Kyle Forgeard Breaks Silence on SteveWillDoIt Controversy, NELK, & The Truth About Happy Dad

SUMMARY

Kyle Forgeard of NELK Boys joins the Iced Coffee Hour podcast to break silence on SteveWillDoIt controversies, reveal Happy Dad's origins and growth, share prank-era stories, business pivots, and future visions for content and personal life, blending humor with entrepreneurial insights.

STATEMENTS

NELK's early success stemmed from authentic content blending partying, pranks, and travel, capturing the essence of young men being themselves.
The Andrew Schulz podcast drama arose from an unposted episode highlighting tensions between Steiny and Schulz, which went viral after a clip release.
Kyle prefers not holding back podcasts unless they're internally boring, emphasizing the value of raw conversations over polished perfection.
Wearing multiple hats as entertainer, entrepreneur, and marketer keeps Kyle's work dynamic and engaging across content creation and business strategy.
Happy Dad employs 120 people across the US and Canada, while NELK's content operations involve about 22 full-time staff, totaling around 150 employees.
Drinking was integral to NELK's content creation, often sparking creativity after initial sober attempts failed to produce engaging material.
Kyle's first employee, Manager Drew, helped ideate "Rona Season" merch from Corona drinking trends, leading to massive sales without legal issues.
Attempts to partner with Corona failed due to alcohol marketing regulations, but it inspired Kyle to launch his own seltzer brand after witnessing NELK's influence.
Happy Dad originated from a group chat brainstorming session, with the name winning a $5K prize, aiming for a retro beer vibe to target male demographics.
Choosing "Happy Dad" over NELK-branded names allowed the product to transcend the group, similar to successful celebrity brands like Casamigos.
Kyle sees strangers wearing Happy Dad gear without recognizing him as a sign of the brand's independent success and potential for a billion-dollar exit.
Happy Dad has grown double digits annually for four years, unlike declining competitors, with no profits taken by Kyle to fuel long-term expansion.
Alcohol industry laws, rooted in Prohibition-era rules, require distributors per state and prohibit cross-promotion with other brands, limiting marketing creativity.
Regulations ban associating alcohol with health, wellness, or activities like gym drinking, though Happy Dad's low carbs (2g vs. Corona's 13g) appeal implicitly.
NELK's merch drops, like the Rona Season shirts selling 22,000 units in 24 hours for $5 million gross, built direct fan support during demonetization.
A pivotal Google prank led to YouTube strikes and demonetization, forcing a pivot to merch as the sole revenue source, fostering deeper fan loyalty.
Early NELK pranks mimicked standard formats but evolved into authentic, off-camera style humor, harmonizing pranks with relatable drinking and joking.
Demonetization after the Google prank turned NELK into underdogs, with fans funding videos via merch, leading to record drops like 300,000 site visitors.
Kyle and Jesse bootstrapped early by working side jobs—Kyle at a golf course, Jesse at a restaurant—saving for LA trips despite visa limitations as Canadians.
Money complicates dynamics as people age; early NELK thrived on shared hardships like bunk beds, but success brought private jets and less hunger.
Despite massive merch gross (up to $33 million per drop), personal take-home was modest due to reinvestments in travel, staff, and prank liabilities.
Kyle's first million likely came around age 25 via merch, but he focused on long-term vision over celebrating milestones, loving content creation.
Investments include early X (Twitter) via John, yielding 6x returns, diversified portfolios with a business manager, and cash reserves for new ideas.
Private jet use is limited to time-sensitive business needs, with a $600K annual budget flagged by his manager to curb excess spending.
SteveWillDoIt's gambling and spending, like coin-flipping $2 million or gifting cars to Karina Croft, stem from high money thresholds and content obsession.
Kyle mentored Steve early, promising success through guidance, but now respects his independence amid entourages, offering blunt advice when asked.
The "cursed" diamond necklace from Steve, passed to Liver King then back, symbolized misfortunes until returned, highlighting superstitious business tales.
Drinking with Elon Musk involved eight Happy Dads over four hours after security flagged Steve's past Tesla prank, showcasing Elon's quirky accessibility.
Trump commands rooms with charisma, chirping and complimenting upon entry, unlike Elon's interesting quirks; their podcast was Trump's first.
Prank arrests were minor (overnight in Toronto), but border hassles as Canadians make even small incidents burdensome; harmless pranks ironically cause most trouble.
Fake gas station spraying or Mexico coke pranks were riskier unarrested acts; fearlessness came from youth, low stakes, and honed prank execution skills.
Streaming shifted content economics via high gambling sponsorships and subs, but clippers spread misinformation for views, eroding trust in viral narratives.

