208: The Power of Starting Over (feat. Brittney Kelley)

Welcome back to this week's episode of Unlocked. I am super excited for today's episode. We've actually already been talking for like 30 minutes, so we should have been recording. But I have on Brittany Kelly and she is the co-founder and CEO of Tribe Kelly, which that's what I'm wearing 'cause it's great. So welcome. - Thank you for having me. - Of course, I'm so excited to do this. - Well, I'm so excited that you have this. - You also, you were outside for like hours doing a photo shoot. - Yeah, so if I'm a little shiny and sweaty right now, yeah, we just got done doing like a three-hour photo shoot, outdoors for a super fun collaboration we have coming up. - I can't wait and when does that come out? That collaboration. - So we're doing a collaboration with the University of Georgia. - Oh, congratulations! - We are debuting a little capsule lawn that we just shot today in the 100-degree heat and that does come out at the end of September. - That is so exciting. I mean, my brother would not be happy 'cause he's an Alabama guy, but you know, it's okay. - No, they're about the only other good football team out there, so I'll give it to him. - Yeah. - He's got a good one with it. - Exactly, hey, the dogs are so fun. - They are. - So much fun. Oh my gosh, okay, so speaking of Georgia, it's where you went to college. - Yes, I grew up in Georgia, tiny, tiny little town. - Where are Georgia's you grew up? - The middle of nowhere. This tiny town called Flavilla, Georgia. - I've actually never heard of it. - Oh no, you haven't. There's like 80 people there. - What's it by? - Do you know where McDonough, Georgia is? - Okay, it's like 35 minutes in the middle of nowhere. - I got you. - Growing my grandmother there, super small town, like graduated with like 19 people, like that kind of small country. - Cheers. - God. - I know. - And then you ended up going to the University of Georgia. - Yep, so ended up-- - And you were studying what psychology? - Psychology, yes. - Okay. - I know, science major. I barely even got to go to the football games, honestly, 'cause I was in the study room. - That is crazy, so you were studying psychology. And during that time though, you had like started buying vintage jewelry and remaking it. - Yes. - So what was that? I guess how do you go from psychology to like, all right. Let's remake jewelry. - So when I was, like I said, I had to study a lot, so I spent a lot of time just at my apartment. I really didn't go out and like party and go to the bars too much because I just couldn't. So I just picked up the hobby of like remaking jewelry and I used to custom make people like festival teas. Like remember when we were younger, people would make the like, fringe festival teas. - The friends, yes. - And you would make all your stuff really cute and tight. - You could braid 'em all and tie it. So I had a little Etsy account and I started a brand called Wondertown and I had a buddy that worked at like the antique shop and he would give me all this like broken jewelry and I would just remake it like for nothing. So I started off with like, you know, just putting zero dollars into it and then I'd sell a bracelet for like 30 bucks, you know. - Did you actually end up making good money? - I mean, I'd make like three or four hundred dollars a month, but like crazy. - At that point, my rent was only four hundred bucks. - So you know, like this is awesome. - It's like, oh, he's about four hundred bucks and like I'm good. So that passion of like creating with my hands, like everything down to like putting it in the box and like shipping it off to customers and like getting feedback and getting like pictures of it was just like, I was so passionate about it. - And so, but that's like, obviously we know each other from around Nashville. We haven't like gotten super close, but I feel like I've always heard and I've heard in interviews. You've always been such a hustler. - I try. Like you have always worked. You've always had a job. You've always. - Yes. - And why is that? - You know, I grew up with my grandmother and sadly she passed away when I was 17. So I was still in school. So I had almost like a year left to school at that point. I like moved in with another family and I just immediately started like wrapping my brain around. Like, all right, this is, I'm a real adult, this is real life. Like I got to get it. So I just, and she had a really big work ethic too. Like she worked two jobs, you know? So like, I was at home a lot and she was working a lot. So I just saw that and it was just, you know, she was real tough. She was like, you don't need to depend on a man ever. You know, so she was real old school like that. - And that's actually for your grandmother to say that. That is like decades ahead. - Yeah, I know she was like, you don't need to depend on the man no matter what. And so like I always had that stuck in my head. And so I just kind of hit the ground running. Like once I went to college, I was whipping it up at Buffalo Wild Wings. I was a waitress. I was doing my Etsy. Like I just, that's amazing. And so you grew up with your grandmother. And what was that like? - You know, she, she was, she was awesome. She was strict, she was old school Southern. You know, my great grandmother actually lived with us in the house for a long time until I was like 10 or 11. So it's kind of strict, honestly. Like I had to do chores. Like I was, I literally, at 13, 14 I was like on a mower, like mowing the grass outside. - I think work kids should be doing that in today's day and age. - Yeah, like I knew how to change a weed eater like early on. Yeah. So she would make me work for like what even when I was 16 and I needed gas money. She's like, well, you gotta do your laundry. You gotta press your clothes. Like I had to iron my clothes before school. So she was strict, but also like if my friends and I had parties or anything, she was like smart enough to know that we were like getting into stuff. So she's like, well, y'all come to my house. Everybody leave their keys here. We used to have this like trailer on our land and she's like, y'all go out there and do your thing, but nobody's leaving. - That's amazing. And it's, you know, because I like, when I hear that, I also think of like my Chloe. Cause like, she's my sister, technically niece, but like we view each other as sister and like her grandparents are raising her. - Yeah. - And it's like at times was there ever that struggle of like biological parents versus grandmother raising you? You know? - You know, you know, my parents both had their own struggles with addiction. And so, you know, when I was younger, I did like miss having this like normalcy, you know? Cause I was like, dang, like, you know, I wish I did have a normal family, but as I got older like into my teens, I was super appreciative of her, you know? She would come to, you know, the mother's, you know, events. And then if we have like a father's day, dance, she'd come to that and like, you know? So like I really started to kind of recognize and see that when I was a teenager and wrap my brain around like, wow, she's doing a lot. So as I got older, I was more appreciative. But when I was younger, I was like, you know, like kind of embarrassed, but I'm like, dang, like, you see what everyone else has and you think they have that. So I should have that. And that's the hard part, but I feel like when you mature, you realize like this person took me when they didn't have to. Yes. And it's like a whole different level of appreciation. 