Listen to the podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPROGERS

Chris Rogers almost drank himself to death. Today, he paints live in front of millions on Kill Tony and says sobriety made him a better artist than alcohol ever did. In this conversation, we go deep on addiction, suicidal ideation, and the myth that suffering fuels creativity. Chris breaks down how recovery rewired his mind, why most artists sabotage themselves, and what really happens when you remove substances and ego from the creative process. We also unpack the tension between art and propaganda, social media addiction, and why authenticity hits harder than anything engineered for virality.

Follow Chris:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisrogersart

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.rogersartist

Website: https://www.chrisrogersartist.com

00:00 Introduction

00:10 Growing Up Biracial in the South

04:18 Almost Drowning and Surf Addiction

06:52 Learning to Surf in Waco

07:46 12 Years Sober and Addicted to Sugar

09:13 The First “We Rise” Mural

12:28 Why Dali Is in the Painting

14:33 Are Ideas Downloaded From the Universe?

21:01 Making Art Live in Front of Millions

27:33 Burnout, Ramen Years, and No Plan B

30:17 Art vs Propaganda

35:19 Painting the 12 Steps on a Wall

40:36 Letting God Out Instead of Letting God In

45:04 How Having a Kid Changes Everything

51:54 You Are the Product

55:12 AI Data Centers and Who Pays the Cost

59:03 Media Outrage and Who Profits

01:01:25 When You Can’t Say Reality

01:04:40 Why Authentic Podcasts Matter

01:06:33 The AI Promise vs The AI Trap

01:11:58 Digital Sabbath and Two-Phone Rules

01:18:28 Can We Break the Advertising Machine?

01:21:18 Conclusion

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Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPLYLE

Most people drink coffee without thinking. Patrick Lyle thinks about everything: the grind size, the mineral content of the water, the pressure curve of an espresso shot. But this conversation isn’t just about better coffee. It’s about craftsmanship, culture, and why founders should never hide from their customers. We break down espresso “soup,” third-wave elitism, and why most cafés get it wrong, then zoom out into Japanese travel, imposter syndrome, and how service itself can be a spiritual practice. Patrick shares how leaving tech, learning Japanese from scratch, and falling in love with Japan led him to build Kyoko Coffee, a mobile café rooted in car culture, hospitality, and intentional community. This episode is about building something real in a world that rewards shortcuts and why the difference between art and propaganda might just be whether you care enough to stay present.

Follow Patrick:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklearns/

https://www.instagram.com/kyoko.coffee/

Website: https://kyokocoffee.com/

00:00 Introduction

00:45 Do the Best Coffee Beans Go to Japan?

02:00 Water Chemistry & Why Reverse Osmosis Ruins Coffee

06:30 Why Grind Size Matters More Than Anything

10:45 The Difference Between Deep Drippers & V60

14:30 Simplifying Pour Over (Stop Overthinking It)

18:45 Cupping Coffee & Why It’s Overrated

23:30 Espresso “Soup” & Coffee Experiments

29:50 Japan, Language Learning & Cultural Identity

35:30 The Origin of Kyoko Coffee

41:45 Coffee Elitism & Fixing Café Culture

47:30 Signature Drinks: Tokyo Banana & Ube

52:40 Building Community Through Service

58:30 Founder Energy & Staying in the Business

01:04:30 Travel in Japan Beyond Tokyo & Kyoto

01:08:00 Yamaguchi: Japan’s Hidden Gem

01:12:30 Coffee, Matcha & Creative Expression

01:16:45 Caffeine & The Renaissance Theory

01:17:19: Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast

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In this episode, I sit down with Austin comedian Michael Ridley to talk about what it really means to bet on yourself in a culture that feels like it’s collapsing into content and chaos. We get into everything — modern warfare as entertainment, prediction markets vs. AI, gambling ads and moral tradeoffs in podcasting, corporate influence behind the scenes, and why so many young men feel stuck between nihilism and virality but at its core, this conversation is about asking better questions and choosing long-term growth over short-term clout. Michael opens up about his journey from addiction and instability to building a life anchored in comedy, marriage, and radical self-belief, and we unpack what it took to move to Austin with no guarantees, grind through multiple jobs while chasing stage time, get banned and level up anyway, and listen to “the whispers” that intuitive pull toward who you’re meant to become. This one is about loyalty, resilience, faith, and playing the 20-year game in art and in life.

Follow Michael:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridleysweaty

X: https://x.com/ridleysweaty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelRidleyComedy

00:00 Introduction

04:27 Nothing Better Than a Free Civic

07:10 Why There Are No Original Movies Right Now

12:21 What Happened to Movie Boobs?

