Bob Simon (00:00):
And where did you go to law school?
Esther Estrada (00:01):
Southwestern.
Bob Simon (00:02):
Nice! Like my twin brother Brad!
Esther Estrada (00:04):
Yeah. I love Southwestern. I was really active in there, so ...
Bob Simon (00:06):
Yeah. Well, at least our law schools are accredited.
Mauro Fiore (00:08):
You know ...
Esther Estrada (00:11):
I mean, I've had people call me at the scene of the accident, they're like, "I remember your steps," or, "I remembered a post of yours."
Bob Simon (00:40):
Welcome to this edition of Bourbon of Proof, where we talk to those who have been successful at law and life, and we do it over a series of spirits, some low proof, some high; mostly high, because we have our cohost today, Mr. Mauro Fiore.
Mauro Fiore (00:52):
I like them when they're high.
Bob Simon (00:53):
Well, here we go already. One of our ... now the most watched episode of Bourbon of Proof for a reason, who takes outrageous positions in stories, Mauro Fiore. Thank you for coming here today.
Mauro Fiore (01:01):
Oh, my pleasure, Bob. You know, you invited me to come and cohost some episodes, and I couldn't say no.
Bob Simon (01:06):
All right. Well, we're here today again, shooting on location at the firm, which is the first ever guest of Bourbon of Proof's, his location, which is a members-only whiskey ... We're going to raid the bar later. We won't tell him. Turn the cameras off.
Mauro Fiore (01:18):
I already picked something off the shelf.
Bob Simon (01:20):
Yeah, he actually might've. But we're very, very blessed today to have none other than Esther Estrada and her husband Primo; Adrian. We'll just call him Primo for this episode, right?
Adrian Hernandez (01:29):
Yeah.
Esther Estrada (01:30):
Primo Adrian.
Bob Simon (01:31):
Primo Adrian.
Esther Estrada (01:32):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (01:32):
Beautiful. So, we're going to talk a lot today about Esther's success as a lawyer, and building her firm, and how she and her husband have worked together, and your story. So, I'm going to start ... Actually, we're going to kick this off, because this is going to be a story starter, I think.
(01:45):
So, I have one that's called Horse Soldier Bourbon. This just happens to have a female distiller, Elizabeth Pritchard.
Mauro Fiore (01:55):
They allow that?
Bob Simon (01:58):
Yes! They do, in fact, allow female distillers.
Mauro Fiore (02:00):
Really? I didn't know. Must be a Texas thing.
Bob Simon (02:02):
Actually, I think Macallan now has a female distiller that does a ... whatever. But Horse's, because I saw on your Instagram the other day, when you guys were both little kids, riding your little ponies around, you're five or six years old on your little horses, so we're going to start this off, and I want to hear the story of how you two met. Cheers. And Esther is obviously pregnant with child--
Esther Estrada (02:23):
I'm with child.
Bob Simon (02:24):
You can only have four drinks today. No, Primo will be taking her drinks, so ...
Esther Estrada (02:28):
I'll sniff it. Take a little lick here and there.
Bob Simon (02:31):
Yes, yes. Just pretend like you've had a few.
Mauro Fiore (02:34):
Bob, I don't mean to interrupt, but I also have a horse story if you want to hear it later.
Bob Simon (02:38):
Oh, God.
Esther Estrada (02:38):
Should we just do it now?
Mauro Fiore (02:40):
No, no, no. It's better after.
Bob Simon (02:42):
After a drink [inaudible 00:02:43].
Mauro Fiore (02:42):
It's better after a drink.
Bob Simon (02:44):
But anyway, so, go back to your story. We're at Inland Empire.
Esther Estrada (02:47):
I.e. early 2000s.
Bob Simon (02:48):
You guys are six years old. [inaudible 00:02:50] going to be 1986 for me, probably 1942 for him when he was six, but ...
Mauro Fiore (02:53):
I was six ... I was six--
Bob Simon (02:55):
What year were we? Let's take us back. How old were you?
Esther Estrada (02:57):
We were 11.
Adrian Hernandez (02:59):
When we met, yeah.
Esther Estrada (03:00):
Yeah. That was in 2003.
Bob Simon (03:03):
Oh, wow.
Esther Estrada (03:04):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (03:04):
Wow.
Esther Estrada (03:04):
I know. It's like, "Do I really want to say that?"
Mauro Fiore (03:07):
In 2003, I had already been a lawyer for, I don't know, seven years or something.
Bob Simon (03:11):
I was in law school.
Mauro Fiore (03:12):
I'm fucking old. I'm fucking old.
Bob Simon (03:13):
Well, this is the cool story. I mean, so, Esther, how ... We never ask a woman her age, but how old are you? Because they want to know.
Esther Estrada (03:18):
I just turned 31 a few months ago.
Mauro Fiore (03:24):
Wow.
Bob Simon (03:24):
And this is the story of ... How long have you been a lawyer, and how long have you had your firm?
Esther Estrada (03:25):
I have been a lawyer, it's going on four years, and I've had my own firm for just about two years. Two years in December. So, it's been pretty good.
Bob Simon (03:33):
Yeah. I mean, you've had success out the gate.
Esther Estrada (03:36):
Oh yeah, I actually got chewed out by a judge on Friday? Thursday? Because he read my declaration, and my declaration, I put, "I've been in the personal injury field for 10 years." He was like, "You have a duty to candor. I don't feel like you're being honest with the court."
Bob Simon (03:49):
What?
Esther Estrada (03:50):
And I was like ... I got very confused. I was like, "What do you mean?" He's like, "I saw your bar number. You haven't been practicing for 10 years." I was like, "No, I said I've been in the personal injury field for over 10 years," and he really had me lay out my history. He's like, "Well, where'd you start? What year?" And I was like, "Okay, this was 2012. I literally started as an unpaid intern during the summer, and then they quickly put me up as a case manager's assistant."
Bob Simon (04:14):
Wow!
Esther Estrada (04:15):
So, I literally started from the bottom as a case manager assistant.
Bob Simon (04:19):
Cue Drake, right, Primo?
Adrian Hernandez (04:21):
Yep.
Bob Simon (04:23):
He's very artistic, which we're going to get into, so ...
Esther Estrada (04:25):
Yeah. But ... I know, he has all the arts. I have no artistic bone in my boy whatsoever.
Bob Simon (04:31):
He's got the arts, Mauro's got the farts. I'm sitting right next to you.
Mauro Fiore (04:35):
If you ask my wife, absolutely.
Adrian Hernandez (04:36):
I've got those, too.
Esther Estrada (04:37):
I was going to say ...
Bob Simon (04:40):
This is his vegan bullshit. This is what happens with vegans.
Mauro Fiore (04:42):
Yeah. They're very gassy. Very gassy.
Esther Estrada (04:44):
But, yeah, so I really had to kind of tell the judge how I started, and then he was like, "Well, you need to state that you've only been practicing for four." I'm like, "Okay."
Bob Simon (04:55):
Who was this jerk? Can you name names? Just give us--
Esther Estrada (04:58):
It was in Ventura. It was in Ventura.
Bob Simon (04:59):
Okay.
Esther Estrada (05:00):
And it's funny because [inaudible 00:05:01].
Bob Simon (05:00):
Did he wear a bow tie?
Esther Estrada (05:02):
I'm not going to say.
Bob Simon (05:03):
Okay.
Esther Estrada (05:03):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (05:03):
Right.
Mauro Fiore (05:06):
Esther, have you ever had the pleasure of seeing me in court?
Esther Estrada (05:08):
I haven't.
Mauro Fiore (05:09):
Okay, well, if you ever get the pleasure of seeing me in court, or on a court call, you would have loved to hear what I would have said to this judge.
Esther Estrada (05:15):
[inaudible 00:05:16].
Mauro Fiore (05:16):
Because I'm legendary for talking to judges how they should be spoken to.
Bob Simon (05:20):
Oh, Lord.
Esther Estrada (05:21):
That's a fine line.
Mauro Fiore (05:21):
And I've had people call me, like lawyers I don't know, and saying, "Man, you're my fucking idol." Because if they want to get crazy with me, I get crazy right back. Fuck them. They're used to--
Bob Simon (05:35):
I mean, some of the craziest people that we do know are judges.
Mauro Fiore (05:37):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (05:38):
I mean, they're ...
Esther Estrada (05:38):
Honestly.
Bob Simon (05:39):
I mean, it's crazy.
Esther Estrada (05:40):
I feel like you kind of have to be crazy.
Bob Simon (05:42):
I remember one of your buddies that got kidnapped and negotiated his own ransom down in Columbia.
Mauro Fiore (05:46):
Yeah, well--
Bob Simon (05:46):
We're not going to name ... Don't tell the story.
Mauro Fiore (05:47):
We can't tell that story, but let's just say he was in a bad part of town.
Bob Simon (05:51):
Bad part of town.
Mauro Fiore (05:51):
In Medine.
Esther Estrada (05:51):
Oh. That's a lot.
Bob Simon (05:55):
[inaudible 00:05:56] movies about that.
Esther Estrada (05:56):
He had his bachelor party in Medine.
Mauro Fiore (05:59):
And I wasn't invited?
Esther Estrada (06:01):
I know. He didn't know you then.
Mauro Fiore (06:02):
If I mentioned ... Two words that if I mentioned to my wife, I would get shot, are, Columbia is one, and Thailand is the other. If those words came out of my mouth, I'd be dead.
Bob Simon (06:14):
I actually was blessed to go on their honeymoon with he and his wife, and at one point, his subliminal, in the middle of the night, he was yelling, "Bring on the French whores," and his wife was so mad at him all day. [inaudible 00:06:25] knew she was mad at him. I was like, "What's going on?" And he was saying, "Bring on the French whores." I was like, "No, he was talking about French doors, Alex! He's been talking about building a new house!"
Mauro Fiore (06:31):
I was talking in my sleep.
Esther Estrada (06:31):
More doors.
Mauro Fiore (06:31):
I was talking in my sleep.
Esther Estrada (06:31):
More doors.
Bob Simon (06:34):
He gets in trouble for what he sleeps and says.
Mauro Fiore (06:36):
I sleep talk. I was talking about French doors.
Bob Simon (06:39):
It's true. Alex, if you're watching or listening, he was ... It was French doors.
(06:42):
So, at this point, whenever she ... You're a case manager assistant ... By the way, so, if you don't know, a case manager is the lifeblood of most law firms. They're the ones that quarterback treatment, they speak to the clients, make sure they're taken care of, make sure systems are being entered, and things like this.
Esther Estrada (06:58):
I was below that.
Bob Simon (06:59):
Below that.
Esther Estrada (07:00):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (07:00):
But you learned so much doing that.
Esther Estrada (07:02):
And I feel like that's part of my success. Everyone's like, "How did you grow so quickly?" and I've literally worn every hat you could possibly wear in a law firm: case manager assistant, case manager ... Before I even started law school, I was the office manager for a solo attorney, so I essentially built out his systems and operations, because it was nonexistent prior to me joining.
Bob Simon (07:28):
And what year did you ... What law school, what years of your life? 22 to 25-ish, or?
Esther Estrada (07:31):
Yeah. Exactly.
Bob Simon (07:31):
Same.
Esther Estrada (07:32):
Yeah, 22, 23, to 25, 26. Something like that.
Bob Simon (07:35):
And where did you go to law school?
Esther Estrada (07:36):
Southwestern.
Bob Simon (07:37):
Nice! Like my twin brother Brad!
