Turning a Hobby into a Business with Craig Melvin: Ep 27
Highlights from the episode:
How a simple hobby became Melvin’s grounding ritual in a chaotic season of life
The kitchen experiments that led to unexpected wax disasters
How scent and memory shaped the earliest candle concepts
The mission behind supporting cancer charities through each candle
The surprising intimacy of gifting something handmade
Podcast show notes:
What struck me in this conversation with my husband, Craig Melvin, was how creativity shows up in the most unexpected corners of our lives. For Melvin, candlemaking isn’t about building a brand or launching a product. It is about finding quiet moments in the middle of busy days and having something that doesn't depend on deadlines or breaking news.
In this episode, Melvin shares the early missteps, the science he had to learn from scratch, and the almost meditative rhythm of getting each detail right. But beneath that is something deeper: the memories tied to fragrance, the mission to support cancer organizations close to our hearts, and the courage it takes to create something that feels personal.
We also talk about what happens emotionally when you share that creation with the world: the nerves, the hope, and the moments you wonder if it will resonate.
What You’ll Discover:
How candlemaking started in therapy and landed in our kitchen (08:55)
Why giving back is built into the mission (13:20)
A crash course in wax, wicks, and what can go wrong (14:50)
The fear of releasing something personal into the world (21:36)
Lightning round questions for Melvin (42:54)
Melvin’s story is about more than launching a candle company. It’s about finding a place to land when life feels unrelenting, honoring the memories that shape you, and trusting that creativity can open a door you didn’t expect. If you’ve ever felt the pull to follow a creative pursuit, this one is for you.
Connect with Craig Melvin and Melvin Made
Browse the candles: https://melvinmade.com/
Follow Melvin Made on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melvinmadeco
Follow Craig Melvin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigmelvinnbc/
Be sure to subscribe to Things No One Tells You—Lindsay’s podcast all about the real, unfiltered conversations we don’t always have but should. From big names to everyday voices, each episode dives into the moments that shape us. Listen wherever you get your podcasts!
Follow along with Lindsay below!
Full Transcript
[00:00:00] Melvin: I needed something to help ground me. Because to your point, like the job in the day-to-day, it's so chaotic and nonstop. This forces you to stop and it forces you to measure things and to take the temperature of things and to be very methodical. And so I think that, you know, when there's like a, a bunch of constant chaos swirling about having this to sort of. Force you to, and then, oh, by the way, after you're done, you've got something that you've created.
[00:00:43] Lindsay: Oh, what do you think about the thing no one tells you about the importance of finding something that grounds you, just taking the time to be creative, what that looks like. Welcome to this episode. Things No One Tells You.
[00:00:57] I'm so glad you guys are here. And this one is a little bit behind the scenes, but I know there is so much to learn from this conversation that I had with Craig. Melvin, as I call him my husband. Here's the deal. Melvin has just gone out on a limb. This is not his comfortable place. He has, and I'm so proud of this for him.
[00:01:17] He has launched a candle company, and that is what this episode revolves around. But the reality is, what we are really talking about here in this space for the most part, for the next 30, 40 minutes, is really the thing no one tells you about. The possibility of failure about going for it, about how uncertainty can unravel us all.
[00:01:45] I really had my eyes opened by my husband in this conversation because I sort of realized, oh wait, he's kind of never done this before. Okay, and this is what's so interesting to me. Melvin and II are really different. We have similar backgrounds in terms of life paths that we've chosen up until a certain extent, but we're really different. Like he's very much, he will tell you, an institutionalist, a creature of habit. I am very much more like, I would say, outwardly creative and just like woo shiny objects. Let's go do this and that and whatever. But what I love so much about this conversation is that he is explaining the process and the desire for him behind Melvin Made, which is.
[00:02:33] The new candle company that he has launched, and also what has become much more than a hobby for him, but a passion, and now a second job. What I have witnessed in the past year of Melvin having this job as co-host of the Today Show is not only how demanding it is, like with the hours that he puts in, but also just.
[00:02:54] There's not a lot of downtime at all, and the downtime that he has, he's really gotta sort of program for himself. So watching this candle, hobby slash passion slash now second job, come to fruition has been kind of fascinating because, and I know you guys can relate to this, if you are, in a relationship, whether you're married, you have a partner where you're, dating someone, whatever it is, Melvin started being like, oh, I love candles.
[00:03:21] I wanna try candles, and. It sort of grew. It started in our kitchen. He would start pouring, and I would find candle wax all over, like my kitchen utensils. And I was like, What is happening? Please stop putting them in the dishwasher. And so, but he was like really getting into it, and it was very cool.
[00:03:37] He was like showing our kids, he was testing out different fragrances, and then it became this thing, like. Whoa. He's spending hours in the garage pouring candles, and it became the garage because when the wax was taking over our kitchen, I was like, he really needs a space. And we talked about where his space should be, and it just became clear that there was this little corner of our garage area that maybe I could turn into a home for him and get his input on.
[00:04:03] And so that has actually been really great, and he's got his space, and it is his happy area. He will tell you. And it's very cool to see. So. We are discussing just what this has been like for him, what he's learned, and why this is important, and I hope that you learn a lot from this episode. But here is Melvin, the debut of Melvin made his candle company, and he enjoys it.
[00:04:28] How are you doing?
[00:04:31] Melvin: I think I'm doing okay so far, but it's early.
[00:04:36] Lindsay: Early in the conversation.
[00:04:36] Melvin: Early in the conversation. I'm excited to be a repeat guest. I'm honored.
[00:04:42] Lindsay: So when we were chatting, we were like, maybe this is things no one tells you about, leaning into. The passion. Passion that is on the side of what you do most of your day, right?
[00:04:54] Yeah. Like leaning into your hobby. Yeah. And you've done it like you're launching your candle company, a nd that is so awesome. I'm so proud of you.
[00:05:03] Melvin: You're very sweet. It's a, but it's a family candle company. I didn't do it by myself. Like you were,
[00:05:09] Lindsay: Did what?
[00:05:11] Melvin: Well, I didn't launch it by myself, but you were smelling fragrances, and you're like, Oh, that smells good.
[00:05:15] That doesn't smell good. What about this, what about, and I would show you things, and you were like, yeah, that's good. You should or you corrected some copy on some of the candle descriptions. Yeah. So you weren't, in fact, I brought you a gift. I did, I didn't. I didn't wanna show empty-handed.
[00:05:34] Lindsay: Oh, this is so nice.
[00:05:35] Melvin: This, for folks who are watching their listing right now, this is the very first. Melvin made a candle. That's, this is the Lindsay. No one has opened one yet. No, you're the first. I wanted, I seriously.
[00:05:54] Lindsay: Okay. Well, and here, what's funny is I got these matches because I was like, Ooh, we can use them to light candles.
[00:06:01] Melvin: I don't, I dunno if we can light that one.
