(upbeat music) - Neil, are you ready to get in bed with me? - Let's do it. - Amazing. I have Neil Mepha, founder and CEO of Royal Intimacy, which is honestly my favorite condom brand. So, welcome and thank you so much for coming. - Thanks for having me, Alexa. - Okay. - And bed with you. - Lucky me, okay. Neil and I have been working together for the past two years or so, like it's been a while. And I didn't know condoms, usual condom, like big condom companies make non-vegan condoms. Like they have animal byproducts. So, how did you find this out? And Neil's condoms are vegan. So, which is why I love to work with them. So, tell us. - Yeah, so, thanks again for having me on. Yeah, it's kind of like a long story, but basically I had like an unfortunate condom incident with a girl I was dating. And we were checking out to see if she was allergic or not, but that was not the case. Because latex allergy is common or people think it's common, but fun fact, only about like 0.7 to 1% of the world is actually allergic to latex. So, it's actually not even a latex issue most of the time. It's actually just like the product you're probably using or you're just not knowing you're using it the right way. So, we found out that it wasn't a latex allergy. And I was like, this doesn't make any sense. Like, I've never had this issue before. - You're like, what is it then? - Yeah, she was getting like rashing and itchy and then started to feel sick also, just like physically sick and no latex. So, at the same time I was doing my grad school, getting my master's in public health and started to do a lot of STD and STI research with lower socioeconomic status areas around New York City and realize that the number one thing that people don't know about is like what they're actually using when it comes to sex. And so, after I started researching like the more nitty gritty detail of like ingredients, like materials, like manufacturing, I started to realize that they actually add casein in it, which is animal byproduct, which is typically using like proteins, a lot of bodybuilders use them, or even just in way proteins, casein proteins, stuff like that. - What does that do to the condom? - So, it actually dries it during the manufacturing process. So, it's used for that, but then it's also used to keep the condom a little more elastic. - Stretchy, uh-huh. - So, what we did is that we found a way to take it out. - We're in people, some people are allergic to casein. - You can be allergic to casein, but it's also just a naturally animal-derived protein, so. - When it's unnecessary to use animal products in fucking condoms. - Exactly, and on top of that, like there are vegans and vegetarians in the world. Like one of the biggest countries that my fathers come from India, the biggest vegetarian population, that they didn't even know that their products had this in it. So, when. - Yeah, it's just not common knowledge. - Yeah, so I just assumed like no one else would know either. So, when I started to ask people, "Oh, did you know this, did you know that?" They're like, "I had no fucking idea." So, I was like, "This is a problem." 'Cause this is also the time when the beauty brands were taking shit out of their products. - Mm-hmm. - So, I was like, okay, why haven't the sexual wellness based on that with their products? So, I wanted to start with condoms, and then, you know, slowly go from there. - Yeah, so, Neil also sells lube, body wash, body lotion, and wipes. - Your lube is my favorite lube. - Yes. - Last time I saw, well, you've had different versions, but like, it's like the smallest list of ingredients I've ever seen. And through that, I learned that, you know, glycerin is basically sugar, and vulvas specifically hate sugar, 'cause yeast infections, for example, like yeast loves sugar, so it helps yeast grow. So, glycerin is not your best friend, and Neil did all the research, like all of his products fucking use the best ingredients to help you, especially females. - Yeah, that was actually my major thing, because I realized that, really early on, is that guys' physiology doesn't get affected as much as women's. And, you know, I have two sisters, so growing up, I kinda knew when they were having their periods, right? I knew what type of products they were using, and I was familiar with brand names and stuff like that. So, when I started to realize they were using brands after I researched were actually kinda bad, I was like, well, let me make something better, and then they were basically my test subjects. I've made the wipes, and I'm like, okay, what do you think about these? Try them out for the next 10, 15 days. Let me know what you think. - Give me peace, yeah. - And, surprisingly, being like an Indian family, like, we've now become more open about that stuff. So, like, my sister would be like, oh yeah, I used it after my period, and it was great. Or, like, they rarely tell me about their sexual encounters, but they told me that they would use them after certain circumstances, and it worked out perfectly for them, and they haven't had any issues, UTIs, no. Now, I can't claim that it doesn't give you UTIs, but at least in the people that have used it for a long time, are customers, and also my sisters. - Right, it doesn't encourage UTIs, but if you still do shitty things, or if you have-- - Don't pee after sex, do that. Don't pee after sex, but, like, yeah, I'll still get a UTI sometimes, and I use Neil's product, like, all the fucking time. If someone grabs a lube bottle, and it's not royal, or I'm like, okay, let me see the ingredients, and it usually has glycerin, so I'm like, fuck off. Let's either not use lube, but I usually have my lube with me, or, hang on a second, and let me go grab my lube, because it makes a difference, and we need to make sure that we're putting the best things in our body, like, it's our genitals, it's so sensitive, so I like to be mindful of that. - Oh, yeah, totally, and that's also why I wanted to create, so people also ask me, like, why did you come up with the name royal? Well, one thing, my background's not in marketing branding, so maybe it was a poor choice of words, but my initial thought was, like, you also want to feel empowered when you're using a product, like, anytime I'm very specific on stuff I use, like, before I started this business, like, the body wish I would use was the same brand, 'cause I trusted it, and I felt good using it, you know, the deodorant I used was the same way, so I was like, I wanted to create sort of a name that felt more elevated, so when you came across it, or when you use it, you felt more elevated, and then obviously, royal is better than a Trojan, so I mean, why, why not? - Yeah, also, I don't think it was that, it's a good name, it's fine, and your branding is really nice, which is why I'm trying to grab everything. - Yeah, we've definitely evolved over time. - Yeah, but even, like, the first samples that I had, they were nice, like, I liked it, it looks like more elevated, you know, like, duericks, for example, their brands are, like, messy, it looks tacky, like, the colors are off, it's just weird, but, like, this looks nice, like, it's just very simple, very elegant, this is such an ad, like, this is not an ad, we're just friends, and I love these products, like, literally, they're just so good. - Yeah, and so, like, the idea behind this was, like, whether you're buying it online or in a store, we wanted to make it very sleek and simplistic, but with a little pop of color, so you