Double Date with Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” and Lauren Sorrentino!

This week on He Said G Said, G and Blake sit down with Mike “The Situation” and Lauren Sorrentino for a double date that’s equal parts fun, inspiring, and full-circle. A lot has changed since we first met The Situation on our screens. These days it’s less GTL and more kids, chickens, and gardening?! Mike and Lauren open up about building a beautiful family, fighting through addiction together, and how Mike’s sobriety transformed him into the husband, father, and man he is today. They also share how reconnecting after Jersey Shore changed everything, why having Jersey Shore Family Vacation document so many of their biggest milestones means so much, and how they’re now using Mike’s story to help others and give back in a bigger way. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

I had known him pre-TV, pre-Jersey Shore, and we had all of that history, but I saw him as a person and I just knew that his potential was so much greater than that and he deserved to himself so much more than what he how he was treating himself.

SPEAKER_00 0:15

I think she just saw a man inside of me that I didn't even see myself. This December 24th will be 11 years uh clean and sober. I didn't know if America was gonna love the sober guy.

SPEAKER_05 0:25

How are you guys doing today?

SPEAKER_00 0:26

You know, me and my wife here, we're going on our eighth year of a happy, healthy marriage. We have three beautiful babies.

SPEAKER_04 0:32

Having three toddlers is challenging. Keeping things like organized.

SPEAKER_00 0:37

My wife told me yesterday. I don't know if you realize this, Michael, but I am raising a little situation right now. That's actually crazy to think about. We have eight chickens in the backyard named uh Snooky, DJ Pauly D, uh J Wow. Truth be told, we did have a chicken named Angelina and it was sleeping around and then it died.

SPEAKER_02 0:59

He said what?

SPEAKER_00 1:03

No way she said that.

SPEAKER_05 1:15

Before we jump into today's episode, we just want to say thank you. Thank you so much for all the love and support. Honestly, the comments, the sharing, the feedback has been absolutely lovely. And just thank you so much for supporting this stream of ours. It's been absolutely wonderful because of you. So don't forget to keep commenting, sharing, and subscribing so that you can keep seeing episodes of He Said G Said and Starcrossed.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

I was gonna say, Renault, you guys' comments is it's been amazing. It's fun to we we enjoy our jobs, so it's good to see that you guys enjoy it as well. Uh, but yes, please be sure to subscribe, you guys. We've got some really fun Starcross coming up, some really fun episodes, including the one today.

SPEAKER_05 1:55

Which I am so excited about our guests because they are full-on icons. Icons. Um, and just such pillars of strength and a beautiful, honestly, inspiration of a wonderful marriage. Yes, sir. In my humble opinion. So today we have Mike the Situation and Lauren Sorentino. So I am so excited because I know they just have the best stories to tell.

SPEAKER_01 2:20

And what I feel like we they they I feel like especially Mike like raised us. Thursdays was like it. So I'm so excited to talk to them. Uh it's gonna be a fun episode today.

SPEAKER_05 2:28

Yeah, and we're technically family, right? We met on a shore show. Like he started that whole, you know, obviously the phenomenon of it all. So this is a big full circle moment for us.

SPEAKER_01 2:38

Yes, so let's bring him in. Thank you guys both so much for coming on the pod. Really appreciate it. Uh, I don't know if you know this, but actually technically, we found love at the Jersey Shore. Not the Jersey Shore, but we found love on a shore show.

SPEAKER_00 2:53

On A Shore.

SPEAKER_01 2:54

Yes, on A Shore. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 2:56

Wow. You know what? It is possible. Uh a great man once said, Don't ever fall in love at the Jersey Shore, but you have just proved them all wrong.

SPEAKER_01 3:05

That quote was bouncing around in my head while filming. Don't you worry, that quote was bouncing around. But it was, yeah, it's kind of wild. So I didn't even know there were multiple Jersey Shore shows in other countries at the time. I had no idea.

SPEAKER_00 3:17

Yes. Uh the Jersey Shore franchise has definitely spawned off over the over the last um, you know, probably uh five to ten years. You know, there's there's a Geordie Shore, there's you know, shores around the world.

SPEAKER_05 3:32

Uh Capulco Shore is the craziest, my man.

SPEAKER_00 3:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 3:36

That one. We hung out with Karime a lot, and they were, it was like you guys. You you know, they were just royalty, just like rolling out the red carpet for for the shores. Um, and they were so, and we're from two dating shows, and which is like so kosher, so ch like you kind of have to be perfect, right? And then we're around all of our um shore casts, and they're just blowing at it. They were it was the most fun I've ever had on TV.

SPEAKER_00 4:03

I mean, uh, you know, all the rules were uh broken, probably. Yeah, no, 100%.

SPEAKER_05 4:08

No, literally, we were just like we're making out, and then there's like two girls scissoring like on the dance floor, like two feet a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 4:14

Yeah, it was lovely. It was crazy.

SPEAKER_05 4:16

That's where we fell in love.

SPEAKER_00 4:18

Yeah, you gotta make a name for yourself. They sure did.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

They sure do.

SPEAKER_05 4:23

Well, before we jump into that, um obviously, you know, we have we have the situations here with us, and when we have a couple, uh, we like to call it a double date. So that's kind of what this vibe is. Way less of an interview and just kind of like hanging out.

SPEAKER_01 4:38

We just mentioned we're getting married soon. So we have we're gonna have to ask for some advice, I should say. We're gonna need some advice.

SPEAKER_00 4:44

Yes, we are uh the situations are going on our eighth year of uh happy, healthy marriage over here. So that's awesome.

SPEAKER_05 4:50

I'm definitely gonna ask you the secret in a second, but before we jump into marriage and all the fun stuff, how are you guys doing today?

SPEAKER_00 4:58

Uh listen, today it's a great day to have a great day. Uh, we're excited to be on the podcast with you guys and uh essentially or this double date. Yes, this is double date. Uh so yeah, so let's have at it, guys.