[00:06:07] Lindsay: Okay, well, hold on. No, this is so exciting. First of all, I love the embossed. Wait. Debossed.
[00:06:13] Melvin: Very good. That's right. We went back and forth.
[00:06:15] Lindsay: That's amazing. Melvin knows my favorite colors. Yellow. That's also awesome. This is a beautifully shaped yellow. Oh, this looks so good.
[00:06:26] Ignite hope, smell, memories well.
[00:06:30] Melvin: A little dust cover for you. Wanna make sure you don't
[00:06:32] Lindsay: Like this? And I'm like, what?
[00:06:34] Melvin: You don't burn the candle with the dust cover on? You wanna take that off first?
[00:06:36] Lindsay: Why this?
[00:06:37] Melvin: No, the dust cover on top of this. Oh yeah. That's it.
[00:06:40] Lindsay: Could you burn it in the box?
[00:06:42] Melvin: No.
[00:06:43] Lindsay: You wouldn't wanna burn it.
[00:06:44] Melvin: No. It,
[00:06:45] Lindsay: This is so exciting. Oh, this is so great.
[00:06:50] Melvin: And then your name's on the bottom. And there'll be an insert.
[00:06:54] Lindsay: Oh my gosh. Pressure of having your name there.
[00:06:57] Melvin: There's an insert with a description of the candle for you. And then I think I managed to secure.
[00:07:03] Lindsay: Okay. Now you're doing a lot of stuff.
[00:07:05] Melvin: No.
[00:07:06] I've got a picture that we took. We took a picture yesterday at a photo shoot promoting a set of candles.
[00:07:14] Lindsay: It smells lemony. Is it lemon?
[00:07:18] Melvin: There's the, we can share that with your podcast viewers and listeners.
[00:07:22] Lindsay: That's so sweet.
[00:07:23] Melvin: That's the picture that we're gonna use to put on the candle.
[00:07:27] Lindsay: It's a picture of my dad and me. That's so sweet.
[00:07:30] Melvin: I show it. Do I show it there?
[00:07:34] Lindsay: Okay, wait, this is so, okay. I brought you something.
[00:07:38] Melvin: Well, you can light the candle, but again, I think that's alright. I mean, it's not a cheap candle, so you have to
[00:07:43] Lindsay: Listen. You've been working on this for like a year plus. This is for you.
[00:07:48] Melvin: Well, sweet. I didn't know. This is like an early gift exchange.
[00:07:53] Lindsay: Watch the Melvins Exchange gifts. What is this? We'd love to see. This is so nice.
[00:08:00] Melvin: I don't think people are, people, watching and listening to this right now, watching me opening a gif. You think I hope not.
[00:08:12] Long. These are long matches
[00:08:15] Lindsay: Very long matches.
[00:08:16] Melvin: That's funny.
[00:08:17] Lindsay: Yeah. Very long matches. And because I hope that you have a very long journey.
[00:08:23] Melvin: I love this
[00:08:23] Lindsay: With the MMelvin-madecandles. Isn't that fun? Can we use it? Can we light this?
[00:08:26] Melvin: Yeah, I think can I get the plastic off?
[00:08:29] Lindsay: Oh my God, you just got sparks.
[00:08:32] Melvin: I'm gonna set myself on.
[00:08:33] Fine. That is, those are strong matches. Oh, watch that sucker burn.
[00:08:38] Lindsay: This is nice. This is from terrain.
[00:08:39] Melvin: Let's get a nice, even burn there.
[00:08:42] Lindsay: Okay. Wait, so, so this is just like the flame, it began with a flicker of an idea. Where did this come from for you, for people that, dunno, why did you wanna do Well, I, I, all your free time.
[00:08:55] Melvin: Well, I didn't have a hobby with my hands, sometimes I. Sometimes I'll play golf, not very well. And in one of my therapy sessions, we were, we gotta talking about hobbies, and he was like, well, what do you make? I was like, well, I used to make beer more than a decade ago.
[00:09:17] and he's like, well, what do you like? I was like, Ohh, candles. I love candles. And I went on and on about candles. And anyway, he was like, well, you could make candles. I just delight them, like, oh, the fragrances, the vessels, just the light itself. Emanates from a candle. Like I love everything about it.
[00:09:37] Like when you walk into a room, and you smell something, and it can remind you of a memory or a place. And so anyway, he was like, well, you could make candles. I was like, well, I'm not really a Luddite, I don't think people make candles anymore. And lo behold, I.
[00:10:03] Making candles about two years ago in the kitchen. And then I got moved. You moved me out to the garage.
[00:10:09] Lindsay: Well, you and I feel like this was sort of a mutual thing because
[00:10:15] Melvin: It was not a mutual thing.
[00:10:16] Lindsay: Well, what ended up happening was that there were certain kitchen utensils
[00:10:20] Melvin: That's true.
[00:10:20] That's fair. That's fair. All over. That's fair. That's fair.
[00:10:26] Lindsay: So you did put that into like, okay, where would the space be that you could make, and at that time it was still very much a hobby. A hobby. Like, here's what we're doing, here's what doing nice. So, so at what point was it like, I actually wanna turn this into something more substantial. You know what?
[00:10:43] Melvin: I think that's a good question. I don't know if there was an aha moment, but I do, I did get to a point where I was like, I was making so many candles. That I couldn't give them all the way as gifts. And then I was like, well, someone was like, you should sell 'em. And I was like, well, I've got a full-time job that's fairly demanding.
[00:11:01] I can't really go selling candles at the flea market on the weekends. But then I was like, well, what if we figured out how to take this hobby and turn it into some good? And that's really kind of what it's all about. Like, it's not about, like, we're not gonna build a fragrance empire. But I think we can, spread a little light, little hope, little joy.
[00:11:27] Lindsay: So,
[00:11:27] Melvin: and raise some money for various cancer charities at the same time. I do like that fragrance, this, but you know, this is the first time we've burned a Lindsay. This is the first that's been burned.
[00:11:38] Lindsay: I like it. It's like, but what's in this one? It smells lemony to me. It's like,
[00:11:43] Melvin: I honestly, this is gonna sound weird.
[00:11:45] I can't tell you. The fragrance is proprietary. Can you gimme one? It is when you walk in, and you smell. I was playing around with some different fragrances, and that was the one you smelled, and you're like, Ooh, I like that. And that was the first one that you liked. And then I had to replicate it, which was time-consuming and not cheap.
[00:12:10] That, by the way, all the candles are priced the same. That was. The most, that's most expensive thing to produce
[00:12:17] Lindsay: The Lindsay? Mm-hmm. Why?
[00:12:19] Melvin: Because it is a combination of a variety of different fragrances. So a lot of the fragrances are like two or three that are more than two or three together.
[00:12:29] Lindsay: She's a complex candle.
[00:12:31] Melvin: Yeah. She is a complex candle. She's an expensive candle.