know, like, which products you're getting, and which one you're choosing. - Right. - But, actually, we're talking to a few buyers of big retailers, and the number one thing they would say to us, they felt excited when they saw the branding, 'cause they were like, oh, you know, if I went to go check out with this at a store, it kind of looks like a perfume bottle, or it looks like something not screaming your face, face like sex, so that's what we wanted it to be. We wanted to make it more sleek, sophisticated, also a little discreet, but with a little pop of color to make you feel a little good, yeah? - It's lovely. Okay, let's talk about, 'cause I just remember, let's talk about the thinness of these condoms, 'cause you might be thinking, oh, maybe they're thicker, maybe sensation's gonna be shitty, but actually... - They're not shitty. No, so that was the second thing I went into developing this condom with, not only to make it healthier, and taking out all the nasty shit, but like, okay, let's be real, condoms you still wanna have good pleasure with. When you're having sex, you wanna focus on the pleasure. So, when I developed this, I talked to my manufacturers, I was like, okay, let's try to make it thinner. How can we do that while still keeping the integrity and still passing all the FDA regulations? 'Cause that was the ultimate goal. Like we had to pass the FDA, and then we can like, present it to the customer. - And thinner than the thinness, not just thinner than your average. - So that's why on our labeling, we have super ultra thin, because we can't technically put how much percentage more thinness you get from ours versus like a Trojan or something else. - Why? - Because it's based on claims. - Oh, right. - The FDA, because you can't say every condom is exactly 35% thinner, because it's all variation. But for the most part, majority of our condoms are thinner than the regular ultra thin, so we can claim it as super ultra thin. So that's what we did, and that allowed us to get through the FDA. So we actually applied the FDA with all these different things, taking out the casein, thinner condom, all that stuff. And we got approved, and I did it all by myself, which was crazy, and I had no idea what I was doing, but somehow figured it out, and now we're at year six of this. - That screams congratulations. We got the ads done, so now I get to ask Neil the most personal questions, and he'll tell me all of his deepest arcus secrets, okay? Let's start, 'cause you talk about your Indian parents, but you grew up here, but still, what was the like, what values, or what did they teach you about sexuality? What did you grew up with? Did you have to wait until marriage? Was it like a sacred thing? Like, tell us everything? And how did you rebel from that? 'Cause look at where we're now. - That's a good question. So yeah, we can definitely dive deep into this. I feel like this is a good platform to do that on, you know? - Hello, you, that leaves me. - Mom and dad, good luck watching this. - You can stop watching now. - No, so I guess growing up, my mom's from Malaysia, and my dad's from India, so they're from two different, they're both Indian, but two different cultures. So when they met, and had a love marriage, which at that time is not as common, when they came to the US, and they raised, my sisters and I, like, they were definitely more open to the idea of dating, love, like, being with, who you wanna be, and stuff like that. So I felt very comfortable growing up, even I remember six and seventh grade, I was basically asking every girl out that I could possibly ask out, 'cause. - Were you not afraid of rejection? Like, how were you handling that? - No, I was afraid of rejection is just that I thought I would fall in love with every girl I met, so that wasn't the case. But I would, like, write these notes to girls and give them to them in class, or, like, study hall. But I would, like, ask my sisters and my mom, like, did I write this okay? Like, does it look good and stuff like that? - That's so sweet. - Which is, like, cringy to think of now, but. - No, no, it's sweet. - But it kinda helped, like, kinda open the gate of, like, look, it's not as serious as people make it out to be. But then I would see my friends on the flip side, Indian and non-Indian, like, their parents at that age, like, sixth, seventh, eighth grade were, like, super strict, like, I had a friend in high school where every dance we did, every dance we went to, like, homecoming, prom, Sadie Hawkins dance, whatever it was, that's where the girl asked the guy. - Uh-huh, progressive. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, 2006 was a good year. - That was nine. - Oh, really? Shit, I'm old. No, so then, like, he would have to have the girl come to my house, and he would have to walk over to my house and do the whole corsage thing, and it wouldn't be, like, it would be weird, 'cause I'd be like, why can't you just talk to your parents about this? Like, it's not that big a deal, but, you know, his parents were Muslim, and it was very, like, very, very strict, even more than, like, other Indian families, so, I saw that as, like, wow, I'm really lucky to have a family that's a little more open, but that's, like, from the dating and liking girls or whatever, that side of things, but when it came to, like, sex, that was, like, a big taboo in our house, and it wasn't, like, it was bad. It's just that it was never talked about. - Wait, so, when did you find out how sex worked? Like, what age, if your parents didn't talk about that? - Damn, that's a good question. I would say, at that time, I think the, like, sex ed in schools were a little bit better in terms of, like, sharing more information and how to deal with it, whereas, like, now I think it's more, like, more capped at how much they show you and how much, like, they teach you. - Right, okay, so they did teach you a little bit at school. - A little bit, yeah. So, like, we would see videos here and there, but it was more about, like, just don't have sex. - Right, what about masturbation? When did you find out what that was the thing, and did you do it right the first time? - I mean, definitely did not do it right the first time. I just thought, like-- - Me either. - I just thought, like, getting hard was the thing. - Oh, that was it. - And then, like, that was, and I was like, oh, wow, that happened. - Wait, how did you come to even, like, getting hard? Like, did you talk about your friends with it? Did you watch a porn video? Like, what happened? - Well, at that time, there wasn't much porn. There was like-- - I'm like, are you not that old, Neil? - Well, no, at that time, you had to download it off the limewire. - Oh, right, uh-huh. - Or you got-- - Or you got-- - You got a video store, so we should. - Yeah, but-- (laughing) The video store's in Dayton, Ohio, where I was from. Like, you don't wanna go to those. Those were like, mad sketchy. But, I think it was like, maybe at the time, the-- Oh, I remember the first instance I thought, like, ooh, what are they doing? Was, like, during the Titanic scene where, first, he's drawing her naked, and my mom, like, put her hands on my eyes-- - Oh, my God. - And I'm like, ooh, that looks kind of hot. But then, the second thing was, like, when they're actually having sex in that car, and her hand, like, goes across, I sort of had, I was like, what are they doing in there? So, that's when I think my first sort of inclination of, like, okay-- - Curiosity-sparking. - Yeah, Curiosity's really sparking. And then, obviously, like, the American Pie movies and all that stuff kind of opened my eyes a little bit more. - Right. - But, I guess, the first time I, like, knew what insertion was, and knew, like-- - But what about ejaculation? 