In Spain, there’s a ritual called La Hora del Vermut — a pause in the middle of the day that isn’t about winding down or earning rest. It’s a celebration of the day itself.

This conversation starts there — with vermut, salty snacks, and a toast.

My guest is David Neimanis, a maker I grew up down the street from, whose life has moved through music, writing, food, and now building a Spanish vermouth brand called Cueva Nueva while living in Valencia.

What I loved about this conversation is that it isn’t a tidy story about one big pivot. It’s about a quieter shift — learning not to defer living to some future moment.

We talk about:

• what La Hora del Vermut reveals about pleasure, community, and pace — and what it feels like to live inside a different relationship to time
• the difference between freedom and autonomy, and how Dave came to understand both through life on the road
• redefining success — not as exits or endless scale, but as something livable, human, and sustainable
• how different environments shape attention, pace, and conversation
• what it takes to stay grounded in your “why,” especially when the culture around you keeps moving the goalposts

This isn’t an episode about slowing down to get more done.
It’s about learning how to enjoy the day without waiting for permission — and telling the truth when what you wanted stops fitting.

Connect with David Neimanis + Cueva Nueva

Find where you can drink and purchase a bottle of Cueva Nueva near you:
https://www.cuevanueva.com/find-us

Follow Cueva Nueva:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuevanueva/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cueva_nueva

Follow David Neimanis:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidneimanis/

Connect with The Truth Is

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetruthis_podcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetruthis_pod

Credits

Hosted by Kathryn Flaschner
Video Production & Editing by Anton LaPlume
Edited by Dan Croll
Music by Will Savino — wsavino.com
Visual Identity by Sarah Gainor & Jonathan Bush
Advised by Natalie Tulloch