[00:12:35] Lindsay: She brings so much joy,
[00:12:37] Melvin: She brings a lot of light, a lot of joy, but she ain't cheap.
[00:12:41] Lindsay: Shouldn't be.
[00:12:42] Melvin: And then that's emblematic of a lot of things.
[00:12:45] Lindsay: Wait, so you mentioned for good. Okay. So, a lot of people probably don't realize that.
[00:12:52] So the cost of this candle would be, or the candles in general are roughly what?
[00:12:57] Melvin: It depends on the size. This is one of the smaller candles. It's gonna be low 30s, low 30s.
[00:13:02] Lindsay: By the way, this candle’s really nice
[00:13:04] Melvin: And that, that's gonna burn for 55 minutes. Excuse me, 55 hours. 55 hours.
[00:13:09] Lindsay: 55 hours. Mm-hmm.
[00:13:12] Melvin: I mean, roughly
[00:13:12] Lindsay: Any time.
[00:13:13] That's awesome.
[00:13:14] Melvin: Roughly.
[00:13:14] Lindsay: Okay. So wait, so but for the good portion of it. Yeah. So what is that? How is this tied to charity?
[00:13:20] Melvin: So, after profits, the proceeds, excuse me, not after profits, after expenses, the proceeds are going to benefit a variety of cancer charities.
[00:13:30] Lindsay: Okay. So like, what have you learned?
[00:13:32] Because of this process, right. As you start, you're doing it in the kitchen, and you get this great new space in our garage.
[00:13:40] Melvin: The great space that you created for me when you forced me out.
[00:13:43] Lindsay: Yeah. But you like it, it's better.
[00:13:45] Melvin: Well, I do, I love the space, but I thought there was gonna be some signage.
[00:13:50] Lindsay: Signage. There will be signage.
[00:13:51] Melvin: Well, you remember you said there were you and
[00:13:54] Lindsay: Right. But you needed to have like, the font to represent the brand.
[00:13:57] Melvin: Okay. Stick brand. I do like this space a lot, actually. No, I've learned, lemme tell you, I've learned more about the process of candle making. I've got a great friend now named Alan Long, who's helping me outta Richmond, Virginia.
[00:14:13] He's your candle mentor. He's my Kendall Sherpa. he has held my hand throughout the process. I mean, everything from wick size, the kind of wick that you use. If you don't wanna use a wick that's too large for the vessel or too small for the vessel, because that's gonna create an uneven burn, as you want an even burn.
[00:14:35] the centering of said wick, like, if you don't have that wick as close to the center of the vessel, you're gonna have an uneven burn. I've created some candles early on that were completely lopsided and that's, and that was why the temperature at which you add the fragrance matters a lot.
[00:14:50] Otherwise, you get bubbles, or you get, like, these weird craters on the top of the wax. The temperature at which you add the fragrance at the temperature at which you pour the candle. Like if you, the candle, and the wax are too hot, or if it's too cold, then that's also gonna create some serious issues.
[00:15:10] So a lot of it was trial and error. And then you've gotta find like the wax that, that you like, that creates the kind of synth throw that you want. Because I, for me, when I walk into a room with a candle, this is, I know this is a lot of weird mm-hmm. Micro candle talk. I, if your audience is going.
[00:15:26] Okay. When I walk into a room, I like to know that I'm in a room where a candle's burning. I don't need the fragrance to like bowl me over, but I wanna be able to smell the candle.
[00:15:38] Lindsay: And so how long have you been that way? This is very interesting that you're saying this.
[00:15:44] Melvin: Like ever since I've, I mean, how long have I enjoyed smelling a candle?
[00:15:47] Or,
[00:15:48] Lindsay: Well, yeah, well, has a candle being Oh, been a thing? You know how, like you're married to someone for 13 years and then all of a sudden you're like, well, and I know it's 14, but you're like. I've heard you say that.
[00:16:02] Melvin: That I love candles?
[00:16:03] Lindsay: Well, no, that you want to know, that a candles walk into.
[00:16:06] Melvin: Yeah. I just, I mean, I think, I mean, most couples don't talk about scent throw, I mean, I think it's one of those topics that can be very divisive. I mean, there, 'cause there's some people that, that, really enjoy a nice subtle synth throw. They don't, they just want a hint of whatever fragrance is burning.
[00:16:29] I want a smidge more than a hint, but not like a p as you get knocked in the face. And I, and so, and there are also, here's something else that I've learned, like fragrances are like, they're like pallets. Like, there are fragrances that I like that other people probably wouldn't be wild about.
[00:16:49] And then there are other fragrances that people really like that I don't really enjoy. I'm not a huge sweet candle guy. Same here. But that's the most popular fragrance for candles in like, the history of
[00:17:05] Lindsay: like, pumpkin, vanilla,
[00:17:07] Melvin: vanilla's. The most popular fragrance. Yeah, vanilla's the most. Do you know the second most popular fragrance?
[00:17:11] Lindsay: Standby. I think it's.
[00:17:14] Well,
[00:17:14] It's not pumpkin.
[00:17:16] Melvin: No, pumpkins only. It's like three months out.
[00:17:17] Lindsay: I love pumpkin. Oh my God, it makes me so happy. Vanilla is first, second rose.
[00:17:26] Melvin: No.
[00:17:27] Lindsay: Is it floral?
[00:17:28] Melvin: Yes.
[00:17:30] Lindsay: Is it eucalyptus?
[00:17:35] Melvin: You are close. You can live just to the top five.
[00:17:37] Lindsay: Lavender.
[00:17:38] Melvin: Yeah, it's lavender. It's,
[00:17:40] Lindsay: I love lavender.
[00:17:40] Melvin: Yeah.
[00:17:41] Lindsay: Most people do. You know what's funny is I'm not funny, but I had long COVID. I really lost my smell, and it came back altered, and I know I was there for it. You were still there for it. So I had smells that are still altered, that I think will just kind of always be what I identify with now.
[00:18:01] Like, some of them are strange smells, but so I do now know smells that I like are much more pronounced for me because I know that I like 'em. They're It is very difficult for me now to wear perfumes because, oh, most of the perfumes that I spray
[00:18:16] Melvin: Too much,
[00:18:17] Lindsay: Like makes me wanna gag. But the ones that I like, I'm like, okay, this is good.
[00:18:20] Let's roll. But I like this a lot.
[00:18:25] Melvin: That's the one you picked out? Yeah. I mean, you say that is the fragrance that you designed essentially.
[00:18:30] Lindsay: You could, if you could have any smell that you could go back and smell,
[00:18:35] What would it be
[00:18:37] like? When you talk about nostalgia,
[00:18:39] Melvin: One of the fragrances is the Betty Joe. isIt formulated to smell like my mother's pound cakes that she used to make. So that would be, that would probably be
[00:18:53] Lindsay: smell up the whole house like that.