IDEAS

Authenticity in content trumps scripted formats, as NELK's shift to real-life drinking and joking created unbreakable fan bonds beyond typical pranks.
Demonetization can be a blessing, forcing diversification like merch that builds direct revenue and loyalty, turning adversity into historic sales records.
Alcohol influence on youth culture reveals untapped billion-dollar opportunities, evident when frat kids adopted "Rona Season" from casual video mentions.
Brand independence from personal fame ensures longevity; Happy Dad's standalone appeal mirrors Casamigos' exit, avoiding influencer dependency pitfalls.
Prohibition-era laws stifle innovation, like banning cross-alcohol promotions, yet create disguises for viral growth through subtle cultural hacks.
Youthful invincibility fuels bold risks, but aging demands evolution, as Kyle questions sustaining "old NELK" energy at 31 without endless partying.
Mentorship evolves into mutual respect; Kyle's early guidance for SteveWillDoIt shifted as success brought conflicting advisors and divergent paths.
Superstition in business, like a "cursed" necklace linking controversies, underscores how symbols can psychologically impact high-stakes decisions.
High-profile access demystifies icons; Elon's podcast ease after security drama shows even geniuses seek diverse audiences beyond formal interviews.
Political virality stems from social media agility; Trump's podcast strategy won elections by reaching untapped youth demographics ignored by opponents.
Visa barriers hinder Canadian creators' US ambitions, suggesting streamlined borders could boost cross-border entrepreneurship and entertainment flows.
Prank science involves precise production—cameraman positioning, quick escapes—turning chaos into reliable, high-engagement content formulas.
Streaming's dark side: paid clippers fabricate drama for views, incentivizing misinformation that erodes the internet's credibility faster than ever.
Elevated pranks require budgets; NELK's potential TV show envisions celebrity collaborations, scaling "Punk'd" with unlimited resources per episode.
Fan surrealism hits hardest when idols reciprocate; Drake gifting a watch to Kyle flips lifelong admiration into tangible, ongoing motivation.
Loyalty compounds success; Dana White's favor-trading with NELK built unbreakable alliances, proving relationships outperform formal contracts.
Gambling's allure lies in content potential, but thresholds vary—Dana stomachs millions lost casually, while Kyle fumes over $100K setbacks.
Personal growth prioritizes mental health; gym routines pull Kyle from dark paths, echoing how fitness bonded early NELK friendships.
Long-term thinking ignores short-term wins; reinvesting all Happy Dad profits delays gratification for exponential, multi-country expansion.
Evolution from pranks to animation like "Degenerates" signals creator maturity, channeling raw humor into scripted, scalable entertainment empires.
Relationship intentionality at success peaks avoids distractions; Kyle seeks a lifelong partner only, focusing self-improvement to attract the right match.
Bootstrapping narratives inspire: side jobs funded NELK's LA pivots, proving grit sustains until merch and brands unlock scaled freedom.
Negative virality dominates algorithms, pressuring creators to amplify drama, yet raw conversations reveal internet's skewed focus on conflict.
Celebrity "aura" varies; Trump's commanding charisma contrasts Elon's quirks, teaching that presence is tailored, not universal.
Exit strategies favor visionary partners; Happy Dad's growth demands acquirers expanding globally, not commoditizers eroding brand essence.