Esther Estrada (07:39):
Yeah. I love Southwestern. It was really active in there.
Bob Simon (07:42):
Yeah. Well, at least our law schools are accredited.
Mauro Fiore (07:47):
I decided to start right, to go right for the bottom, and I went to an unaccredited school by choice.
Bob Simon (07:52):
By choice?
Mauro Fiore (07:52):
You know?
Esther Estrada (07:53):
That's good.
Bob Simon (07:54):
To build character?
Mauro Fiore (07:55):
Yeah. Yeah. I figured I wanted to be the king of the dipshits.
Bob Simon (08:00):
Well, didn't ... You started out in some of the IE, too, close. Diamond Bar, right?
Mauro Fiore (08:01):
Diamond Bar. Diamond Bar is in LA County.
Bob Simon (08:04):
It's close though.
Mauro Fiore (08:04):
Yeah, it's on the border with San Bernardino County, but I'm from Diamond Bar, yes. Which is now just as sleepy and lame as it was when I was there.
Bob Simon (08:15):
It's a diamond in the rough. Diamond in the rough.
Mauro Fiore (08:15):
Nothing going on in Diamond.
Bob Simon (08:18):
So, Primo Adrian, we're going to talk about how you entered the picture when you guys were 11 or 12 until now, but look up Primo Adrian, and ... Fantastic, not only artwork, puts on events, probably the best graphic designer ... I mean ... Well, do you want your wife to talk about it, or are you going to talk about yourself?
Adrian Hernandez (08:36):
No, I mean, I could go into it.
Bob Simon (08:38):
I want to talk about how ... I mean, you guys went ... You've been dating since ... Were you dating since you were 12?
Esther Estrada (08:43):
Oh, God no.
Adrian Hernandez (08:44):
No. We started dating when we were 14.
Bob Simon (08:44):
Oh, God, waited. Waited.
Esther Estrada (08:44):
I know, it's like, "I shouldn't have said that, because it wasn't that much better."
Adrian Hernandez (08:44):
14.
Bob Simon (08:50):
And you were 25 at this point? She was 14?
Adrian Hernandez (08:53):
No, I was 14.
Bob Simon (08:53):
I know.
Adrian Hernandez (08:54):
I'm actually younger.
Esther Estrada (08:55):
He's actually, he's younger than I am.
Adrian Hernandez (08:55):
By eight months.
Esther Estrada (08:58):
A few months, yeah.
Bob Simon (09:00):
Robbing the cradle.
Esther Estrada (09:01):
He was going in, I was coming out.
Bob Simon (09:01):
Robbing the cradle, Esther. So, yeah, so you guys were dating, 14, and then ... I mean, you guys are doing this journey together, so what's it like whenever she's in law school? Where are you?
Adrian Hernandez (09:12):
When she was in law school, I was actually ... I was already doing my own events and stuff with my best friend, and we had our own little company, and we were doing a lot of stuff in Pomona, and I was actually DJing as well.
Bob Simon (09:26):
Nice.
Esther Estrada (09:26):
[inaudible 00:09:27].
Adrian Hernandez (09:27):
I've been DJing since I was 15 as well, so ... Anyway, kind of in the whole nightlife/concert scene, and we switched from nightlife into doing regular concerts with different artists, like hip hop, indie music, electronic stuff. And I actually, at that time, right when you started law school, I ended up getting a job at a concern company called Golden Voice--
Esther Estrada (09:54):
They do Coachella.
Adrian Hernandez (09:56):
Which, they're the ones who do Coachella, Stagecoach, and ...
Bob Simon (09:56):
Oh, nice!
Esther Estrada (09:58):
But even before that, he booked some crazy artists before they blew up. Like, for example--
Bob Simon (10:01):
When we were ... We were in Kentucky at the Bourbon of Proof tour, you were negotiating with ... I think it was the Wu Tang Clan, to do some of their stuff?
Adrian Hernandez (10:07):
Oh, I did a tour art poster for them, yeah.
Bob Simon (10:10):
Oh, man, you make such cool shit! And I wore this LA shirt for you.
Adrian Hernandez (10:13):
Sick.
Bob Simon (10:14):
Who's the artist that did this?
Adrian Hernandez (10:15):
That is Estevan Oriol's photo.
Esther Estrada (10:17):
And he's pretty iconic. Very famous. Adrian's worked with him. What festival was that for?
Adrian Hernandez (10:25):
It was for a collaboration on a festival we did with a brand called Born and Raised, and he shot it.
Bob Simon (10:30):
Oh, cool!
Adrian Hernandez (10:30):
It was a pretty fun project.
Bob Simon (10:33):
How do you two complement ... When you're doing this shit, and you're in law school, I assume not a lot of money coming in the door yet.
Esther Estrada (10:41):
We were just getting by.
Adrian Hernandez (10:41):
We were just getting by.
Bob Simon (10:42):
But, tell the struggle. People think, "Oh, you have your own law firm. You must've had Mom and Dad's money, and just been living rich."
Adrian Hernandez (10:48):
Yeah, we were getting by. At that time, I was just DJing, and I got a part-time job at Golden Voice when I was still a senior. Esther graduated before me, so I took the [inaudible 00:11:05].
Esther Estrada (11:05):
I was on the four-year route.
Mauro Fiore (11:07):
What college did you guys go to?
Adrian Hernandez (11:08):
Cal State Fullerton.
Esther Estrada (11:09):
We both went to Fullerton.
Mauro Fiore (11:10):
Oh, cool.
Esther Estrada (11:10):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (11:11):
Titans.
Adrian Hernandez (11:11):
Yep.
Esther Estrada (11:11):
Yeah, we're Titans.
Mauro Fiore (11:12):
Go, Titans.
Adrian Hernandez (11:13):
Yep. Are you a Titan, too?
Mauro Fiore (11:14):
No, my brother went there for a very short period.
Bob Simon (11:17):
Mauro, where did you go to undergrad?
Mauro Fiore (11:20):
I forgot, I didn't.
Bob Simon (11:20):
Mauro's one of the rare ones, where you don't need [inaudible 00:11:24].
Mauro Fiore (11:24):
Well, actually, that's why I went to an unaccredited law school; because I didn't graduate college. I do have an A degree--
Esther Estrada (11:31):
Oh, yeah, in golf management.
Mauro Fiore (11:31):
From College of the Desert in golf resort management.
Bob Simon (11:35):
Oh, wow.
Mauro Fiore (11:35):
And let me tell you, it's been instrumental in my success as a lawyer; my background in golf cart maintenance and turf grass management.
Bob Simon (11:42):
It shows!
Mauro Fiore (11:43):
Can you see?
Esther Estrada (11:43):
Do you have the best turf, or best lawn--
Mauro Fiore (11:46):
I can grow the grass better than anybody.
Adrian Hernandez (11:46):
Wow!
Bob Simon (11:46):
Ever heard that phrase, "The grass is always greener"? Is that true?
Mauro Fiore (11:53):
I don't think so. I've looked, and it's not.
Esther Estrada (11:56):
He's got the best manure, too.
Bob Simon (11:58):
He does have the best manure. Self-sodded. All right, Adrian, you've got to answer that last one.
Adrian Hernandez (12:03):
So, yeah, so then--
Bob Simon (12:05):
I've got to pour [inaudible 00:12:06]. Give me his other glass.
Adrian Hernandez (12:07):
I get a part-time job--
Bob Simon (12:09):
Yeah, we're not going to pressure you, but I'm going to pressure you. You can have the next one.
Adrian Hernandez (12:13):
So, I have a part-time job there, and--
Mauro Fiore (12:15):
Hell of a pour, too. Give me that pour. I think you're going to kill him.
Bob Simon (12:17):
You can have some. I'll give you a little more. Don't worry. This is really good stuff, so I'll give you more.
Mauro Fiore (12:22):
See, you're pouring him the Primo pours, and I'm getting the second cousin.
Bob Simon (12:27):
Oh, come on. Primo Segundo?
Mauro Fiore (12:29):
Yeah, [inaudible 00:12:30] Primo Segundo.
Esther Estrada (12:29):
First cousin.
Mauro Fiore (12:32):
Distant Primo. This Primo, I'm Distant Primo.
Bob Simon (12:34):
Distant Primo. He has some distant primos in Sicily that will do very bad things.
Mauro Fiore (12:40):
Mm-hm.
Bob Simon (12:40):
All right.
Adrian Hernandez (12:41):
But yeah, so, then I have this part-time job at Golden Voice, and in the meantime I'm just DJing, pretty much doing any side gig I can. I had got into design, and--
Bob Simon (12:54):
Were you doing design at Fullerton?
Adrian Hernandez (12:55):
No.
Bob Simon (12:56):
Wow.
Adrian Hernandez (12:57):
Well, I was doing it ... It was never something that I thought I was going to fully get into, but it was kind of like, I started in high school, learning how to design, and then I started making fliers just for parties and my own little events, and then from there it kind of just started getting more serious. It's funny, when I applied at that job, there was two opportunities. One was for a Coachella internship, and the other one was for a graphic design assistant. I wanted the Coachella internship because it was a bigger project, and then I ended up getting the design thing, and I was like, "All right, well, let's see how this goes." And then--
Bob Simon (13:34):
Here you are.
Adrian Hernandez (13:35):
But I was in ... The thing was, I wanted to be in shows. I got my foot into the door, into the music industry. I didn't have any special connections, no uncles or primos or nothing, and--
Esther Estrada (13:45):
It's funny though, because I feel like design in particular kept following him.
Adrian Hernandez (13:49):
Yeah.
Esther Estrada (13:50):
He went to school for marketing. He wanted to be ... He wanted to do the marketing for all these functions.
Bob Simon (13:55):
So, then how do you help ... Let's just fast-forward. Well, I'm going to introduce this bourbon [inaudible 00:13:59] fast-forward of how you use it.
(14:05):
So, this is The Prideful Goat, and for people who don't know, Mauro Fiore is the Billy goat. He can climb anything. I've seen it.
Mauro Fiore (14:10):
I'm sure-footed, like a bighorn sheep.
Bob Simon (14:11):
Yeah. Except for that one time he almost fell down that lava tube in Iceland, also on your honeymoon. I have a picture. Saved his life. Grabbed his ass, saved his life.
Mauro Fiore (14:18):
It's a story that Bob has told, but yes, he did save my life. I was about to go into the molten magma of the earth.
Bob Simon (14:25):
Red-hot magma.
Mauro Fiore (14:26):
And Bob caught me before I fell down. And it was in Iceland, but we were drinking too. Can you imagine we might've been drinking?
Esther Estrada (14:32):
You know, [inaudible 00:14:33].
Bob Simon (14:33):
This one's called The Prideful Goat, so this is six years of straight rye whiskey. This is done by Kris Hart, who you met. He does the Houston Whiskey Social. He co-hosted a couple of episodes with us [inaudible 00:14:42].
Mauro Fiore (14:42):
Ah, in Kentucky.
Bob Simon (14:43):
Yes.
Esther Estrada (14:43):
I was going to say, did he ... Oh, so you didn't buy it [inaudible 00:14:46].
Bob Simon (14:46):
No, he shipped this to me, because it's hard to find this in California, but this is amazing. For a rye one, this is one of the good ones.
Mauro Fiore (14:52):
And this is cask strength?
Bob Simon (14:55):
This is strong, so this is 57%, so it's 115 proof.
Mauro Fiore (15:00):
This is very nice.