[00:18:54] Melvin: Oh, well, yeah. Well, I can melt the pound cake now. I can see the bunt pan, and that would be number one. A nd number two, and we haven't formulated this one yet because I'm not sure if it would sell, but a mac and cheese candle.
[00:19:09] I love the smell of the mac and cheese cookie. I know it's not popular. Your audience is, like, what? He, like, wants to smell mac and cheese. I knew Craig was weird. This is confirmation.
[00:19:22] Lindsay: Oh, that's wild. Okay. So, so you're, you lost
[00:19:24] Melvin: I, I feel like I sound like such a weird candle nerd right now, and I,
[00:19:28] Lindsay: Well, why do you think it's like, why do you think it really spoke to you to have something on the side?
[00:19:32] Because I think most people who are watching or listening are like, when the heck does he have free time? Because you've talked here also in this space, just about how you are so busy, like your hours in the day. I maintain, and we talked about this before, how the easiest part of your day, I think, from watching it now for almost a year, has been the show itself.
[00:19:53] Melvin: Yes.
[00:19:54] Lindsay: The Today Show. And then the amount of work you have to put in after is like
[00:19:58] Melvin: And before, yeah.
[00:19:59] Lindsay: It's wild, so
[00:20:02] Melvin: I needed something to help ground me. Because of your point, like the job in the day-to-day, it's so chaotic and nonstop. This forces you to stop, and it forces you to measure things and to take the temperature of things and to be very methodical.
[00:20:22] And so I think that, when there's like, bunch of constant chaos swirling about, having this to sort of. Force you to,
[00:20:37] and then, oh, by the way, after you're done, you've got like, something that you've created, if that makes sense. Like I, so Idoe, I wish I had discovered it sooner. Honestly, I think it probably would've helped me 10 years ago. But, I'm just not, I'm not, as I'm not very handy. I don't, let's, you don't have to pretend like these people don't know.
[00:20:59] Yeah,
[00:20:59] Lindsay: But I'm surprised to hear you say that.
[00:21:01] Melvin: Well, I, don't, do, I don't have a tool belt. And I don't fix things around the house. I can change some light bulbs. I can change a tire. But by and large, I'm not big on making stuff. And all of a sudden, I found something that I could make and give his gifts, and they're all deeply personal.
[00:21:21] And I think that's something else. Like I love a good sto,ry and I love a good story, and they all have a good story.
[00:21:27] Lindsay: So you put out these candles you launched, and what is it like giving birth to the thing? You've been working on it for so long?
[00:21:36] Melvin: Well, I'm generally a fairly optimistic person, but I always worry that you put something out into the universe, and the universe sometimes will be like, No, we don't want that universe that needs
[00:21:47] So I, you worry like something that you care so much about, and people, you want people to care about it as well. And so I think there's been some fear, and I can admit that there's been some fear. There's been some worry that something that I've spent so much time on creating and trying to perfect will be roundly rejected.
[00:22:10] And you, but 'cause you never know. You never know. But no, that, that's, I've learned that's something that I need to face. I know that the podcast is devoted to things no one tells you, a nd that's something that no one told me.
[00:22:27] Lindsay: What,
[00:22:28] Melvin: That you could create something that you're passionate about, something that you think is a home run, and then you create it, and all of a sudden everyone's like, yeah, not so much.
[00:22:39] We don't like these. Stick with your storytelling and your journalism, Craig Melvin. So we'll see. We'll see. I do think thatI'mm proud of the mission. We've talked about the importance of our family always using its platform, always using its megaphone to do as much good as possible.
[00:23:00] And this is an extension of that. Ryan Melvin was the first person I knew who made a candle, remember? Yeah. Ryan's brother. Yeah, my younger brother, like him and his wife, I think that was around the same time that they lost Jasmine. Or maybe it was when she was sick. But I remember they would make candles, and you'd smell it like, wow, you made this.
[00:23:19] This is nice.
[00:23:19] Lindsay: Yes, they did. Lot
[00:23:20] of
[00:23:20] Christmas.
[00:23:20] Melvin: Yes.
[00:23:21] Lindsay: I love that.
[00:23:22] Melvin: Yeah.
[00:23:22] Lindsay: So what's the next step with this then?
[00:23:27] Melvin: Well, when I get fired from my job at NBCC, that's a joke. I don't anticipate being fired. That was, I was clearly joking. But no, I mean, look, I think I'm always looking for a retire. Like, like a side hustle.
[00:23:45] It brings me joy. I just find that I, when I'm out there in the garage, and I got my tunes on, and I'm pouring, and I'm measuring, and I'm experimenting with different fragrances, that's my happy place. So I think, one day, probably I'll be forced to lean on this. But we'll see.
[00:24:04] Lindsay: You'll be like, I remember when,
[00:24:06] Melvin: What's crazy, though, is, by the way, I just wanna point out for your Yeah. People who are watching can probably see it, but if you're listening right now, this is a beautiful even burn. There's not too much so on the candle, either; this is, it's a great wick.
[00:24:21] We experimented with lots of different wicks.
[00:24:23] Lindsay: The, I noticed is that when it started to pull. That's when I started to smell. Mm-hmm. So they told me that when you guys went, they had, you had to go to what? Richmond and Ohio? Is that
[00:24:35] Melvin: Where were you? I did, it's funny, I didn't have to, but I got, so, you know this about me.
[00:24:41] Sometimes I get really into things. And, when I decided I wanted to really invest in this idea, I experimented with some different vessels, and the vessel, of course, is what holds the wax and the candle. And I experimented with some different ones, but there wasn't one that I'd loved.
[00:24:58] I bought some stuff off Amazon, and the candle science website, and I was like, you know what? I wanna create my own vessel. And so I did some calling around, did some research, and there was a company out of Greenville, Ohio. Have you ever been to Greenville, Ohio? Sweetie, you have not. No. No, and no one is listening to this podcast.
[00:25:17] It's not easy to get to Greenville, Ohio, but Greenville, Ohio, this factory, their biggest customer, Bed, Bath and Beyond,
[00:25:29] Lindsay: really
[00:25:30] Melvin: The overwhelming majority of vessels that they make are for Bed Bath and Beyond, which, as you probably know, is quite substantial in the candle market. It's like Yankee Candle bed, bathing up, Bed Bath and Beyond.
[00:25:47] And then Melvin made.
[00:25:49] Lindsay: So what was I,
[00:25:49] Melvin: That was a joke. Melvin Made is not number three. Okay. But one day it might be.
[00:25:55] Lindsay: Thank you.
[00:25:56] Melvin: But, yes.
[00:25:58] Lindsay: So when you went there, 'cause I heard from Madeline who was with you guys
[00:26:02] Melvin: Oh yeah. Madeline Barney.
[00:26:04] Lindsay: It was like
[00:26:05] Melvin: overwhelming.
[00:26:06] Lindsay: Why?
[00:26:07] Melvin: Well,
[00:26:08] 'cause you, I mean, they have like literally.
