Asian Gang Members to YouTube Kings: JustKiddingNews interview

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‪@JustKiddingNews‬ cofounders Bart Kwan and Joe Jitsukawa grew up working in gangs in the "pharmaceutical industry" - but wanted to be better and make good. In 2007 - they started the Just Kidding KZbin empire.
17 years later - despite fellow creators quitting & AdSense dropping - they're still going strong- and today share the secret to their success.
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Follow Karat at
/ trykarat
Now available on Spotify
open.spotify.com/episode/17My...
Follow Eric Wei at
/ erictway
Follow Bart Kwan here:
‪@BartGeo‬
‪@barbellbrigade‬
/ bartkwan
Follow Joe Jitsukawa here:
‪@JoeJitsukawa‬
/ joejitsukawa
Follow JustKidding News here:
‪@JustKiddingNews‬
/ justkiddingnews
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0:00 - Intro
2:09 - Troubled youth to KZbin stars
4:23 - Bart's special high school program
5:39 - How did Bart get KICKED OUT of military school
7:43 - Joe's story of being in a street gang at 15
11:19 - He went to college to buy w**d with financial aid money
11:51 - Why he decided to assimilate into society
16:20 - How would their lives be different if they had KZbin in High School
19:17 - How MMA brought them together
20:33 - Bart the “peacemaker”...who beat people up
23:49 - How he maintained a 4.0 GPA after being in a gang
24:26 - How Just Kidding Films started
25:50 - How did Bart shift from Marine Corp/Doctor to KZbin?
29:29 - How did Joe get to where he is now & shifting priorities to JK media
37:52 - When did they realize JK media was a business?
42:15 - Did money change their business?
42:48 - Their KZbin EMPIRE: Rise and Fall
50:17 - Their businesses outside of JK media
54:26 - How being a dad CHANGED him
57:02 - The unique experience all Asian Americans share
58:09 - Bart and his family relationship
1:03:54 - Struggling to fill a void in life
1:05:16 - Why have they stayed friends after all this time?
1:09:09 - Eric's strange relationship with his cofounder
1:10:31 - How they each drive each other crazy
1:14:11 - A moment when they needed each other
1:15:40 - What is the secret to their success

[@trykarat]

Thank you JK family for joining us 🫶 I’m so grateful I got to do this w Bart & Joe!! If you liked the pod- check out the one I did w Dumbfoundead too! As well as the CEO of Jubilee

[@cocx88]

I never get tired of hearing Joe and Bart's JK origin story😂

[@bethnichols2875]

Thank you, Eric for having Bart and Joe on your podcast. Absolutely love it.

[@trykarat]

Of course! And thank you for watching ☺️

[@BorisBidjanSaberi11]

Joe and Bart have felt like cool older cousins to me. Joe is why I motivated to start a business

[@sxhxlzxb]

I love how they flipped their lives, you ain’t have to be in the game forever. They became successful I love them

[@kiarademoner]

I’m so happy to be part of the jk community! ♥️

[@TheThan-sx8ve]

Damn you really are intertwined with the JK fam. I see you all the time in the JKNews comments but I didn't know you watched everything JK related. You are a true JK fan

[@kiarademoner]

@@TheThan-sx8ve we have to give our support. I have watched them for almost a decade now and I truly love the jk family.

[@AZNGoSu]

You made it. Asian founders interviewing Asian OG creators

[@skongxx]

So much love for Bart and Joe ❤ Their loyalty to each other and the people around them is so hard to come by. May they continue to prosper for many more years.

[@lefton4ya]

Never heard of these guys but appreciate the interview with these guys who have been going for 17 years!

[@trykarat]

thank you for being open minded and checking out the pod! appreciate ya

[@Jetsmoove421]

Jk crew REPRESENT 🔥🚨

[@CuongChanster]

Almost 2 decades of yt. Truely our yt asian uncles. Great questions to getting the whole jk history of Bart and Joe

[@joanna_7049]

Great video, I honestly never get tired of hearing Bart and Joe talk about where they came from and where they are today. Truly inspirational to so many late 90 Asian kids

[@rofaca]

I love this conversation! Thank you so much! I really had so much fun watching you guys have a meaningful conversation!

[@lwyzplaza]

Joe Bart and the beautiful Geo are the best!

[@GabeItchess]

everybody needs true homie like Bart and Joe man they real definition of homies . specially the business partner thing cus that’s how friendships are ruined

[@MusicFreak61594]

Love Bart and Joe! Watch JKNews!

[@BobRoberts2504]

Another great video Karat, love Bart and Joe, have a good day. ✌️

[@marccoloma2360]

I absolutely love this interview! Been following Bart & Joe for more than a decade, can't get anymore real than them!