'Cause, like, if you thought masturbation was getting hard, and that was it, then, how did you, how did you come to realize how to masturbate? Not that you can masturbate without the lake. - Okay, this is a story that no one really knows. I think-- - This is what I hear from. - I was about, like, 10 or something, maybe around 10 years old. And I remember, like, it was around Christmas time, I think, and my dad, through his work, would get a lot of these, like, free gifts and stuff that he would just bring over. And I remember one was, like, a massager. It was, like, one of those, like-- - Vibrating ones? - Yeah, vibrating massager, just doing your legs. And then, I did it on my leg, but then I started putting it closer to, like, my crotch. I'm, like, "Ooh, that feels kind of good." And then, all of a sudden, I, like, ejaculated, but I thought I was peeing. I was, like, "Wait, what was that?" And so, I dropped it, and I quickly ran to the bathroom, and I realized, like, "No, this isn't pee. "Like, this is something different." I was, like, "Oh, is this the result of getting hard?" So then, I started, like, connecting the two together. - Were you alone when you did that? - Yeah, yeah. - Okay. - Yeah, I was alone. I think my parents, like, in the other room or something, but, yeah, that's where I got that first understanding of it. And then, I was, like, "Okay, that's what it feels like." - Yeah, but how sad that you had to, like, we have to all find out, like, for ourselves, how the fucking works. And also, the amount of people that found out the pleasure of masturbation through vibrating devices that are not toys, like fucking massagers, toothbrushes, and what else? Like, anything, humping a pillow. - Yeah, 'cause then, at that point, I remember, like, once you start to figure it out, you're, like, "Okay, what are different ways I could do this "to get that same sensation?" 'Cause then you're, like, "Okay, wait, "is this the only way to do it, or are there other ways?" - To feel the massager and put it in your room. - Yeah, 'cause then, before I didn't know that, "Oh, it's pretty common to use, like, lotion or lube "or something." But then, later on, I got that understanding. I thought lube back in the day was only for women. I didn't know, I didn't even look at the thing. - So many people still think that. Also, why would Neil now tell Neil, like, 13 years old about using lotion as lube? - I would tell him that probably not the best idea, maybe switch it up to an actual lube that's meant for down there. Yeah, I guess also just other things I would bring up to the younger Neil would also just be, like, very basic, like, what does insertion mean? Like, where is the hole that you put it in? - How many holes are there? - Yes, or even, like, the different types of sex. There's not just one way, there's multiple ways. - Endless, endless ways. - I mean, and those are just, like, the simple things, right? - Yeah. - The simple things that's basic. - Yeah, or even learning, like, okay, what does it mean to get hard? Like, is there one way to ejaculate, or is there multiple ways? Like, and some people, like, I've heard of this thing, I don't know if you've heard of it. It's, like, edging or something. Like, you get to the point of almost ejaculating, but you stop. - To have more powerful orgasms. - Yeah, some people are into that, or some people are into just, like, some people also get stimulated by not even getting hard, but getting the other person hard. So it's like all these different things that you can learn through your sexuality that, like, that's never taught. Not even baseline stuff is taught. Like, the prevention method of, like, oh, don't have sex, I think that's like-- - We all know that doesn't work. - Yeah, we're all here, right? How the fuck do we get here? Someone was boning someone else. - Statistically, the more sex that you get, the later your first sexual experience is, and, like, the less unwanted pregnancies there are, and so on and so on. Like, there are only benefits to sex. - Oh, I think the Nordic countries, like, Sweden, Finland, Norway-- - Even Holland, they do it so well. - They have such a great, progressive, like, understanding of sex that, like, it's not after 11 p.m. you see a conomad. It's like, you could see it in the middle of the day, but it's not about don't have sex. He's like, here's how to have sex safely, here's how to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, or here's how to do this. - They niche people have a fucking TV show. - Oh, I saw that. - They just show naked people to, like, to show body diversity, and it's not like a dating show. It's not like a game show, it's nothing. It's just, like, literally showing naked bodies. I don't know what they're doing, but, like, 60-year-olds can watch that show, and it's normal, and that's also sexuality, that's also sex ed, learning that all bodies are different, and that it's okay, and nudity is not inherently sexual, either. It's just a naked body, we don't have to make it sexual. - Yeah. - So, it's just so many things. - Yeah, like, I was talking with one of my partners the other day, my business partner. He was asking, like-- - Neil is monogamous by the way, which is-- - Yes, I do have a girlfriend. - It's unusual for this podcast, but Neil's monogamous. - I'm a special one now, I guess, no. But I was talking with my business partners the other day, and he was like, well, let's try to brainstorm different ways to market, because, like, what about TV? 'Cause now everyone's marketing online, so maybe there's opportunity in TV. But as I was, like, researching what then tails, like, I can still, I can only do an ad past 11 p.m. Like, I'm not allowed to do an ad before that. And then, even if I do, I can't say certain language. I'm not allowed to use the word pleasure. Pleasure is a no-go when it comes to sexual wellness products. But yet, if I sell a supplement, I can say, like, oh, you'll be so pleasurable throughout your experience drinking this protein shake, but they don't get flagged. Like, how do they know that the customer's gonna be pleasure after drinking that protein shake, right? But yet, if I say, like, put on this condom, put your dick inside something, you'll feel a pleasurable sensation. I'm not allowed to say that. So, it's a little bit unfair on how they, like, restrict what we can say and what we can't say. - Yes. So, right, you discovered masturbation. And then, when did you have your first girlfriend or partner, and how did your parents react? Like, were they actively telling you, don't have sex, or did you just not talk about it? - My first girlfriend, my first, like, proper girlfriend, Holly's, shout out Holly. - Hi, Holly. - Freshman year, high school. You know, we're still, we're still friends. She was a great girl. We did it for only a week, but it fell-- - That's not girlfriend, what the actual fuck are you-- - In ninth grade, back then, it was girlfriend. But, what was cool is that, like, even with her, like, a quick girlfriend, I would say. But-- - It's not a girlfriend. - Well, throughout my high school dating, I would say that, like, whoever it was, I would talk to my family about it, and they were actually, like, pretty cool. I remember-- - Even if it was