Balancing Family and Fame: The Realities of a Life in Show Business with Eric Streit

In this episode of "Neil on Business," host Neil Darling interviews Eric Streit, a Navy veteran who transitioned into a successful career in show business. Eric shares his journey from military service to working in reality television, stunts, and production, highlighting the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and seizing opportunities. The conversation covers his experiences at Disney, working abroad, and producing hit shows like "Little People, Big World." Eric offers insights on the evolving entertainment industry, work-life balance, and encourages listeners to embrace challenges and keep moving forward, making this episode both inspiring and practical for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Eric’s Early Life and Navy Experience (00:02:08) Eric shares his upbringing, joining the Navy at 16, and formative military experiences.

Transition to Show Business (00:03:20) Eric describes his move to Orlando, early entertainment jobs, and entry into stunts and temp work in LA.

Working with Fred Weintraub (00:04:15) Eric details his first big break in Hollywood, working for Fred Weintraub and Tom Kuhn.

Hidden Camera Show and Opportunity Mindset (00:04:48) Eric recounts being set up on a hidden camera show and how volunteering led to a producer role.

Navy Roles and Philosophy of Saying Yes (00:07:11) Eric explains his Navy duties, volunteering for everything, and how that shaped his career approach.

Gator Wrestling and Stunt Work (00:09:03) Eric discusses his experience as a gator wrestler and the skills required for dangerous stunts.

Lithuania and The New Adventures of Robin Hood (00:10:12) Eric talks about being sent to Lithuania for a TV series, his roles, and the unique production environment.

Show Details and Celebrity Encounters (00:11:29) Eric describes the show’s premise, notable cast members, and the excitement of working with icons.

Stunt Career Highlights (00:13:19) Eric shares favorite stunts, techniques, and the physical demands of stunt work.

Life in Lithuania and Post-Soviet Business (00:14:42) Eric reflects on living in Vilnius, old studio equipment, and witnessing rapid entrepreneurship.

Entry into Reality TV (00:17:02) Eric explains his move into reality TV, pitching shows, and early successes with Andrew Salt.

Rise of Reality TV and Little People, Big World (00:20:07) Eric discusses the stigma of reality TV, his work on Little People, Big World, and its cultural impact.

Impact and Legacy of Little People, Big World (00:22:03) Eric explains why the show resonated, its Guinness record, and its global influence.

Subsequent Reality Shows and Dangerous Animals (00:25:03) Eric outlines his work on Mall Cops, Snake Man of Appalachia, Gator Boys, and Naked and Afraid.

Vampires in America Project (00:26:22) Eric describes pitching and producing a vampire-themed reality special and its challenges.

Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse and Production Challenges (00:30:51) Eric previews a new iteration of Naked and Afraid, production difficulties, and the show's evolution.

Career Reflection and Versatility (00:32:40) Eric reflects on his multifaceted career, willingness to do any job, and satisfaction with his achievements.

Handling Failure and Entrepreneurial Advice (00:36:33) Eric shares his approach to failure, the importance of perseverance, and lessons from setbacks.

Industry Shifts and Dangerous Animal Show Downturn (00:39:02) Eric recounts the abrupt end of dangerous animal shows and the struggle to adapt in Hollywood.

AI and the Future of Entertainment (00:41:12) Eric and Neil discuss the impact of AI on film/TV, historical industry shifts, and future possibilities.

Pitching Human vs. AI Reality Show (00:46:19) They brainstorm a reality show concept pitting humans against AI and reflect on technological anxieties.

Longevity of Naked and Afraid Franchise (00:49:29) Eric reviews the many seasons and global reach of Naked and Afraid and its ongoing success.

Entrepreneurial Nuggets and Perfectionism (00:51:30) Eric offers advice: say yes, embrace imperfection, and keep moving forward despite setbacks.

Balancing Family and Career (00:54:16) Eric discusses the challenges of maintaining family life while working in global television production.

Sign Followers and Family Legacy (00:56:20) Eric explains the sign follower religion and addresses whether his son will follow in his footsteps.

 

QUOTES

“I think all of us, when we go to Hollywood, we all have stars in our eyes. I think all of us go out there to be movie stars. We want to be actors. I had this notion in my mind that I wanted to be the American Jackie Chan, who did all of his own stunts, and when I was a young guy, I wanted to do that, and I realized, “Oh, America has a Jackie Chan, and his name is Jackie Chan.”

“I think everything I’ve wanted to do, I’ve done it—maybe not at the level of success I had hoped for, but I think John Lennon said, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans,” and there’s nothing I want to do that I haven’t done, at least on a small scale. I never became a big movie star, but I’ve produced a lot of hit television shows. I had some success with Vampires in America. My wife and son and I were able to do episodes of House Hunters International and a great show with Tommy Davidson called Vacation Creation. So that was a dream come true, being on camera with my wife and son.”

“Keep your head up, smile, and just keep trying. Just keep showing up. Keep showing up. My father always said, if you’re given an opportunity to work somewhere, the very least you can do is be on time. You may not know what you’re doing, but the very least you can do to show that you care and to show respect for the person who’s paying you, or the respect for the person that’s working for you or mentoring you, is be on time. Be early. Be the first to arrive and the last to leave. And that will lead to success, if not in that opportunity, in the next opportunity. Show up first. Leave last. Say yes to everything. And when you fail, admit it. Admit that you failed and figure out why. Most of my failures are my own fault. I can’t blame anyone else. At the end of the day, it was the wrong time. I did something wrong. I made somebody mad. We all fail and we all grow and we all learn. And you learn a hell of a lot more from your failures than you do from your successes. Too much success will make you feel indestructible, and that’s when you have a big failure to remind you, “Oh, I am fallible.”

 

Connect with Eric Streit

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-streit-1132835 

Connect with Neil Darling

www.ringspaces.com

Podcast Produced and edited by the team at ResilientVoiceMedia.com

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