Bob Simon (15:01):
For what it is. A little stronger than the amaretto that Primo drinks at home, I'm sure.
Mauro Fiore (15:07):
He's used to Midori Melon. He's an artist.
Bob Simon (15:09):
Okay. All right. So, then how does he help you, or how do you help with the marketing [inaudible 00:15:15].
Adrian Hernandez (15:15):
Yeah, so, I mean, I basically ... I got better with design, and I pretty much developed her branding, her website.
Bob Simon (15:26):
Nice.
Esther Estrada (15:26):
Thank God, because when I was starting, I had no idea. I'm like, "You know, let's just get a website up and going, and I'll figure it out." He's like, "What's your branding? What's your marketing method? How are you going to come up with your marketing theme?" I'm like, "What are you talking about? I don't know. I'll figure it out."
Bob Simon (15:42):
And a lot of people charge a lot of money for those things now.
Esther Estrada (15:45):
Yeah. Right.
Bob Simon (15:45):
Did you give her a discount?
Adrian Hernandez (15:45):
[inaudible 00:15:46] charge, just ...
Bob Simon (15:45):
Did you give her a discount? No discount?
Esther Estrada (15:46):
I'll pay in other ways.
Bob Simon (15:47):
You guys just bought your first home in Hollywood.
Adrian Hernandez (15:55):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (15:56):
I mean, success story's there. So, how is he helping you with your firm in that marketing path?
Esther Estrada (16:03):
I mean, it's ... People ask me, they're like, "How are you doing it?" He's really my secret weapon, for sure. I really didn't want to do social media marketing, like a lot of people. I'm like, "I want people to take me seriously. I don't want to be a TikTok lawyer, or any of that stuff," but he really talked me out of it, and kind of threw my pride out the window. He's like, "You need to come up with your marketing method, and you need to be consistent."
(16:25):
Social media is the new billboard, honestly. That's where everyone's at. People are on the freeway, you see all the billboard lawyers, but I feel like being able to post on social media online, people kind of get to know who you are, and they already have this sense of trust. So, my signup rate is insane.
Bob Simon (16:45):
So, are you getting most ... Where's most of your cases coming from?
Esther Estrada (16:48):
Initially, it was coming from social media. I'd say 80% of my cases the first year were social media.
Bob Simon (16:55):
Wow.
Esther Estrada (16:56):
But, I'm in my second year, and I've noticed that now there's been a big shift, so now it's referrals from my past clients who love me. One client has already referred five people in the last two years, so it's been really, really [inaudible 00:17:09].
Bob Simon (17:10):
And this is like what we call guerrilla marketing for law firms that can't compete with SEO, Spence, these crazy people that are spending millions of dollars a month on this stuff.
Esther Estrada (17:18):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (17:18):
But, I mean, you're generating a lot of business. You did this, too, when you started.
Mauro Fiore (17:21):
My marketing budget is ... It's been pretty consistent over the years ... zero. [inaudible 00:17:27] zero. But, I've been practicing for a long time. Back in the '90s I started practicing, to give you an idea how fucking old, and I've been doing [inaudible 00:17:36].
Adrian Hernandez (17:36):
You didn't even have the internet yet, did you?
Mauro Fiore (17:38):
No, I didn't have internet access. You're right. I practiced law with a fax machine and the typewriter, or ... It was a word processor.
Bob Simon (17:44):
But you've been a lawyer since you were, like--
Mauro Fiore (17:45):
Word processor.
Bob Simon (17:48):
You were a lawyer since you were 22 or something crazy.
Mauro Fiore (17:50):
23.
Bob Simon (17:50):
23.
Mauro Fiore (17:51):
So, no internet or anything back in those old days, so it was just, you took care of your clients--
Bob Simon (17:56):
Smoke signals, pigeons.
Mauro Fiore (17:57):
You took care of your clients, and your clients will send you business. That was always my method. So, you've been practicing for four or five years, right? And you have old clients. Imagine, I've had my office since 19 ... no ... I worked at a couple of firms, and then I started my office in 2001. So, I've had my own firm since 2001.
Bob Simon (18:15):
You guys were in third grade.
Mauro Fiore (18:15):
Yeah. So--
Bob Simon (18:15):
Fourth grade.
Mauro Fiore (18:18):
So, imagine I have that many old clients, so I don't need to really ... I mean, if I wanted to sign up a million cases, I guess I could market, but I could just ... My old clients and lawyers that refer me business is where I get my cases; the old-fashioned way.
Bob Simon (18:31):
So, what marketing advice did you give your wife?
Adrian Hernandez (18:33):
I mean, honestly, I think the biggest key component was just being authentic and being yourself, because she's already someone that I feel like a lot of people naturally gravitate towards. She's very friendly.
Bob Simon (18:46):
She smiles a lot.
Adrian Hernandez (18:47):
Yeah, yeah.
Bob Simon (18:48):
Everybody loves people that smile a lot.
Adrian Hernandez (18:49):
Yeah, so I feel like just, you know, if you have a great persona and people easily can connect with you, you're already 20 steps ahead of the person who is just quiet in the corner, and just a hermit.
Bob Simon (19:06):
But what about her brand?
Adrian Hernandez (19:08):
I mean, yeah, that, it becomes your brand. You are your brand, essentially, because then ...
Bob Simon (19:14):
Yeah, because I heard you talk once ... I was listening to one ... I think you were on a show or something, talking about how you market second-generation Hispanic families--
Esther Estrada (19:23):
Yes.
Bob Simon (19:23):
Because their parents call you with the trust. Can you just walk us through ... Because that's a good niche, and a good thing to talk and market.
Esther Estrada (19:27):
Oh, definitely.
Adrian Hernandez (19:29):
I mean, that's definitely, like I said, it's kind of ... I mean, that's us, so we're like, "Okay, we're marketing to people like us. How are we going to connect with them and be a person they could trust?" Because that's what you've got to do to establish trust with any client, no matter what business you're in. So, I feel like that's the key number one component, and then just being able to build off that, building social media content that other people can connect to, and just kind of trying to be a voice in--
Esther Estrada (20:01):
Yeah. So, we sat down and we're like, "Okay, what's the ideal client type for me, based on my personality, my experience?" I mean, everyone talks about being authentic, but no one knows the road map. You want to be authentic, but what does that mean? So, for us, we sat down, I'm like, "I'm a first-generation, oldest daughter in the family." I handle a lot of stuff for my parents, he handles a lot of stuff for his family. "We are the go-to person, and we want to market to those people, the go-to people. If an elderly Latina gets in a car crash, who is the first person she's going to call? Likely her daughter that handles everything for her. So, let's market to that person so that when that happens, they call me. They're like, 'Hey, my mom got in an accident.'"
Bob Simon (20:44):
But what do you do to get in front of them?
Esther Estrada (20:46):
Social media, again.
Bob Simon (20:47):
But what type of content are you ...
Esther Estrada (20:49):
Just ... That's a great question.
Bob Simon (20:51):
Because you've got to say you're bilingual, because probably their parents speak Spanish, they probably want that trust.
Esther Estrada (20:56):
Yeah. No, and I mean, we do touch on that. I don't drive it as much, just because a lot of people naturally assume. They're like, "Oh, she's a Latina. She speaks Spanish," which thankfully I do, because that could backfire. But, it's just a matter of doing a lot of consumer education, like what to do in the event of an accident, who to contact, how to approach the situation. So, they think about that, six months go down the line, and then something happens and they're like, "Who is that person that told me what to do in the event of an accident?" And it's been really helpful. I mean, I've had people call me at the scene of the accident, they're like, "I remembered your steps," or, "I remembered a post of yours," and they'll be calling me on Instagram, which is crazy.
Bob Simon (21:44):
Oh, you can call from Instagram!
Esther Estrada (21:46):
They can call from Instagram. I've had calls from Instagram.
Bob Simon (21:47):
I get Mauro's butt-dials from Instagram and it's just very inappropriate.
Mauro Fiore (21:51):
What do you hear in the background?
Bob Simon (21:52):
That's the inappropriate part. I like how he looks to the producers when he makes a joke like this, like ...
Esther Estrada (21:58):
And then he looks at the camera [inaudible 00:22:01].
Bob Simon (21:58):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (22:03):
I'm like Mr. Roper in the old Three's Company.
Bob Simon (22:05):
Mr. Roper. Now he's dating himself.
Mauro Fiore (22:07):
I look at the camera when I make a funny.
Esther Estrada (22:09):
I'm like, "I didn't get the joke."
Bob Simon (22:11):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (22:11):
You never saw Three's Company?
Bob Simon (22:12):
John Ritter.
Esther Estrada (22:13):
I know of Three's Company. I know the song.
Bob Simon (22:13):
[inaudible 00:22:15]. Oh, yeah.
Mauro Fiore (22:13):
It's like the greatest show of all time, you guys.
Bob Simon (22:13):
I wouldn't say it's the greatest show of all time.
Mauro Fiore (22:13):
Come on. Mr. Roper.
Bob Simon (22:20):
Actually, I was in law school with ... His agent was teaching us an adjunct class in entertainment law, and he got the call when John Ritter died, when I was in class.
Mauro Fiore (22:28):
Yeah, he died; he dropped dead on the set of the show.
Esther Estrada (22:29):
Oh, that's crazy.
Bob Simon (22:32):
He had a comeback and he was doing a new series. [inaudible 00:22:34] bringing sad.
Mauro Fiore (22:35):
How I Met Your Mother was the show he was on. I love that show, too.
Bob Simon (22:40):
He was on that show?
Adrian Hernandez (22:40):
Oh, that show? I love that show.
Mauro Fiore (22:40):
Yeah, he was the guy that was on that show that he died. John Ritter.
Bob Simon (22:43):
Wasn't Doogie on that show?
Mauro Fiore (22:45):
Doogie Howser? I like that show, too.
Bob Simon (22:47):
Neil Patrick Harris was on How I Met Your Mother.
Mauro Fiore (22:48):
Maybe he replaced him, I think. Something like that.
Bob Simon (22:50):
But, dude, he's 40 years younger.
Mauro Fiore (22:52):
I don't know.
Bob Simon (22:53):
All right, what did you bring?
Mauro Fiore (22:55):
What did I bring?
Bob Simon (22:55):
This one's really good.
Esther Estrada (22:55):
Yeah, come on, babe.
Bob Simon (22:55):
This one's good--
Mauro Fiore (23:02):
I brought this really nice bottle.
Esther Estrada (23:04):
Yeah, you have to sip so that you don't have to chug at the end.
Mauro Fiore (23:06):
This is Kentucky Owl.
Adrian Hernandez (23:08):
[inaudible 00:23:09].
Mauro Fiore (23:11):
This is 10-year-aged Kentucky Owl rye. This is from the last rye batch release of Kentucky Owl, which was, Kentucky Owl put out three or four releases of this rye, and this was the last of it. 10 years. And Kentucky Owl, if you haven't had it, they source bourbons from all over Kentucky, they really good stuff, and they put it out under the Kentucky Owl flag, and a lot of people like it. I like it.
Bob Simon (23:39):
It's from Bardstown, right?
Mauro Fiore (23:40):
Yep, Bardstown. And I got this bottle for a birthday present--
Bob Simon (23:43):
You can smell it.
Mauro Fiore (23:44):
From Gene Sullivan.
Bob Simon (23:46):
Oh, no shit!
Mauro Fiore (23:46):
And if you know Gene, it must have really hurt him to spend this much money to buy this bottle, because as far as I know, Gene has the first dollar he made, the first case he ever settled, he still has the money. And that was 30 years ago. So ...