just for a week, you would tell them about it? - Yeah, I mean, I was excited as hell, I got a girl. - I only told my parents about, like, my long-term boyfriends or partners. - Oh, really? - Yeah, I never told him about the three-month flings or anything. - Well, so, then I learned after that. In college, I didn't really tell him much about who I was dating, just 'cause, again, I was in college, I was away from home. So, it was kind of easy to keep things separate, especially at that time, when parents hear your dating, or at least my parents would be a little bit more serious about it, be like, "Oh, you're serious about this person." - My parents don't forget. Like, they'll still ask me about everyone I've told them, like, "How are they doing?" And I'm like, "I don't know, Mom, like, fuck off." - Yeah, it's like that ended a while ago. - Yeah. - I didn't even remember that person. - I didn't even remember that person. - I didn't remember that person. - Yeah. - Okay, so what happened with Holly? - So, yeah, so that was my first proper kissing experience. I was my first kind of intro into the physical nature of intimacy, not just sex stuff. So, that's when I realized, "Oh, wow." Kissing a girl or kissing this type of person that I'm emotionally attracted to enhances my attraction, even more for them, right? So, I thought it was the best experience in the world. So, I literally came home after that football game. We were at a high school football game, we kissed, and then I went home, and I told my parents about it, and their like, and my sister started, like, clowning me just 'cause of how giddy I was and I kissed a girl, and it's a girl that I was actually dating. But that was like my first intro to it. - Wait, how did your parents react? - My parents just kind of like laughed and smiled and like, "Good for you, Neil, like, good job." But it was also a little awkward 'cause my parents, they're still like, you know, first generation Americans here. So, they're still a little bit like of old school values. So, they're happy about hearing about it once, but maybe excessive explanations of whatever I'm doing. Maybe they don't need that. So, I think sharing with them a couple times, like the first time I had a kiss, or like when I went to a dance with a girl, or something like that, I think it felt them more included. But after that, like during college, like, that's a whole different ballgame, so I didn't really include them into those experiences. But I feel like my first initial stuff, I definitely filled them in a little bit. - Okay, and what about now, or when you told them, "Hey, mom and dad, I do not want to study medicine. "I want to open up my own condom business." - Yeah, so when I said no to med school, my mom was pretty sad. I mean, she still, I probably get a text or a call every couple of days saying like, "Hey, you know, you can still go. "There's still an opportunity to go." But my sister became a doctor, so that's fine. - Yeah, she took the bullet. - Yeah, yeah, she did it for all of us. - Still run for the team. - Yeah. - Good girl. - Exactly. So, when I decided not to go to med school anymore, I had already started my consulting business and gotten to biotech. And then during that time, this condom business was kind of just a side fun project. I was like, let's test it out, see how it goes. So the entire thing was bootstrapped from the beginning. So we didn't raise any extra money. We didn't go to venture capital. We didn't do any of that. - I just wanna know what your parents thought. - Well, no. - They gave me the business stock. - Yeah, yeah, so then eventually when we got to the point of it being a real thing, and I could actually like live off of it and become, make it a business, they were actually pretty happy. They were like, wow. Like the fashion would take-- - You're having sex? - Yeah, well, that was a different question. They kind of saw it more as a business and they did initially of like, oh my God, my son's selling his sex. But the best is whenever I go back home and I hang around all the uncles and aunties of my parents' friends group, and they asked me like what I do and all this stuff. And so when I first started, it was the best. Like I would talk to the uncles about it and they would tell me all about their strip club stories and the stuff they used to get into in like college. And I would go to the aunties and the aunties would talk about like, that's so good. You're doing something that, you know, you're creating good products, you're advocating for safety and all this stuff. But then I guarantee you, if one of their kids did it, oh, they would be like, oh, I can't tell anyone. I can tell you one. - It's shameful. - Yeah, but now my parents like proudly say like my son owns a sexual wellness business and talks about it. So yeah, now they're way more cool with it before I think they're a little more like hush hush. - The growth. - But now since I'm not shy about it, and even my sisters when they talk about me, like they're not shy about it. So now they're like, well, he's already all over the internet with the stuff. So who cares? - Yeah, who actually cares? No one gives a fuck. And if they do, they're just not meant to be here. So yeah, they just can't hang. - Yeah. - I don't want them as a customer anyway. - We can sit at the table with us. - Yeah. - You cannot come in bed with us. - Exactly, exactly. - Okay, I wanted to quickly mention the lotion thing when you masturbate. It's not because you might get irritated. It's because if you're also having sex, that shit stays with you. And like your pH will be even more fucked up because penis pH is already different than vulva pH. So if you, on top of that, use lotion with has like fragrance and all the shit. And then you go fuck, especially without a condom, that you're definitely going, or most likely going to give that other person something, either BB, if you've gone BB, you might not know that men are the ones that carry the BB bacteria and they don't get anything from it. Like they don't get any symptoms. They just give it to you. And then they're like, oh my God, you smell fishy. And it's like, yeah, you gave it to me. So shut the fuck up and just lick my pussy. - Get in there. - Get in there and take it away from me. - Full tongue, get in there. - Yeah, honestly. So just be mindful of that. I know it might feel good, but just invest in a good quality lube. And it also makes a difference. Like lotion can irritate you and can't even burn you. So just be careful. - Yeah, and lotion is also harder to wash off than using like a water-based lube or something. So even if someone has something that you can, when you use water-based lube, at least you can wash things off a little easier. But lotions are essentially thicker and they kind of embed into your skin. So it's hard to really scrub those out unless you're like scrubbing over multiple showers or multiple washes. But so yeah, it's best to just find a good lube, royal organic lube is the best, but. - That's a sick and mad of the episode. - But if you wanted to find like a different type of lube, like a silicone-based lube, I would say just Google the best one out there. - Even the oil-based, 'cause you're just masturbating, you're not using a condom, because as you know, condoms are not compatible with oil-based lube, at least in latex condoms. So go off, but buy lube, good quality lube, for the sake of you and your relationship. Okay, let's, okay, do you wanna get really intimate? - Let's try it