SPEAKER_05 5:10

Yeah, I feel like I'm literally talking to someone that has helped shape my youth. Um, we literally had GTL days at school, and um, you're just such an icon, and obviously your beautiful wife, like just watching you guys just flourish and evolve and um be a part of like this such a pivotal moment in like pop culture history, and then find your own way through that is just so iconic. It says a lot, inspiring.

SPEAKER_01 5:39

It says a lot because it can it cannot, it's not easy being in this craziest.

SPEAKER_00 5:43

Yeah, no, I'm sure you guys know. I mean, listen, uh, I I like to say we've turned 15 minutes of fame into 15 years, but technically this year is our 17th year on TV.

SPEAKER_01 5:53

That's the dream. That's the dream.

SPEAKER_00 5:56

Yes, that is the dream. But at the same time, and I think most importantly, um, you know, me and my wife here, we're going on our eighth year of a happy, healthy marriage. We have three beautiful babies, five, three, and two. And I think that's really what life's all about, right?

SPEAKER_01 6:11

You know? Amen. We have we have one two-year-old. So we're not quite to three. I don't know how you do three. We have one two-year-old, and it's it's a lot.

SPEAKER_00 6:21

It's a lot, but yeah, I think my wife closed the door on baby number four, but uh I think she has, but um you listen, you never say never.

SPEAKER_04 6:32

Never say never.

SPEAKER_00 6:33

Never say never. You just never know. Just not now. Something might slip by the goalie. You never know. You never know.

SPEAKER_02 6:38

I like bet on that.

SPEAKER_00 6:39

But we are we are at full capacity with three. Mom and dad are you know happy and healthy. The house is, you know, you know, just always in order, but you just never know if you have that fourth, are the scales gonna tip and and everything's gonna, you know, fall like a house of cards. You just never know.

SPEAKER_01 6:57

No, it's so true.

SPEAKER_05 6:58

I heard that from third to four. It's like pretty manageable.

SPEAKER_01 7:02

I've heard two to three is the hard one. Because then you're up to it.

SPEAKER_05 7:04

Two to three is a hard one.

SPEAKER_00 7:05

That settles it.

SPEAKER_01 7:06

We're going for four.

SPEAKER_05 7:08

You're heard of it.

SPEAKER_04 7:10

I will agree. Like, I feel like once you're at three, you kind of can go wherever you need to go. Because being at three, you truly are outnumbered, no matter what their ages are, and you just can never be everything to any single one of them in a moment. So once you have three, you kind of can have more. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:28

But um no, but I'm I'm surprised. I mean, listen, it we it is, you know, situation family of five, and we are thriving. So again, I am definitely very positive. Uh, I'm not gonna close the door on four, but we'll see what happens.

SPEAKER_01 7:42

Never close the door. Well, how how has being outnumbered now, how has that affected your relationship? Like, how has being mom dad to three affected your guys' relationship?

SPEAKER_05 7:50

How do you keep the house in order?

SPEAKER_00 7:53

Uh I'll I'll let you, I'll let my wife speak on that, but we're doing a really good job of keeping the house in order. Um, and um, we have a beautiful, healthy home. So I'll let the wife speak on how she manages all that because that's her department. You know, dad keeps the lights on, you know, dad keeps the lights on. We get, you know, dad helps, you know, put a roof over, you know, our head, which I'm the main breadwinner. And then my wife is she's like reserve. She's like, you know, on underneath there. And and my wife takes care of the the kids and the house and and other duties like that, and I'm reserve under under that particular department. Which honestly is really hard. The house is a lot.

SPEAKER_04 8:31

That listen, the house is a lot. Just running a household is a full-time job. And I do work, so I have, you know, many different businesses that I work together with my husband on, but I have my own kind of uh position within those businesses. And then I also have my three children and managing, you know, two of them are in school, so managing their schedules, their activities. Um, I definitely have help, and I'm a big proponent of asking for help when you need it because it's not fair for you know some people to just show that like you're doing it all. And it's like I'm doing as much as I can, but I also am tapping in the people that I need to help me because I can't be everywhere at the same time. So if I'm at work, I'm obviously my kids are over there, and if I'm at home being mom, then I'm not working that day. So it's just kind of finding finding that juggle. Um, and then when it comes to the house, we really work tag team together with maintaining our home because we have a beautiful family home that we worked so hard to create and build. And it's it takes a big team to really just keep things running smoothly. And having three toddlers is challenging and keeping things like organized, but we really we both hold each other accountable and you know, teaching the kids like my son is five now, so every morning I'm like, you know, did you make your bed? Did you brush your teeth? And he can't make his bed like how I make it, but he pulls the little covers up and he puts his pillow on. It's all messy, but in his eyes, like and in my eyes too, he created an accomplishment. Like he made his bed. So then I go and I straighten it up, but I kind of try to keep everybody like at the same standard.

SPEAKER_00 10:10

Well, you're doing an amazing job, honey. Yeah, uh my wife told me yesterday. I don't know if you realize this, Michael, but I am raising a little situation right now. That's actually crazy to think about. That's so awesome.

SPEAKER_05 10:25

Well, because you have your families in in uh but it's but it's great.

SPEAKER_00 10:29

Yeah, yeah. I didn't we didn't hear that. What?

SPEAKER_05 10:31

Well, I was just gonna say two things because you we believe in our village too, 100%. We have an au pair, the whole thing, and I don't like to be like, oh, I'm doing it all. I'm actually like, I didn't sleep for like 10 months, but you know, I had a lot of help. But at the end of the day, you guys have your family in New Jersey as well, right? So that's nice to be able to like have that Italian, like especially the whole like Sunday dinners. Do we do that? Do we keep that up to the traditions?