Bob Simon (24:02):
He also is so lazy he doesn't want to spend money on hair products, so he just shaves his head.
Mauro Fiore (24:06):
Yeah. Because he's not bald, he just ... He saves money by shaving his head.
Esther Estrada (24:09):
Chooses to be.
Mauro Fiore (24:10):
Those Irish are really cheap.
Bob Simon (24:12):
Irish from Iowa, too. Cheers!
Mauro Fiore (24:14):
Cheers.
Bob Simon (24:14):
Primo.
Adrian Hernandez (24:14):
Cheers.
Esther Estrada (24:15):
I would say Irish and Mexicans are a lot more alike than people [inaudible 00:24:19].
Bob Simon (24:19):
Yes. You know what's funny is, because I represent ... Almost all my clients--
Mauro Fiore (24:22):
Look at this. Again. Again. What is this?
Bob Simon (24:23):
I'm trying to keep you under control.
Mauro Fiore (24:25):
This guy is ... You're sabotaging me.
Bob Simon (24:25):
Sabotaging? See, he can't even ...
Mauro Fiore (24:26):
You're sabotaging me.
Bob Simon (24:31):
Jesus. But I always say, because my Irish family, I always say, reminds me a lot of the Mexican Americans that we represent at our firm, because I feel so like ... You know, working class, salt of the earth, these are ... It's funny you say that, because I think that all the time. That's why most of my clients are ...
Esther Estrada (24:45):
You guys have river dancing, we have [Spanish 00:24:47].
Bob Simon (24:47):
Yeah. But I always think--
Mauro Fiore (24:49):
Sapa-what?
Esther Estrada (24:49):
[Spanish 00:24:50].
Mauro Fiore (24:50):
Oh yeah? I never heard of that one.
Bob Simon (24:51):
How do you never heard these things?
Mauro Fiore (24:53):
Man, I'm Mexican ... I'm as Mexican as you, man.
Bob Simon (24:55):
Get out of here.
Esther Estrada (24:55):
I think he's more Mexican.
Bob Simon (24:55):
His wife is Mexican.
Mauro Fiore (24:55):
Yeah, but I mean--
Bob Simon (24:55):
He's half Mexican.
Mauro Fiore (25:00):
My mom was born in the United States. My mom always said ... People would say, "You're Mexican," and my mom would be like, "I was born in Chicago." My mom was white, you know? But her parents were Mexican, but she was born here. My mom was very American. She liked baseball, hot dogs. You know, my mom was American.
Bob Simon (25:14):
Apple pie [inaudible 00:25:15].
Adrian Hernandez (25:14):
Mexicans love baseball.
Bob Simon (25:14):
Yeah, what is this?
Mauro Fiore (25:14):
I'm just saying, my mom was super white.
Bob Simon (25:15):
They love hot dogs.
Mauro Fiore (25:21):
But my grandmother--
Adrian Hernandez (25:22):
We cook the hot dogs.
Bob Simon (25:25):
Yeah, I know!
Mauro Fiore (25:25):
My grandma didn't speak English.
Bob Simon (25:26):
Outside of Staples. That's the best food!
Mauro Fiore (25:26):
My grandma didn't speak English.
Bob Simon (25:30):
As soon as you go out, I smell that, I'm like, "Why did I fucking eat inside of Staples?" Or not Staples, Crypto now.
Mauro Fiore (25:32):
Those disgusting bacon-wrapped dogs? Yeah.
Bob Simon (25:34):
And then they have to run with their cart sometimes, because people come up and try to narc on them, they've got to move. I think that's fucked up, because they make the best ... They're just trying to hustle, man.
Mauro Fiore (25:41):
Listen, if you eat one of those bacon dogs, I hope you go straight home, because if not, you'll be--
Esther Estrada (25:44):
We lived in Thailand for five years [inaudible 00:25:46].
Bob Simon (25:45):
They're the best.
Mauro Fiore (25:45):
If not, you'll be hitting the shitter on the way home at a gas station.
Esther Estrada (25:52):
It's [inaudible 00:25:53] it's after a long day of drinking.
Bob Simon (25:53):
Man, this is a lot different than the last one. It's a lot different.
Mauro Fiore (25:57):
This is really good.
Bob Simon (25:58):
This is really good.
Mauro Fiore (25:59):
It's a little--
Bob Simon (26:00):
What do you think, Primo?
Mauro Fiore (26:01):
What's the proof on it?
Bob Simon (26:01):
150.
Adrian Hernandez (26:01):
You know what's funny? You know when the last time I had a bourbon whiskey was actually at Bourbon of Proof.
Bob Simon (26:08):
Oh, wow.
Mauro Fiore (26:10):
I remember vaguely a Bourbon of Proof ... It was when we were there in Louisville.
Bob Simon (26:17):
We were on the same bus. We were on the same bus.
Mauro Fiore (26:18):
We were in Louisville. I mean, I was with Keith Bremmer. You know, that guy's like a devil. He just forces you to drink from 10:00 a.m. He's an addict. Don't hang out with Bremmer unless you're ready to get it on. So, I was with Bremmer that whole day, then we ended up in some bar in a basement, and I sat with you guys. And I think I had never met you, either one of them. And I was so fucked up, can you imagine?
Bob Simon (26:37):
No, I can't imagine.
Mauro Fiore (26:38):
I was talking just pure nonsense. I mean, just absolute nonsense, I remember. I was out of my mind.
Esther Estrada (26:43):
Left a great impression.
Mauro Fiore (26:44):
Yeah, I mean, I was just so out of it. I remember--
Bob Simon (26:48):
And they were like, "If Mauro Fiore can make it as a lawyer [inaudible 00:26:50]."
Mauro Fiore (26:50):
Yeah. I was just out of my gourd, but that was when I met you guys. It was raining.
Esther Estrada (26:54):
And you were wearing your tiger suit.
Mauro Fiore (26:55):
I was wearing my tiger suit.
Esther Estrada (26:56):
That's where it came from.
Bob Simon (26:58):
Dude, that's so funny, the tiger suits, how it's taken off since you did that.
Mauro Fiore (27:01):
That's my signature.
Esther Estrada (27:02):
That's when it started.
Bob Simon (27:02):
He gave one to Governor Newsom.
Mauro Fiore (27:05):
Yeah.
Esther Estrada (27:05):
Oh, God, I did see that.
Bob Simon (27:05):
He has one. We have pictures with it.
Esther Estrada (27:06):
I did see that.
Mauro Fiore (27:07):
I never saw any pictures of the governor wearing it, but I gave one to the insurance commissioner. He definitely posted photos of himself wearing it.
Bob Simon (27:13):
Oh, he did. He sent it to him.
Adrian Hernandez (27:13):
[inaudible 00:27:14] pic?
Mauro Fiore (27:14):
Yes. He loved it [inaudible 00:27:15].
Bob Simon (27:17):
But he gave him, like, a quadruple X. He's like [inaudible 00:27:19].
Mauro Fiore (27:19):
Yeah. I was like, "Dude, I mean ... " Bob called me 12 hours before this event with the governor and the insurance commissioner. He's like, "Bring some tiger suits." I was like, "Dude, I've got a medium and a triple X." He's like, "Just bring them." I was like, "All right."
Adrian Hernandez (27:30):
That's your branding right there.
Mauro Fiore (27:31):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (27:33):
[inaudible 00:27:32] true. They're $100 on Amazon.
Mauro Fiore (27:35):
You know how many of those suits I've sent? It's so funny.
Esther Estrada (27:37):
Yeah, that's actually a really good point.
Mauro Fiore (27:38):
I've sent 100 of those to people all over the country.
Adrian Hernandez (27:39):
The tiger suit love.
Mauro Fiore (27:41):
Everybody loves them. Only one person ever was like, "Oh, this sucks."
Bob Simon (27:46):
Who would say something like that?
Mauro Fiore (27:47):
You can imagine. I won't even name him on this broadcast. He thought it was cheap, and it was shit.
Bob Simon (27:53):
Everybody thinks, "Are these Gucci or something?" "No, they're fucking Amazon."
Mauro Fiore (27:56):
I was like, "Yeah, dude, I'm mailing Gucci tracksuits to people." I get them off some bootleg Chinese website for $60. But they're great!
Esther Estrada (28:10):
That's great. Honestly, I see a tiger suit and I'm like, "Oh, Mauro."
Bob Simon (28:10):
That's what I do, I think of Mauro.
Adrian Hernandez (28:10):
That's your thing right there.
Mauro Fiore (28:11):
Yeah. I send them out, and people ... I'm going to be running a couple of tiger suit promotions.
Bob Simon (28:15):
So, in a month [inaudible 00:28:15] birthday party [inaudible 00:28:16] the new suit.
Adrian Hernandez (28:16):
Every time you settle a case, just get them a tiger suit.
Mauro Fiore (28:18):
Yeah.
Esther Estrada (28:19):
Yeah. Eye of the tiger.
Mauro Fiore (28:21):
Yeah. I like that. I'm stealing that.
Bob Simon (28:22):
You should sign the inside with your number.
Esther Estrada (28:25):
Use it as an invoice.
Bob Simon (28:27):
Invoice them.
Esther Estrada (28:29):
Yeah, there you go. That's actually really smart.
Bob Simon (28:31):
Well, how do you guys track a lot of your ... We've got to get to one more bourbon. You've got to hustle up, Butch.
Mauro Fiore (28:38):
Primo, if you're not ... I can take this work of your hands if you insist.
Adrian Hernandez (28:42):
You want to help me with this one?
Mauro Fiore (28:43):
I want to help you with all of them.
Bob Simon (28:45):
Oh, yeah, let me ... I'll pull this over here. I love The Prideful Goat.
Mauro Fiore (28:48):
We're doing four?
Esther Estrada (28:48):
This is what happens when I can't drink.
Mauro Fiore (28:49):
Bob, we're doing four?
Bob Simon (28:51):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (28:51):
Okay.
Bob Simon (28:51):
You want to do five?
Mauro Fiore (28:52):
No, no, four is good. I mean, if we did five, I don't know if your producer here would be too thrilled with me.
Bob Simon (29:02):
Oh, God.
Mauro Fiore (29:04):
Let me know when you want to get to this one.
Bob Simon (29:04):
All right, let me just finish Primo's second one.
Adrian Hernandez (29:07):
There we go.
Mauro Fiore (29:07):
Can I get a little nip of that one?
Bob Simon (29:09):
Oh, he's ready.
Mauro Fiore (29:09):
A little nip of that?
Bob Simon (29:10):
This is my favorite one.
Mauro Fiore (29:12):
Absolutely. Gracias.
Bob Simon (29:14):
Is that enough? God, this guy.
Esther Estrada (29:16):
I had this guy drink for me at our Christmas party.
Adrian Hernandez (29:19):
Baby shower.
Esther Estrada (29:20):
No, the Christmas party. I was like, "You have to drink for the both of us." He got sloshed.
Adrian Hernandez (29:24):
I got [inaudible 00:29:25].
Esther Estrada (29:24):
My office was like, "I like drunk Adrian. Adrian needs to be more drunk."
Bob Simon (29:29):
People always say to Chrissy, my wife, "How do you let him drink so much all the time?" She's like, "It's awesome! He's hilarious! He's the nicest guy when he's drunk." They're like, "Okay."
Esther Estrada (29:34):
He's so funny when he's drunk; unintentionally, which makes it better.