INSIGHTS

True brand scalability demands separation from the founder's persona, enabling organic growth and attractive exits independent of individual fame.
Adversity like demonetization accelerates innovation, transforming fan empathy into loyal revenue streams that outpace ad-dependent models.
Youthful risk-taking, fueled by low stakes, builds empires but requires reinvention as maturity shifts priorities from chaos to strategy.
Mentorship's limits emerge with success; divergent paths and external influences necessitate respecting autonomy over persistent control.
Archaic regulations paradoxically foster creativity, as alcohol bans force cultural infiltration through subtle, viral narratives rather than direct ads.
High-stakes gambling reveals personality thresholds, where content obsession can justify extravagance but risks long-term financial instability.
Superstitions in business highlight psychological undercurrents, where symbols like "cursed" items influence decisions beyond rational economics.
Political wins hinge on media adaptability; embracing informal platforms like podcasts democratizes influence, outmaneuvering traditional gatekeepers.
Border policies stifle global talent flows, underscoring how easier mobility could amplify entrepreneurial cross-pollination between nations.
Production mastery turns pranks into art, where precision in execution and editing creates repeatable success formulas amid apparent randomness.
Streaming economics breed misinformation ecosystems, as view-based incentives prioritize sensationalism over truth, eroding digital trust.
Iconic access humanizes idols, revealing that mutual admiration loops sustain motivation, turning one-way fandom into collaborative inspiration.
Loyalty networks outperform transactions; reciprocal favors with powerhouses like Dana White build resilient alliances in competitive arenas.
Personal evolution favors holistic self-optimization; fitness and mental health anchor growth, pulling creators from burnout toward sustained fulfillment.
Intentional relationships in success demand self-readiness; attracting enduring partnerships requires prior investment in personal authenticity and vision.

QUOTES

"Neelk was always like partying, pranks, traveling, and boys being boys. I feel like those were the three recipes of like what made a Neelk video great."
"You guys have consistently been able to spin up businesses that end up being massive, wildly profitable, and extremely viral."
"To be able to get 300,000 people on an e-commerce website, it's insane."
"Money everything up, bro."
"I think we're just on like two different paths. Friends are always going to have little back and forths a little bit and then you add this highstakes business and different people in everyone's ear telling them different things."
"He's a little in the head with gambling for sure. like he's just he's just different."
"It's embarrassing. I don't even want to say only 300,000 on fights."
"Drinking became productive for us and that would happen time and time again where it'd be like bro if we start drinking we just get content."
"When we did it it was definitely awkward and then but it was weird if I can remember too."
"It's a weird state of the internet right now."
"I like all aspects of the the business side of stuff, too. You know, I think wearing the being able to wear the different hats is what constantly makes stuff entertaining and fun."
"Dude, I can't party like I could when I was 21, right? I get hung over like feels like."
"We wanted to go for a beer vibe on a seltzer cuz all the seltzers were it was all women drinking them right like there was the skinny cans too."
"You want the brand to be bigger than Neelk or or Full Send, right? I think you kind of you box yourself in if we were to call it like obviously a nek seltzer right."
"This is my baby. Like even to see where it's been now it's been 4 years it's blown my my wildest dreams to see where it's at."
"The profit's about like 12% when it's all in."
"It's all like laws from prohibition. So it's super old school laws."
"You cannot on another alcohol product."
"Our original merch business was pretty historic. I don't think anyone's really ever that was so good."
"We thought they were going to delete our channel. So, we just privated all our videos."

HABITS

Maintain authenticity in content by incorporating off-camera jokes and real-life elements to foster genuine audience connections.
Diversify revenue early through direct fan support like merch drops to buffer against platform dependencies.
Reinvest all business profits into growth, avoiding personal salaries to prioritize long-term scalability.
Consult trusted advisors like John or a business manager for investment decisions, focusing on diversified, safe portfolios.
Limit private jet use to essential, time-critical business trips to control escalating luxury spending.
Offer blunt, honest advice only when asked, respecting others' autonomy while being available for support.
Prioritize fitness routines, like two-a-day workouts or running challenges, to anchor mental health and avoid dark paths.
Brainstorm ideas collaboratively in group chats, rewarding top contributions to harness collective creativity.
Evolve content formats with age, shifting from high-energy partying to elevated, short-form pranks for sustained relevance.
Build loyalty through reciprocal favors with influential contacts, turning one-off interactions into enduring alliances.
Avoid pointless dating; focus on self-improvement to attract a lifelong partner intentionally.
Study production precision for pranks, positioning cameras optimally and escaping scenes quickly to minimize risks.
Review potential content with a team chat before release to gauge sensitivities without self-censoring fully.
Set strict gambling limits, exiting after doubling initial buy-in to treat it as strategic rather than recreational.
Document surreal life moments, like celebrity gifts, to sustain gratitude and motivation amid rapid success.
Work side jobs to bootstrap dreams, saving aggressively for key opportunities like cross-country content trips.
Lean into controversies publicly to amplify virality, owning narratives rather than defending them defensively.