SPEAKER_00 10:59

Yes, it it does take an army uh over here, you know, to to raise, you know, three babies, run a household, operate many successful businesses, continue to be on TV for all these years. It definitely takes a lot, but also we get a ton of help from the in-laws. Uh we have a very, very close, large Italian family. We have very, very large parties, and uh we do believe in Sunday dinner. Yes. Yeah, yeah. Good. Love to hear that.

SPEAKER_05 11:28

Who cooks?

SPEAKER_00 11:30

Uh the wife cooks.

SPEAKER_05 11:31

I do the cooking.

SPEAKER_00 11:32

Oh, okay. Does do the cooking, um and I enjoy my wife's cooking. She does a great job. Um, and and we do throw like these big, big parties. You know, we just had our our son's fifth birthday party, which looked like a wedding.

SPEAKER_03 11:50

Yep. Uh big thing.

SPEAKER_00 11:52

You know, but listen, I I say this to people, and and this is kind of like a new one of mine. My I'm sober going on 11 years this year. And but my reward system is like we just got our our children's school pictures, and they were just gorgeous. They were both smiling. That right there is the reward for dad. To get those beautiful school pictures for my kids to say I love you, for my wife to say she's proud of me. That right there is why I work so hard.

SPEAKER_01 12:19

Amen, man. Amen.

SPEAKER_05 12:20

No, literally goosebumps.

SPEAKER_01 12:22

It's the little moments now, you know what I mean? Like as we got older, I feel the same way. I'm like, it's those little moments now with the family and everything changes everything. What part of you guys enjoying the most being parents? Do you think?

SPEAKER_00 12:31

I know that's a hard question, but um, I think I think it's the journey. You know, life is not about the destination, it is about the journey. I love everything about parenthood. I love my kids calling me daddy. I love holding hands with my children. I love going in the backyard and going on the swing sets with the kids. I love taking the kids out for for breakfast. I truly cherish the moments with my children. Also, when me and my wife are both together and we're outside and I can see the kids smiling. I look around and I'm like, this is what, you know, it's all worth it for. This is what it's for. You know, this is I think I think it's like um this is the whole goal or or why we do this.

SPEAKER_05 13:13

100%. Like literally the stuff of life. And you mentioned your son is five, so he's your eldest.

SPEAKER_00 13:19

Yeah, he just turned five.

SPEAKER_05 13:20

Just turned five. And you're 11 years sober. Congratulations. That's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 13:26

Yeah, this December 24th will be 11 years uh clean and sober. And I I just wear that on my shoulder like a veg of honor. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 13:35

Wow, so Christmas Eve.

SPEAKER_00 13:37

Yes, yes, Christmas Eve, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 13:39

Wow, that's so that's very symbolic. And so you got sober before you had your kids, obviously. Yes. But did you do it in hopes of being able to be the father that you are now? What does that milestone, 11 years sober, mean to you?

SPEAKER_00 13:56

Um, it it means everything to me because it's the reason uh why I'm afforded this beautiful life that I live. It's the reason why I am the best husband that I can be, and it's the reason why I am the best father that I can be, the best son, the best neighbor, the best worker. Um, it's the reason why I can be in front of the camera and be uh so well spoken, right? And my it all starts with my sobriety. It all starts with good decisions. Um so I thank God every day that He saved my life. Um and now on a daily basis, I work hard with the Archangel Centers, the rehab um uh treatment center that I own, the brand that I own in the in this uh right now. Um I'm very grateful to have that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 14:42

I'm kind of curious because when you're in front of the camera and you kind of like were born in front of the camera being this like the party guy, and that's kind of what helps you like let loose and just kind of bring on this character, the situation. How did you feel like that shifted after you became sober, if at all?

SPEAKER_00 15:03

Yes, it was a very big transition. Um, at first I was uh a bit shook to be honest with you, because um, you know, America, you know, had had knew me as this party guy. I was young, I was single, I was this ladies' man, I was wild, I was crazy. Um but a lot of those behaviors have consequences. And then eventually I was essentially forced to to either change or you know, uh die, essentially, to be honest with you. Um so I I chose to to make a change. Um at the time when I got the contract back from the uh Jersey Shore, um, I didn't know if America was gonna love the sober guy. I didn't know if America was gonna love the the guy that loved food that was a little um little um overweight, maybe, or or a little I didn't have my six back at the time. But I I had a big um, I guess, um epiphany, I guess, where I thought to myself that uh what worked the first time with Jersey Shore? And what really worked was me being authentic. And so I'm like, what's authentic now going into this new series of Jersey Shore Family Vacation, which is eventually did about 200 plus episodes, which is a ton of TV. Um we did 200 episodes in Jersey Shore Family Vacation. And I'm like, you know what? Right now, I am going through a massive court case, the United States versus Mike situation. Um I am I am uh getting engaged to my college sweetheart. And uh I'm a little overweight right now, but I love food. So that's where I rebranded myself to Big Daddy Sitch. Uh I decided that vulnerabil vulnerability meant strength. And and uh I just I just chose to be authentic and jumped to find that new version of myself. And to be honest with you, it worked out way better, you know. Uh America loved Big Daddy Sitch more than they loved the situation. Yeah. And uh the rest is history.

SPEAKER_01 17:11

Yeah, I think that's exactly it. I think I think a lot of people could relate to you, you know, as fam like because you you like showing fam, you know, Jersey Shore back in the day was like all fun and no like downside, if you will. Where obviously people don't live life like that. So I think showing your vulnerability, a lot of people could relate to that, which is really cool. Because I know I did, I certainly did, because I was going through it at times too.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

And that's what I think it's not a sustainable way to live, though. No, you know, nope, that party lifestyle is not sustainable.

SPEAKER_01 17:38

People think it is sometimes, and like, but once you're in it, you realize you cannot live like that all the time. Like it's yeah, no, no.

SPEAKER_00 17:45

I mean, it listen, it's all fun and games until the feds come knocking on your door.

