“Summer House” star Carl Radke got “emotional” while detailing his new friendship and working relationship with Kyle Cooke amid the launch of Loverboy’s non-alcoholic beverages.
When Radke — who previously served as the canned cocktail company’s vice president of sales — resigned in January 2023, he was “not happy, deep down,” and “struggled to advocate” for himself, telling in an exclusive interview Wednesday at The New Bar in West Hollywood, Calif., that he didn’t know how to relay that to his “best friend” Cooke, who founded the business in 2018 alongside his now-wife, Amanda Batula.
As the VP of sales, Radke, 39, “managed multiple states and multiple employees” as well as “spreadsheets and sales reports,” which are “not [his] favorite things to do.”
At the same time, the Pittsburgh native — who is just over three and a half years sober — couldn’t reconcile being the face of a booze-only business.
Radke credits his career coach with helping him “take a step back from Loverboy,” realize his true passions (including “building relationships” and “public speaking”), learn “how to communicate effectively about [his] needs” and “advocate for [himself] professionally.”
After his career coach encouraged him to “jump” and “go for it,” he was able to vocalize his wants and needs to Cooke, who was “very” receptive and just as eager to add non-alcoholic products to his line of drinks.
Radke returned to the company in December 2023 as a part-time Loverboy adviser.
“Now, I’m really just focused on the non-alcoholic part of our business,” he said of the new sparkling lemon iced tea and sparkling peach white tea. “But I’m still on the company board! I was one of the first investors.”
As for his relationship with Cooke, 42, Radke gushed that it’s “stronger than ever.”
“I just had a lot more open communication with Kyle, and that was a result of my coach helping me feel more empowered and more confident,” he shared. “I love Kyle; he’s one of my best friends. And I always felt like I was letting him down. I was struggling, but I didn’t tell him anything.”
Radke explained that he “needed more support” across the board. Though he didn’t name any names, he admitted that naysayers — one of whom was his then-fiancée, Lindsay Hubbard — actually pushed him to bring his “calling” to fruition.
“It’s not just her or others; I’ve had a lot doubters in this phase of my life,” he told us, pointing out that the non-alcoholic space is a “risky” one, as there are hardly any proofs of concept.
“I can understand people’s reservations,” he confessed. “So it’s hard for me to be upset with someone not supporting me when it was only an idea at the time. That’s where I was at last summer with my relationship. I can understand where she was coming from.”
Radke said the experience made him realize he “had to do more work.” After taking some “time to heal and process the [August 2023] split,” he dove head-first into work, which included doing tons of “research” on non-alcoholic products and businesses.
Now, he feels “reenergized.”
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The Bravolebrity is also “developing this other venture,” Soft Bar + Café in Brooklyn, which he “hope[s]” will be open in time for “Dry January” 2025.
He teased that viewers will get to see the birth of the non-alcoholic bar and café on “Summer House” Season 9, which is currently in production and apparently going “great.”
Asked what he thinks his late brother, Curtis Radke — who died of an accidental overdose in August 2020 — would say about his current career path, Carl paused before responding, “He would be really proud of me, I think. I think he’d give me a hard time about some stuff, but he is a big part of this story. I try to live with purpose, with intention.”
“It’s crazy that I’m alive,” Carl marveled, admitting that he sometimes feels a sense of survivor’s guilt.
Carl — who has anxiety, depression and ADHD — told us he embarked on a “path of destruction” after Curtis’ death. However, he didn’t hit rock bottom until Jan. 6, 2021, when he got drunk and high on cocaine alone in his New York City apartment while “watching the Capitol get stormed” on TV.
When Carl emerged from the bender, he said Cooke came to his apartment to give him some tough and life-changing love.
“It kinda makes me emotional. Kyle is the first person I ran to when my brother passed away. He really cares. He’s just been an amazing friend,” Carl told us, acknowledging that they’ve had their fair share of “ups and downs” over the years.
“A lot of people makes mistakes and don’t get second chances,” he made sure to note, “so I’m just grateful.”
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