100. But it's like I understand like we definitely have gone through that with Chloe and it's like, I get it. Like it's what you feel, right? But as an adult, it's like you look at it so much differently. Yeah. And with your grandmother, I know you've spoken about it. You've spoken about once before with Caroline Hobbie and her podcast. When you lost your grandmother, what was that like? I mean, it was not it was. Yeah, it was a very tragic situation. And I've had a lot of therapy. So like I'm good talking about it. Anything you don't want to talk about. No, no, no, no, I'm to kick rocks. No, this, I think the story's helped a lot of people. But sadly, she was tragically killed at our house by someone she was dating. It was a very wild scenario. Like wasn't expecting it. It was like something you see in the movies. It's like one of those things that happened. And you're like, holy shit, like that should, I should have watched a movie and that would have happened. But it's very sad. And luckily, I called in like my Earth Angel family. I was with them when it happened. And they immediately like took me in. It was a whirlwind. I mean, you know, the pastor came over and you know, it was praying over me. It was like literally like I was like hovering above my body and this happening. Yeah. So I stayed at a school for a couple months. And then I went back to school and finished and did a lot of therapy. And how old were you? You were 17. Yeah. And did you have any idea that, like, idea what? Like just when that happened to her. Like the guy that she was dating. Did you have any? No, you know, we lived in a really small town. So it was a real country town. And, you know, he lived, I want to say next door, but it was really like, you know, a couple acres down. We had like 60 acres. So he was like a little further down. And like one day we just went and bought firewood from him. And they started dating. And then within three months, he proposed to her. So now looking back, I was like, that was a little weird. And then, yeah, I mean, then she broke up with him. And that's when it happened. It was like right before Christmas, it was like the worst case scenario ever. And no, I had no idea. I mean, it was like literally like a movie. Yeah. I mean, it's like, and that's the thing is there's not always signs. Yeah. And it was a murder suicide. So he killed her and then killed himself. And to me, I'm like, that's such a coward's way of life. No, I mean, there's like, there's no answered questions. There's no, there's nothing. Everything's just gone. Your whole world flipped upside down. And when that happened, the healing journey with that, like, what do you wish more people knew? Like, just how you felt at that time of losing one of the only people you had, it's such a young age, really just like reaching out, because I think, you know, growing up in the South, like I said, like the pastor came over and he's praying over me and I so appreciated that. But like, I needed someone to like, say, this is what's happening in your brain. This is what's happening to somebody. Like, you're not going to pray my her in a way. I'm sorry. Right. And, yeah. And that's really why I went into psychology. Like, I originally wanted to understand trauma, I wanted to do forensics. psychology and kind of dove into like, you know, killer's mons and like people that have done really wild things like, wow, like, what does that make them do that? You know. And that was my passion to kind of figure it out on my journey. And obviously coming from, you know, a family that had addiction, I just knew like, this is one way or the other. Like I'm about to like ruin my life and like just be another case of that. Or like I'm about to like, I kind of remember thinking like when I turned 18 and I remember driving down to like college and being like, I'm just going to treat life as like a game. And I'm going to try to get as much out of it as I can. Good for you. Just like squeeze as much out as I can and just not go like the easy route, which is doing drugs and, you know, getting into, you know, also to say, well, this is what I came from. Like this is what I came from. This is all I know. This is what I'm going to do. But it takes a strong person to say like, I am not going to be X, Y and Z. Yeah. Yeah. So that was, I don't want to say difficult, but it was hard because when you first get to college, you know, everybody's drinking a lot. Everybody's doing drugs. Like, you know, there's people who are dealing drugs in my apartment complex. It would have been really easy to access. But I just, do you think you just went the complete opposite way? Yeah. I was just like, I don't want to be like my family. Like, I don't want to be like, we had family reunions and like everyone at my reunions like loaded. So I'm like, I don't want to be like my uncle so and so. I don't want to be like, yeah. I don't know. I think I had a really good mirror to look in about what I didn't want to be. Yeah. And so I just went the exact opposite way and, you know, the family that took me in in high school, they were so sweet. I still am in contact with them today. Like they allowed me to like, I mean, I went into their home like three weeks before Christmas, you know? So like, they just took me in and treated me like I was their own, like their daughter, her name's Whitney. She was like one of my best friends. So like, I literally just like slept in the bed with her and her room for like, until I graduated and they just treated me like we were twins basically. Everything they got hurt, they got me. Like I went back from college to their house for Christmas and Thanksgiving and that's such a god thing. If you know me, you know, I have never been a one business kind of girl. I've had my hands in so many different businesses over the years and when I tell you Shopify has been behind a lot of them. Every time I get a new idea, Shopify is where I start because everything I need is already there from day one. Here's the thing, you don't have to be a tech person. Shopify's templates and AI tools get you a stunning side up and running fast with no coding needed. If you get stuck, their built in AI assistant sidekick helps you build troubleshoot and keep moving. I absolutely love that because I would so much rather spend my time growing the business than fighting with a website. So if you have had an idea sitting in the back of your head for years, this is your sign. If you're ready to hear that of your first sale today, head over to shopify.com/savanna to start your free trial today. That's right. Start your free trial at shopify.com/savanna. That's shopify.com/savanna. Visit goodgirlrx.com and use code Unlocked15 to get 15% off at checkout. Medical care is provided by licensed physicians, not all patients qualify. Good Girl Rx is a female focused health and wellness company built around the belief that women deserve better access to care and better conversations about their health. Through our telehealth platform, women connect with licensed medical providers from the comfort of their own home. During your virtual appointment, a doctor reviews your health history and goals. And if clinically appropriate, may discuss prescription treatment options as part of a personalized plan. Those options can include GLP1 medications like tricepatide, as well as wellness therapies such as NAD, depending on what your provider determines is right for you. Every treatment plan is individualized, medically guided, and based on your specific needs. Not trends or one size fits all solutions. I'm the founder of Good