[00:26:11] Hundreds of thousands of options. And then it's like, do you want smooth? Do you want ridges? Do you want tall? Do you want stout? Do like, like what do you want? Like, and so the design of the vessel, the design of the packaging, all of it is a reflection, well, it's a reflection of who I am, but I think it's also a reflection of who we are as a couple and as a family.
[00:26:37] It's simple. It's a very, like, if you look at this vessel, it's, there's a, there is a greenness to it. that I wanted because I didn't just want white, I didn't just want black. I didn't just want gray. I wanted something like a collection of colors, sort of like our family. and, with the great
[00:27:00] Lindsay: podcast conversation, we could talk for a long time about that.
[00:27:02] Melvin: And with the font, like it's, lowercase by design.
[00:27:06] That is a font that I developed with an artist outta Florida. And the packaging, it's very, it's a two-piece. Simple cardboard. Like it's, and I, we, I looked at some very elaborate packaging, but I wanted to go with something that was simple and clean. And then I do think that a lot of folks are going to be
[00:27:26] Lindsay: Really, by the way, you nailed yellow.
[00:27:27] Melvin: Thank you. Look, because I didn't wanna go too yellow,
[00:27:30] Lindsay: Right?
[00:27:30] Melvin: Think I Well, I know you. But I do think people are going to be taken aback by the inserts. And I don't, I should have brought one in here, but I didn't, but in a way, but there are these inserts that are going with each candle that I think people are really gonna enjoy that I spent a lot of time crafting.
[00:27:50] So I put a lot of thought and a lot of time into it. And, but I also like, again, like this wasn't just me, I consulted with you. I consulted with Ryan Melvin, my younger brother, especially on the fragrance that is devoted to his late daughter.
[00:28:11] Lindsay: What did he say?
[00:28:13] Melvin: He was pleased.
[00:28:15] Lindsay: Did he say what he wanted it to smell like?
[00:28:18] Melvin: We talked about it. I guess I can give it away 'cause the candles are out now. But the Jasmine scent, his daughter's name was Jasmine, and it's called Pink Jasmine because pink was our 3-year-old niece's favorite color. So it's called Pink Jasmine. And Jasmine also happens to be. The state flower of the great state of South Carolina.
[00:28:41] So it's a nod to the Palmetto state. It's a nod to Jasmine. The color's a nod to her. And the fragrance is, it smells like Jasmine. Like, like, like, correct. So, we put a lot of thought. That the Betty Joe, that candle that's, my mom's a, new breast cancer survivor, and I wanted to make sure that I had her blessing to create this candle that smelled like her poundcake.
[00:29:09] And then I made the mistake of asking her. About the color of the packaging. And she had, she had some ideas and I had to explain to her that those, well, she wanted pink, but Jasmine already had pink, then she wanted purple. I was like, Mom Purple doesn't really fit the color palette of the brand. And she's like, What do you mean?
[00:29:33] I was like, well, we have these colors and purple withstand. She's like, well, you asked me like I wanted.
[00:29:38] Lindsay: She has a point,
[00:29:39] Melvin: and I, you're right,
[00:29:40] Lindsay: lLikeyour sweater color would be a nice purple.
[00:29:42] Melvin: It doesn't fit the color palette of the brand. so we landed on a green that she signed off on, which took at least three weeks, and then the green that she wanted wasn't available.
[00:29:55] And so her candle and your candle were the heaviest of lifts. Well, you're good company. I, your audiendo, 'r'mppreciating all of this really micro. Con
[00:30:11] Lindsay: I do. And I do. And because I think it's, interesting and I, but I, but also they do have some questions and I wanna share some of those, because I think when I read these, I was like, oh yeah, that is, that's something that I think is really valid.
[00:30:23] Where are these questions from? Well, I do wanna point out though, they're from people that wrote in on Instagram, we were talking, and on social media, if I do think it's really cool that a lot of it is tied to. That people can relate to, which is like, everyone can understand what it's like when you have the nostalgia that you feel when you smell.
[00:30:45] Yes. As you said, memories, and also, it's a loss. Like when you talk about Jasmine, that was obviously, it was something that would be extraordinarily difficult. It was very hard for us. It was un. just unfathomably difficult for your brother Ryan. Right. My sister-in-law. And I think that happened at the very beginning of when we were together.
[00:31:10] Yeah. Right. Yeah. And like, so, I'm just thinking as you're describing these things like pound cake, your childhood, your youth growing up, you talked about mine and I know that there's a knot in there that you mentioned with my dad's cancer and stuff. So these are all things that people. Relate to.
[00:31:28] And I think we, as we talked, there are a lot of conversations I've had on this podcast with different people, whether they're athletes or entrepreneurs, whatever, and they're, they talk about just relatability, things that everyone can sort of understand and get. So I think that's very cool. So I hope people will think about that when they, like these or when they get their, Yeah,
[00:31:46] Melvin: We want people to be intentional and
[00:31:48] Lindsay: also 'cause it's all about connection and like thinking, and whether it's like thinking about also addiction that I've been thinking about a lot.
[00:31:55] Mm-hmm. It connects all of us. It's like what? Understanding what other people go through. Anyhow, long way of saying people do have questions, and one of the questions that I loved was,
[00:32:06] Melvin:Aree ArArese, actual questions? Yeah. Yeah. Are these, are you most of the, are you hiding? Are you hiding behind?
[00:32:11] I'm not hiding behind.
[00:32:12] Lindsay: Literally he was cooking most of Thanksgiving. Someone just asked that and that I'm realizing this will be dated, but we're actually traveling. We're traveling this time. So we're not doing a ton of the cooking. No.
[00:32:24] Melvin: You wanna go to the next question?
[00:32:27] Lindsay: Top five interviews you've done?
[00:32:30] Melvin: Top five?
[00:32:31] Lindsay: Yep. And then follow up.
[00:32:33] Melvin: I can't.
[00:32:33] Lindsay: This person was bold enough. Bucket list interview? Yeah.
[00:32:36] Melvin: Top five. Top five.
[00:32:37] Lindsay: And gimme top three. Top The topee that stands out.
[00:32:40] Melvin: I think Michael Jordan is definitely top three. I think when you grew up, like we did primarily in the eighties and nineties, there were very few people who loomed larger than life, more than MJ.
[00:32:56] Yeah. So, I mean, and just, like it was one of those things where I don't really get that nervous or anxious about interviews anymore, but for him, I was like, oh, I just wanna make sure you don't get something wrong, sweaty. I don't, I'm, I always sweat suit You always, not just,
[00:33:15] Lindsay: that'sThat'say you show your nerves.
[00:33:18] Melvin: No, I just, I'm generally a sweaty person. Like I sweat in the studio, but I also wear like a suit with a tie every day to work.
[00:33:25] And I'm under light, when I was doing, Studio show. Yeah. Well '
[00:33:29] Lindsay: Cause you were in Bristol. Yeah. They would make it cold in there.