Mauro Fiore (29:39):
I have spent extended periods with Bob under the same roof. We did six weeks vacation in the same ... in Europe, and we had the best time just getting drunk and playing Uno.
Bob Simon (29:51):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (29:53):
It was just, you know, Bob's the same way whether he's drunk or sober. He's the same way.
Bob Simon (29:55):
That's true.
Mauro Fiore (29:56):
And I always tell people, he can really fucking drink, so don't mix with him unless you ... If you think you're going to go drink with Bob, you better be ready to go drink with Bob, because this guy can really drink.
Bob Simon (30:06):
Bring your dancing shoes.
Mauro Fiore (30:07):
Yeah, because he's not going to have a couple, he's going to drink the whole fucking bottle, and he's still fine. It doesn't do nothing to him. I don't know how he does it.
Bob Simon (30:13):
I don't know if it's a gift or a curse. It's a gift. I just answered my own question.
Esther Estrada (30:14):
It's a gift.
Bob Simon (30:16):
But, I wonder what systems ... Because we fast-forward your ... You start off as a assistant or office clerk, case manager, assistant case manager.
Esther Estrada (30:24):
Yeah, and junior associate.
Bob Simon (30:25):
So, you were growing your firm. I mean, you have your own space, you're hiring, so where are you now? People like to hear the success stories of ...
Esther Estrada (30:31):
Yeah. So, I just celebrated two years, and as of right now, it's seven of us. Thank you.
Bob Simon (30:37):
There you go.
Esther Estrada (30:37):
I have my first associate attorney. It's been amazing. [inaudible 00:30:40].
Bob Simon (30:40):
It's a big time when you hire your first associate.
Esther Estrada (30:42):
I felt like it was scarier hiring my first associate versus when I just went on my own, because when it was just me, I'm like, "It's just me. I'll figure it out," but now I have seven other people I have to look out for.
Bob Simon (30:52):
But it's also, it holds you accountable, because like I think about all the time, you've got to keep the cases coming in, and earn for how many people's families?
Mauro Fiore (31:00):
You know what I always say? I work for my employees.
Esther Estrada (31:00):
Honestly.
Mauro Fiore (31:08):
I work for them, man. I mean, they all have families, kids, health insurance, everything. I'm keeping all the balls in the air for them.
Esther Estrada (31:13):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (31:14):
And I have 40 employees, imagine, and seven lawyers who work for me, so I'm in a different ... a little bigger, but ...
Esther Estrada (31:20):
I already feel [inaudible 00:31:21].
Mauro Fiore (31:21):
You know, I work for them. If it was just me, shit, I could just do it myself. I was a solo for years.
Esther Estrada (31:24):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (31:25):
I was a solo practitioner five or six years. It was fun being solo.
Bob Simon (31:30):
It's so much fun, but it's a different fun.
Mauro Fiore (31:30):
But it's different.
Bob Simon (31:32):
Yeah, so--
Mauro Fiore (31:32):
So, speaking of birthdays ...
Bob Simon (31:33):
There we go. The last one.
Mauro Fiore (31:35):
What a segue. Did you see that? They call that a segue in the entertainment business.
Bob Simon (31:37):
He actually pronounced that one right.
Mauro Fiore (31:43):
This is ... I'm sorry, Charles, that I snagged this off of your shelves here at this beautiful, what is it? The Firm? The private bourbon retreat.
Bob Simon (31:53):
The Firm. Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (31:54):
This is a famous bourbon. This is the Old Forester birthday bourbon.
Bob Simon (32:01):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (32:01):
So, I have been to Kentucky with Bob, I think twice.
Bob Simon (32:07):
Twice. We did this once for [inaudible 00:32:09].
Mauro Fiore (32:09):
And we went to the Brown-Forman Distillery on Main Street there in Louisville, and we heard the story about this. This is, every year, they release just a few bottles ... They won't say how many, but it's supposed to be--
Bob Simon (32:22):
It's one barrel. They just take one barrel and release them all.
Mauro Fiore (32:23):
Less than 100 bottles of this every year--
Bob Simon (32:25):
Less than 100, for sure.
Mauro Fiore (32:26):
On the birthday of ... I think his name is George Brown? Yeah, George Brown, the guy who started the Brown-Forman Distillery. They release it on his birthday every year, a few bottles, and pretty much it's impossible to get. That's why when I saw it up there, I said, "Charles won't mind us dipping into it."
Bob Simon (32:44):
Taking a little sip.
Mauro Fiore (32:45):
So, this is a very, very rare bourbon, the Old Forester birthday bourbon.
Esther Estrada (32:49):
Nice.
Bob Simon (32:50):
And that's random, right? Because it's whatever random bottle comes out on the birthday, the first one off, that's the birthday bourbon.
Mauro Fiore (32:55):
It's ... I was reading the tag--
Bob Simon (32:56):
It's cool.
Mauro Fiore (32:57):
It's September 2nd every year, they release it.
Bob Simon (32:59):
There it is.
Mauro Fiore (33:01):
And I think Brown-Forman now owns Jack Daniels, so it's a big company now.
Bob Simon (33:06):
He's just making shit up at this point.
Mauro Fiore (33:08):
I mean, I might be making that up, because you know I'm occasionally known to claim I invented the question mark.
Adrian Hernandez (33:13):
[inaudible 00:33:14].
Bob Simon (33:16):
That's a very good Austin Powers joke. He has a penchant for buggery.
Mauro Fiore (33:19):
A penchant for buggery, and prone to outrageous claims, like he invented the question mark.
Bob Simon (33:25):
And narcolepsy.
Mauro Fiore (33:27):
And low-grade narcolepsy. Bob, did you see how I passed out in Dallas this weekend?
Bob Simon (33:33):
I did. Your wife sent me photos and a video. They're in a high-rise, and he's just passed out.
Mauro Fiore (33:37):
It was a long day, man. You know, I was at the dentist yesterday, and I fell asleep when he was doing a root canal.
Esther Estrada (33:43):
What?
Mauro Fiore (33:43):
I bit down on his hand and he had to put a thing in my mouth [inaudible 00:33:46].
Bob Simon (33:47):
All right. So, first of all--
Mauro Fiore (33:49):
He was like, "No one ever fell asleep during a root canal."
Bob Simon (33:51):
Happy two-year anniversary of your firm, birthday--
Esther Estrada (33:54):
Thank you.
Bob Simon (33:56):
And you guys now bought a home in the prestigious Hollywood Hills, and this guy is your neighbor!
Esther Estrada (34:00):
I know.
Mauro Fiore (34:01):
And, as an added bonus, they moved into my neighborhood!
Bob Simon (34:05):
Wow.
Esther Estrada (34:06):
Added bonus.
Bob Simon (34:07):
I mean, it's a big thing, right? Your family is starting.
Esther Estrada (34:10):
Yeah. Not a bad first starter home.
Bob Simon (34:13):
[inaudible 00:34:13] Hollywood Hills!
Esther Estrada (34:14):
Yeah. [inaudible 00:34:15].
Mauro Fiore (34:14):
Yeah, I mean, I was playing the LATLC ... Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charity ... which I am a board member emeritus, as is Bob--
Bob Simon (34:22):
I was past president.
Mauro Fiore (34:23):
Bob was past president.
Bob Simon (34:24):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (34:25):
I never wanted to be president, because I don't have that much time.
Bob Simon (34:28):
It's a lot of work.
Mauro Fiore (34:28):
It's a lot of hands, a lot of work to be president of any organization.
Bob Simon (34:30):
This is good.
Mauro Fiore (34:31):
But I'm a board member, and so we were playing the golf tournament, Esther was behind me in the group, and I spoke to her, and I asked her randomly, "Where do you live?" She goes, "I live in Hollywood Hills." I said, "Oh, where?" She said, "On--"
Adrian Hernandez (34:43):
[inaudible 00:34:44].
Mauro Fiore (34:48):
Everybody knows where I live. They've been to my house. I have a Halloween party every year that just--
Bob Simon (34:52):
Oh my god, have you never been to Halloween party in Hollywood? Go to his.
Mauro Fiore (34:57):
You've got to come to mine. Come to my house.
Bob Simon (34:59):
Actually, yeah. I feel like I get in trouble just walking in the door.
Mauro Fiore (35:01):
You know Richie, the DJ that plays a lot of these events, she was the DJ at my party, and--
Bob Simon (35:05):
I hire her for everything.
Esther Estrada (35:06):
She's the best.
Mauro Fiore (35:06):
Before the end of the night, she was passed out on the lawn. So, the DJ--
Bob Simon (35:10):
So, she DJ'd an event for me whenever we were ... We were in Atlanta recently, and I don't know how it happened, but I ordered pizza ... Pizza saves my life. If I had an autobiography, it'd be Pizza Saved My Life. So, we order a pizza, and we're outside of some fancy hotel, and I go up without shoes just to go grab this pizza, the valet, and she's out there! And she grabs the pizza, she takes a slice and just runs. I was like, "What the fuck? Where did she go?" She takes a picture, and she's just eating this slice in her room. I was like, "What the fuck? I just saw you." But she plays the best shit. I mean, you should, as a DJ, you would--
Esther Estrada (35:38):
Honestly.
Bob Simon (35:39):
She's the one, she did Law-Di-Gras. Were you there for last year, where she does the open with the guy with the piano?
Adrian Hernandez (35:43):
I was not there.
Esther Estrada (35:43):
We were there for the opening party for Bourbon of Proof, and he's like, "Who's DJing?"
Bob Simon (35:47):
That's her!
Esther Estrada (35:47):
No, I know. And, yeah, he went and complimented her.
Bob Simon (35:47):
She does some great stuff.
Mauro Fiore (35:51):
When I saw Esther at the tournament, she told me where she lived, I said, "You know, I live around the corner." I probably ... I live less than a mile from where they live, literally less than a mile. And I told her, I said, "Well, how long have you been in the neighborhood?" I've lived in that neighborhood for over 20 years, so I know the neighborhood. I told her where the coffee place is, the bakery, and all this, so we have to get together here.
Bob Simon (36:11):
What a nice neighbor.
Mauro Fiore (36:15):
And you've got to go to Mercado. You ever been to Mercado yet?
Esther Estrada (36:16):
Oh, yeah. I love that spot.
Mauro Fiore (36:17):
Mercado's great.
Bob Simon (36:18):
So, he's on the neighborhood watch committee, just so you guys know.
Esther Estrada (36:23):
Oh gosh.
Bob Simon (36:24):
He's stopped crime--
Mauro Fiore (36:24):
Yeah, no, I'm going to add you guys to this.
Bob Simon (36:24):
Do you remember the time you stopped crime in your backyard?
Mauro Fiore (36:25):
Yeah. Yeah.
Bob Simon (36:26):
I actually thought it was a joke, and his wife showed me pictures, when he tracked this person that was obviously on drugs, just hopping fences, and he ended up grabbing a picket and beating her with it for the cops.
Mauro Fiore (36:37):
No, I didn't beat her. I might've given her a little love tap, but I was watching ...
Bob Simon (36:40):
He stopped crime. The neighbors, he was on the neighborhood watch, and there were people hopping the fence in the backyard.
Mauro Fiore (36:43):
I have a guesthouse in my backyard. I have a guesthouse. So, I'm in the guesthouse on a Sunday afternoon, watching football, and I check the neighborhood watch, because on my street ... It's called the Watchdogs. It's like a ... It's a WhatsApp group.