Girl Rx and this is my personal experience. For me, the biggest shift wasn't just physical. It was finally feeling heard, supported, and honestly cared for without shame. Everyone's journey is different, results vary, and not everyone qualifies. But access to real medical guidance can be life changing. Again, people don't have to show up for you, but they choose to. I know. And that's what I've said. During the hardest times of your life, you see who your real family is. It's not people who are blood related. It's the people who show up for you when they don't have to. No, that's right. That's like 100% correct. That was just in your 17 years that you had to endure that. And then obviously going to college and you just had to do it on your own. Yeah, I mean, I just, I had such, I don't know. It was like, I almost felt like I was hovering above my body and like watching my life play out because it was so extreme. And then yeah, like going straight to college and not having any money, like not having, like my Nana left me some money, but it got caught up in like the court and it was kind of a dramatic thing with my family. And she left everything to me. So I had something. I mean, we lived in a trailer growing up. I mean, there wasn't much, but like there was something. So you know, when you become an adult, you realize money doesn't go far. Right. Like it goes really, really fast. I'm like, wow, I have rent now. Like I had health insurance. Like I've got bills, like I have car insurance. So like I just really, you know, funny enough, I actually went into accounting first and then I switched my major. What a plot twist. I know. I went into accounting first. I knew in my heart, I wanted to be a therapist, but I was like, I need to go into accounting so that I can figure my shit out. Yeah. And so that actually really helped me like get a budget together and know how much I needed to make and and all that. And then I switched my major because I was like, I don't want to do this for other people. I don't want to do other bills, finances. So yeah, I just, I don't know. I like look back and I'm like, damn, I really just did it. Like I just, but that's, that's what's amazing is like your life looks totally different than versus now. I feel like it also gives you a different appreciation for life. Absolutely. Like I think it was 2019. You made a comment that was just talking about like work life balance. And you don't want to like have a job to, you're like, Oh, can't wait for the weekend or can't wait for the holidays. And where did, where did that come from? I think from watching like my Nana struggle, like she did. Oh, she like worked for a lawyer and she also hustled and did like a notary business on the side. And like she didn't like hate what she did, but like she was waiting on the weekend waiting on the, yeah. And so I was like, damn, I want to like hustle and I want to work hard, but I want to be doing something like I love to do, you know, and I just stuff to that. That is awesome. I love that. And so when did, when was it that you met your husband, BK? So we actually met dating siblings. So when I was 19, wait, what? You didn't know the story? No. No way. My gosh, stop. No, this is a good story. So when I was 19, so like three years later, I was dating this guy and you're going to love me. I love this. I love some messiness. So I was dating this guy. And BK was dating the guy's older sister. And we met at a Thanksgiving dating those. Stop it. No, you didn't. No. Okay. So we met at a Thanksgiving. Nothing happened. It wasn't really juicy at all. Like we were just buddies. And we ended up breaking up with those people, moving on with our life. And like we both dated other people in between. And then when I was 22, BK circled back around and just started texting me and was like, well, first off, when we were dating those other people, like, I remember his girlfriend at the time, a boyfriend sister. She was like making the FGL logo and stuff. No. Like we were in her parents' kitchen. Stop it. She had the Western like FGL font up there. And we were like, let's see what different font. Like we were like talking like that at the beginning of FGL. So anyways, looped back around when I was 22. So three years later, BK like hit me up and was like, Hey, I'm coming through UGA. Like we're playing at the Georgia theater, you know, come through or whatever. And I was like, I'm good. Like I'm like, I was studying honestly. Like it really wasn't my scene to be at the bar at that point. And then he just, you see, like not even a couple months later, he hit me back up. He's like, Hey, we're playing at this fair. And some of my friends were going. And so I was like, Okay, like have some friends going, like I'll come through or whatever. And then I went back on the bus and we just started talking like, you know, buddies or whatever. And then he went in for a kiss. Stop it. I was like, I'm sorry. I gave you the wrong impression. Like I wasn't, you know, whatever. And I was like, you know, try not. I'm like, I'm not here to hook up or anything. Like I'm not one of like your groupies. And it was like kind of awkward. But then we just, from that day on, we like never stopped texting. And then we were married eight months later. Stop it. Like quick, quick, quick. So I love that. Yeah. And he knew my story. Yeah. You know, and he, I knew history, you know, before and I don't know, we just became like best friends over like text and face time. - I was literally about to say, like any time you see you guys, whether it's social media in person, that's what it feels like, is like just that best friend. - Yeah, we're buddies. - Always there, the steady, the consistent, that it's amazing. - And I just figured, you know, like, and he had just, you know, cruise was their number one, or their first number one. - And for people that are listening that don't understand the FGL, you know, what that is, Florida, Georgia line, obviously. - Yes, so no, they were hustling, like they were, when I first met BK, like he was in his Tahoe, like they were pulling like a barbecue truck behind their thing, like doing the barbecue tour, like it was some like low grade stuff. - Yeah. - And then when we-- - Low grade stuff. - It was so hot. - No, they literally had to cook barbecue after the shows just to pay for their shows. Like that was like the deal. - You're lying. - That's right. - I had no idea that was the thing. - Yes. - That is crazy. And they were still, I mean, when I met BK, they were still hustling. He was like putting up bathroom stalls and Tyler was doing car detailing and washing and stuff. And so I definitely got to see his glow up. But when we started dating, yeah, I mean, he just never stopped texting me. I mean, I was obviously at school and it was funny 'cause once we started warming up, like beyond buddies, like he was like more worried about what I was doing. He's like, well, you know, are you going to the bars? Or like, are you seeing anybody? - And you're like, you're the musician, not me. I'm like, I just, I didn't have like high expectations. I was like, oh, he's a buddy or whatever. And then pretty quickly, like within like a month and half of us talking, he's like, yeah, I want you to be my girlfriend. Like, I don't want you to date anybody else. Like, I don't want these like UGA guys to be talking to you. And I'm like, that's sweet, whatever. So it's like, cool. And then I would fly. And then it got pretty consistent. I would either fly or drive up and see him like every weekend. It was a whole thing. And then, yeah, my last