[00:33:33] Melvin: It wasn't probably cold. It was because you were scantily clad.
[00:33:36] Lindsay: Well, no, not scantily clad. If you be sleeveless. Yeah. See,
[00:33:40] Melvin: There you go. You got your arms out, you got your legs out.
[00:33:43] Lindsay: Excuse me.
[00:33:44] Melvin: But I don't show up for work with my arms out, my legs out. so Jordan's top five. Who else would be,
[0??33:52] Lindsay: Wait, hold on one second. Do you have. is there like something that you do before an interviewww like that is a big deal to you personally, that you like to sort of get yourself in the right frame of mind?
[00:34:05] Do you have any sort of,
[00:34:07] Melvin: You know what I d,,o and I, it's, I, someone pointed this out a while back, and I didn't realize I did it, but I think. I think I realized that I'd do it for myself more than anyone else. So if I'm seated for the interview and you've got the camera guys there, the audio guys there.
[00:34:23] Make whoever, you've got some other people in the room. I, start doing this weird small talk thing with the crew. I'm like, how's your daughter doing? What? Where's she in school? Ned? And it, it goes on for, and they're trying to set up for the interview. I'm just making weird and I'm not talking about the interview.
[00:34:41] I'm not reviewing notes. I'm just like bullshitting. Like there's no, that's how you get yourself in this zone, I think. I think that's how I relax, I think that's how I'm able to, Not usually appear too stressed out. I deliberately go out of my wanot y to nnot tok about the interview. Does that make sense?
[00:35:04] Yeah. Or the content that we're gonna discuss. And I didn't, I, again, I didn't realize I was doing it up until a couple of years ago when my longtime producer, Jared Crawford, pointed it out. I think I was at the White House for an interview, and we're sitting there. I don't know, east, wherever we are in the White House.
[00:35:20] And it's, Hey, is that wallpaper? I what, how long you think they changed it out? Every administration, how wallpaper looks like. It's probably from the eighties. Like it's a very bizarre,
[00:35:31] Lindsay: you're getting used to your surroundings. Yeah. Sort of getting yourself comfortable in the
[00:35:35] Melvin: I think so, but again, it's one of those things that works for me.
[00:35:39] So I don't know if that answered your question. Yeah.
[00:35:41] Lindsay: So Jordan, do you have one more that was like a top or,
[00:35:45] Melvin: I always enjoy interviewing Robert De Niro's become a favorite because he's, he's not a great interview. I've a challenge. It's a challenge. It's a challenge because he's one of these guys who, when you're talking to him like this before the interview starts, he's great.
[00:36:03] He's great. Right, right. It's just, and all of a sudden comes on, oh, Bob, blah.
[00:36:12] It's a movie. I'm proud of it. Anything else? No. No. That's it. That's it, Bob. That's, and so I, I enjoy. I enjoy interviewing him because there's always that, push and pull. I mean, there's a, long list of folks I think that I enjoy. It's the ones that are, and I'm not gonna give names here because we want on the A list, people that you, from time and going into an interview, oh my turn.
[00:36:48] Do this again.
[00:36:52] There's worse than like interviewing someone who's coming on to promote. His or her project, whether it's a show or a movie, or a book. No, but sometimes they'll come on, and it's like they don't wanna be there. Like, sometimes people who come on the show, they're not there because they want to be there.
[00:37:10] They're there because their label or the, like, they have to promote it.
[00:37:16] Lindsay: Right? Right.
[00:37:17] Melvin: and they're, that's not a long list, but there are a couple of folk, oh
[00:37:21] Lindsay: Yeah. And that gets, I'm sure, right. So what you're saying is it gets annoying and you're frustrated
[00:37:25] Melvin: Because you're pulling teeth.
[00:37:26] Right. And you're like, Hey, I'm trying to help you sell your mediocre show. Like you could play along here.
[00:37:34] Lindsay: How do you really feel about that?
[00:37:38] Melvin: Well, that's how I feel. And you'll have to probably edit that out. No, we're not. Well,
[00:37:42] Lindsay: No, but
[00:37:42] Melvin: don't edit that.
[00:37:43] Lindsay: But what I do wanna say is, like, there are only a few times that like neuro, those nerves are a real thing when you're talking about calming yourself down.
[00:37:50] Like I've had a few times too, where like you're getting ready to. Did an interview and you would like really have to, like, I can tell if I'm amped up in a way that I'm like, I need to bring it down. And then what you do, and you're right, it's like you think about something totally unrelated, like,
[00:38:03] Melvin: Take some breaths.
[00:38:04] I also, I mean, listen, I, I did have an interview. I don't think I'd mentioned this to you. Was it last week I did this thing in a taxi camp with Ed Sheeran? And we tested the shot, like we knew how it was gonna look, and it was a live interview, which are always the hardest, because you've gotta, you can't go longer than X number of minutes because you gotta hit your commercial breaks.
[00:38:25] But we're in the back of this taxi, and I'm talking to Ed Sheeran about his new Netflix special and his tour, and I've interviewed Ed before. We're familiar with each other through his music. And so we were just kind of shooting the breeze in the commercial break, and then all of a sudden. We come out, and it's like, oh, join the blah, blah, blah, blah.
[00:38:45] And I've got my earpiece in my IFB. It's the, and so this, it's the thing that you have in your ear so you can hear programming and you can hear the control room, and you can hear everything like, and they give you time cues in your ear and all this stuff. We hadn't tested it, and it was probably the worst mix-in I've ever had. No. And mix.
[00:39:05] Lindsay: You hear yourself back, you're delayed.
[00:39:07] Melvin: And it was like a three-second echo, and I couldn't take it out because we're in the back of a taxi, so I had to get the time cues. No. And so I'm sitting there with Ed Sheeran talking about whatever, and I'm like, so Ed, this concept. So Ed, this concept ad toes on for the whole interview.
[00:39:24] And so, it was hard for me to even hear. And that hadn't happened in a while, but that was tricky,
[00:39:31] Lindsay: But you made it through.
[00:39:32] Melvin: Did he know? no one knew,
[00:39:36] Lindsay: Which is, yeah.
[00:39:37] Melvin: But I couldn't tell you what Ed said or what I said. Like I didn't ask follow-up questions, I just, yeah.
[00:39:43] Lindsay: That's the worst.
[00:39:43] Or if you're starting and then all of a sudden you lose that communication with that
[00:39:47] Melvin: Yep.
[00:39:47] Lindsay: You're like, okay. Gotta go with what you think. Okay. A bucket list item for an interview.
[00:40:00] Melvin: Denzel's on the list.
[00:40:01] Lindsay: All right. We'll stop it there. What was your major in college?
[00:40:05] Melvin: Government, which I haven't really used,
[00:40:09] Lindsay: I guess
[00:40:09] Melvin: I used it sometimes for political interviews. I used it to inform your knowledge. I, yeah. And I worked on the hill for about a month. That was all it took to realize I didn't need to be on the hill.