out, let's go. - Okay, what about like, what are some of your insecurities that you've had to work on like either penis size, erection problems, ejaculation, like walk me through that and how you have worked through them or if you're still doing that? - Yeah, I think, I think the number one thing, a lot of guys, a lot of boys growing up and a lot of guys as they get in like college and stuff, it's always like penis size 'cause like, you watch porn and all the guys are giants. - Massive. - And, but then you go on social media or you watch anything in the mainstream and they talk about like, oh yeah, bigger is always better, right? Or like, oh man, that guy had a big dick, he's so sexy. I'm just like, how does that make him sexy? Like, I don't understand. But then, now like, I've seen a lot of these like adult porn stars go on podcasts and they actually talk about like, we don't like it bigger. Like, we actually like it like five inches. - It hurts. - Like, four to seven, like that good average length. And like, the average length is like 5.7 inches anyway for a guy. - Yeah, right, it's like five inches, yeah. - Yeah, so then actually, we actually get a lot of customers that come to us and say like, oh, I need magnums or I need the biggest one you've gotten all this, but then we'll ask them different questions, okay, what circumference are you, what length are you? And then it turns out they actually don't need like an XXL or an XL. They actually just need like the standard condom 'cause it'll fit them. So that was, I guess, my first thing like growing up, you're like, okay, when I'm with a girl, like, am I big enough or am I like gonna satisfy them? - But that's also because growing up, or what we were taught is that you have to satisfy them through penetration. - Exactly, yeah. - And like, that's enough. So like, that's why a lot of penis owners are like, oh my God, am I big enough? Because this is the only thing that I have, this is the only thing that I have to satisfy her with. So my penetration game needs to be on point. So that's where it comes from. - That's what I'm telling you, boys, oral sex on the girl does wonders. Like, once you start to master that, you can incorporate it into your foreplay. I think foreplay is really underrated in certain instances. I think by doing that, you can get both people or whoever's involved to the point of like, you don't have to rely on just one part of your game in the bedroom. - No, yeah. - To like, get a satisfied. - Toys, fingers, a combination of all of them. And if you are fucking, if you are having intercourse and you are about to come and you don't wanna come yet, stop, go down on them, and then repeat the process. - Yeah, change it up, play around. - Yeah, stop, use a toy on them, and then keep going, like, you write the script. So yeah, you were insecure about that during college. - Yeah, well, that was like, right, like, getting into college 'cause that was at the time, like, you're meeting people, like, left and right, everyone's hooking up. Like, I mean, it was, like, crazy. - A breakfast, yes. - Yeah, pretty much. And then, I guess, the third thing would be like, or the next thing would just be like, lasting. Like, that was a big thing for the guys. Like, how long are you gonna last? And then you try to think of different remedies to make you last longer. - Think about your grandma dying. - Yeah, think about your grandma or like, yeah, there was one where it's like, I remember some guy was saying, like, oh yeah, while you're having sex, just like, pull your balls down. So then it kind of like, kind of like, squeeze your balls. So like, you feel, so you think about that pain rather than you think about the pleasure. I was like, then that takes away from the entire experience then, like, or like, pinch yourself, or like, think about something different. And I was just like, well, this is so complicated. Like, why does it have to be this complicated? So eventually I just got to the point of like, okay, if I came early, then I would just be honest with that person and just be like-- - Early too, like, what is early? And like, if you come, why does everything have to be over? You can do other things. And also, your nerve endings don't disappear. You can still feel pleasure, even when soft. So like, what is coming early anyway, obviously sometimes you don't want it to end right then and there, but I agree. Like, a lot of people worry about this. And again, you can just switch it up. So many things, like penetration, it's not the thing that needs to last. It's the entire ex-fucking experience. - Yeah, and I also say this is kind of an underrated one that I don't think people talk about much, but it's also just like, the grooming aspect of, at least for guys, like, how do you look, or how do you feel physically to the other person? Like, I've had instances where it's like, if I'm too trimmed down there, then they're like, "Oh, it's irritating." Or if it's too long, it's irritating. Or it's like, it also depends on your partner, like, how do they like it and how do they feel comfortable when they're like on you, rubbing against you and all that stuff. So I think like, investing in that communication of asking like, okay, what do you like on me versus how do I like it on you and stuff like that? - Yes, and it's good to take that into consideration, but like, if you wanna rock a full bush, your partner cannot be like, "Oh my God, that's disgusting, like fuck off." - Oh, same disgusting, that's one thing. If you say like, "Oh," like-- - Or like, I prefer you to be trimmed or bare. It's like, okay, but I want a rock a full bush, like-- - Or here we go, here's a different thing. You can be like, okay, maybe we can find positions that that doesn't irritate you, or-- - But here it doesn't irritate. Only if it's like spiky, if you shave, and it's like two days old, and it's spiky, that's just like the stubble when you kiss, or whatever, when they go down on you. But like, why do you mean, why do you mean irritating? - Well, that's why I'm saying like, you gotta communicate with your partner and ask him like, what their preference is. - But have you seen that? People actually get irritated by hair, especially if it's clean, like if it's dirty, that's another thing. - Well, it's the difference on like, having hair that person thing is disgusting, and then it just being irritating when you're like, trying to be on top of some positions. Oh, I don't know, I'm just saying like, sometimes grooming can-- - Yeah. - Just 'cause in one case for me, like-- - Like, I've never heard that. Like someone's like, oh my God, that's irritating. Please remove it, or let it grow. Like no one's ever said that to me. - Oh, I've had one instance where the girl was like, oh, like, when my pews were a little longer, they were like, oh, you know, it'd actually feel more comfortable if you'd like, trim them down, because when I go down on you, it gets like, gets in the way, or like, it's just uncomfortable or something. - In the way, okay, okay, okay. - I'm like, okay. So for me, it wasn't like, oh, I'm rocking a bush just to have it. It was more of just like, oh, I don't mind, I'll trim it down. Like, for me, it wasn't a big deal, because I wasn't invested in the whole, like, oh, I need to be smooth, or I need to be trim, or I need to have a bush. Whereas like, if you're rocking it for your own personal preference, that's one thing. But if you're more than happy to kind of work with your partner, I think that's also important. So