semester, he was like, let's get married. Like, I want to marry you. We had this one night where we like stayed up all night and just dreamed and we were like, let's just be life partners. Like, had these really deep conversations about like, you know, not ever lying to each other or cheating on each other and just being life partners. And if we ever got to that point to be honest with one another and I already thought I was crazy 'cause I would just turn 23. - I mean, that is yeah, I'm like, 'cause how old are you now? - 36. - Okay, so what has that been like going from 23 now to 36? Would the same person through these different stages of life and marriage, what has that looked like? - Yeah, I mean, we've loved each other through growing up, you know, I mean, he's five and a half years older than me. So he was 28 almost at the time. When we got married, I was 23 at the time we got married. And so we just had to love each other through it all. And I mean, I did a lot of therapy, a lot of coaching like around that time that we got married. I knew that I was still carrying a lot of like, pain body wounds from, you know, everything I'd gone through and even in addition to that, like, you know, I'd dated someone that was really terrible to me and stole from me and cheated on me. And so I had a lot of pain body wounds to deal with and wanting to go into psychology. Or having gone into psychology, I knew that like, I really needed to like rewire my brain, like to set myself up for success. So there's no way for you to have a successful relationship if you're going into it completely broken. - Right. - And then his industry, you know, it's like, I'm like-- - I'm one for the faint of heart. - Yeah, I'm like flying in and like seeing him, you know, command, you know, 30,000 people at a show and like all these beautiful women and like, I mean, I remember being at festivals and like, people are taking their tops off. - And you're like, what is going on? - I'm like, this is what you're doing while I'm at school. - Yeah. - Poor thing. He just always gave me the reassurance. Like he's always had just like the confidence in us. Like never, ever allowed me to like, second guess anything. So I really had to do the work. Like I put in the work and, you know, I got into a program called the Pivot Program, which my coach created. My coach is Laurie Jean Glass, she's amazing. And yeah, I just really dove into that and pretty much was on the phone like every week for like years, like really working on myself. - I think it's the work never ends. - No, it doesn't. - For people to think like, okay, well, if I just go to therapy, I'll be fine. And I'm like, little do you know, it opens up more and the work never ends. But like if you're committed to being better, wanting better, wanting more, then you keep working on it. - Absolutely. And what I did with the Pivot Program, it felt, 'cause I did therapy like pretty much up until 23, I did like typical therapy, which, you know, I kind of felt like was somewhere I was going to vent, like I had multiple therapists before I did the coaching with my coach, now Laurie. And I felt like I was going and venting. And then I was kind of getting a little diagnosed, well, you have PTSD, well, you're having a stress response. And I'm like, I know. But what can I do? - But I need to give me some tools, you know? And so in short, like the Pivot Program, I feel like gave me the tools for like my tool belt to like whip out when something happens. Like when I'm starting to get triggered or feel something come up, I'm like, okay, I can use this method, or I need to filter this out. Or like, you know, and there's some really cool things you learn, like you learn your whole perspective and like what really matters? You learn your circle boundaries. - I need to do that. - So like, you know, if somebody, I don't know, like if there's some girl flirting with BK backstage, like you learn circle boundaries and you realize like, okay, this girl is like outside of like my circle boundaries of like, who really matters in my life. So I'm not going to put a lot of energy into this. I trust my partner. You know, there's these ways to eliminate unnecessary stuff. - Yeah, unnecessary anger, energy and channeling that and harboring that, like even down to like, like I would get road rage sometimes. And then I'd come home and be like, this guy flicked me on, I flicked him off, you know whatever. And like, you know, my coach is like, Brittany, circle boundaries, we don't even know this person. This person's on like the way outside. - And you just let them ruin your day. And you just spent three hours talking about it. And then you just brought your partner into this energy. So I learned pretty, pretty quickly, you know, that like, okay, like for this to be like a smooth relationship with all of these outside stimulants. Like, I've got to lock in and use the tools. - And do you think it was hard whenever, obviously like, when his career took off and he was making all this money and like, now you're being taken care of. Like, is it hard to have you found that it was hard to kind of let him do that? Because I can feel like we're the same in the sense of like, I don't need you. - Oh, I swiped my own card for like the first year we were married. Stop, see, it's hard. Like in, and it's like Aaron and I have talked about this before. It's like that fear of letting someone do so much for you. - Yeah. - And then maybe one day they stopped doing it. - Yeah. - So then that leads to disappointment. - I was so used to in relationships too. Like the guys I dated before, like, I would just pay for stuff. I don't know why I did that. - I did it too. I did it too. I just built them and it's terrible. - It's like this feeling of you wanting them to see that I don't need your money. I like you for you. - And then they're like, oh great, so I'll take yours. - They're like, great. No, and I just, I think I went at it. Knowing that BK was like on his come up and that so many people around him wanted something from him. - Yeah. - I like wanted to just show him deep down that like, I don't need you to buy my coffee and I also don't need you to buy my car. Like I can do both, you know what I mean? So that spirit has always been in me still is in me. Like literally, I just got a new car and like I bought it on Tribe Kelly. Like I'm like, nope, this is like my business car. Like we're finally at a place where I can buy a car. So he tried to break that spirit in me really early on 'cause he's like, I wanna take care of that. - And that's like a manly, that's like someone, right? Like for someone to, like that's what I say now. I'm like, this is so great, like if I wanna buy something, I can buy it, but like I'm with someone who like doesn't even think twice. Like I'm with someone who's like, "Hey, like let me take care of your MX bill." Or let me do that, let me do that. And I'm like, what? - I feel like we're the same in that. Like we live, we have lived and have had to live in our masculine for so long. - Yes. - And just to take care of shit and just do shit. Like whether it's like put my tire up or pay for my bill, it's just like let's do it. But it's good for us to soften everything. - It is so good. - I love it. That's what I've said. I was like I'm so tired of being a dude. - I know. - Like if you deserve to relax into your, into your pink. - Great, this is great. And so in the midst of your entire journey, where would you say, 'cause you've said, like you had to come out of like a dark phase at times. Where would you say like you got, did you, your