FACTS

NELK's Rona Season merch sold 22,000 units in 24 hours, generating about $5 million gross revenue at $29.99 per shirt.
Happy Dad operates with 120 employees across the US and Canada, growing double digits annually for four years.
YouTube demonetized NELK after a Google prank, leaving merch as their sole revenue source despite millions of subscribers.
A single Happy Dad merch drop peaked at 300,000 simultaneous website visitors, second only to Kylie Jenner on Shopify.
Alcohol profit margins hover around 12% after all costs, with pricing controlled by stores rather than the brand.
US alcohol distribution requires state-specific middlemen due to 100-year-old Prohibition laws.
Kyle and Jesse bootstrapped NELK with side jobs: Kyle at a golf course for five years, Jesse at a restaurant.
SteveWillDoIt once owed $500,000 to a casino, cleared by Dana White's $100,000 blackjack wins per hand.
Elon's security flagged Steve for a prior Tesla prank video, nearly canceling their podcast until resolved.
Trump's Full Send podcast was his first ever, garnering 12 million views in 12 hours before YouTube removal.
Canadians face visa hurdles for US work; Kyle spent five years obtaining one, now aiding aspiring creators.
Kyle has been arrested twice for pranks, spending overnight in jail each time, but beaten all charges.
Happy Dad cans have 2g carbs versus Corona's 13g, though regulations prohibit health claims.
Streaming clippers earn based on views, often fabricating captions like "Nino got Vitaly out of jail."
Dana White plays blackjack sober, exiting after three winning hands to double his buy-in consistently.
NELK's Europe wine tour merch drop grossed $33 million, crashing their site multiple times.

REFERENCES

Andrew Schulz podcast episode (unposted due to Steiny tensions).
Rona Season merch line (shirts inspired by Corona trends).
Happy Dad seltzer brand (retro logo, group chat origin).
Casamigos tequila (George Clooney's successful celebrity exit model).
Full Send Podcast (Trump's first appearance, 12 million views).
Google prank video (led to demonetization).
Shopify e-commerce platform (handled massive NELK drops).
X (Twitter) investment (Elon Musk acquisition, 6x return).
Liver King podcast (involved necklace exchange).
Elon Musk podcast (Full Send episode with eight Happy Dads).
Trump Force One flight (post-podcast travel).
Air Force One visit (2020, rare for Canadians).
Howler Head bourbon (Dana White's brand, NELK promotions).
Degenerates animated series (Kyle's South Park-style project).
NELK Unleashed (potential streaming show like Punk'd).
Insanity workout videos (early fitness routine with Steve).
VitalyzdTv (prankster influence, jail references in clips).
Roman Atwood pranks (early inspiration for NELK format).
Jack Doherty offer (tried buying necklace for $60K).
Karina Croft cars (Steve's $500K gifts).
OneSkin skincare (sponsor mentioned).
ZipRecruiter hiring tool (sponsor for business growth).
Shopify trial (podcast sponsor for e-commerce setup).