that way, you don't feel like in your head, like, oh, I hope I'm not like poking her with my stubble, or if I'm not like, irritating her, 'cause there was one time I was like, shaving, but yet it was that like, five o'clock shadow kind of thing. And she was, and then she got like, red, like on the side of her leg a little bit, or in her thigh, and she was like, oh, that was really, that was irritating. Did you, have you shaved recently? She was, I was like, oh, it's been a couple of days, and she was like, oh, that's probably why it would have been nice to have it smoother, but now it's just irritating a little bit. So just communicating and having an understanding to make sure they don't feel irritated, and you don't feel irritated and all that stuff. - I only get, I'm only giving you shit over this, because I have a hard time, even though it's rarely happened, when men are like, I want, I only like it bare. And it's like, why do you want me to look prepubescent? Like, here's so fucking normal. So that's when I get really impressed. I'm like, fuck off, like it's fine. - Have you been hearing the new trend is the bushes coming back? - Yeah, well, I like a landing strip. But for Jamaica, I was just there, my waxing lady, she was like, we're not keeping that shit. And she waxed me bare, and I was like, oh my God, okay. So I've been rocking the bare look, which is fine, because it was my choice. But like, when people make comments about being bare, it's like, okay, no. I didn't know why it bothers me so fucking much, I just hated it. It's like, no, you can't tell me what to do. - Yeah, I think it was also just like the old school mentality of like, when we were watching-- - The hair is gross, basically. - Probably in the last 10 years of porn, I would say like, a lot more of the porn was like people looking like dolphins, like they're purely clean. Even the guys were like 100%, even their chest hair was like gone. But now I think the trend is shifting of like, the more like personalized you make it. So like, I've had friends who told me like, oh yeah, you know what's good in their relationship is that they like to do different designs or something for their partner or like something like that. So it makes it a little more fun in the bedroom too. - Yeah, that's cute, I like that. - So that way it also makes you think of them too. It's like, oh, I want to create this for them. So I want to do, you know, I want to trim my chest because I want to make them feel like smooth enough. - Yeah, obviously keeping your partner's preferences in mind is a nice thing to do with everything. Like that's whatever relationship is. So yeah, you obviously have a point, I just-- - So now let me ask you when you go to like parties and stuff and you have obviously-- - So you mean sex parties. - Yeah, sex parties. And you have like, obviously a variety of different styles of people what they're rocking. Like, how have you seen the people react to like, how you like your preferences versus like what their preferences are? Or is that even a thing? - It's not a thing, especially at play parties 'cause you will see every kind of body type and every kind of body hair and literally not a thing. I've heard with, when I do have my language trip, people are like, oh my God, I actually do prefer some 'cause when I do have hair, people feel comfortable and have to be like, oh my God, I love that you have hair 'cause most people have like nothing. - Yeah. - But no, and like I see everything and I rather not comment on anyone's hairstyle 'cause like, I don't know what their journey is. So, and I don't need, unless it's like on hygienic. - What's like the craziest hairstyle you've seen? - It's like crazy good or crazy bad, like what's like? - I think there's only, I guess, one person that had like the full bush, like he's never touched it ever, it was like long, it was like black and he's pale and he is one of the hottest guys I've been with, but like when he took his box or so, I was like, surprised 'cause like, I just didn't think. - Didn't expect it. - I didn't expect it 'cause he's no Chester, like he has no hair elsewhere and it was like the full life. - Was he like a skinny guy? I could like picture a really skinny guy. - He was very, he was very muscly, but not big muscly, like skinny muscly. - Yeah, like lean in his, yes. - Yeah, big arms, like he was so fucking hot. And I was like, wow, like I did not expect it and it's not my favorite, but like, we had the best thing together, like it was so good. - So sometimes it's like the thing you least expect can still work out. - I mean, it would have still been amazing without the fucking hair, but I have the best time. Like no judgment, like he rocks up. And it's on brand for him, so go him. - Yeah, I would say like in the dating world, especially when I moved to New York from Ohio, like the whole dating world and what people expect or what the expectations are in terms of like hooking up and like grooming, not grooming and stuff like that. I feel like people were taking it like, it takes things way too seriously sometimes when they kind of forget about making that connection with that person instead of like, how's the sex gonna be or like what are their balls look like or what kind of dick do they have or like stuff like that? - People are so used to like getting the ache, like instantly from like whatever it is. And with me, it's like every day I'm less picky physically at least with people, it's like, okay, so what? Like I used to have the highest standards and they've been going lower and lower, but in a good way, like someone doesn't need to be physically fucking perfect for me to wanna spend a night with them or even more than one. And you meet like your options open up so much, you're missing out on so many experiences if you just wanna have like perfect partners. So I love that, I love being able to fuck even more and more and more people every day because I stop being so fucking picky. - Yeah, that's I think the biggest thing. - Physically, right? Like if I have to spend time with someone, I need to be like nine, I have like, I'm extremely picky when it comes to personality and emotional availability, all that shit, the worst, like it's insane. But like physically, why? Like it's your body, it's your home and that's how you look and that is amazing. I love it, like, you know? I think it's for physical attraction, I think it's okay to be into something and not out of something, but I don't think, like you're saying the ix, I don't think you should turn something into an ix just because it's not your preference. - And just because we're taught like what's hot and what's not, like celebrities. And so you see something that's alternative and you're like, oh, that's not what I was taught, that's ugly and it's like, why is it ugly? Like just because it's not in the magazine, like challenge those beliefs because it can be beautiful if you let it be beautiful. - Yeah, like, I mean, the prime example is like when like Kim Kardashian started to get a bigger and bigger ass, it's like then guys started to realize, oh, am I into bigger asses? And then the girls were like, well, if guys are liking Kim Kardashian's ass, maybe I need a bigger ass than it becomes like a whole cycle of not really like what you're into. - It just trends. - Yeah, and it's just trendy and you're not really following what you're actually into or what you're, or the actual like physical appearance of that person, but you're focusing on one body part or one