faith journey and the midst of all of that? What did that look like? - Yes. - Because I say like people are so tired. - I know I'm tired of like reading books or hearing podcasts where people are like, oh just trust God, just trust God. Everything's gonna be okay. Just pray about it. And I'm like faith is not, that's not fit. Like that's not everything's fixed by praying or not everything like no one has this perfect relationship. - Right. No, like you know, I did not grow up religious. Like my Nana did not force me to go to church. - Which is shocking in the South. - I know. I mean I was not, I don't know. I never went to church. If anything, when I got in high school, I saw all my church friends like going on ski trips and stuff and I'm like, all right, I want to go church. I can go on ski trips. You know what I mean? - Yeah. - And if anything, a lot of the friends that I loved and like thought were cool, like they went to church. So I started going to church with them. And I actually had not a great experience because like a lot of the people growing up in church were kind of doing and saying the opposite of like, What? they were doing on Sunday. So I kind of got a bad taste in my mouth, even when I try to introduce myself to it. And then in college, funny enough, like I was walking on the UGA campus and this little group was passing out books. And the book was called more than a carpenter. And it was strictly just about the historical timeline of Jesus's journey here and how many facts there were in regard to timeline, witnesses, accounts. And I think that really got me inspired because I'm like, wow, Jesus was real. There's all these witnesses that don't even know each other have all these same accounts. And I just kind of started researching like my own, like did do your own research, Bob. Yeah, you're like, I have to know. And so I started kind of digging and buying more materials, like really just about Jesus, not necessarily about like religion and faith. Like I think it really confused me like, what is Presbyterian and what is Methodist. And I didn't really understand that. I kind of felt more like a business to me. And so I had a couple mentors, you know, in my college career basically say like, look, religion, falling religion and falling Jesus are actually pretty different. Very different. Yeah. And, you know, religion was formed as a business essentially, you know, but also as a community. It's good to have a community. It's good to have a church home. It's good to have people. But you can't like live and die by what human beings say. Yeah. And, you know, I kind of just got it in my mind, you know, like if I just followed Jesus and literally his example, and I'm a surround myself with people who are doing that. Like, how can you not have a good life? Yeah. You know. And so that's kind of where it started. And like, I kind of just sparked my own interest in it. And do you think too at that time, you needed something to believe in? I needed something. Yeah. Because I was, I was really on my own. Like I said, I had come out of a bad relationship. And I was just really down. Like I don't feel like I was, maybe I was depressed. I don't know. I was just going, going, going. But like, there was a church in Athens at the time that I had some friends going to. And I started showing up and felt pretty uncomfortable because I was like, I've never just shown up to church. Yeah. Where would I do? But it was a really cool, relaxed church where you go like jeans and like your, you know, little t-shirt or whatever. And then I got into like my first small group. And like I had like my first experience of like telling people my story. And I was just in tears. People were hugging me and praying every man. I was like, this is cool. You know, to feel that. You feel love from like people you don't even know seen and heard. And then it wasn't, you know, I'd been in a lot of therapist shares at that point. So I'd, you know, therapists can be pretty rigid sometimes. You can have a really good experience or really bad experience. You're like sitting there boo-hooing about the worst thing in their life. And they're like, well, you have PTSD. We're going to get you on some meds. That's exactly it. And then these like sweet people from like my first small group ever. They're all just in tears. They're hugging me through the story. They're praying over me. And I'm like, okay, this is different. This is cool. And so yeah, just I dove into a lot of books and, you know, just kind of went on my own journey. And at the time, the guy I was dating was super, you know, religious and he would go and hunts all the time. And so we kind of would pray in the woods. And I started to really understand that like you can love Jesus. You can worship. And it doesn't have to be sitting down front row in a church with everybody seeing you checking off the list. And then I just started to kind of get spiritual in my own way in, in quiet moments, whether it be like light and out by the pool or in the woods or like going on a drive or like. So I just kind of start of forming like my own church in my own ways and kind of sharing that with friends. And then friends are like, well, that's cool way to think about it. And so I kind of felt like I like got the opportunity to kind of figure it out on my own. Yeah. And if anything, I was kind of second-guessing things. And then when I found that book and came across the evidence, you know, that some of us kind of feel like we need even still today, like I just bought a book like a couple months ago. And it's like just a long timeline. It like lays out when, you know, all the different denominations were formed and wah. That's like, I like to know stuff like that because I'm like, well, why? Because you like to challenge this. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I don't know. I feel like it's like undeniable when you really start digging into it. Without a doubt. Yeah. And now jumping to something totally different, you, I think when was it a few years back on, you always do Q&As on Instagram. And someone asked you the question about kids. And you finally like answered it and kind of, you know, shut it down. You and BK have been together for a while now. Like you said, what, 23? 13 years, almost. 13 years. And you don't have kids. And can you explain that? Like people are always asking you, I feel like you said like after you got married. All right. So when do you have a kids? When you have a kids? Yeah. Yeah. So I mean, obviously, I mean, it's a natural question. People wonder you get married. And yeah, I mean, for the first, I would say like six or seven years, we knew we didn't want them at that point. You know, I was on birth control, all the things. And then I got off birth control just because it was like too much the hormonal stuff. Yes. I was like, I got to get off this. I feel like it's making me weird. And so when I got off of it, we had that that conversation. I'm like, all right. Like I'm off birth control. Like, do you want kids? Do we not want kids? And we kept just pushing it out like year after year. And then when I turned like 31 or two, I was like, all right, babe, like clocks ticking. Like we got to figure this out. And I don't know. We just kept checking in with each other. And we're like, we love our life. We have so many beautiful kids in our life. Like I have a goddaughter. Like we have dozens of kids in our life. Like I buy lots of kids birthday presents. And like my best friend just came to our house for a week with her three kids. Love them. So it's we love kids. But