HOW TO APPLY

Identify core content recipes like partying, pranks, and travel to authentically engage your audience from the start.
Apologize and clarify misunderstandings publicly, like the Schulz drama, to fan flames of virality without escalating beef.
Film conversations naturally without forcing negativity, recognizing that algorithms amplify drama but authenticity builds loyalty.
Assess team size needs: scale content ops to 22 staff for videography and socials, then expand business to 120+ for production.
Experiment with sober shoots first, then introduce drinking if it unlocks creative flow, but monitor for long-term health impacts.
Track cultural trends like "Rona Season" from daily habits to ideate merch, aiming for 20,000+ unit drops in 24 hours.
Pitch partnerships to incumbents like Corona, but pivot to self-launching if regulations block, using influence for direct brands.
Brainstorm names collaboratively with cash incentives, selecting those scalable beyond personal branding like Happy Dad.
Design products for underserved demographics, like male-targeted seltzers with retro vibes, to differentiate in saturated markets.
Avoid tying brands to your name; build standalone Instagram presence to attract acquisitions without celebrity skepticism.
Reinvest 100% of profits initially, tracking 12% margins to fuel double-digit annual growth over four years.
Navigate regulations by using distributors per state, avoiding banned claims like health associations in marketing.
Pivot from ad revenue losses by launching merch transparently, telling fans it's their direct support for content funding.
Authenticate pranks by ditching scripts for off-camera humor, blending with production precision for relatable virality.
Hustle side jobs to fund early risks, saving for visa-dependent trips while building equity through equity ownership.
Negotiate non-vested equity deals early, putting up minimal capital for major stakes like 30% in ventures.
Invest via trusted networks, like early X buys, diversifying into 10-15% return safe assets while keeping cash for ideas.
Limit luxuries like jets to ROI-positive trips, budgeting under $600K annually to avoid lifestyle inflation.
Mentor emerging talents bluntly, promising guidance but releasing control as they attract new influences.
Bond over shared interests like gym routines to build lasting friendships that evolve with personal growth.
Superstitiously audit "cursed" assets, returning them to break negative cycles in high-stakes environments.
Secure elite access by resolving security flags quickly, persisting through 72-hour waits for game-changing pods.
Chirp and compliment in rooms to command presence like Trump, adapting quirks for charismatic engagement.
Beat minor arrests with lawyers offering publicity trades, minimizing border hassles from prank records.
Hone prank escape protocols, leaving scenes immediately to evade unnecessary overnight detentions.
Scale pranks to TV with celebrity rosters, budgeting per episode for "Punk'd"-style unleashed content.
DM idols casually on Instagram for low-pressure connections, evolving to close-friend story shares.
Trade favors reciprocally with loyalists like Dana, promoting brands to compound alliances without contracts.
Double up and exit gambling sessions sober, learning from pros to treat it as capped entertainment.
Write elevated scripts like animated series, collaborating to launch in two years for new creative chapters.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Embrace authenticity and strategic pivots to transform pranks into profitable empires while prioritizing personal evolution.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Build businesses independent of personal fame to enable billion-dollar exits and standalone growth.
Pivot from platform risks like demonetization by cultivating direct fan revenue through transparent merch appeals.
Harness cultural drinking trends to launch differentiated products, targeting underserved demographics with retro packaging.
Collaborate on naming and ideation with incentives to create scalable brands beyond influencer limitations.
Comply with archaic alcohol laws creatively, using distributors and subtle narratives to drive viral adoption.
Reinvest all early profits to achieve consistent double-digit growth, viewing the venture as a long-term baby.
Evolve content authenticity from scripted pranks to real-life humor, blending with precise production for engagement.
Bootstrap with side gigs, saving aggressively for visa hurdles and opportunity trips in competitive markets.
Negotiate equity-heavy deals without vesting, minimizing upfront capital while maximizing ownership stakes.
Diversify investments through advisors, favoring safe 10-15% returns and opportunistic plays like early tech buys.
Cap luxury spending like jets to essential business uses, auditing budgets annually to sustain hunger.
Mentor bluntly but release control, offering advice only when sought to respect divergent success paths.
Prioritize fitness and mental health routines to navigate dark roads, bonding over them for enduring relationships.
Lean into controversies for virality, owning narratives publicly to amplify rather than defend.
Resolve access barriers persistently, like security flags, to secure high-impact celebrity collaborations.
Adapt political strategies to social media, embracing podcasts to reach youth demographics ignored by traditional media.
Streamline border policies mentally by advocating easier visas, enabling global talent flows for creators.
Master prank logistics—cameraman spots, quick exits—to minimize risks while maximizing reactions.
Counter streaming misinformation by fact-checking clips, prioritizing truth over sensational view incentives.
Develop elevated formats like animated series or TV pranks, scaling with budgets and celebrity rosters.
Intentionally seek lifelong partners post-success, focusing self-growth to attract aligned matches without distractions.
Audit superstitious elements in business, like symbolic items, to psychologically safeguard high-stakes decisions.
Trade favors reciprocally with loyal influencers to build unbreakable networks outperforming contracts.
Exit gambling after wins strategically, learning from pros to cap losses and treat it as content fuel.
Document surreal milestones like idol gifts to maintain gratitude amid rapid life changes.
Write scripts collaboratively for new chapters, aiming launches in two years to sustain creative relevance.