SPEAKER_01 17:49

That is a bumper sticker right there. That right there, yeah. Amen.

SPEAKER_05 17:54

Yeah, no, one of the things that I always say is vulnerability is strength, and it's it's really scary to step into it, but once you do, you realize you have so many people like rooting for you, especially because people have just kind of like grown up with you, and maybe they went through the same. I'm sure you get so many stories all the time, but they probably went through the same journeys of like, hey man, I kind of used to be the same way, and you kind of inspired me. And is that something that helped you want to start your foundation, your archangel centers to help?

SPEAKER_00 18:21

Yes, that that was the beginning of us realizing that vulnerability meant strength. Was me sharing my sobriety, was me sharing uh my struggles, and it and it kind of turned into uh you know, my struggles had revealed my strengths. And then um me and my wife um we followed suit when we uh faced miscarriages, you know, we shared that story. Um we also shared, you know, you know, the tough times when I was facing prison. So, and then we realized that um that was a way to to uh essentially fight back and and and sort of uh find more about ourselves, you know, and we realized that America embraced that. And we had so many people reaching out to us about, you know, when when um when we suffered some miscarriages in the beginning when we were trying to start our family. Um we had people reaching out to us when we were going to, when I went away to prison, when I returned from prison, you know, the sobriety. And then obviously going back to your question about uh the centers, it was just uh a next natural progression. I always dreamed of of helping people that were once in my position, and then the stars aligned and and and now we have Archangel Centers um in Titon Falls, New Jersey. There's one launching in North Carolina in July, there's one launching in Florida in a few months. Uh we are signed on to five locations my first year, uh, which is just a dream for me because uh we're helping a ton of people.

SPEAKER_05 19:53

This is a beautiful story. How do you have uh some sort of like tally, like how many lives you've saved?

SPEAKER_00 20:00

Oh my god, no, no, I don't. Um I I do say that uh when I I do go to work every day in my office in Titon Falls, New Jersey. Um, and that's what I do for a living. I save lives and I help families, you know, around the country. Um we are just thriving right now in New Jersey at our first location, but our next location opens up in North Carolina. Uh, and we've had just an amazing response from it. It's just a beautiful thing walking in your purpose. I tear up almost every day because I'm on the phone with families and I'm on the phone with moms, and I'm on the phone with fathers, and they're like, you know, oh my god, I don't know what to do, but I knew that I had to call you. And I was like, Oh, I'm just so touched that America thinks of me and our story as inspiration. Yeah, and it's just a blessing by God, to be honest with you.

SPEAKER_01 20:50

Yeah, and Lauren, I did want to ask you. Obviously, you've seen a lot of different kinds of Mike the situation, if you will, obviously, because you guys go way back. How has it been that journey of his sobriety and everything? Have you obviously how have you, you know, supported him through that and all that, you know, and and been there for him?

SPEAKER_04 21:13

I've been, you know, my main thing with supporting him is just supporting him in everything that he does, you know. I've known him since I was 19 years old. So I feel like we have grown tremendously since then, but like on our own paths of humans, and then also together. You know, we've been married for eight years and we've been back together since 2013. So it's been quite a long time of us growing side by side.

SPEAKER_00 21:42

So that's 13 years. Is it 13 years?

SPEAKER_04 21:44

13 years back together because it's 2026, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

And then it's probably over 20 years that we've over 20 years. Over 20 years that we've known each other. And I've said this once or twice, but sh sh my wife here, she has always been my inspiration. She has been one of the reasons why I fought. You know, my own demons and I fought addiction and I fought prison. And um, she's the reason why I work so hard to be the man that I hope I live up to her standards.

SPEAKER_01 22:10

No, and I want to get into your guys' relationship a little bit. I've been taking notes. I'm taking notes. I'm telling you, that's my vows right there.

SPEAKER_05 22:20

I was literally saying, like, what a story you two have. It is, it's literally trial and tribulation and just like overcoming all these obstacles together and then constantly choosing each other over and over and over and over again, and like standing by each other in some of the hardest, I can only imagine the hardest, you know, dips and valleys, and and also peaks. Um, so it's I you guys are 100% obviously lifers, um, but it's your guys are like really the testimony of just like putting in the work. Because it's it's not easy.

SPEAKER_00 22:55

I think we were we were forced to put in the work. Um my wife stood by me when you know I didn't stand by myself.

SPEAKER_03 23:01

Right.

SPEAKER_00 23:02

And you know, that that type of respect and um and love that I that I had seen that she had, you know, uh shown to me, it just doesn't go away. You know what I mean? Many, many years later, you know, obviously there's you know where there's smooth, well, smooth seas or smooth skies, or you know, now, but um you don't forget the tough times. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 23:26

So our therapist said hardship can create connection, hardship can create like a foundation. She she she was like, it can either go one way or the other. Like either you use these hard times to create like your your bond, your strength, and and build on top of it, right? Or you can completely let it destroy you and and you know, kill your love, essentially.

SPEAKER_04 23:48

But it takes work to get through that. But as long as you're both willing to put in that work, it 100% strengthens you and that foundation is basically you know etched in cement. Like that's not going anywhere once you get to the other side of that, but that requires you know two people being able to put in that work and not giving up on each other. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:10

I I would say that um we have history first, but we also have chemistry. So full of the quotes today.

SPEAKER_01 24:18

I love that.

SPEAKER_05 24:19

That's important too. Very important.

SPEAKER_01 24:22

Yeah, very important. So I do want to go back. Obviously, you talked about how 19 years old you guys first met after everything. What was like the moment or what was the initial thing that you guys connected again over? Was it like a DM? Did you see her at a at a bar? Like, how did that work?