we both are just in this really just confident place of like, if God blesses us with one, then that would be amazing. But like if it's not in our story, then like we're okay with that too. We're just in this really sweet spot of like, and what do you, how did that feel? Because I feel like a lot of people struggle with that, right? Of like, all right. So when are you having kids? Like just the pressure to have kids, it has to be at times. Like you just want to tell someone off and be like, it's not of your effing business sometimes people will get pushy and especially always feel like it's like women that are like a couple decades older than me. Yeah. So like, well, who's going to take care of you? I'm like the nurse. The same nurse that's going to be taking care of you. Exactly. Yeah, exactly. But no, I mean, you know, I kind of say, you know, I raised my little brother. My brother's eight and a half years younger than me. My brother literally was born and came home from the hospital into my, my Nana and I was house. Wow. And I raised him. I mean, I was like, from day one, taking care of his little belly button, clip off and all the things. I was like, what is happening? Like I was up with him at night. Like when my Nana wasn't there after, you know, when she was working in the evenings, I was feeding him. So like, I got really like a really realistic dose of like what it was. And not that that scared me. I just was like, but it can at such a young age, you think like, that's not when you're supposed to have a child. Right. Right. Not when you're supposed to go through that. So when you go through it before you're mentally and emotionally ready to go through it, yeah, it can have a way of being like, whoa, okay, I don't want to do this. Yeah. And I've always said, like, I have friends who are like, oh my god, no, get those devils away from me talking about like kids, like they don't want kids. Yeah. And I have so much respect for people who are like, it takes a lot of thought. It's just not it takes a lot of thought, a lot of strength to say, that's just not for me. And I think people think the opposite. They're like, well, have you thought about this? Like you're I'm like, no, it actually takes more thought to not. Yes. It takes more thought to not. And it's like, you have you see people here that are like, oh, no, I don't ever want to have kids. And then they have kids. And you're like, you should have never had a child. Like, it's a big commitment. It's a big sacrifice and it also says something for your life that you are so in love with your life that you don't want it to change. Yeah. We love our life. And like, I really thought BK would come around and be like, I want to be a dad. Yeah. And then I would have been like, let's get it. Like whatever we need to do, let's make that happen. But he just he loves, he loves our life. We love to travel. Like I said, we have kids in our life. So they're every month, we're like seeing kids or have kids over like kids love our house. They love our pool. Like, oh, baby, sit for my friends. So we get a dose of it. But like when they go home, we're like, yes, yes. We get to relax. It just goes to show that like, you can have a full house without having a child in it. Like children are the greatest gifts from God in the entire world. But it doesn't mean it's for everyone. And who knows? Like, think about me. Like, I needed some, I needed a home at 17. Like, that sweet family took me in. And you know, I'm like, babe, if there ever is an opportunity, like, so what someone did for me, I would love to do that for someone like an older kid or someone that needs a home or something. Like, maybe that's where that is that is like a tug on my heart. There was a guy that was like in prison with my dad. And I was like, so close to taking his little baby. And I'm like, I can't do this right now, but I'm going to like, it's just that tug on my heart. I know. And just like props to you and like mad respect for like what you did. And like you've affected, you know, so many lives, you know, not just hers, like to stand by. But now I'm like, life is great. Yeah. But that's a lot. That's a lot of sacrifice. Well, okay, on to the really fun things now, Tribe Kelly. So I feel like I remember when it was in its beginning phases, and it's just absolutely amazing. I love that it's made in the USA. That's like a huge, huge thing. What inspired you to start Tribe Kelly and why was it so important for you to have this made here in the US? - Yeah, so I mean, like I said, I had Etsy, you know, I'm a little Etsy business, and so when me and BK got married, I pretty much went straight on the tour bus with like him and 12 dudes at the time. We had, they only had one bus at the time, not long after that we got our own bus, but yeah, I mean, I was like, I'm not just gonna like sit back and relax. Like I've gotta do something. So I was like, all right, I'm gonna kinda fire up my Etsy into a brand, and I knew I wanted to like have a family brand. So I was like, wanted to use our last name. I wanted to have like this family, you know, community. So that's where Tribe came from. And I just literally like boots to the ground. I used to wanna move out to California. That's actually a wide-- - You do have like big California vibes. - I know, so like, I think that's why BK like married me so quick, because I was headed to California. Like once I graduated, I was at the time, I was like, I had this perspective business partner that I was gonna start a brand with, and I was pretty much gonna go out to California and like start a brand, like boots on the ground. - Holy cow. - And then BK's like, no, you're not doing that. You're coming with me. So I went on the bus, and then I basically told him, like, look, I wanna start a brand. I've got some money that my name left me. Like I wanna invest that. And I just really green and organically like started like going door to door and like knocking on people's door being like, hey, are you a factory? Like, can you make these samples? Like, hear my little drawings? - That is crazy. - I had like a friend that was in clothing at the time, and she kind of showed me the ropes of like, okay, like if you want like not just a merch brand, you want like a cut and so brand, you've got to like do every step. You've got to do the fabric, you've got to do the cuts, you've got to get sewing, you've got to get the trimmings. So once I started to like really research all that, I was like, oh wow, like there's not that much American-made manufacturing. And then my brain goes back to the history of it. I'm like, oh my gosh, we pushed out all the manufacturing, like send all of our jobs overseas. And then all these people were out of work. And like that's kind of where some welfare and homelessness can't like, I got really into like, why don't we have manufacturing? - As someone like you said, like with your history, just how you grew up and you didn't grow up with much. So then you start thinking of like, pushing these people out of jobs and-- - And we used to have a lot of manufacturing in the South. So there used to be uniform shots. We used to make our uniforms for our soldiers. Like there used to be tons of manufacturing all over the United States. And so once I started asking questions, I was like, oh wow. So like most people make their clothing overseas and like, I'm like, well why don't they pay a lot for it? And so I really started like-- - And they really start looking. You're like, oh, 'cause like a 10-year-old child is making it. - I know, so like it's like, okay, well, yeah, I