I needed to make $1500 and being jobless at the time was going to make this extremely difficult. Having the same name as my grandpa Joe and his enjoyment of playing the slots at the Prairie Band Casino was going to be a way to make that money. I put my discipline to the test and was hopeful of coming out victorious on the other end.  

Joey Baggz was an extremely giant fish in an incredibly small pond. I was famous in Topeka. Really famous. The character I created for radio had almost wholly taken over who I was. My life consisted of free drinks, men wanting to be my friend, women wanting to sleep with me, and tons of attention. My challenge of wanting everyone to like me was being fueled but in all the wrong ways. One day soon it was going to end, abruptly. I wasn't ready for that moment, but I needed it to happen. 

The world of Joey Baggz was wonderful. I created this character and now I got to be him every day. He was confident and adventurous.  He was "Topeka's Bad Boy". Hell, I'd get emails from men asking me to have sex with their wives. It was crazy and I loved all of it. I never wanted it to end.

The nightlife was behind me, and my future was unsure. I knew working at my grandparent's construction company wasn't going to be my career. I had no idea what I was going to do in life. All I knew is that I had a fresh start and some time to get it figured out. When I got the call from Jeff Peterson at Topeka's Rock Radio V100, everything changed again for me. I was getting my shot and on a path that I dreamed of when I was a kid making little radio shows on an old reel-to-reel recorder my dad gave me. 

A Sunday night in my mid to late twenties is when I snapped. Combination of working tons of hours, unbelievable stress of trying to make a business succeed, lack of sleep, and a ton of alcohol made me hit that breaking point. I needed a change, and my mind & body forced the shift for me in the most disgusting way ever.  The past is the past & we must learn from it. I did learn from it, I'm not proud of it, and today I'm getting it off my chest. 

Franklin "Bill" Patrick became my best friend while we were both working at Detours nightclub. He was the best bud any man could ask for. We were Batman and Robin. Our personalities were different enough that we complimented each other. Bill was the quiet type, and I was the loud center of attention type. Work was getting crazy for me at this time in my life too. Running a sports bar and still managing at the gentleman's club had me working 1000 hours a week. This schedule would soon catch up with me and my emotional well being. 

Life was getting exciting in my early and mid-twenties with a newfound career in the nightclub world. Making a lot of money, meeting new friends, and naked women everywhere. The question wasn't, "Would I burn out?" but "When will I burn out?"  The bar industry fueled me and made it my mission to learn every aspect of it. 

Adulthood was hard, boring, and lonely. After buying a house at 20 years old and going to work at my parents' floor covering store I found a life but lonely life. I didn't know any kids my age and spent most of my time home alone or hanging out with family. My cousin Brandon Crocket changed all that when he invited me to a club called Detours in College Hill.  Walking into that club would change my life and add action, adventure, and finally women. 

My senior year of high school was exciting and full of drama. A significant football injury changed the course of what I thought my life was supposed to be. College became so depressing and couldn't wait to get out of it but dropping out wasn't the most excellent idea. Entering the adult world was confusing and scary AF. I was quick to learn about bills, cocaine, and how my laziness was now a huge problem. 

My life was pretty exciting at 17 years old. I had no idea what I was doing but it was fun with my best friend John Wilhelm. At 17 I also met the first girl I would fall in love with and continue to love into adulthood. Michelle wasn't a girlfriend but a new friend I loved and I knew she loved me too. Just a bunch of crazy teenagers exploring adventures in Kansas.