Esther Estrada (36:55):
You should definitely add him. This guy is like our watchdog.
Adrian Hernandez (36:57):
[inaudible 00:36:58].
Mauro Fiore (37:01):
And they're always ... And they're like ... These people have nothing to do. It's like, literally, "Who's this guy in front of Mauro's house?" It's like, "That's my cousin," you know? I said, "I agree, he looks like a criminal. He came over to have a drink, but I agree. Thank God you said something, because I wouldn't want him in the neighborhood either."
Bob Simon (37:18):
Oh my god.
Mauro Fiore (37:21):
So, they were saying on the thing on WhatsApp, "Oh, there's some crackhead in the neighborhood who's jumping over people's fences--"
Adrian Hernandez (37:30):
You're like, "That's me!"
Mauro Fiore (37:31):
"And through their backyard." I was like, "Really?" And they're like, "Yeah, he's at Joel's house." It was a girl. "She's at Joel's house right now." It's like, "Joel lives next door to me." So, I went outside ... I went out the door to my guesthouse to look, and I said, "I don't see this person at Joel's house," because I had to walk 20 feet to look in Joel's backyard, and I turned around and she was going inside my guesthouse! So, I'm like, "I guess I must've missed her by a second." And I was like, "Hey! What are you doing?" And then she turned around, "Oh, I'm looking for my friend," and she started running, and I chased after her.
Bob Simon (38:02):
She didn't take anything?
Mauro Fiore (38:04):
And I have this crazy scar on my arm because I fell down, and one of my landscape--
Bob Simon (38:09):
Billy goat. Sure on his feet, my ass.
Mauro Fiore (38:10):
One of my landscaping things. I have this huge scar.
Adrian Hernandez (38:15):
Was it a hoe?
Bob Simon (38:16):
She was a normal girl!
Adrian Hernandez (38:16):
No, was it a gardening hoe?
Mauro Fiore (38:19):
No, no, no. So, I chased her, and she ran and ran and ran, and I chased her down the street and I caught her, and I called the cops, and the cops came and got her and stuff, and then it was funny because the cop kind of ... He's like, "Hey, I thought you said she was at your house." I was like, "Yeah." "Well, how come we found her, she was a block away?" I was like, "Well, shit, I chased her that far." You know what I mean? But they arrested her. They didn't do shit to her. I mean, it's the City of LA. Hollywood doesn't exist, first of all. There's no such thing as Hollywood, it's Los Angeles.
Bob Simon (38:51):
City of LA. Yeah, yeah.
Mauro Fiore (38:52):
So, in the City of LA, George Gascón gives the criminals a happy meal--
Bob Simon (38:53):
Oh, here we go.
Mauro Fiore (38:54):
Gives them a happy meal and says, "Thanks for coming to visit us at jail, and we hope you do better next time."
Bob Simon (39:01):
Is this why you're moving to Palos Verdes by me?
Mauro Fiore (39:03):
Yes.
Bob Simon (39:03):
Come on, man.
Mauro Fiore (39:04):
Because I'm tired of fucking City of LA, and the bullshit Gascón.
Bob Simon (39:08):
Well, get on his watch group.
Mauro Fiore (39:11):
Yeah.
Esther Estrada (39:11):
[inaudible 00:39:12].
Bob Simon (39:11):
Mauro is probably bleeding from his scar, telling the cops this poor lady assaulted him. "Charge her." I bet you did that.
Mauro Fiore (39:19):
Well, you know, what happened was I got tired of chasing her, so then I ... but I did grab a ...
Bob Simon (39:23):
A hoe.
Mauro Fiore (39:24):
It was a shovel. A shovel that was there when I was chasing her. I grabbed the shovel in case she's armed, you know? I don't know. But, I realized she wasn't armed after a while, but then ... So, I got tired of chasing her, so then I reached out with the shovel and I swept the legs, you know? I took her down. I took her down. I took her down.
Bob Simon (39:42):
Again, he looks at the producers.
Adrian Hernandez (39:43):
So your producer's like, "It's good."
Mauro Fiore (39:44):
Yeah. I got her down, and then I dragged her back to my house and I called the cops. And I told her never to come back to this neighborhood, and I don't think she's been back. So, Primo, don't worry, I'll put you on the text chain. You'll love it.
Adrian Hernandez (39:54):
Yeah, it'll be good.
Mauro Fiore (39:54):
There's a guy named Mateo on there who's literally on his balcony 24/7 with binoculars. It's better than 24-hour security.
Adrian Hernandez (40:02):
Yeah. That's just nice.
Mauro Fiore (40:03):
Everybody who comes in the neighborhood, he's on them. So, he may be ... You guys don't look like the normal people in our neighborhood. He might be on you, too. He might be on you already.
Adrian Hernandez (40:19):
We're the only Latinos ...
Esther Estrada (40:19):
On the block.
Mauro Fiore (40:19):
Yeah, just me and you. That's it. You know who else lives in our neighborhood, is Arj Hamenpoor.
Esther Estrada (40:19):
Okay.
Mauro Fiore (40:20):
So, he's in the neighborhood as well.
Adrian Hernandez (40:20):
Who's that?
Esther Estrada (40:20):
It's another lawyer.
Bob Simon (40:20):
[inaudible 00:40:22] trial lawyer.
Mauro Fiore (40:23):
So, he's up the street.
Esther Estrada (40:25):
You've met him.
Mauro Fiore (40:26):
Yeah, you know [inaudible 00:40:27]. So, yeah, he's there. And who else is on our neighborhood? This old-school trial lawyer named Mauro Baruzian. You know Mauro Baruzian?
Bob Simon (40:34):
Oh, yeah!
Mauro Fiore (40:35):
Mauro, but the Armenian female version.
Bob Simon (40:38):
Yeah. I didn't know she was in your [inaudible 00:40:38].
Mauro Fiore (40:38):
She lives in the neighborhood too, and a bunch of other lawyers live in the neighborhood, so I'll fill you in on the details later. We'll have to go to the French bakery for a baguette.
Esther Estrada (40:45):
Definitely. I know, I told Adrian about it.
Bob Simon (40:47):
So, now that you have your family starting, you have your first associate, where is Estrada Law going to be in five years?
Esther Estrada (40:54):
That's a great question. I feel like we've been moving very quickly. Seven in two years is kind of crazy.
Bob Simon (40:59):
Because you have so many cases come in organically, I assume.
Esther Estrada (41:01):
Organically, yeah. Most of them are organic, and it's just growing really quickly. I mean, I'd like to keep growing the firm, obviously keeping our integrity and customer service, because something I tell people is, we're essentially in ... We are providing a service for clients, first and foremost, and we have to make sure we keep our customer service up to par, so that's what's kind of helped our growth.
Bob Simon (41:28):
Are you training all of your employees every time?
Esther Estrada (41:29):
Yeah. Well, we're getting into the point where my employees are now doing all the training, but systems and operations [inaudible 00:41:38].
Bob Simon (41:42):
Oh, God, he's going to die.
Mauro Fiore (41:42):
I'm not even buzzed yet. What are you talking about?
Bob Simon (41:42):
I saw this guy, we were at the Kings game, and he had a Michelada, and I thought he was going to die.
Mauro Fiore (41:46):
No, it's just--
Esther Estrada (41:46):
Just a Miche?
Bob Simon (41:50):
No, it was ... Look. Right now, same thing. I have a video of this.
Mauro Fiore (41:50):
It went down the wrong hole, you know? It went down the wrong pipe, you know what I'm talking about?
Bob Simon (41:54):
We had to carry him up, and we thought he was going to die.
Mauro Fiore (41:56):
I was with Nick Dagger.
Bob Simon (41:57):
Nick Dagger [inaudible 00:41:58].
Mauro Fiore (41:58):
Dagger brought me a Michelada. Dagger, great guy, by the way.
Bob Simon (42:00):
Love him.
Mauro Fiore (42:01):
A real family man. I hang out with him because his kids are--
Bob Simon (42:04):
Same age. Yeah, they're cool.
Mauro Fiore (42:05):
Same age, and he's got these cute daughters, and my son has taken a liking to both of them.
Bob Simon (42:08):
Oh, here we go.
Adrian Hernandez (42:08):
Yeah.
Esther Estrada (42:08):
Oh.
Bob Simon (42:08):
Mauro Junior over here.
Mauro Fiore (42:11):
Max the Donut Dude, my son.
Esther Estrada (42:15):
I love him. He's so cute.
Bob Simon (42:15):
He is.
Mauro Fiore (42:15):
He can't decide which one he likes--
Bob Simon (42:17):
They're both two years older than him. Well, no, one is [inaudible 00:42:19].
Mauro Fiore (42:19):
One of them's a year younger, and one of them's a year older, so he kind of plays both of them, so I like his style. I like his style. I like his style.
Esther Estrada (42:29):
We're keeping her away. I'm just kidding.
Mauro Fiore (42:31):
But, Dagger gave me this Michelada that I think he laced with fucking arsenic at the Kings game, because I drank two sips of it and I could not stop coughing. I was coughing up a lung at the Kings game.
Bob Simon (42:43):
It was bad.
Esther Estrada (42:43):
What was it, the Tajin that got you?
Mauro Fiore (42:44):
I don't know what got me [inaudible 00:42:46].
Bob Simon (42:47):
I can't drink that kind of shit, just because they put Worcestershire sauce in it, they fucking put Tajin--
Esther Estrada (42:52):
Tomato sauce.
Bob Simon (42:52):
There's just too much unknown.
Esther Estrada (42:53):
Yeah. I'm the same way.
Bob Simon (42:53):
I got straight.
Mauro Fiore (42:57):
You've got to go down to Ports O' Call. If you want to see Mexicans drinking Micheladas, go down to Ports O' Call in Long Beach on a Sunday. They're drinking them by the pitchers, with shrimp, and pitchers of that shit. Because my Mexican family, they go down to Ports O' Call in Long Beach and they drink Micheladas by the gallon.
Bob Simon (43:10):
Jesus Christ.
Esther Estrada (43:12):
Not a fan, personally.
Mauro Fiore (43:13):
Me neither. I'm not a fan, no.
Bob Simon (43:13):
I'm not either.
Mauro Fiore (43:15):
But again, Dagger tried to poison me.
Bob Simon (43:16):
At the end of the day, Gossip Border tried to kill you.
Mauro Fiore (43:19):
Yeah, Gossip Border tried to kill me. Gossip Border has been good to me over the years, but he also, he kind of threw me under the bus a couple of times, where ... He threw me under the bus, but you know, that's good. I like that he keeps it honest.
Bob Simon (43:29):
Yeah, he does. [inaudible 00:43:30].
Mauro Fiore (43:30):
Have you ever been a topic on Gossip Border?
Esther Estrada (43:34):
I have not. I've been under the radar.
Mauro Fiore (43:36):
I had a problem with Jacob and Ronnie, and--
Bob Simon (43:38):
Oh, that's right!
Esther Estrada (43:39):
I think everyone did.
Mauro Fiore (43:39):
Gossip Border threw me under the bus.
Bob Simon (43:40):
So, a good marketing tip is, if you see a billboard lawyer, just have one number different than their 1-800 number, or one letter different on their website. Am I right, Mauro?
Mauro Fiore (43:49):
Yes. Because remember, the average person looking at billboards can't really spell, you know? So, Jacob can be spelled a lot of ways, so, "Call Jacob," five or six different misspellings.
Esther Estrada (43:59):
Jacob with no B at the end.