can go get like a $10 hoodie, but like if you just get real basic with like, okay, what's minimum wage? Think about someone just went and sourced that fabric. Then someone had to cut it. That's two different jobs. Then someone has to start, that's three different jobs. And then it takes more than an hour to sew that. So that's four. Now now someone's, you know, I'm like, wait, wait, where's the money and who's getting paid, and how is this? So once I started asking questions, I like actually went down like the worst rabbit hole and I was like, oh my gosh, this is so bad to do it here. Like I have to do it. Like here, no better what? But I was like getting mentored thinking, like I had people saying, well, you go overseas and make this for $5. Here, you're gonna pay 15. And I'm like, oh shit, yeah. You know, then my counting brain kicks in and I'm like, well, I'm not gonna make money for a long time. And I was like, okay. And then once me and BK really talked about it, I was like, I don't know, I just feel like this is what we're gonna build our clothing line on. Is the values that we believe in, you know, and it was harder. It's gonna be harder. It's gonna be more expensive. It's gonna take longer. But when you start sacrificing your values and your beliefs, I'm like, what am I doing it for? What are you doing? Yeah. What am I doing it for? Yeah. And I was really lucky to have like a super supportive partner too, you know, and I just basically just went and did it. And it was not easy. And I did everything wrong the first couple of years and I lost money and I got effed over by people who saw, it was me and two of my friends at the time. We're like 23, 24, 25. They saw young people. They were bebopping around in our little Doc Martins and our little cutoff shorts. And like we're like in the art district in LA, like basically on Skid Row. And just asked, can you make this? How much is it gonna be like showing our little samples and it was rough? I mean, I moved manufacturers five times before I found my home. Wow. There were centers four or five times. I mean, there were times where we would spend all day moving boxes down the road to another company center like just figuring it out. Well, that's what happens when you bootstrap a company and you have to do it on your own. And it doesn't happen overnight. You have growing pains and you have to figure it out. Has there been times to where people think that like Tribe Kelly is BK? Well, yeah. And there's like, you know, more so, like I think people think we just have a team behind us doing it because, you know, I do have some friends and I love and respect them so much, but they do have team. You know, they've sold out their business more than 50% of the team handles manufacturing. You know, a lot of people will pick styles out of a catalog, you know, and put their label on it, white label stuff. So I think for a long time, like it took me a while to even like gain people's respect that I'm like actually doing it. And yeah, of course, like there's been interviewer people like, oh, you're clothing on BK, you know, and that's fine. I mean, I've never got rubbed the wrong way there, but BK is so sweet. He'll like bring it back around. He's like, oh, Brittany. Brittany, you know, is the boss. She runs everything. She makes everything, you know? I love that. So he always circles it back around, but I think the stigma I've fought against and still fight against. I mean, even on a dinner the other night, people are like, oh, so like your team, I'm like, I have a team of like four women. Yeah. And we all do our own thing. And like me and one other girl are the ones who are doing the manufacturing. Yeah, like I am the team. And I have like a manufacturing team in LA that like insiders and stuff. But still, you're in the everyday core. Yeah, the day to day. Yeah. And so where is, what does the business look like today? The business today is honestly something I never could have imagined. You know, it took me, we'll see, we're going on 12 years this year and it literally took me probably seven years even get profitable. Like I worked my tail off. There were so many nights where I woke up and I was like, what am I doing this for? Like I mean, I was able to pay my employees and it was like I was evening out and reinvesting for so long. Every time I would be able to take a check, I'm like, well, we could buy more of this color and make a little bit more money. You know, so for seven years, I mean, I was just reinvesting and paying people. Yeah. And then we just started inching little by little and honestly, the camo changed my business, which is crazy. Really? I saw this thing. I love this. So three years ago, I think it was. We put out camo and I did this back home collection. I'm from Georgia, we grew up wearing camo. We did the Mossy Oak collection and I just thought we were going to do it one season and then just move on. And I didn't know. I'm like, you can buy this about, not by this, but you can buy camo fast pro. Yeah, this is way different, obviously. This is like a proprietary blend. It's our blend, all the things. But I'm like, you know, a hundred plus dollars for a top or you could go to fast pro. I just was thinking like it might not be a successful program. Little, I mean, like little did I know. We have restocked it like multiple times. Like we've sold an incredible amount of stuff that like I just looked at the numbers the other day and my jaw almost hit the ground. I was like, wow, this has been life changing and it's changed my business. That's amazing. It's just now it's a core program. So now we just restock. We're going to be doing new styles. So yeah, I would say like three years ago, we kind of hit a growth. Yeah. We opened up like 41 wholesale accounts for outdoor stores just with camo. Holy cow. That's insane. We have a lot of other wholesale accounts for like the other stuff. So our wholesale programs growing are, I mean, our e-com is crushing it. Well, the advertising is also great. It's, I mean, my team's amazing. I mean, I have my, one of my girls here in Emily, she crushes it, crushes it, she's our media director. Well, it's, it's amazing. Like just I, I love following it. I love seeing it. It's such a fun thing to do and it's also cool that you have your own thing going on, you know? Like you, you know, BKS Florida, Georgia line. You have this and, you know, with Florida, Georgia line, though, there was a pause, right? So there was how many years was it? So about five years. About five years. And I will not lie, okay. But my jaw dropped when I saw the picture that you guys posted. What, where was it? Was it in Montana or Idaho? Yep. With the Hubbard's and then you guys. And I was like, this is happening. Yes. And can you go into that a little bit? Like there was a little break up for a while. And when that happened, I was like, what are they doing? Like this is it, like the height of their career. And now it's like, goodbye. Yeah, I mean, you know as well as I do, like things that are said in the media and things at the media, right? About you, like it's not always true. Obviously, you know, there was a pause. There was like a break, you know, it happened during COVID, a lot of confusing times, a lot of misunderstandings. And you know, today, current day, we're in a really good place. Yeah. We've had really healing conversations. That's amazing. I mean, Jesus literally has brought us all four together. Like I mean. And whose idea was it for the trip? trip. So, you know, last year, let's see, last November, Tyler reached out to B.K. to go on