Jay Shetty & Benny Blanco, Dave Burd, Kristin Batalucco ON Friendship and Secrets

Can your best friend, your romantic partner, and your primary professional collaborator all be the same person, and if so, how do you keep the peace when the cameras start rolling?

In this episode of On Purpose, Jay Shetty sits down with a trio of creators who are redefining what it means to mix business with pleasure: Dave Burd, Benny Blanco, and Kristin Batalucco.

Dave Burd (also known as Lil Dicky) is famous for his success as a multi-platinum recording artist and the creator of the hit television series Dave, while Benny Blanco is a renowned music producer and artist who has shaped the sound of modern pop. Joining them is Kristin Batalucco, a writer who has played a pivotal role in Dave Burd’s creative process and is now stepping into the spotlight as part of their new multimedia venture, Friends Keep Secrets.

From Twitter to Tacos

The three guests explained to Jay Shetty the dynamic of their group. Dave Burd explained that he serves as the primary liaison between Benny Blanco and Kristin Batalucco. Burd connected with Blanco almost from the beginning of his music career, and it all started with a Twitter message, after which the two eventually met in person at a Mexican restaurant.

Initially, Burd was skeptical about the value that Benny Blanco could add to his career at the time. However, despite an awkward start, they got to know each other better and became very close friends. Burd jokingly told Jay Shetty that they were destined to be best friends, even if they were both plumbers in Arkansas, not the musicians they are today.

The Bowling Alley Encounter

Dave Burd met Kristin Batalucco through his colleague and main writer on his TV show, Vanessa, who had been tasked with finding a potential partner for the self-proclaimed hopeless romantic single guy. They told Jay Shetty that, during a bowling outing with Batalucco, Vanessa texted Burd at 10 PM, claiming that she had met the woman who might become his wife.

The friends related that Dave Burd dropped everything to join the group and arrived just as they were finishing their game, and wanted to impress Batalucco with a bowling strike on his first try. Burd told Jay Shetty that their first conversation revolved around a plate of nachos, as they tried to make small talk to get to know each other. While Batalucco felt unkempt that evening, Burd was immediately struck by the accuracy of Vanessa’s intuition.

During a 40-minute car ride home, Burd tried to further impress Batalucco with an elaborate story. She was taken aback by his ease and willingness to be vulnerable, even though the topic of his intricate story was about a time when he had a bowel movement accident.

The Creation of a Trio

Benny Blanco met Kristin Batalucco around the time of the season one premiere of Dave Burd’s show. His first impression of Kristin Batalucco was that she was fun, but he didn’t yet know how serious her relationship with his friend would become. However, Blanco told Jay Shetty that their trio story began around that time.

Six weeks after Dave Burd and Kristin Batalucco met, he and Benny Blanco threw one of their usual joint birthday parties. However, this time, Burd felt slightly uneasy, fearing that his days of romantic freedom were numbered. He admitted to Jay Shetty that the weight of an impending committed relationship made him overreact and try to regain his independence for one last night.

Batalucco arrived at the party with seven girlfriends, also intending to act cool and free, without expectations. Yet she sensed that Burd was intentionally giving her the cold shoulder and wasn’t happy. Benny Blanco, a spectator who understood they liked each other, urged Burd to correct his behavior, prompting him to call her just as she was leaving the party.

No More Games

Following the party, Dave Burd realized he didn’t want to look for anyone else when he found what he had been looking for. Yet Batalucco was the one to drive the relationship toward a serious commitment; already on their second date, she asked Burd directly whether their dating was a dead end or if he could imagine more.

Batalucco explained to Jay Shetty that, at 30 years old, she was already tired of playing games, especially letting men chase her, as many women are taught to. She didn’t want to waste time or move slowly, so she decided to take charge of the pace of their relationship. In his dating life, Burd had played the game, which often advantages men; yet, this time, Batalucco was in charge. She was ready to discuss any doubts Burd might have about a relationship interfering with his career, and to pursue the person she would marry.