specific thing. - And now the trend is to like go back to the natural look, which is like in the early 2000s or 90s. - Natural look in baggy pants. That's like the new thing, right? - Yeah, baggy clothes, which is honestly my favorite era. Like, thank you so much for that. Whoever invented it, I love it. I love dressing like Jessie Pink Band. - Well, since we're on the baggy clothes, I have another gift for you. - Oh, I meant to ask them about that. - I was like purposely waiting for this morning. - You were waiting. I was gonna be like Neil, what the fuck is my sweatshirt? - Yeah, so. - You mean it's pink? - This is fresh off the presses. Just got here this week. - And you're famous on the record? - It's not pink, unfortunately. They ran out of the pink. So I'll have to get you a different one. - It's fine. - But I knew you wanted a bigger one and not so in your face. So I have, you know, just a small little logo on here. - Yeah, no, that's perfect. - 'Cause, you know, you've been great with us. - Neil and I are doing, we're doing street interviews, hopefully before I leave. So I, obviously I'm gonna wear this, although it's coldest bag, we'll have to wear layers. - Yeah. It's so cute. - Got you a large, hopefully that'll, that will be baggy enough for you. - We'll see if it's baggy enough. I'll be the judge of that. No, I'm kidding, it's perfect. Oh, thank you. - No problem. - I was about to give you shit for that. I'm glad I did. - I know, see that, I remembered. That I had my bag first before the other stuff. - I'm glad I did. - Yeah. Oh, that's lovely. - Okay, what are some things people assume about you that you wish they wouldn't? Just because of your job, for example. - Yeah, so I think number one is that like, oh, I must be this like playboy, sex deviant, and this whole like bad boy type persona, but like, no, like at the end of the day, this is still a business. Like I need to run it like one, I need to be professional. Like it is a business and run it that way. But then also what I like is that it is fun. It is a fun business to be in. So I can be a little bit more loose. I can be a little bit more like, a little more candid and more free in how I operate. - Right, like our business relationship is extremely casual, which I appreciate. I fucking hate the formalities or like writing emails a certain way. Like I think I can get away with it because this is my job. But I hate it and you'll used to be so formal at first. And I was like, no, Neil, that's not how we're going to do things come up. - Yeah. And Alexa did, excuse me, of being not interesting at one point, but I'm here on the podcast to prove it wrong. - Okay, you guys will be the judges of that, okay? Let's see if Neil-- - Put in the comments if I'm interesting or not. - Yeah, okay, is that what I said? - No, I don't know, I'm just kidding. - We're engaging enough, but I did give him shit for it. And I was like, are you-- - I was being able to maybe like PC or not, cussing like a normally, like I cuss a lot actually. Like my parents hate it. Like, it's really bad. So I've been trying to like be more polite and not as like vocal, but now I'm with her, so I don't give a shit. - Yes, great, okay. So what are people that you're like a sex, that you're just a fuck boy? - Yeah, people, and even in college, I got that reputation, unfortunately, because I'm the type of person that don't really go with the norms, like obviously starting a condom business and not very normal. But I've always been a little bit like, you know, if certain groups are doing this, I'll kind of do that or whatever the case is. So a lot of people I went to college with, like because I didn't hang out with certain groups of certain people, I would get shit for being like, oh, he's like a fuck boy, he's hanging out with different girls, or he's probably smashing different chicks and all this stuff. I'm like, no, I just like to be friendly with other people and I can be relatively social. So that was like a perception that people had in me, which was completely untrue. - That's true, Neil is like the least fuck boy ever. I'm like, Neil, do you want to go to sex for him? He's like, no, I'm cooking dinner for my girlfriend in Jersey, and I'm like, that's the sweetest thing ever. - I'm a gentleman to my girl. - Yeah, yeah. - I didn't mean cheat, I mean like, we've heard of something. - Oh, no, no, no, no, and then another thing would probably be like, I don't know, I think like, I'm not as smart as I may like actually be, 'cause that's also another like, stick mud that I got before. - Wait, people assume you're not as smart? - Yeah, so like. - Or you're actually not as smart as people think you are, what the fuck are you seeing? - Well, okay, so back in like high school and college, I played a lot of sports, so I really kept my work and my studying and stuff to myself. - Okay, okay. - So people didn't think I would like study or do work or like, I'd always be out at the bars or I'll be like, you know, socializing or doing something. - But you're a nerd on the inside. - Yeah, and like, I created this business all by myself, like I got through the FDM on my own, so now people are starting to realize that like, okay, I'm not just a, you know, I'm not just a one-trick pony of like, I can be social and be out there, but yeah, and I also got some shit from like the Indian community because they also thought that I was just gonna be a fuck boy or like, I'm, you know, I'm not a doctor or a lawyer, I'm not the conventional Indian kid. So like, what the hell is he doing? - Right. - And even like, at certain instances, I would ask friends or people I knew, when we first started the business, I really needed reviews on Amazon. And that was like pulling teeth for people. They're like, oh, well, I don't want it on my Amazon cart because I share with my parents or like, they would say they would do it, but then they don't. And then, and then now I've gotten to position of we got into 250 retail stores and all this stuff. They're like, oh, Neil's on the map. Now let's start to hit him up and let's be cool with him and shit like that. - That's so shitty when like, someone, you know, starting a business and it's like, oh, that's so cringing or like, look at how they're putting themselves online or whatever it is. I never got these messages because like, I think my friends know better, but maybe behind my back, but like, it happens to so many people and then when they, when they do start getting successful, it's like, oh my God, congratulations. - Yeah. - Can I get some products? Like, a little, or give me kids. - Like, go by the bitch. - Yeah, go. - You can support me. - Yeah, go. - Fuck off. - Yeah. - Yeah, it's, I hate it. It's like, support anyone that is starting anything in your life, like, even if they don't make it, it takes courage to go out there and fucking even try. So, sobbing, shitty, like, just support them. Be nice. Or don't say anything if you have nothing nice to say. It's fine. - Yeah, just keep your mouth shut. Be like, oh, go for it, go for your dreams. And that's it. - Yeah, yeah, that's it. - It doesn't mean you have, like, behind, like, talk all the shit you want, like, whatever. - Right, even your diary, but don't tell anyone, okay? - Yeah, yeah, yeah. Keep that shit to yourself. Yeah, but that was also a big struggle because, like, I saw my friends. They had, like, real corporate jobs. They were doing their nine to five. They were getting paid to steady paychecks. And then I'm like, well, fuck, like-- - Did