Mauro Fiore (43:59):
That's [inaudible 00:44:01].
Bob Simon (43:59):
Call Yacob.
Esther Estrada (43:59):
Call Yacob.
Mauro Fiore (44:03):
Yeah, I mean, hey, you know? And he's not the only one that I ... For the record, I have canceled all these websites that I had.
Esther Estrada (44:12):
Uh-huh.
Mauro Fiore (44:13):
But at one time, I might've had lots of websites that redirected to my website; of common misspellings of a lot of very big websites.
Esther Estrada (44:23):
Smart.
Bob Simon (44:23):
I actually thought ... All of these stories I think are like, he makes them up, but I was in the heat of it, because he was getting ... We were in--
Mauro Fiore (44:28):
Because people who watch daytime TV at 2:00, watching Judge Judy, I don't think they're the best spellers, okay? So, that's me personally. Because if you watch Judge Judy all day long, there's just lawyer commercials.
Esther Estrada (44:41):
Did he track the ROI on that?
Mauro Fiore (44:42):
Well, what happened was Jacob and Ronnie got wind of it.
Esther Estrada (44:47):
Oh.
Mauro Fiore (44:47):
And he started sending me these nasty texts, and ... Because I know the guy, you know?
Bob Simon (44:51):
We were actually drinking whiskey--
Mauro Fiore (44:53):
We were in Cabo!
Bob Simon (44:53):
We were in Cabo, and he was calling, cussing him out. We were just laughing.
Mauro Fiore (44:56):
Jacob and Ronnie was calling me, "You fucker. You've got to transfer these websites to me tonight!"
Bob Simon (45:01):
Yeah, tonight.
Mauro Fiore (45:01):
"Or I'm going to sue you for ... " He called it cyber squatting, which I don't know if that's true or not, but hey, whatever, man.
Adrian Hernandez (45:10):
Did he sue you?
Mauro Fiore (45:10):
Huh?
Adrian Hernandez (45:10):
Did he sue you?
Mauro Fiore (45:11):
No, I gave him the fucking websites.
Adrian Hernandez (45:13):
Oh, shit.
Mauro Fiore (45:13):
Although they did get some traffic, I'll tell you. They did get some traffic. But I gave him the websites before ... You don't want to deal ...
Bob Simon (45:19):
No.
Mauro Fiore (45:19):
Listen, you don't want to [inaudible 00:45:20].
Esther Estrada (45:19):
It's unnecessary, yeah.
Bob Simon (45:19):
It was [inaudible 00:45:20].
Adrian Hernandez (45:19):
[inaudible 00:45:20] Jacob Armani.com.
Mauro Fiore (45:19):
Well, yeah. It was like, "Call Jacob ... "
Bob Simon (45:19):
'Call' with one L.
Mauro Fiore (45:26):
"Call Jacob--"
Bob Simon (45:27):
'Call Yacob' with a Y. Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (45:30):
Yeah. I mean, I spent some time thinking about how people would misspell it.
Adrian Hernandez (45:32):
'Call Jake'.
Mauro Fiore (45:32):
I mean, I'm crazy like a fox, as they say.
Bob Simon (45:35):
I think that is actually cyber squatting.
Mauro Fiore (45:36):
Yes.
Bob Simon (45:38):
[inaudible 00:45:37] the thing that he did, it was like, you'd put in 'call Yacob' with one L, and then you would push ... He did this thing where he'd go push the button, it would just go right to Mauro's page. It was very funny.
Mauro Fiore (45:45):
It would just redirect [inaudible 00:45:46].
Esther Estrada (45:45):
That's actually happened to you in a festival, remember?
Adrian Hernandez (45:53):
Oh yeah, someone stole our ... Well, they didn't steal it, they just bought an alternative ... They added a little thing to it.
Esther Estrada (45:58):
Same thing; cyber squatting.
Adrian Hernandez (46:00):
Yeah, cyber squatting.
Esther Estrada (46:01):
It was a band, and they were like--
Adrian Hernandez (46:03):
Yeah, it was a band just trying to go viral, but ...
Bob Simon (46:06):
Mauro's gone viral a few times.
Esther Estrada (46:07):
Not the good kind?
Bob Simon (46:07):
[inaudible 00:46:09].
Mauro Fiore (46:11):
Luckily, they have medicine for that.
Bob Simon (46:13):
Well, speaking of medicine, this actually, Old Forester started off as a medicinal whiskey, because Old Forester was a doctor. They called him 'old' because he was an old man.
Mauro Fiore (46:21):
During the prohibition--
Bob Simon (46:21):
Sure.
Mauro Fiore (46:22):
You could ... This is why the prohibition was such horseshit. During the prohibition, you could get a prescription for bourbon from your doctor.
Esther Estrada (46:29):
Or brandy, right?
Bob Simon (46:30):
Or for weed [inaudible 00:46:32].
Mauro Fiore (46:31):
You could get a prescription for whiskey. So, Old Forester was one of the ones that stayed open during the prohibition because they were filling prescriptions for people where the doctor said, "You need to drink whiskey for something."
Esther Estrada (46:46):
Brandy for the nerves. I think brandy was [inaudible 00:46:47].
Mauro Fiore (46:46):
It's like, my grandma was Mexican, from Guadalajara, and she said you could cure anything with Presidente, which is this shitty Mexican brandy, but if you put it on a sore or something, it'll--
Esther Estrada (46:58):
Go away.
Mauro Fiore (46:58):
It'll go away.
Esther Estrada (46:59):
Well, [inaudible 00:47:00].
Mauro Fiore (47:00):
So, I understand that Mexicans--
Bob Simon (47:02):
My Irish family said it was salt water and whiskey, cured anything.
Mauro Fiore (47:04):
Presidente cures anything for Mexicans. Presidente or Menudo.
Esther Estrada (47:07):
Or tequila. My dad's like, if he starts feeling a sore throat, he just throws back a shot.
Bob Simon (47:11):
My dad says ... Again, my Irish dad says the same shit. Just give him spirits.
Esther Estrada (47:13):
Yeah. He just throws back a shot.
Bob Simon (47:15):
So, five years from now, where's it going to be? Are you going to have a team of lawyers? Are you going to do more intake? What's [inaudible 00:47:20]?
Esther Estrada (47:19):
Yeah, hopefully. I'd like to keep building the firm, see how it goes. I don't want to go too big either.
Bob Simon (47:26):
So, we're going to end on this.
Mauro Fiore (47:29):
I'm going to give you my best advice for young lawyers.
Bob Simon (47:30):
I was going to have them give advice important to them.
Mauro Fiore (47:31):
I'm going to give them my best advice [inaudible 00:47:32].
Bob Simon (47:32):
Here we go. Here we go. Let's go.
Mauro Fiore (47:34):
Remember, before you go out and buy a Bentley and all kinds of crazy shit, remember your silent partner Uncle Sam. Don't you ever forget. Because I see all these young lawyers, they're riding high on the hog ... Right, Bob? You've seen this.
Bob Simon (47:50):
Yes. It's very [inaudible 00:47:51].
Mauro Fiore (47:50):
Riding high on the hog, "I settled this case." The next thing you know, at the end of the year--
Bob Simon (47:56):
He told me this story before; a guy that had a fleet of Ferraris was on the streets.
Mauro Fiore (47:57):
Fleet. Fleet.
Bob Simon (47:57):
On the streets.
Mauro Fiore (47:59):
Homeless, living on ... A fleet of Bentleys and Ferraris, fleet, and he had a butler, and would ...
Esther Estrada (48:05):
Oh, God.
Bob Simon (48:06):
Idiots. It's stupid.
Mauro Fiore (48:07):
Yeah, so, he forgot about his silent partner Uncle Sam. Remember Uncle Sam. Unforgiving motherfucker, too. He takes his piece of the cheese, and unrelentingly every year, so remember Uncle Sam before you go buy the Bentley. Buy the Bentley after Uncle Sam, that's good, but remember--
Esther Estrada (48:25):
Oh yeah, no. Not only is he my marketer, he's my financial advisor.
Bob Simon (48:28):
No shit!
Esther Estrada (48:28):
And my auditor.
Mauro Fiore (48:34):
Okay, good.
Bob Simon (48:34):
I need to hire this guy!
Mauro Fiore (48:34):
You know about the silent partner.
Adrian Hernandez (48:34):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (48:34):
You know about him. He's there.
Esther Estrada (48:34):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (48:35):
So, tell us, Bob, what were you [inaudible 00:48:37]. I'm sorry for interrupting.
Bob Simon (48:39):
I just want to know ... because a lot of lawyers that we know have unsuccessful marriages, and I think they make many critical missteps, so what have you done well that you can give advice of working while separately, yet together, and why you two work? Primo, I'll start with you. I'll put you on the spot. You can take another drink if you want to have it.
Adrian Hernandez (48:57):
I would say--
Mauro Fiore (48:58):
He's ready for another cocktail.
Esther Estrada (49:00):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (49:00):
Here we go.
Esther Estrada (49:01):
He's like, "Hold on, let me just drink before I say anything."
Adrian Hernandez (49:04):
I mean, I think one of the biggest things that has helped us is that we're both constantly growing, and I feel like, not even just for lawyers, but any relationship where there's kind of one person ... you know, you've got the straggler, and then you've got the person who's really doing it--
Esther Estrada (49:25):
[inaudible 00:49:25].
Adrian Hernandez (49:26):
It could ... I feel like that's one of the biggest things that I've seen, in just any relationship, whether it--
Bob Simon (49:33):
It's the bored partner at home, it's the jealous ...
Adrian Hernandez (49:36):
Exactly.
Bob Simon (49:36):
Because you're out there hustling. I agree with you 100%. I think you have to have your own hustle, your own businesses.
Esther Estrada (49:41):
[inaudible 00:49:42].
Adrian Hernandez (49:42):
And even if you're not, let's say, the most successful, rich ... just making crazy money, as long as you have your thing and you're focused to that, that will help significantly, because like I said, you don't have to be also making a crazy amount of money, but whatever it is that you're passionate about, and doing for a living, focus on that. Obviously, we have to be able to create time to spend with each other as well, because I'm a workaholic.
Bob Simon (50:17):
You have to be [inaudible 00:50:18].
Esther Estrada (50:18):
[inaudible 00:50:18] yeah.
Adrian Hernandez (50:18):
Yeah, she [inaudible 00:50:19].
Bob Simon (50:21):
We all are workaholics. We talk about this. We're like, "Why do we work so much," but it's ...
Adrian Hernandez (50:22):
Yeah. It's addicting.
Esther Estrada (50:22):
Yeah. If we weren't working ... If I wasn't working as hard as he was, or he wasn't working as hard as I am, we'd be like, "What the hell is going on?"
Adrian Hernandez (50:30):
So, yeah, I think that's the best--
Esther Estrada (50:30):
And then, we understand each other.
Adrian Hernandez (50:31):
I mean, we've consistently been pushing each other to the next level--
Bob Simon (50:34):
I think that's the key. I like that.
Adrian Hernandez (50:35):
I think that's a very important key, because as long as we're both happy doing what we love, and staying busy, I feel like you don't have time to kind of ...
Bob Simon (50:54):
Well, Esther, since you own your own company, you own your own business, I mean, this is ... You do Primo; Esther, you do, too.
Esther Estrada (50:59):
He turns three.
Bob Simon (51:02):
Oh, God. [inaudible 00:51:03] same shit, running different companies every hour of your day, and dealing with issues.