[00:40:20] But I enjoyed my major a lot.
[00:40:23] Lindsay: Where do you get your energy from? Is also another question. Someone.
[00:40:25] Melvin: Oh, that's nice. Do you think I'm energetic? Yeah. You know that you might have met me, but I think they met you. I think, after seven o'clock, there's no energy left. In the morning, I have a cup of coffee with a shot of espresso.
[00:40:36] Lindsay: In the coffee.
[00:40:37] Melvin: Mm-hmm.
[00:40:38] Lindsay: Huh?
[00:40:38] Melvin: It's either black eye or red eye. Forget what it's called. Just the one.
[00:40:41] Lindsay: Yeah.
[00:40:42] Melvin: I do that, stopped an energy drink. I used to, and I stopped that. Because I was taking, I was using too much. I think energy honestly comes from, and this is gonna sound cheesy and hokey, but like.
[00:40:55] When I get to one in the morning, like even if I'm exhausted, Studio One, 30, Rockefeller Plaza, Midtown Manhattan. Where is the Today Show's broadcast room? I feed off the energy in the studio and there, and there are so many people. By the way, most of them get there before me, like by the time I get there.
[00:41:16] 5:15, 5:30. Like they're all amped up. Yeah, let's go. And so you, when I sit down at six 15 to do what are called the affiliate crosstalks and it's like Chicago, good morning. Coming up on the show. Tampa. Good morning. Coming up on the show, Miami. Good morning. Oh, by the way, we come on the Air seven, I have, talked to.
[00:41:40] At least a dozen different markets. We've recorded like promos and commercials for the show that, like, yeah, seven by the time seven o'clock rolls around. I'm good. 45 minutes in, which is good for my voice and it's also good for my energy level I find.
[00:41:54] Lindsay: What is something that you do only when you're alone?
[00:41:57] Melvin: Oh, that's a good, what is something that I, I read when I'm alone. I like to sit in stillness sometimes when I'm alone, like no music, no podcasts, no talking, just me alone with my thoughts. I have found over the years that's when I've come up with my best ideas and best work. I do those things when I'm alone.
[00:42:28] yeah. Is that a sufficient answer? I feel like I'm okay. Yeah. I dunno. I feel like this is an open-book test.
[00:42:34] Lindsay: Alright. This is yes or no, okay? You're, yes, you're in this bucket, or no, you're not. These are a few things that everyone out there deals with on some level.
[00:42:44] Melvin: And I can only answer yes or no.
[00:42:45] Lindsay: No. You can elaborate. Okay? Yes or no. Name, place, cards. At your table? No holidays or dinner party?
[00:42:53] Melvin: It's pretentious. It's, and I know why you're asking because you like to do that crap, because we don't, we always disagree over this. I, we disagree because I'm a grown ass man and I, oh my God. And I don't need, I don't need another adult telling me where to sit.
[00:43:09] Lindsay: But think about when you walk into a room and you're with a gavel of like 15 people, and everyone's like, where do I sit? Where do I sit? Don't you ever love to just know that, okay, here. No. So you don't have to decide.
[00:43:20] Melvin: No. Because what I find more often than not is they're whoever's doing the, yeah, the play setting.
[00:43:26] They're putting me like next to someone that I probably wouldn't sit next to. And if I'm gonna have a meal with somebody, I wanna be able to talk to 'em and relate. I don't think that the person throwing the party should have that much power just because you bought the chicken and it's a nice bottle of wine.
[00:43:43] You shouldn't have me sitting next to Aunt Tessie for three hours.
[00:43:47] Lindsay: But don't you see the value in Aunt Tessie maybe having something we don’t have, an Aunt Tess value. Maybe there's a connection that you, that the host knows that you might have. No. Maybe there's power in trying.
[00:43:59] Melvin: Nope.
[00:43:59] Lindsay: Okay, cool. That
[00:44:01] Melvin: You asked my opinion? No.
[00:44:02] Lindsay: Got it. Okay. So the next one
[00:44:04] Melvin: I know where you're on. Yeah.
[00:44:04] Lindsay: Aunt or Ant. Speaking of Tessie, what box are you in? Aunt, I'm Ant.
[00:44:09] Melvin: Yeah, I know,
[00:44:10] Lindsay: but Ant you think they're interchangeable?
[00:44:12] Melvin: They're interchangeable. I think it depends on where you've grown up, and I think you grew up in a part of the country where Aunt was acceptable and, in my part of the country, an ant is an insect.
[00:44:22] Do that's what you
[00:44:23] Lindsay: So is part of a sandwich, a croissant. So,
[00:44:27] Melvin: no, that's a stretch. That's a stretch. That's a stretch.
[00:44:32] Lindsay: Toilet up. Toilet seat up or toilet seat down.
[00:44:36] Melvin: I think, again, always
[00:44:37] Lindsay: when you're done,
[00:44:38] Melvin: I think right now what you're doing is you're using your podcast to air grievances. I thoughts. I think what you're doing and I think that, no, I think the people who are listening know exactly what's happening.
[00:44:49] I think that in a civilized society when you are finished, the seat should be down. now I would add that there are probably instances where, if it's the middle of the night or you're in a hurry, maybe accidentally leave it up. But is that, cause for, bringing it up on a podcast?
[00:45:11] No, because I, that's why you brought it up.
[00:45:14] Lindsay: No, it's not.
[00:45:15] Melvin: Did that come from one a, viewer, or a listener? No. Right. So what's your opinion? Lemme guess. Lemme guess. Seat down. Always. Okay. I would, point out though that in, in our society, at some point collectively, men and women both decided that should be the default position.
[00:45:37] Lindsay: This is why I'm asking the question, and I gotta be honest with you,
[00:45:40] Melvin: I wasn't part of the vote. No one consulted me. This came about, a couple generations ago, I think. But I do think that it's important to acknowledge that women won that war. Because anytime
[00:45:52] Lindsay: He's standing up,
[00:45:54] Melvin: you, could, you choose not to, but we've all decided that the seat down is the most considerate.
[00:46:03] We teach our children that, boys and girls, and all I would say is no one ever asked like. Okay.
[00:46:13] Lindsay: All right. Are you yes or no bucket of, do you take off on your birthday or no?
[00:46:19] Melvin: Hell yeah. I take that day off. I celebrate me. I do a day of self care. Yeah. You know that I always take my birthday off,
[00:46:29] Lindsay: Right?
[00:46:29] Melvin: Oh, yeah. No, because if you don't celebrate you who will.
[00:46:33] Lindsay: Okay. Which leads to the next one? Manicure for men, yes or no? What bucket are you in? I know what
[00:46:40] Melvin: Bucket I'm in.
[00:46:40] Lindsay: I'm asking you. This is not just Right. So what is your,
[00:46:45] Melvin: I've gotten manicures for every bit of 20 years, but to be fair, not because, I'm, Whatever.