The Importance of Radical Honesty

Benny Blanco told Jay Shetty that, similar to Batalucco’s approach, he and Selena Gomez also base their relationship on radical honesty. He finds it sexy when a woman is direct about her needs and the status of the relationship. When Gomez asked to clarify their relationship status after three weeks of dating, he was caught off guard, yet he appreciated her approach.

Blanco explained that he liked the lack of guessing games and noted that Selena Gomez often lets him know what she needs from the beginning of the day, so he knows how she needs him to show up for her. He told Jay Shetty that knowing what your partner is going through and how they need to be supported comes from open and honest communication and is the foundation of a healthy relationship.

Four Friends, Two Weddings

The group’s bond was further cemented when both couples got married within the same year, just a month apart. Dave Burd and Kristin Batalucco describe their wedding to Jay Shetty as the best night of their lives, despite the stress and exhaustion of the season. Shortly after, Dave Burd had the honor of officiating the wedding of Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez.

Before Blanco’s wedding, Burd had never given any similar speech before, so he felt immense pressure having to speak in front of the wedding party; yet, at the same time, he felt like he was born for this moment. He told Jay Shetty that the interaction between Blanco and Gomez during the ceremony was heartwarming, and it even brought the groom to tears.

According to Burd, Blanco and Gomez were full of emotion when declaring their vows, which left an impression on him, who had known Blanco for a long time. Similarly, Batalucco told Jay Shetty that hearing her close friends say their vows was the highlight of the evening. Although their group relies heavily on humor as a coping mechanism, Blanco was impressed by how well articulated his friends were that day.

The Birth of Friends Keep Secrets

The trio’s shared experiences eventually led to the creation of their new show, Friends Keep Secrets. Dave Burd explained to Jay Shetty that Benny Blanco had flirted with the idea of a podcast in the past, but it wasn’t until Batalucco added cameras into the mix that the vision became clear. According to her, audiences crave real human behavior and organic interaction, a trend she noticed while observing patterns on TikTok.

Dave Burd found the process of making the show to be a refreshing contrast to the hard work of producing his scripted TV series, Dave. For him, Friends Keep Secrets allows him to tap into his inner child and simply entertain his best friends. The three friends told Jay Shetty that the show aims to combat the loneliness epidemic by making the viewers feel like they have a constant friend in the corner. The show’s goal is to do good without getting too educational or taking itself too seriously.

Conflicts Aren’t Personal

The three friends shared with Jay Shetty that working together does come with its unique challenges. Burd finds himself caught between his wife and his best friend; when conflicts arise, he tries to manage them with a fact-based approach.

Batalucco told Jay Shetty that while some arguments may get heated, none of them take the conflict personally, and no resentment lingers. Yet she admitted to being the most sensitive of the three, especially since she is not as accustomed to the weight of being a public figure as her co-stars. Batalucco is learning to handle the pressure of being on camera and expanding her comfort zone by taking on new experiences, such as this interview.

Final Secrets

Jay Shetty prepared a game for his three guests, in which they all had to reveal personal insights about themselves and the other two. For instance, Kristin Batalucco wished for Dave Burd to enjoy drinking wine with her, while he thought she would have wanted him to stop smacking his lips when he eats.

Blanco and Burd also informed Jay Shetty about Batalucco’s habit of leaving messages unread, which can sometimes feel infuriating for her husband. In the end, they discussed what they would do when things got more serious, such as an accident or the loss of Dave Burd, and realized that they’d forever have each other’s back, as friends always do.

More From Jay Shetty

Listen to the entire On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast episode “BENNY BLANCO, DAVE BURD & KRISTIN BATALUCCO: Friends Keep Secrets… Or Do They? (Friendship, Weddings, Love)” now in the iTunes store or on Spotify. For more inspirational stories and messages like this, check out Jay’s website at jayshetty.me.

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