SPEAKER_00 24:38

Oh, um, I was uh it was the end of the first Jersey Shore series. I had just ended, and um, you know, I was in the midst of shopping other TV shows, um, but I wasn't, you know, making good decisions, which means I was still partying a little too much. I heard from a family member that my ex-girlfriend was working out at a uh a kickboxing gym around the corner, and that was the first time that I had heard that she was somewhere like in my you know solar system. And I was like, oh my god, this was like the love of my life. And I was like, oh my god, you saw Lauren? Like, where did you see her? And she was at a kickboxing gym. So as soon as I found out, like 24 hours prior, I immediately made a decision that I'm going to that kickboxing gym the next day at the same time that she was supposedly there, and she just happened to be there. That's crazy. And I hadn't seen her in years, and this was the love of my life. This was the girl that was my college sweetheart, and um we locked eyes uh while she was across from the gym. It was like diagonal, and it was like time had not, you know, passed at all. And then I think once the class had ended, I think we had exchanged numbers, and I think we had, you know, kissed uh before we had left. And and then we just never left each other's side after that, to be honest.

SPEAKER_05 26:04

After years they kissed.

SPEAKER_00 26:06

Yeah, that's so cool.

SPEAKER_05 26:07

And then that kiss sealed the deal.

SPEAKER_01 26:10

Wow, wow. Yeah, that's such a cool story. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 26:12

What are you most proud of of overcoming together and individually, just in since that moment, since that kiss?

SPEAKER_00 26:20

Um I I at that particular time, both of us, we both needed each other. Um, I needed her and she needed me, and we didn't even know it. And I think, you know, I think it was fate. Um, but probably um we conquered the disease of addiction together. Um, she she held the line. Uh, she was not an enabler. Um, she loved me when, like I said, when I didn't love myself. There were car chases where she would jump in uh a Lamborghini, and I was jumping in an M5, and she was chasing me through the streets of Jersey, and we ended up getting pulled over. And the cop comes to my car and he's like, Mike, what are you doing? And I'm like, There's a crazy fan following me. And he's like, Mike, I watch you on social media, that's your girlfriend. And I was like, Oh man, you got me. So she, yeah, she she was, you know, she was um, she's a tough cookie. And uh, she's one of the reasons why I was able to overcome addiction, you know, because I was on my way to uh essentially a drug dealer's house, and she jumped in one of my Lamborghinis at the time and was not having it. And, you know, and then I I I actually gave up because I knew she wasn't gonna give up. Wow, that's it's that's cool.

SPEAKER_01 27:37

I tell you, I love a strong woman too. I feel like you gotta, you know, strong man, you gotta have a strong woman, and like, yeah, because that's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_00 27:43

I think she I think she just saw a man inside of me that I didn't even see myself.

SPEAKER_05 27:47

I was just about to ask Lauren that. I was like, did you see who he one day was going to be before he realized?

SPEAKER_04 27:54

I definitely saw inside of him his what who he was at his core because I had known him pre-TV, pre-Jersey Shore, and we had all of that history. So I knew that like the Lamborghini, the M5, whatever it was, the like the facade of it, none of that mattered, and it was like a tangible thing, but I saw him as a person, and I just knew that his potential was so much greater than that, and he deserved to himself so much more than what he how he was treating himself, basically. But I even say now, like to present day, I always say that he far exceeded my expectations of what I even saw in him just by him recognizing that in himself and applying himself. But I always knew he had the capability, but he made it even bigger.

SPEAKER_03 28:46

That's awesome. Wow. Yeah, that's inspiring.

SPEAKER_05 28:49

Yeah, I can I can go on and on and on about how like how lovely you two are to each other and how you two are really meant for each other in the sense of just like strong woman, strong man, like overcame all of it, and they're even they're thriving bigger than they thought they would. Yeah, that's really cool. Um, which is and then helping people along the way. Okay, great. This is wow. What the fuck are we gonna do?

SPEAKER_00 29:14

She was lifting me up when you know I needed it the most, and I'll never forget that. They say the grass is only green wherever you water it, and she was the one watering me when I was trying to run away. Wow.

SPEAKER_05 29:27

That's that's strength. And uh well, what's next for you two? Because I just feel like it's just it's just getting bigger and better. And I mean, we have all of the the centers opening up, but is there anything else on the horizon? Baby number four, maybe.

SPEAKER_00 29:43

I mean, well, we we're excited to take that vacation soon, though. Uh mom and dad really need that. We're excited to go to where are we going, honey?

SPEAKER_04 29:50

We're going to Lake Como. In Italy, which we have not been to Lake Como yet, but Italy is our favorite place to vacation. So we're gonna see that part of it.

SPEAKER_00 29:58

Yeah, and also we're very, very excited that uh we have five locations signed on uh my for our first year, as we are both co-founders of the Archangel Centers, uh, a brand of treatment centers that we both founded, and we're so very, very excited to walk in our purpose. I tell people all the time, like, I love being on TV. I think I was born for it, but I love to help people more. And um, it's so crazy. I like walk in Jersey, and uh yesterday, for example, I was walking in a complex and a family screamed out the window, we love you, and we're praying for you and your family. And I was just like, Oh god, that's so beautiful. Like families to be like rooting for you and they love your story, it's just it's a dream.

SPEAKER_05 30:43

And then one day you thought that they wouldn't, you know, back in the day, you're like, I don't know if they're gonna embrace it. Yes, not in the day.

SPEAKER_00 30:49

I thought they were only love the situation with a six-pack, and I just didn't think that they'd love, you know, sober Mike. I didn't think that they'd love, you know, me for who I who I am, and and that's just totally untrue. I I always tell people, anybody that's going into TV now, um, that has dreams of being on TV, that um never to copy other people. It's I think the best rule of thumb is to be authentic. You are an original, don't die a copy, a copy, and no one's ever gonna be you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 31:22

And is that what you would tell um Mike from season one? Or what would you what would you tell your own seasonal season one self?