[@sumoelment]

That was stellar 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩!!!! One can learn so much from the three of you. Absolutely loved it! Great role models, thank you for sharing with us all. 🙏🏼🥰

[@RevoZtuns]

SO dope. Props to Eric for bringin the story of youtube OGs to life.

[@GabeItchess]

but man amazing pod bro , amazing host. had great questions , even tho i watched these guys for years, you asking the right questions gave me more detailed info on their experiences 💯🙏🏻

[@DemonFox369]

I love hearing these two talk about their experiences

[@StephenVTran]

These guys never age, funny insightful interview and much appreciated!

[@explosev6513]

Awesome podcast, been following these guys for over a decade now!

[@1916mookies]

I love how articulate the three of you are. I really enjoyed this content. Thank you

[@lifewithpat2535]

This was such a great podcast episode! Love Joe and Bart 👍🏻👍🏻😎 Both amazing individuals 😇 Thank you for sharing guys! Yall rock!

[@hlz.syncyn]

First time listening to ur podcast and wow this is great! Really enjoyed seeing Bart and Joe talking abt this kinda of talks and ofc all thanks to ur great lead and questions❤

[@blade-edge]

Thank you Eric for this podcast, its the very 1st one ive watched. Joe & Bart are what brought me here. Been watching them for years on the various JK channels. But Ive really enjoyed this interview and to see their personalities in real life. A lot of what was spoken was very cathartic and also being Asian very true with generational thinking. It was fun, informative and great questions and pacing. Seeing how they both think and intellectualize concepts was truly eye opening. Keep up the great work im glad I stumbled onto this podcast

[@licknuu]

S H O W M E T H E P R O O F

[@hectormendoza5660]

To bad theyre not releasing the shirt

[@niinjaaturtle]

☠️☠️☠️☠️ amazing

[@Joe-Mama978]

THIS IS AMAZING!!!!

[@akira1205]

I think Bart meant "pharmaceutical" with an emphasis on the quotes. Not actual pharmaceutical. 😂

[@trykarat]

Yep- I agree 😉

[@ricosuavemente571]

He must have been quite the “pharmacist” back in those days 😂

[@kurniafanny1]

GREAT questions.

[@jk4115]

great interview

[@davidoh3497]

Joe and Bart are legitimately the embodiment of people built different. Unironically fr

[@beingforeverfree]

It’s wild that joe and bart are able to maintain this image of just hanging out and having a good time while working their asses off

[@bertmclin]

I learn so much from these guys. Awesome episode! ❤️✨

[@bertmclin]

The Secret: Friendship 🕊️

[@sinfulust]

Amazing content and interaction

[@kristina627]

I can’t get over how much Taika looks like Bart. SPITTING IMAGE!

[@SwolfieTv]

@55:48 lmao! 😭 Enjoyed this pod, followed Bart and Joe for a hot minute. Love their story

[@sxhxlzxb]

Love them !!!

[@cocx88]

JK IN DA HOUSE

[@lozarmusic]

Woah! First Jetlagged then my all time favorite people! I think you got a new subscriber :D

[@trykarat]

anyone you'd want to see me interview next? :D

[@UrbanLegend2k11]

Next we need Anthony "SHOW ME THE PROOF" Lee

[@ap-oi7te]

The Goats

[@black4pienus]

I love these guys.

[@valfromtexas999]

I remember how Joe looked when i first started watching Jknews (when Geo was pregnant) and he looks completely different 😂 haven't stopped watching since!

[@saraaaaa1]

Great video

[@mags7432]

Freaking amazing!!!❤

[@BuhdeeProductions]

The upbringing is what puts a smile on my face and reminiscing of what they go through in life they’re my highschool influencers

[@innyuendo1532]

It’s super cool to hear Bart talk about joining ASB his senior year because that means he and I are both alumni of Mark Keppel’s ASB. I went to the same high school as Bart and Joe but in the 2010s

[@GabeItchess]

man i grew up on JK everything. i always say this , growing up, Bart was always a inspirational to me. dude has same experiences same mindset i had, he had some motives like me, he got beautiful family, great businesses with his wife and his best friend. dude fr still a inspiration to me now 💯 always gon be happy wit JK.

[@iDealMedley]

"Gangs in pharmaceutical industries" 😂😂😂😂

[@allio3459]

Aka Drugs 😂

[@Chosen0ne]

Good interview

[@KJ-ek2ze]

The top 2 "reference gifs" that pop up in my mind everytime i see Bart is Geo describing the frist time she saw him, and her first impression was how straight his posture was, and that sweet asian lady talking to him and him saying oh sorry i dont speak the devils language...hahaha.