MEMO

Kyle Forgeard, the mastermind behind the NELK Boys' irreverent empire, sat down for the Iced Coffee Hour podcast to unpack a career built on audacious pranks, viral merch drops, and now a seltzer brand that's quietly upending the alcohol industry. At 31, Forgeard reflects on NELK's scrappy origins—two Canadian kids, Jesse and himself, bootstrapping from basement edits and golf course shifts to million-subscriber fame. Their secret? Ditching cookie-cutter prank formats for raw, boozy authenticity that captured the chaos of young manhood. But success came with strikes: a infamous Google office infiltration earned YouTube demonetization, thrusting them into underdog status and a merch revolution that once drew 300,000 fans to their site in a single drop.

The pivot to Happy Dad Hard Seltzer, born from a casual group chat and a $5,000 naming prize, exemplifies Forgeard's foresight. Rejecting NELK-branded tie-ins, he crafted a retro beer aesthetic aimed at men, sidestepping the "skinny can" femininity of rivals. Four years in, with 120 employees and double-digit growth amid a declining seltzer market, Forgeard hasn't pocketed a dime—reinvesting everything for global domination. "This is my baby," he says, eyeing exits like Clooney's Casamigos, where the brand outgrows its creator. Yet Prohibition-era laws hobble the dream: state-by-state distributors, no cross-promotions, and bans on health claims, even as Happy Dad's 2 grams of carbs crush Corona's 13.

Controversy shadows the glamour. Forgeard addresses the SteveWillDoIt rift—once a mentee he guided from 1,000-subscriber obscurity to YouTube stardom—now strained by gambling excesses and divergent paths. Steve's coin-flips of $2 million and lavish gifts to Karina Croft (who's already worth $50 million) trigger Forgeard: "He's just different." Their bond, forged over backyard Insanity workouts, endures, but external whispers complicate high-stakes friendships. A "cursed" diamond necklace, gifted by Steve, passed through Liver King, and returned, became a superstitious punchline amid personal setbacks.

High-profile encounters humanize the ascent. Drinking eight Happy Dads with Elon Musk followed a security scare over Steve's old Tesla prank, revealing the billionaire's quirky accessibility. Donald Trump, whose first podcast was on Full Send, commands rooms with charismatic chirps, a far cry from Musk's eccentricities. Forgeard credits Dana White's unyielding loyalty for UFC access and business wisdom—reciprocal favors like promoting Howler Head bourbon built an alliance where White once cleared Steve's $500,000 casino debt with $100,000 blackjack hands. These ties underscore a truth: in entertainment's cutthroat arena, loyalty trumps transactions.

Pranks, NELK's lifeblood, evolved from fearless youth—spraying fake gas hoses or Mexico coke stunts that could have ended disastrously—to calculated risks. Arrests were minor (overnight Toronto holds), but visa woes as Canadians turned borders into interrogations. Now, Forgeard eyes reinvention: short-form bangers, a "Punk'd"-style streaming show with celebrity pranks, and an animated series, "Degenerates," channeling their humor into scripted satire. Streaming's rise, fueled by gambling subs, has warped the internet—clippers peddle fake drama for views—but Forgeard adapts, leaning into negativity's viral pull without compromising core authenticity.

Aging tempers the party ethos. Forgeard, sober for stretches and running 100-mile challenges, prioritizes fitness to ward off mental dips. Money, he admits, "messes everything up"—private jets at $600,000 yearly, diversified investments yielding 6x on early X buys—yet he guards against complacency. Early merch windfalls never fattened personal banks much; reinvestments in 15-person Europe trips and prank lawsuits kept the hunger alive.

Personal life beckons thoughtfully. Forgeard shuns casual dating, vowing the next relationship leads to marriage, drawn to self-improvement as the magnet for a true partner. Grateful for surreal nods—like Drake's birthday watch or Bieber's fandom—he questions, "How is this real?" amid a life texting icons and advising elections. Yet, visa barriers irk him; easier U.S. access could unleash Canadian creators, a subtle nod to Trump's annexation jabs.

Ultimately, Forgeard's tale is one of relentless adaptation: from prank underdogs to seltzer savants, he's betting on evolution over nostalgia. As NELK Unleashed looms and Happy Dad eyes Australia, he embodies the creator's creed—stay authentic, pivot boldly, and let loyalty light the way.