SPEAKER_00 31:30

I get this question about someone saying, What would you tell Mike from season one? Um, even even I could not have foreseen the man that I would have become now, and I'm 11 years clean and sober, and I live to help people on a daily basis. That's wild. Um, I would just tell Mike from season one um to keep moving forward, right? Good times are gonna happen, this this too shall pass, and bad times are gonna happen, this too shall pass.

SPEAKER_01 32:00

I'm getting a lot of good quotes from this interview. I'm learning a lot. She's gonna be like, wait, my vow, she'd be like, is that from Mike? Right.

SPEAKER_05 32:07

Like, did you like DM him before you serve a remedy?

SPEAKER_01 32:10

No, that's good. That's good.

SPEAKER_05 32:11

Okay, one last question before we um we kind of you know dive into more relationship questions and a game and all that fun stuff. But what, because I am I'm literally sitting here with my jaw on the floor with all the crazy stories that you guys must have, but what's the one memory for both of you from those Jersey Shore days that you will always remember?

SPEAKER_00 32:33

Um for for me, um the the whole Jersey Shore family vacation uh series was uh you know our redemption tour. Um, you know, and we did over 200 episodes with MTV. Um, this being maybe the final season on MTV, we will see. Um for me, and you can answer, answer, ask, uh, um, answer after me, honey. I think um I really can't put my my my uh my thumb on anything particular, but because we had our engagement, we had our marriage, we had our births of all of our children. I mean, like it's like a giant family album for us. Yes, you know, as you watch all the seasons as our family grows. Um, and so I'm truly couldn't be prouder of those 200 plus episodes that have documented uh some tough times, but we fought through it and we became this amazing story to look up to.

SPEAKER_04 33:37

Yeah, I was gonna say all of our family milestones have been captured over the last eight years from us, you know, being ready to start our own family and get engaged, to celebrating my uh youngest birthday, who just turned two now, but we celebrated her first birthday on the episode a couple weeks ago. So it's like in the last eight years, they've documented everything our family life in conjunction with the show. So it's been a really special thing to be able to like live that back while we're kind of in those moments having that.

SPEAKER_00 34:10

Yeah, it's just really listen, young Mike would be so proud of how I turned out. I became the person that needed to save myself.

SPEAKER_05 34:29

That's crazy to have like your memoir.

SPEAKER_01 34:31

Well, I was just gonna say, we we joke about Heath, our son, we'll be able to watch back how we fell in love, but your kids will be able to watch back so much more, like everything, you know? Like that's so cool.

SPEAKER_05 34:42

Just to really understand how to do that.

SPEAKER_00 34:44

I don't even mind our kids seeing the first iteration, which is uh jersey short on the vacation. But the other iteration when I was young and dumb and making mistakes, I think the kids might have to wait until they're you know 17 or 18. Yeah, college, maybe.

SPEAKER_05 34:59

They might be like, well, dad, you did it.

SPEAKER_00 35:01

Exactly. I'm so afraid of that. That's exactly what's gonna happen. Do as I say, not as I do. That's exactly that's all I say.

SPEAKER_05 35:09

Well, actually, it can go, it can work both ways. My parents are like, I don't know, we're all entrepreneurs in my family, so that's kind of how I am. But then my brother is just like type A, nine to five, la la. I think it just depends on like their own personality, kind of like how how they'll they'll take that. So you never know.

SPEAKER_00 35:27

Yeah, I think we're hoping that, you know, because every year I celebrate my second birthday, essentially, which is my sobiversary. So every Christmas Eve, you'll see me with a giant funfetti cake that's like this big, right? And it's like Mike's second birthday. So last year it was 10. This year it'll be 11. And the kids are young, so you're gonna start to see like a theme of awareness and education essentially about your decisions, right? Eventually the kids are gonna start asking, hey, what's a sobravary, right? Maybe when they're seven or eight or nine. And you say, you know, so we can explain to them how important it is to make sound decisions. Right. No, 100%.

SPEAKER_05 36:07

And that's who they've grown up with. They've grown up with like sober. Yeah, they've grown up with that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 36:12

Well, and then also with the treatment centers, like take your parent, take your kid to work day just passed, like a couple of weeks ago. Right. And um, this has been our first facility open. So I've already been like working on for next year when I to have like a little program in place so that everyone that works at our business can bring their children in and they can become educated, like at the appropriate ages and like appropriate language about it, but understanding what we do there and like that their parents are all making this huge difference in other people's lives and you know what Archangel does. So I'm really excited to launch that for the other thing.

SPEAKER_00 36:49

What are you gonna do when um our babies say, What does daddy do for a living?

SPEAKER_04 36:56

I mean it's gonna be amazing to tell them that you're saving lives. And that we're all saving lives.

SPEAKER_00 37:04

You're gonna make me cry.

SPEAKER_01 37:05

Yeah, that's so cool.

SPEAKER_05 37:06

That's such a cool thing to be able to like actually that be your life's purpose because Blake talks about like, oh, I'd love to volunteer and I'd love to take care of it. Especially in their school and you know, things like no, but like, you know, like in in shelters and stuff. Like you you always feel like this calling of like wanting to volunteer, wanting to volunteer. And so having that just kind of be like the overall mo of your family.

SPEAKER_01 37:28

Yeah, yeah. No, it's special for sure. That's lovely. That's lovely.

SPEAKER_00 37:33

When you start to help other people, you realize that you're helping yourself too.

SPEAKER_01 37:37

Oh, there's nothing more fulfilling. Nothing, and that's why you guys must feel fulfilled all the time, and so grateful. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 37:45

And so many, there's so many layers, right? I feel like maybe you catch yourself and being like, oh, well, you know, this was such a tough day, but you have that constant reminder of being like, first of all, your own journey, but then being surrounded by people that are just trying to better themselves every day, and it just kind of snaps you out of it instantly, I can imagine.