14:20 Being Nihilistic Is Gay

22:55 Don’t Even Think About Selling Weed

26:13 Temu Twitter

27:24 Raised by Hot Pockets and Cartoon Network

29:56 The DMZ of Mental Disability

32:01 Making Yourself Useful in Jail

35:22 Michael’s Superpowers

42:33 Healing People with Beyblades

46:24 Skank Walking to Six Flags

50:16 The Last Time Michael Was in a Tatami Room

56:02 Clockwork Orange Out of Context

58:54 How “They” Control the Housing Market

01:04:46 The January 6th No One Talks About

01:08:20 The Government Has Microwave Guns

01:17:15 MJ, Kanye, and Industry Power Plays

01:26:00 Conclusion

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Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPGODSEY

In this episode, Erick Godsey joins me for a deep dive into visionary art, psychosis, and the collective unconscious. From Neuromancer to late-80s Japanese anime, from Neon Genesis Evangelion to Annihilation, we unpack how art sometimes predicts technological transformation before society can consciously name it. We also get into what Erick calls “The Shimmer” a mythic frame for understanding the psychological field created by the internet and AI. We talk about algorithmic polarization, attention hijacking, AI agents replicating human identity, and whether we’re living through the beginning of a renaissance or a cognitive collapse. This conversation is about myth, madness, technology, and whether we can consciously navigate the flood instead of being consumed by it.

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erickgodsey/

X: https://x.com/ErickGodsey

Website: https://www.erickgodsey.com/

00:00 Introduction

00:19 Visionary Art and 90s Anime

01:52 Surrealism and Cultural Breakdowns

04:38 How Tech Is Shaping Us

12:44 Phones, Attention, and Community

15:54 Why Horror Actually Matters

21:14 “The Shimmer” and Tech Nightmares

35:29 Building Something New

42:57 Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast

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Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPJAMES

In this episode, Abel James joins us for a deep and unfiltered conversation about recovery, resilience, and staying human in an increasingly automated world. Abel opens up about surviving a brutal car accident, navigating long-term physical and neurological recovery, and what it forced him to relearn about health, patience, and adaptive capacity. We explore why modern systems often fail people when they’re most vulnerable and how community, preparation, and personal responsibility can make the difference between breaking down and rebuilding stronger. We also discuss music as a healing practice, why art must come from effort not automation, and how subtraction may be the key to a better future. This is a grounded, thoughtful exploration of survival, meaning, and building a life that’s resilient to chaos.

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abeljams/

X: https://x.com/AbelJames

Website: https://app.abeljames.com/

00:00 Introduction

02:10 The Car Accident and Near-Death Moment

06:15 Recovery Reality and Trusting the Body

10:05 Fear of Hospitals and Modern Medicine

14:20 Community Showing Up When It Matters

18:45 Why the Internet Feels Broken

23:30 AI Slop vs Real Human Thought

28:40 Attention Hijacking and Algorithm Incentives

34:10 Music as Therapy and Regulation

45:20 Movement Balance and Relearning the Body

49:01 Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast

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In this episode, Zack Telander joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about art, music, discipline, and staying human in an algorithmic world. Zack breaks down what it really takes to build a creative career without selling out from playing empty rooms to opening for packed theaters1 and why impostor syndrome never fully disappears, even when you’re doing everything right. Along the way, Zack performs original songs live, breaks down his songwriting process, talks fatherhood, discipline, and why art must be fought for not optimized.

Follow Zack:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zack_telander/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@zacktelander

00:00 Introduction

00:44 The Reality of Being a Musician

02:21 Passion vs. Paying the Bills

04:27 How the Music Industry Actually Works

06:38 Fame, Attention, and Staying Real

09:40 Social Media’s Grip on Creativity

17:24 AI, Algorithms, and What’s Coming Next

30:52 Connecting With Fans

31:51 Juggling Content and Music

32:19 Building Real Fans, Not Just Views

35:35 How the Songs Come Together

51:37 Music Theory (Without the Boring Parts)

57:10 Art, Emotion, and the Audience

01:05:03 The Myth of “Going All In”

01:10:07 Why Effort Shows in Art

01:12:01 Consistency Beats Motivation

01:16:02 Sponsors, Money, and Staying Honest

01:27:10 How Algorithms Shape Behavior

01:30:57 Conclusion

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Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPWET

What starts as a chaotic crossover episode quickly turns into a surprisingly honest exploration of art, ambition, friendship, and identity. In this episode, the WET crew and Sky sit down to make predictions for 2026, but the conversation spirals into something deeper: what it really means to create, to be seen, and to keep going when you feel misunderstood. Along the way, they touch on AI psychosis, sobriety, manifestation, comedy scenes in Austin vs. New York, money, ego, and why modern life feels increasingly surreal. The group wrestles with big questions and confronts the tension between chasing success and staying true to yourself. It’s raw, funny, uncomfortable, and unexpectedly sincere a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful conversations happen when everything goes off the rails.