[@litaf5104]

clicked for thumbnail. stayed for nostalgia 👏🏼🥹

[@ssenluong17]

Letsssss gooooo!!

[@liberte2016]

I think this is something I’d watch again when I feel this world is hopeless

[@witchHunterRN]

This here is the definition of Loyalty that only a few in this world find...

[@sirenloud]

He went from gangs to government I'm like is he from Chicago LOL😂

[@RonaldPilva]

Such a good story. Shout out to friendship

[@liyinchong4493]

Fire 🔥

[@Asian_Kid]

I'm glad they actually changed. There's a lot of people that say they've changed, but they still dress banged out and throw up gang signs.

[@Thedifference727]

Ayee say the word OG bart n joe I’ll start peacemakers 2nd gen 💪🏽💪🏽

[@AMBIKAKAMBANG]

One look like Yakuza boss the other a triad boss. 😮

[@alextaylor6755]

Been watching them since I was 14

[@Thedifference727]

LETS GOOOOO!!! Jk fans since 14’

[@parsonofinterest6196]

“Pharmaceutical ring” 😂

[@FayaadSalarbux]

Crazy I have been watching since I was 10 and I’m 24 now, time is going by way too fast

[@westsidekuma32]

California Legends

[@otisindianna4212]

Joe and Bart cool uncles for the nerds

[@tk8959]

love some Bart and Joe lore

[@iLoneWolfy]

CAREFUL BOYS!!!

[@mags7432]

Idk how many times I hear the origin story, I will always click it.

[@amenoiralmagest2440]

Our bois made it

[@peterlongac]

You can hear and see it slightly but ima vocalize it. I kinna tear up every time i hear both JK member's stories, i'm happy their perseverance has rewarded them

[@monicasalazar1772]

these dudes are epic.

[@jhc577]

the peacekeepers part is fucking hilarious LOL wtf bart

[@levi99]

I knew the careful boys were Gs but they were really Gs lol

[@cloudyboi13]

🔥🔥🔥

[@extremeboiwoo]

16:45 LMFAO Loved this pod, relatable as fuck

[@Kayla-qt4ef]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@chriztianhusher8401]

Did Bart just said pharmaceutical ring, 😂 cant he just say drug dealer or illegal pharmacist?!

[@peapz4572]

We identified 5th high schoolers as super seniors lol

[@johnamate5818]

Everydays go to schools to be the good boys.

[@TimDFSmart]

Their view how a persons word should carry weight is true. A mans word should be worth as much as gold

[@RedDenim]

That whole conversation about not wanting to repeat the failures of our parents during our upbringing is fkn gold man

[@trykarat]

Yea- it’s how do we break the generational trauma 🥺

[@RedDenim]

@@trykarat it runs in the family until it runs into us 😎

[@user-pd9ju5dk5s]

Pharmaceutical industry 😂😂😂😂

[@kielephant]

Yess JK Gang 🙌

[@chandleryan1347]

I love the evolution of us Asians in the States.

[@jk4115]

this is so true and funny 1:07:33

[@Basta11]

What Joe was saying when he went to the career fair is true with all high schoolers. Unless your parents are in the field, you will likely not know your options out there. There should be a class called Careers where you get to learn about different careers out there. As a kid, all you know are like the stuff that is in the kindergarten board - police, fireman, teacher, janitor, doctor, nurse, lawyer, businessman, engineer, pilot, soldier, etc. You don't know things like dental hygienist, radiology technologist, HVAC repair, cyber security specialist, management consultant, actuary, data scientist, comptroller, air traffic control, government jobs like state department or US foreign service officer. And even something like Doctor or Lawyer, there is like so many specialties within like surgeon, ob/gyn, opthalmologist, immunologist, endocrinologist, epidemiologist, ER, pathologist, psychiatrist, oncologist...

[@sdbz2]

Uncle Same (Bart) DOES NOT AGE. 😊

[@pkruez2089]

JKnews!!!!!

[@McNuttyET]

joe is slowly becoming bobby lee

[@Anonymouscpa2]

Is Joe Japanese American? His last name is pretty rate, like even for Japanese overall.

[@michaelphilip1]

If you don’t look and just listen, Eric sounds like Graham Stephen

[@trykarat]

oh haha i've heard this so many times - what about our voices sounds so similar? i've done a couple pods w him too on this channel

[@JustinZyro]

JK FAM!

[@kshinokevin]

JK News O.G.'s/Gangstas

[@nathantran7159]

korea numba 1!

[@jessemorales7742]

I was the mf smoking by himself 😂