SPEAKER_00 38:02

Yeah, yeah, no, on a daily basis, both me and my wife are like, is there something happening with like the planets right now? Because we're feeling like extra grateful and extra emotional, like you know, like those happy tears are just flowing uh a lot with me, but I'm very, very grateful for them because I feel that my vibration right now, yeah. Um I'm I'm coming to uh something that I've never reached before, and I'm very excited about it. I can talk about like vibrations, she's into that energy vibration, she's into that.

SPEAKER_05 38:33

Okay, and I'm like, I am that's our language. We're deep into that. Yeah, and it's it's really important for a relationship, and it's important to teach your kids too, because it's all mindset. Like everything is is mindset and how you perceive. Yes. You can you can just like go down a rabbit hole with one bad comment, or like, you know, some things didn't work out. So I just and especially because I feel like we're such open vessels, right? Because we have to be vulnerable for our jobs and all this. I feel like we're just so easily, like easier to penetrate. So you kind of have to create this like whole aura around yourself, and it's just I can talk about this all day. I feel like you mastered it, and I want to I wanna hang out uh with both of you and just be like, what is what are the tricks?

SPEAKER_00 39:17

Yeah, no, I was thinking, I think it was this morning in the shower. I was just like, um the the phrase I can and I can't are both true, but you have to choose.

SPEAKER_03 39:30

Happiness is a choice. She's loving it.

SPEAKER_01 39:32

She's loving it. Yes, yes. That's her whole thing. That is her whole thing.

SPEAKER_05 39:36

I'm gonna go with a New Jersey.

SPEAKER_01 39:39

It wouldn't feel like a double date unless we played a little game. So, two truths and a lie couples edition. You guys familiar with the uh two truths and a lie? Um it's a little hard because we've got to kind of think of one at the time, like off the top of our heads. Okay. Um, but we'll ask you guys, we'll say two truths and a lie and see if you guys can guess uh which one's a lie, and then you guys can do it to us. Okay. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 40:01

Okay, can we have like a moment to think about it?

SPEAKER_01 40:03

Yeah, what do you what do you okay?

SPEAKER_00 40:05

It's gonna be uh it might be hard.

SPEAKER_01 40:07

I was just thinking the same thing. I'm like, we know I feel like we know so much about you guys. Like, yeah, so we might.

SPEAKER_00 40:12

There's a um, I'm like, hopefully they didn't read my book.

SPEAKER_01 40:18

Do you want to just go to the courtroom one?

SPEAKER_05 40:19

Because I feel like that's well, I want to see what they say. I'm curious, what would be the lie? I feel like you've lived so many truths. Like we've known you for so long. We have a two-year-old son. Um, this is my second marriage, and um, we are a traveling DJ duo.

SPEAKER_00 41:16

Let me get some context here. Um can I get ages, please?

SPEAKER_05 41:22

Thirty-three.

SPEAKER_01 41:23

Thirty-seven.

SPEAKER_00 41:25

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:28

You guys are on the right track with uh the one that you're not sure about. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 41:36

Yeah, I don't think she got married twice. Okay, I don't think that you got married twice.

SPEAKER_05 41:40

Okay, I almost got married once. Correct. She's been engaged.

SPEAKER_00 41:44

She's been engaged twice. Yeah, got it. Yeah. I thought I remember hearing something, and and but yeah, so I was on I was on top of that. That was good. And then obviously the truths are um which one of you guys are the traveling DJ?

SPEAKER_01 42:03

I'm a DJ, yep. Playing all over. I played, I've actually I've actually played in Jersey a few times. I played uh Pool After Dark quite a few times. Um I played a few of those spots over there.

SPEAKER_00 42:14

Um I was I was right on that. Okay. Um, honey, do you want to uh participate in that it's hard, it's a hard game, honestly.

SPEAKER_04 42:26

Um we had well, I don't can't tell.

SPEAKER_03 42:31

Oh, okay. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 42:37

Um so we have three children. Um we have a Rottweiler that we keep outside and in our garage. And what's the third one?

SPEAKER_00 42:56

Uh and the third one is our son's name is Romeo.

SPEAKER_05 43:00

Okay, so I think I'm just gonna go straight ahead. Because I know your son's name. I know you have three kids. And I have a feeling like the way to make a lie believable is if you give a little extra detail. And I don't think you keep your rottweiler outside. I think he's inside. I think he sleeps on your bed.

SPEAKER_00 43:17

Okay. So so what is the lie and what is the truth?

SPEAKER_05 43:20

The lie is the rottweiler.

SPEAKER_00 43:23

Okay, good job. You got it.

SPEAKER_04 43:28

Oh, actually, we do have outdoor animals. Truth be told, we do have an outdoor animal.

SPEAKER_00 43:33

I did have a rottweiler when I was a child, and then me and Lauren had a uh Goldo Retriever like for many, many years, for 10 years, for 10 years. Um, and you know, it could be possible that we get uh a dog for the kids uh in the next couple years. Um, but yeah, we do not have a dog right now.

SPEAKER_01 43:52

Well, Lauren, that was that was convincing.

SPEAKER_00 43:54

We have eight, we have eight chickens. We have eight chickens in the backyard uh named uh Snow. DJ Pauly D, uh Jay Wow. I think the Angelina one died.

SPEAKER_05 44:05

And uh we uh we were on Ultra Shore with Angelina.

SPEAKER_01 44:12

With Angelina, so we know Angelina very well.

SPEAKER_05 44:14

She tried to fight me. Yeah, yeah. I was like, I'm christened.

SPEAKER_00 44:17

Yeah, I have like a truth be told, we did have a chicken named Angelina, and it was sleeping around and getting into like all the hen pens. Yeah. Uh yeah, no, I've had chickens for a couple years now, and then we just got our garden. So can you say self-sustainable?

SPEAKER_01 44:40

That is literally our dream. She wants chickens so bad, but we need more land for that.

SPEAKER_00 44:45

But we have chickens, and we just got our garden, so we're pretty hype.