Adrian Hernandez (51:06):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (51:08):
Do you have a shut-off valve? How do you handle that?
Esther Estrada (51:10):
It's so hard, but I mean, I don't think, as a business owner, you're ever fully off. I think you just learn, "Oh, I have this next hour. I'm going to be present in the moment." We have our things, like our date nights that we schedule. We literally schedule our date nights. [inaudible 00:51:24].
Bob Simon (51:23):
I was trying to schedule date night, and when I found out you were pregnant, I was doing all these dinners. I was like, "Oh, you're pregnant. I'm going to wait for you to be able to drink."
Esther Estrada (51:30):
Yeah. Please.
Mauro Fiore (51:30):
Let me tell you, one thing that's going to change all that is that kid.
Esther Estrada (51:34):
Oh, we've got the nanny on lock.
Mauro Fiore (51:35):
[inaudible 00:51:36].
Bob Simon (51:37):
Night nurse. The best advice I will give you, get a night nurse, because the most valuable for parents is sleep.
Mauro Fiore (51:41):
Bob, do you want to ask me my secret to my marriage?
Bob Simon (51:43):
No.
Adrian Hernandez (51:47):
Are you married?
Mauro Fiore (51:47):
[inaudible 00:51:48].
Bob Simon (51:48):
Please. I know the answer, and I'm not going to say it, because--
Mauro Fiore (51:51):
My answer--
Bob Simon (51:52):
Don't say it.
Mauro Fiore (51:52):
To my marriage is fear.
Bob Simon (51:55):
Oh my god, that is way worse than I thought it was going to be.
Mauro Fiore (52:00):
Do you know, I mean, I'm scared of Mrs. Fiore.
Bob Simon (52:02):
Oh, Esther, she's [inaudible 00:52:03].
Esther Estrada (52:03):
Oh, okay. She keeps you in shape?
Mauro Fiore (52:03):
If anybody knows Mrs. Fiore, you know she doesn't fuck around. But, on the good end--
Bob Simon (52:10):
[inaudible 00:52:12].
Mauro Fiore (52:12):
The only reason I'm still alive, I think, is my wife.
Bob Simon (52:14):
Yeah.
Mauro Fiore (52:15):
Or I would've been dead by now, because I was fucking wild. I got married when I was--
Esther Estrada (52:18):
Was?
Mauro Fiore (52:19):
Well, was. I got married when I was 43 years old. I was fucking crazy. So, thank God I got married and I have kids now, and ... So, marriage is a beautiful thing [inaudible 00:52:29].
Bob Simon (52:29):
Mauro's now a family guy.
Mauro Fiore (52:30):
I'm a family ... Anyone sees me on Instagram, I'm fucking father of the year, man. I love my kids. I love my wife. Changed my life completely, so that kid's going to change your life completely, but it's going to be the best thing ever. And you guys are so young, you're going to be able to really appreciate it.
Bob Simon (52:46):
And let them be part of your lifestyle, enjoy the things that you like.
Mauro Fiore (52:48):
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we traveled through Europe, me and Bob and our wives and our four kids--
Bob Simon (52:53):
My wife was eight months pregnant at the time.
Mauro Fiore (52:54):
And she was eight months pregnant.
Esther Estrada (52:55):
That was ... I swear I thought she was going to have your baby in Europe.
Bob Simon (52:55):
I thought we were too. I was actually hoping [inaudible 00:52:56].
Mauro Fiore (52:56):
We did six weeks in Europe with the kids and everything, and it's easy to do it with other people that are the same thing. Bob is a dad, the best dad you'll ever see.
Bob Simon (53:08):
[inaudible 00:53:09].
Mauro Fiore (53:09):
I'm a good dad. Both great mothers, so--
Esther Estrada (53:12):
He's like, "I get by."
Mauro Fiore (53:12):
It's very easy. It's very easy to travel with people who are on the same wavelength.
Adrian Hernandez (53:17):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (53:18):
[inaudible 00:53:17] priorities.
Mauro Fiore (53:19):
Our kids are our priority, and so our kids are our priority, and then of course everything else is secondary, but we had ... That's how it is. So, once you have kids and stuff, you'll realize ... You'll hang out with other people with kids. You'll see how they act. You'll act--
Bob Simon (53:31):
Why are you wearing Balenciaga shoes?
Mauro Fiore (53:34):
Oh, it was, you know, once in a while, I've got to spend--
Esther Estrada (53:39):
What the fuck?
Bob Simon (53:39):
Speaking of kids ... All right, we've got to wrap up this. This is getting ... It's going to go down a dark path.
Mauro Fiore (53:42):
I've got to spend a couple of dollars sometime. Should I wear Pay Less shoes? You know?
Bob Simon (53:44):
We used to shop at Pay Less. I used to do only Velcro at Pay Less, because they're very easy to get on and off. My mom [inaudible 00:53:50].
Mauro Fiore (53:50):
Should I wear Pro Wings from Pay Less? Did you wear Pro Wings?
Bob Simon (53:56):
Oh, here we go. I never had Wings.
Adrian Hernandez (53:56):
Shaqs.
Mauro Fiore (53:56):
Shaqs? Oh, yeah. IN1's, should I wear IN1's?
Bob Simon (54:00):
IN1's? My dad convinced me that Jordache was Jordan when I was a kid. And we played well at school. We didn't know the difference. "Look at that symbol. That's Jordan. Okay."
Mauro Fiore (54:07):
You know, I'm an older guy. I've got a couple of bucks. I buy Balenciaga.
Bob Simon (54:10):
I like it. Okay, it's fine. Well, we're going to wrap this up. We usually ask, "What is your Bourbon of Proof," at the end--
Mauro Fiore (54:15):
What is your Bourbon of Proof?
Bob Simon (54:17):
But she don't know, because she [inaudible 00:54:18].
Mauro Fiore (54:18):
Well, let's ask Primo Adrian.
Bob Simon (54:19):
Primo, what was your favorite? What stuck out to you? We know you're a tequila guy. It's fine.
Adrian Hernandez (54:23):
I really like this last one.
Mauro Fiore (54:25):
The birthday?
Adrian Hernandez (54:25):
Yeah, the birthday.
Mauro Fiore (54:26):
You have a very expensive palate. That's $2000 bucks. You've got an expensive palate.
Adrian Hernandez (54:31):
[inaudible 00:54:31] good.
Esther Estrada (54:31):
That explains it.
Bob Simon (54:32):
When I go to legal conferences, people know that I like whiskey bourbon, obviously, so people find me and give me a bottle of whiskey.
Mauro Fiore (54:37):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (54:37):
Somebody, one time ... I was at a TBI conference, TBI Med Legal, two years ago ... put this in my carryon bag they give you, put a bottle of birthday bourbon. I didn't even know.
Mauro Fiore (54:44):
Bourbon?
Bob Simon (54:45):
I went home, I put [inaudible 00:54:47].
Mauro Fiore (54:46):
That's literally like a ...
Bob Simon (54:47):
I know! I didn't know it at the time.
Mauro Fiore (54:48):
It's like a unicorn.
Bob Simon (54:50):
So, somebody came to my house ... my buddy Randy ... and he's like, "Where the fuck did you get that?" I said, "Somebody gave it to me."
Mauro Fiore (54:54):
Because from what I heard--
Bob Simon (54:54):
He was like, "Let's open it." And then I looked at the price, I was like, "Holy shit!"
Mauro Fiore (54:56):
From what I heard, the 100 bottles they put out every year are reserved already for Justin Bieber and shit, you know? Famous people already have [inaudible 00:55:06].
Bob Simon (55:05):
Like Mauro Fiore, Junior. No, there's a Mauro Fiore, Junior that lives in Los Angeles and it's a producer. It's not him. Look him up.
Mauro Fiore (55:12):
Mauro Fiore is a cinematographer ... Academy Award winner, the motherfucker ... who, he's the cinematographer of Avatar, Spider-Man, Armageddon, all the blockbusters, and his name is Mauro Fiore, which is a odd name, right? But he kind of lives in Nebraska, the son of a bitch. He's one of those people that lives out of state. He's always lived in Nebraska. So, every year, people look up my name, they figure, "It's got to be the same dude," and they send shit to my house to autograph, and I don't want to disappoint them, so I'll autograph these Avatar posters--
Bob Simon (55:46):
Oh my god, I did not know that.
Mauro Fiore (55:46):
I autograph them and send them back to the people. People are like, "I'm your biggest fan." They send me ... I live in Hollywood, and my name is Mauro Fiore. How can it not be the fucking Academy Award winner, you know?
Bob Simon (55:56):
Oh my god.
Mauro Fiore (55:57):
So, they send me Avatar posters and Spider-Man shit. I don't want to disappoint them. I sign the shit and send it back to them. I tell them, "Keep dreaming. You could be like me." I send the shit back to them.
Bob Simon (56:09):
They've been inspired by Mauro Fiore.
Mauro Fiore (56:11):
I inspire them, you know? Meanwhile, the real Mauro Fiore lives in Elk Horn, Nebraska. So, if you want to find the real fucker, send the shit to Elk Horn, Nebraska.
Bob Simon (56:20):
[inaudible 00:56:21].
Esther Estrada (56:20):
[inaudible 00:56:21].
Mauro Fiore (56:21):
You want to send the fake Mauro Fiore Academy Award winner, send it to Hollywood.
Bob Simon (56:26):
There we go. YLA, City of LA. All right.
Esther Estrada (56:28):
City of LA.
Bob Simon (56:29):
What you guys now live in. Hollywood proper. So, guys, thank you for coming on, so much. You guys, where can they find you? Just give ... IG? What's the best way for people just to hit you up? Primo Adrian?
Adrian Hernandez (56:41):
Instagram, primo.adrian.
Bob Simon (56:45):
Primo.adrian.
Esther Estrada (56:45):
Or NeedPastel.
Adrian Hernandez (56:45):
Or NeedPastel.
Esther Estrada (56:45):
That's his [inaudible 00:56:46].
Bob Simon (56:45):
[inaudible 00:56:46] primo?
Mauro Fiore (56:46):
What's it called? Need Pastel?
Adrian Hernandez (56:46):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It means need ... pastel is like cake. Need cake.
Mauro Fiore (56:54):
Bastel?
Adrian Hernandez (56:54):
Pastel, yeah.
Esther Estrada (56:55):
Pastel.
Mauro Fiore (56:56):
Oh, pastel. Okay.
Bob Simon (56:57):
I thought you meant pastels, like [inaudible 00:56:59].
Mauro Fiore (56:58):
I thought you meant like Art Basel, you know? I've been to Art Basel before.
Adrian Hernandez (57:04):
Really?
Mauro Fiore (57:04):
And I'm not much into art, but I'm into booze and partying.
Esther Estrada (57:11):
I was going to say, I was like, "For the parties?"
Bob Simon (57:11):
All right. Penchant for buggery, too. Esther, how do they find you?
Esther Estrada (57:13):
I'm Esther the Lawyer on Instagram.
Bob Simon (57:15):
There we go.
Esther Estrada (57:15):
Yeah.
Bob Simon (57:16):
Thank you guys for coming on. Thank you for choosing the birthday bourbon, man. It was very nice. Best of luck to you, Esther and Adrian, Primo.
Adrian Hernandez (57:23):
Thank you.
Esther Estrada (57:24):
Thank you.
Mauro Fiore (57:25):
Peace and love, as Ringo Starr says.
Bob Simon (57:27):
Peace, love, and dope, as Terrence Mann said.