the hike. There was like this famous hike moment with the fans. Like they went on a hike. And they had a great talk, you know, Tyler and B.K. are brothers. Like they grew up together. Like they literally cut their teeth, like leading worship together. That's like, you know, music. And like they, they wrote a lot of songs together before even F.G.L. formed, you know? I mean, they literally grew up in a van together. Yeah. So I think they just reconnected in a way of only God, really only God can do. Like it was like a softening of the hearts. Like being able to listen and understand and hear one another and receive that. And then they invited us out to their home in Idaho. And we had like a week of just like healing. Like we did. We did. I felt like years worth of healing in five days. And, you know, there was a moment that, you know, Haley and I had and we were like, this is by the grace of God. Like we neither one of us felt like we could feel it that quickly again. And then the boys joke, they're like, yeah, it's like Rod and a bike. They like rented when they actually came to our house several weeks later. And they wrote they they rented a tandem bike where they both. And Tyler was so funny. He wanted to like ride the tandem bike with B.K. like the whole trip. Like that is so fun. He just got back into like our child like selves. And well, because nothing is that serious. Right. You know, like, right. And I believe, unfortunately, the past few years, we've lived in such a time to where if like you don't believe what I believe, then I can't have anything to do with you. Right. And I feel like that was so normalized for such a long time. And then when the dust settles, you're like, yeah, what what did I lose this person? Like, was that worth it? Like you can believe what you believe. I can believe it. I believe. But yeah, we can still be in each other's lives. Absolutely. And we, like I said, had super healing conversations where we were like, you know, even if FGL never moved forward, like we should all be able to like reminisce like only only we know like what that journey was like. You know, there was a year there where I think we were on the road like 200 and something days of the year together. Yeah, you know, that's family. Yeah. So. And why did you guys decide to post it instead of keep it private? We kept it private actually for a while. And we had a lot of private conversations for a while. And we just, you know, we had a lot of fans come up to the boys in Idaho. And it was really sweet moment. Like, fans would cry. Like they're like, I'm so glad to see all together. And this is like, this is making me want to reach out to my friend or like, we kind of got that in person. And we were like, the fans in the world deserve to see the redemption. Yeah. That that God can only give you. And they deserve the inspiration in their own lives, you know. And so we were careful with it. And, you know, we we savored a lot of that private. We still have so many memories that we've savored privately that we haven't even posted about. And yeah, we're really all for in this vibe of like protecting and respecting the brand and one another and seeing each other were all in different phases of life. Well, I mean, let's also face it, right? Like, there's that relationship aspect, but they were at the height of their career and they ended things. Like that also means like money stops to, you know, like, yeah, sure, you still get residuals. You still get these things. But like, that was a big decision to make to just be like, all right, we're cutting things off. And so much time had passed as well, you know? So it's like, yes, your family, but this is also business. Right. Yeah. And it just to me, it was insane. And then to see them walk out at CMA fast, like, what was that feeling like? I mean, honestly, I kind of felt like I was in a coma somewhere. Yeah. Like I was like, is this really happening? Cause it just was, it was like whiplash and, um, and again, it was like both. It was like, am I in a coma somewhere? And then also it was like, damn, this is like riding a bike. This is like, it feels like, you know, yes, this is like, it feels like a show 10 years ago. But like, no, I mean, I had tears in my eyes. Like my husband is like the sweetest, like his heart is just a sweet impure. And like he like was balling cron on the way there. Like before it even happened, he was like, cron makes me want to cry. So he just, I don't know. We were just super happy for that redemptive feeling and for the feeling of like peace. Yeah. And, and like I said, like we had this piece, this like undeniable piece, undescribable piece that came over us that like even if nothing else happened past, then it feels so good to have like that heavy cloud lifted of just misunderstanding and confusion. And now we have, now we feel peace and like a release and, um, just love. I love that. So I guess the message is it is possible. It is possible. That's, that's what I've always said. Well, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. And before we wrap up, I do want to say first off, I want to open my amazing but before we wrap up, I have a special code for you guys for tribe Kelly, which I don't think they've ever done. We really don't do this. Yeah. They don't do this. Okay. So you can use the code unlocked 20 for 20% off at tribecalie.com. So go shop. You will love it and I'm so excited. Like, look at how cute this hat is. I'm obsessed. This is like the cutest can that people buy the bag too. Yes. The bag is on sale as of right now in my cell. Yeah. Right. Okay. I need to keep my card all on. This is I am obsessed. Like also 20% off is a lot of it is. That is. Okay. I love everything. Smelt like this is made in Nashville too. By the way, I was like, when you guys walked in, I was like, they smell so good. Yeah. Well, you have it. Oh my gosh. I am so excited. I, y'all know, I love my comfy clothes. Just some Americana colors. Stop. I am obsessed. Little comfy pieces. This is so cute. I love this. I still have tribecalie shirts. It's like the black and white ones you guys did with like the little logo here. Yes. Like from forever ago. They're the best shirts to sleep in. I'm like, thank you so much for your support over the years. No, I love you guys. This, okay, such comfy stuff. What size do you wear? So I like mediums. Okay. Um, just that's what I have on now and I love it. Yeah. Stop guys, these are so comfy. And you know, I love my USA. I love my flag stuff. This is, you brought literally. This is all very much me, which is great. This is so cute. And the yellow. So glad you love. I love this. All right, guys. So go and shop tribe Kelly, 20% off with my code unlocked 20. Thank you so much. I love this. Hello, and welcome to Pluto fo. If you know the name of the movie you'd like to see, just stream it for free on Pluto TV. We're all your blockbuster favorites are landing all summer long. Catch anchor man, the legend of Ron Burgundy. Fantastic. The matrix trilogy. Welcome to the real world. Mean girls. Side up. I'm the key in the world. And so much more for showtime. Express nothing. They're free. 24/7. That is so fast. On Pluto TV, stream now. Pay never. Some mysteries have haunted us for centuries. Others are unfolding right now. This is history's greatest mysteries. A history channel original podcast brought to you by rewind studios. Every episode dives into one of the world's greatest enigmas, the vanishings, the myths, the lost relics, and the unexplained. Follow history's greatest mysteries available now wherever you listen to podcasts.