SPEAKER_05 44:48

Wait, what are you growing in the garden? Because I'm starting mine right now, too.

SPEAKER_00 44:51

What do you grow?

SPEAKER_04 44:52

Everything: lettuce, carrots, beets, radish, corn, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, herbs.

SPEAKER_00 45:02

What were the herbs? Basil?

SPEAKER_04 45:04

Basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, green scallions, thyme.

SPEAKER_00 45:09

Yeah, we are hyped. We've been this. Yeah, that's a garden. It's like a complex. It's been on the it's been on the vision board for many, many years.

SPEAKER_04 45:17

Zucchini.

SPEAKER_00 45:18

And we got the chickens first, and then someone contacted us least recently, uh, Jack, and he was like, Do you guys want a garden? And we're like, Yes.

SPEAKER_05 45:26

Yeah, do you have the trellises and all of that?

SPEAKER_04 45:29

It feels like a little cottage. It's gonna be really beautiful once it's grown in. And we just planted it like the last two weeks.

SPEAKER_00 45:39

I I again I would never have thought that the situation would have a garden and uh 11 years sober, happily married, uh, going on our eighth year. Um, yeah, right. Uh it's a pretty cool story.

SPEAKER_05 45:53

You're gonna see him like in his little sun hat, like talking to the plants and like pruning, and like you're growing so good. That's what I do anyway. That's a beautiful that's and that's a great way to to just wrap up, I feel like your whole journey as of now, because I feel like we'll definitely just keep following you and your beautiful love life and your home life and how everything is just keeps getting better and better because you always stay true to yourself. Um, and that's just such a great testament to just really watch it live. Yeah, literally, my whole line.

SPEAKER_01 46:24

So awesome. And before we let you go, though, I do want I gotta get some marriage advice. I gotta get what would be one thing from each of you. I mean, you guys are obviously killing it, crushing it. You I mean you sound like you support each other amazing. What would be like an advice?

SPEAKER_00 46:36

My wife is is really good at that. I think I'll I'll go and say that uh communication is key. Uh, don't ever give up on each other, always choose each other first. And uh if you guys do get into an argument, I think you should get into the policy of a race to apologize first. Ooh, a race to apologize first.

SPEAKER_03 46:54

A race to apologize first.

SPEAKER_01 46:56

Your turn. I'm gonna win that race now. I'm gonna be competitive, and I'm gonna have to win that race now. That's a good way to put it. Yeah, I apologize first.

SPEAKER_04 47:09

I think my biggest piece of marriage advice would be to always put your marriage first because it starts with you two. Uh your family begins with you two together. So as you grow and you grow your family and you grow your businesses and you just grow as people, you have to always remember to come back to each other and strengthen that foundation.

SPEAKER_00 47:31

Very, very true. That's great. Um, also, wait, one last thing, um, which we do all the time. Uh, as a family unit, uh, husband and wife, we are both on the path of self-improvement, whether mentally, physically, spiritually, personally, or professionally, and any negativity uh we kick aside. But that uh that journey is has been really um amazing for us because uh that's what we focus on. We focus on the positive, and it's an amazing journey to be on. If you're not on a journey like that, and you're idle, you could go the other way.

SPEAKER_05 48:07

Right. And I'm I'm really curious because I feel like this is just a very honest touch point. Is it true to say that the money comes and goes and your energy and how it is, it kind of dictates that energy, money flows. Yes, yes, very, very, very good observation.

SPEAKER_00 48:28

Your most valuable currency is your energy, your authenticity.

SPEAKER_01 48:32

She was literally just talking to me as she was talking to you guys. She was like, see, see.

SPEAKER_05 48:36

I'm literally just like, hello, this is the proof right here.

SPEAKER_00 48:39

Yes, that is another reason why um we're going on our Italy trip because we are investing in ourselves, right? We're in we're investing in our marriage, we're investing in in experience. Um, money come comes and goes. Um, so invest in experience, invest in yourselves. Um, and uh you'll never go wrong.

SPEAKER_05 49:02

Love that. You'll never go hungry.

SPEAKER_01 49:03

Fantastic, fantastic. You guys are so awesome, such a power couple.

SPEAKER_05 49:07

Yeah, so literally an inspiration. And I feel like, yeah, literally the best interview to have before we head to our wedding. Um so yeah, this was lovely. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 49:19

Thank you guys so much for coming out. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:22

Well, we want to say congratulations to you guys. We want to send our positive vibes to you, your family, and your future. We are so rooting for you guys. And please send us updates on the gram. And we're very, very excited for this interview. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 49:35

Okay, we will, yeah, absolutely. Thank you guys. And is there anything you guys want to want to uh plug as far as like your foundation or anything like that for some of our listeners? Is there anywhere they can to follow? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:44

You or someone that you know is struggling from the disease of addiction, please contact me or go to our website, uh archangelcenters.com.

SPEAKER_05 49:52

Beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 49:53

Awesome.

SPEAKER_05 49:53

Well, enjoy your good day to have a good day.

SPEAKER_00 49:55

Yes, and have fun in Lake Como. Have fun in Lake Como.

SPEAKER_01 49:58

That's so great.

SPEAKER_00 49:59

Yes, yes. All right, guys, thank you so much. It was a great interview. Thanks for having us.

SPEAKER_05 50:06

That was such a lovely conversation. There are so many layers to them and their marriage, and we feel pretty inspired. Hopefully, you do too.

SPEAKER_01 50:15

No, for real. I feel like I learned so much. And who would have thought, you know, that Mike the situation. Right. That's the life you've been living now. I love it. I love it so much. It's so cool. That was so fun. Hope you guys enjoyed it as much as us. Um, if you did, like, comment, and subscribe, and uh, we'll see you next week.

SPEAKER_02 50:31

He said what?

SPEAKER_01 50:35

No way she said that.