel like I would be pretty good. I mean, I've been good in really stressful situations before, but I've never been into that kind of a stressful situation. So it'd be nice to have someone like Rob along there with me be like, "hey, this is okay. Chill out. We're going there," and I'm like "All right. All right, Rob knows what to do, follow that guy." So I think Rob would be an excellent wingman in a situation like that.

 

Brad  

You think there's any concern about Rob being the one to tell you to chill out? Like, that seems like it's kind of scary that Rob...

 

Matt  

It is weird, but I think that's his... he's in his element there. You know, like, it's when he'd be good, but yeah, that is weird thinking of it like that.

 

Brad  

Okay, so you and Meredith met in high school? Correct? 

 

Matt  

Yeah. 

 

Brad  

Let's pretend that this was right before you met Mere. I want to know how would Rob Terkla be as a wing man, trying to meet a pretty young lady.

 

Matt  

Man, I don't know, like so. If so, I see Meredith, across the school room, cross the cafeteria, and Rob's my guy there and we're gonna go talk to her and he's gonna be my wingman. Is that kind of a situation? 

 

Brad  

You got it.

 

Matt  

Okay. So, I think, okay, here's what Robert would do. I know exactly what Rob would do. Rob would make it super awkward on purpose. He would like... we'd walk up and I'd be like, "hey, are you new here?" And he would go, "he thinks you're hot." And I'd be like, Oh, uh, but you know, yeah. What classes are you taking? And he would be like, "he just wants your phone number. And he wants you to come out this Friday night." Rob would instantly just, like, throw it out there. And I'd be like, yeah, that's true. Right. And I'd be red, and then it would be like, I hate Rob.

 

Brad  

But you think it would be successful?

 

Matt  

Yeah, I think so. I think girls like that. And she would laugh and she would probably give me your number. And then she'd probably come hang out Friday night, and we'd get married and have three kids.

 

Brad  

There you go. And that seemed to work out.

 

Matt  

Happily ever after. Yeah. 

 

Brad  

Okay, something that was a little bit more fun here before we wrap up: you are given an elephant. You cannot give away the elephant. You cannot sell the elephant. What are you gonna do with the elephant?

 

Matt  

Is it an adult elephant? Or is it a baby elephant?

 

Brad  

Let's say adult.

 

Matt  

And is it a wild elephant or can like I ride it?

 

Brad  

It's open to you riding it, but it's not easy. You know...

 

Matt  

It would take a little bit to tame it though. But it's willing to be tamed.

 

Brad  

It is willing to be tamed from what I could tell.

 

Matt  

I would love that gift. That would be awesome. If it was a crazy elephant that I couldn't like be near and it was scary, then, I don't know what I do with it. But if it was a cool elephant that like was chill. And I could like go, "hey, lift me up on top of that roof right there. I need to get up there." That'd be awesome. Invaluable. And I got the room. I mean, think about how cool that'd be. You know, it's cool to drive up in like a Humvee somewhere. What if you just wrote up on an elephant? I can be the Elephant King. 

 

Brad  

Yeah, that's right. That's right. So we got to ask you: have you seen Tiger King?

 

Matt  

Yeah. Seen it. Love it. 

 

Brad  

Loved it? 

 

Matt  

I didn't love it. But I was entertained the whole time. I'll say that.

 

Brad  

Got it. Have you watched the bonus one? I haven't. 

 

Matt  

No, I haven't. Because one of my friends watched it. And he said it was not worth watching.

 

Brad  

Yeah, fair enough. I watched the first episode and a half. And I couldn't do it anymore. I woke up. I like walked up in the middle of it. And I think there's something that feels weird about this. And I just, I'm done.

 

Matt  

There's a lot that feels weird about that show.

 

Brad  

Fair enough. All right. Last question for you. What advice would you have to someone that is an aspiring entrepreneur, so not necessarily even like a YouTuber because you're obviously really smart. You've got your hand in a lot of different things, including the vet clinic and three different YouTube channels, Bunker Branding, of course. And you've been a great partner and a great member of the MuskOx Herd, as well. So you're not just a one dimensional person, of course, we will leave out the vocals for now as per your request. What advice would you give to someone that is new in their entrepreneurial journey?

 

Matt  

So I have dabbled in entrepreneurial stuff. And the only times I've failed and found success and the times I found success was when it was something I was really passionate about really excited about and ready to like stay up till three in the morning for a year straight working on it because I was just so pumped about it and I wanted it to work out. There's been things I've tried to start that just did not work and it was because I was either doing it because I was like I think this will make some money but I don't really like it. I'm gonna try it. It never worked out you know, or I just wasn't willing to put in the effort. But the stuff that I was really excited about enough to forgo sleep and fun stuff with my friends. You know if I was like willing to miss something big because I was so excited about this project I was working on... that stuff all worked well. So and I've seen that with friends who have been really successful in certain things. And it was all things that if they were really excited about it, they figured out a way to make it work. So I would say, Don't bite off more than you can chew unless you are just so pumped about something. And you've been working at it for a while, and you just are ready to go all in. And like, all in and i think i think anybody can make it work if you're, you're enthusiastic.

 

Brad  

Yeah, I think that's great advice. I mean, one of the things that I see time and time again, it's just like, you got to be the hardest working person in the room if you want to be successful. And in order to work that hard for a long period of time, a long period of time where it matters. Yeah, you have to really give a shit about it.

 

Matt

Yeah. I would say, you know, I don't mind bragging on my YouTube a little bit, because I feel like I was so passionate about it. And I have made something successful. But the only reason I was successful is because I did it for two or three years unsuccessfully, because I didn't, I didn't know how to make it work. But I was so into it, that I was willing to just keep going when it wasn't, it wasn't profitable. It wasn't rewarding at all. I just liked it so much. I liked making videos so much. And I kept doing it till I finally figured out how to do it. And so I pushed through that that first part and I think you have to do that in any, any career, any new endeavor you're going into, there's going to be a part where it's not rewarding, it's not fun. It doesn't look like it's gonna work out. But you like it so much. You're so enthusiastic. You're so passionate that you can push through it and figure out how to make it work.

 

Brad  

Yeah, 100%. Very good stuff. I think that's a good note to leave on. Well, thanks for being thanks for being part of the Herd. And thanks for your time. We really appreciate it.

 

Matt  

Yeah, Brad, for sure. I'm loving it and y'all have a good one.

 

Brad  

All right. Thank you, you too.