Follow WET Podcast:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wet.podcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wet.podcast

Justin:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinessenmacher/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustinEssenmacher/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@openmicjustin

Markus:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardvonmarkus/

Phillip:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillipgarciacomedy/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@phillipgarciacomedy/

00:00 Introduction

00:10 Betting, Sobriety, and Dumb Ideas

01:21 Embarrassing Stories

03:02 Culture Talk and the Texas Heat

17:45 AI, Tech, and Future Predictions

32:50 History, Doctrine, and Modern Warfare

38:06 U.S. Military and Economic Power

43:31 Personal Stories and Sobriety Bets

51:20 Tequila Tasting 

01:01:05 Confidence in Comedy

01:08:17 Emotional Moments and Friendship

01:09:07 Listen to the Full Podcast in Supercast

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Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPCAROLL

Music isn’t just something we listen to, it’s how we process heartbreak, find meaning, and understand ourselves. In this episode, Dawson joins me for a conversation about art, identity, and what it actually means to create something that lasts in an age built for consumption. We talk about why some artists hit us on a visceral level while others don’t, the strange line between authenticity and performance, and how taste is formed through pain, obsession, and repetition. Dawson also shares his journey through music school, leaving Berklee, and finding his own voice as an independent artist and why chasing validation often pulls creatives away from the work that truly matters.

Follow Dawson:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawsoncarroll/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dawsoncarrollmusic

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dawson_carroll

00:00 Introduction

01:20 Music Preferences

03:29 Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan

09:13 Bon Iver's Influence and Unique Style

15:26 Artistic Struggles

35:48 Hemingway and the Romanticization of Hardship

40:08 The Cathartic Power of Articulation

40:54 Music Videos and Creativity

42:02 Dawson Performing a Song Live

46:46 Journey Through Music Education

49:26 Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast

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Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPMAXFIELD

In this episode, I sat down with renowned muralist and designer Bradford Maxfield (Bradlio1). This conversation goes far beyond art, it’s a deep dive into the psychology of creativity, the dark history of the Mexican border wars, and the dystopian reality of the modern "attention economy." Bradford opens up about growing up in El Paso next to Juarez during the height of the cartel violence, how breaking his ankle changed his life path from skater to artist, and his wild theory that Banksy created Mr. Brainwash as the ultimate prank on the art world. We also discuss the "Edo Punk" universe, the death of graffiti etiquette, and the "Golden Ticket" visualization technique that can unlock elite performance.

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradlio1/

X: https://x.com/estudiobradlio

00:00 Introduction

00:22 The Creative Process of Artists

06:17 Life in El Paso and Juarez

10:33 The Art Scene and Cultural Influences

23:48 Skateboarding and Graffiti Culture

32:45 The Power of Trust and Creative Energy

37:43 Exploring Art and Propaganda

41:37 The Influence of Shepard Fairey

44:03 Creating Art from Personal Experiences

55:58 The Floating World and Dystopian Future

01:02:28 The Grind Set and Edo Punk

01:05:16 Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast

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Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPNAULT

In this episode, Justin Nault returns to explore fatherhood, identity, and the pursuit of meaning in a world built on chaos. We talk about how becoming a dad redefines purpose, what true self-love looks like, and why most people mistake productivity for peace. Justin breaks down the hidden trauma behind hustle culture, the illusion of “balance,” and the lifelong challenge of learning to be radically honest with yourself and the people you love. We also dive deep into unconditional love, attachment, shadow work, and why authenticity has become one of the most overused and least understood words of our generation. This is a raw, philosophical, and surprisingly emotional conversation about what happens when you strip away the armor, face your patterns, and learn to create from love instead of fear.

Follow Justin:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinnaultofficial/

X: https://x.com/justinnault

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justinnaultofficial

Clovis: https://iamclovis.com/

00:00 Introduction

00:47 Navigating Parenthood and Purpose

01:49 Understanding Parental Love

06:56 Balancing Work and Family

10:12 Generational Shifts in Parenting

17:23 Attachment Styles and Relationships

29:12 Radical Honesty and Shadow Work

31:56 Creating Your Own Family

33:05 The Problem with Hustle Culture

36:18 The Four Agreements and Self-Help

37:29 Generational Challenges and Societal Issues

40:21 The Impact of Social Media and Influencers

52:34 The Struggle with Self-Worth and Identity

01:06:30 Redefining Hard Work

01:12:14 Pharmaceuticals and Their Side Effects

01:17:30 Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast

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