[00:46:55] Lindsay: What's whatever?
[00:46:56] Melvin: Well, I just, I, believe in self care. I love a good massage. I, I, where I just came back from, in terms of my, exercise for today, Pilates, I did, my Pilates Today. I like to make sure my muscles are nice and long loving it cores good, course, nice and tight.
[00:47:14] I get the manicure so I don't bite my nails. So years ago, I used to bite my nails, like s like our daughter. Like I would bite 'em to the point where sometimes they would bleed. And I read an article years ago, they were like, you know what, if you spend good money on a manicure before you bite, you'll think, oh, I, spent $40 on these nails and it's worked.
[00:47:33] Lindsay: So yes,
[00:47:34] Melvin: manicures and pedicures because my feet are terrible.
[00:47:38] Lindsay: Your feet are, no. Well, okay. Alright. I forgot we were on a podcast for a second. I'm so sorry. What is something that you want more of in the next year?
[00:47:49] Melvin: You leave it there, oh God. More of in the next year.
[00:47:52] Lindsay: Besides,
[00:47:53] Melvin: you know what I want, more time for self care.
[00:48:02] I do, I want more. I want more time to take care of me, not my children, not my wife, not my family. I want more time to be selfish. I want more time for massages. I want more time for exercise. I want more time for sleep. I want more. For me, that's gonna, you know what my mantra in, 2026 is gonna be. it's gonna be something that rhymes with 26 and incorporates more, more.
[00:48:38] Oh, I can't, I need to come up with something fast. My brains not moving quickly. Today. Let's see. 20, 20, oh, hang on a second. Can hear, mix fix picks. Melvin picks. Nope, we don't need any Melvin picks, Wix. Yes. Wix 2026 More Wicks in 2026, but the WIC itself is emblematic of relaxation and light.
[00:49:17] Lindsay: You could just say more Me and wicks in 2026,
[00:49:21] Melvin: me and wicks
[00:49:23] No, edit that me and wicks in 26.
[00:49:28] Lindsay: Great. We'll check in and see how that's going for you
[00:49:33] Melvin: And someone, feels a little slighted, don't they
[00:49:39] sweetie? I enjoyed this. I don't, I dunno if people are gonna enjoy it, but I certainly enjoyed this.
[00:49:44] Lindsay: Well, I love to have you on and I, well, there's a lot more we could have gotten to like, guilty pleasure, all these things, but we'll get to those again. And I, one conversation.
[00:49:53] Melvin: Well, I've done my annual obligation.
[00:49:57] Lindsay: This is, this could really be like a check-in because last time we talked was right after you got the, the gig of the Today Show. You think it's going well?
[00:50:04] Melvin: We'll see how long it lasts. They haven't fired me yet. You feel good?
[00:50:07] Lindsay: Feel tired. You feel
[00:50:08] Melvin: I, I feel, I feel rejuvenated. I still feel as excited I, as I did in January and, the show's almost 75 years old.
[00:50:20] I'm just, I'm honored to be a part of a long line of folks who get to wake up with people every morning, tell 'em what happened overnight, and try to help 'em make sense of this crazy world.
[00:50:31] Lindsay: I don't think people understand how much my husband values, like being a part of
[00:50:35] Melvin: an institution.
[00:50:37] Lindsay: Yes. An institution.
[00:50:38] Melvin: I'm an institutionalist. Yeah. Yes,
[00:50:39] Lindsay: you are an institutionalist.
[00:50:41] Melvin: Sometimes, maybe to my dismay,
[00:50:43] Lindsay: there's a lot to be said for that.
[00:50:45] Melvin: Is there?
[00:50:46] Lindsay: Well, sure.
[00:50:46] Melvin: Okay,
[00:50:47] Lindsay: Sure. But, I do wanna point out something. There was a fascinating study that I read that people who cry often make the best leaders.
[00:50:55] Melvin: Are you telling people that I cry a lot?
[00:50:57] Lindsay: Nope, I don't think you cry a lot.
[00:50:58] Melvin: I mean, I cry. I'm not like a, some sort of cold hearted Neanderthal. Like I, weep a little. Well, you'll come back. I'll come back. I hope you enjoy your candle. Thank you, sweetie. Thank you for who, whoever is listening and you did it.
[00:51:13] God bless the editors who
[00:51:14] Lindsay: you said it, you did it and it's gonna be great. But I think just putting it out there.
[00:51:23] Yeah, it's gonna succeed.
[00:51:26] Melvin: I like to do, I don't like to talk. I like to do. I love you. Thank you. Thank you. what's the acronym for the play? TNOTY. Thank you. TNOTY. TNOTY Crowd. What do you call them? Thank you Tenters. I'm honored to be a part of TNOTY. It actually sounds a little dirty when you say it like that.
[00:51:45] TNOTY. TNOTY.
[00:51:46] Lindsay: That's why we like tea. TNOTY. TNOTY.
[00:51:49] Melvin: Okay.
[00:51:50] Lindsay: Alright. Okay. This is just really exciting. And, what is also very cool is seeing Melvin in a different light because, he, this is the first time that he's sort of. Taken a risk and done something totally outside the box and not knowing what's gonna happen.
[00:52:09] I am very excited to watch, and I'm sure it's going to be a success, but the reality is, I have learned that my path certainly that failure is just part of the journey. And failure is what makes us wanna get back up again and try things and learn what's really worth it and try again, especially when you're doing something creative.
[00:52:29] I think that's really cool. So. I am proud of him for just being willing to go there and to do this, and I can't wait to see what happens next. And of course, I needed to do a candle joke. Why did the candle have to take a break?
[00:52:47] It was feeling lightheaded. It's endless. I love it. But on a serious note, I also did wanna say that it's, I think it's very cool how Melvin has tied the different sense that he's created to, specific memories, but also with a, actionable item of giving to charities that have come to mean something in our lives.
[00:53:09] And to learn more in depth about those things. There's, My niece, Jasmine, who we lost when she was three, my father, who was a cancer survivor. And others, Melvin losing his brother to colorectal cancer. go to our show notes. You can see the link to Melvin's website also where you can go to purchase these candles.
[00:53:30] but also the blog for me, sharing more about that detail as well. so thank you so much for listening today. Go get yourself a Melvin Made candle. Let us know what you think about these scents because I am really trying to get him to convince, like, to convince him that he should do pumpkin or he should do something like really holidayish.
[00:53:49] and right now it's a losing battle. But anyway, alright. Thank you for being part of this community. I hope you enjoy. Let me know your thoughts and we'll see you next time. Thanks so much for joining me. I can't wait to see you back here next week. Please don't forget, follow and subscribe to things no one tells you.
[00:54:04] And of course, if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, don't forget to leave a five star review because that's really what helps people get more. Listeners, we would love to grow this community. We are so grateful that you're a part of it. See you next time.