I fuck up? - Like, it's three in the morning and I'm still working or doing something. I'm like, fuck, do I want that life or do I want this life? But, to be honest, this life is pretty fun. Like, I get to be on podcasts like this. - I wouldn't trade it for the fucking world. - Yeah, I get to do cool things. And again, that's like, when you start to get on the map of, like, we were in Cosmo, Men's Health, all this stuff, that's when you start getting the text messages or, like, hey, congrats on being, or it's like the heart emoji on the reactions on stories. They'll give you, like, a heart. Be like, oh my God, congrats. I knew you could do it. It's like, fuck off. - It's like literally you're bullied from high school and you're like, what are you doing here? Like, go away. - Yeah, oh, I have receipts. - I have receipts. - Do a little outfit change for our last segment? It is baggy enough for anyone that wanted to know. I approve. - Perfect. - Okay, Neil, before we finish, I wanted to ask you, what would you tell people that have a hard time staying erect when they put a condom on? Do you have any tips? - That's a really good question. I would say, number one, if it's, like, right before you're putting a condom on, I would say, definitely, like I said before, foreplay is underrated. Like, try to either stimulate yourself or with your partner and then do it, like, in the transition of putting a condom on. So make putting a condom on more of, like, part of the foreplay instead of, like, hey, run to the drawer, grab a condom and try to put it on yourself. 'Cause even that turn to the drawer to grab it can get you limp really quick. So I would say that would be, like, the first thing. Second thing, if you, like, have it on, you start going limp, maybe utilizing the condom with oral sex, too, because condoms are the way we've designed them. - Or when you masturbate. - Or when you masturbate so you can practice and, you know, you can stay harder, longer, while you're stimulating, or while you're being stimulated. And then I would also use it during oral sex. And actually, this will be an exclusive to this podcast. We're actually relaunching our strawberry condoms. Probably in the new year, like, right around the new year. So keep an eye out for that. But condoms definitely can be used for oral sex, too. I think that's important. - They, if you worry a lot about STIs, you can get them through oral. I, for example, personally, I take the risk of not using protection with oral, because I don't want to, I don't like it. So I assume that risk, but I know that it is a risk. If you don't know, now you know, you can submit and transmit STIs through oral. You can get throat chlamydia or gonorrhea. You can get HPV, herpes, all the things, right? So yes, flavored condoms are meant for oral. Do not use them for intercourse, please. And because of the fragrance, because of everything you can be irritating. So for oral, if you are worried about that, definitely. And if you want to practice, too, how to stay hard with a condom on, that's also a great tip. And when you masturbate, too, because it mostly happens because you're masturbating too much, and you obviously don't masturbate with a condom. So then when you do put that on and have different sensations, your body's like, this is not how we usually do it, so I'm gonna go soft. - Yeah, yeah. And definitely like, even if you're using a regular condom, like, and then you go limp, you can still use that for oral and then reuse that for, or then just go straight into penetration, because it doesn't have like the flavoring and stuff on it. So that can help you get re-hard again. - And I think just practicing these different techniques or just like the transitioning of not putting a condom on to putting it on, I think those things over time, you'll start to realize what your body does, how your body reacts. - Last three questions that I ask everyone, what is something you wish people, and more people knew about you? - More people knew about me. One thing would be I love cooking and I love food. So I love being in the kitchen, chefing it up, doing that whole thing. I try not to buy food out that much, 'cause I really like to like have fun in the kitchen. So I guess that's something when people see me, they're not like, oh, I can see you like, chefing the kitchen. But now like my girlfriend and my family, they're like, oh, maybe we should be, you should get on like chopped amateur or something like that. So that's like one thing that people wouldn't assume. And then I guess from back in the day, like people don't think it was that smart or something. I was like, all right. - Okay, Neil is smart, everyone. Can you all just go tell him that he's so smart? - Please, please, I need positive enforcement. - Meditation, please. Okay, what is something you wish people did more? Besides for play, oral. - I think, and now are we talking about sex stuff or is just in general? - In general, or sex, whatever you want. - I think like you said, people stopped being so picky. I think nowadays people like with social media, the whole Ick trend that was going around and all that stuff like, bro, just like sit down one day, thinking your head, what do you like, what do you not like and just go for it? Like, why does it have to be? - Not what you were told to your friends, like, you know, you, fucking you. - Oh my God, if I did. - And that evolves over time too, like whatever you liked two years ago, it doesn't have to be what you like now. So like, just reconsider that all the time. - Yeah, like, man, now thinking about me and all my friends, like, maybe back in like grade school, we had all the same interests and the same things, but now we're all completely different people and we all like different things. So feel free to explore and don't be too picky 'cause something that you didn't think you would like, you may like a lot, so that's probably the main thing. - Okay, lastly, what is something you wish people did less? - That's a good question. Wow, these are so simple, but also so hard at the same time. - I have to think about them. I love them so much. - Do less. Oh, this is, okay, I got it. It's kind of like a broad one, but I would say care less about what people think. I've also been-- - We're all guilty of this, but we can't go more. - Guilty of it, yeah, like, there's been so many times where you pop open social media like, wow, that person had the best life ever, then you talk to them the next month and they're like, wow, this last moment was worse. I'm gonna say, well, it didn't seem like that on social media. So I guess just kind of like do less of social media, that way you'll care less of what people think. That's what I would say. - Okay, love, Neil, are you ready? Okay, no wait, how can people find you? - So you can find all of our stuff at royalintimacy.com or if you want your URL to be clean, you can search, alwaysberoyal.com. Yeah, we're on all platforms, we're on, we have our store, website store, we have, we're on Amazon and walmart.com. You can also find us in select stores around the country, mainly like East and West Coast, at like various Adam and Eve's or love honeys and stuff like that. So we'll be coming in more stores soon. So stay tuned. - Amazing. Thank you so much. So Instagram, Royal X Intimacy and on TikTok, just @royalintimacy. - We'll be talking in the description. Thank you so much, Neil. - Thanks Alexa, this is great. - You're welcome. Are you ready to turn off the lights? - Let's do it.
