In the final episode of The Bearded Baldcast, Wes reflects on personal growth, the pain of impermanent relationships, and his departure from organized religion. With heartfelt honesty, he takes a stand against faith-based cruelty and reclaims peace through truth, love, and self-discovery. This is a goodbye—for now—and a promise of something new on the horizon.

In this heartfelt episode, Wes opens up about the 10-day whirlwind since leaving Disney—unpacking the reality of theme park pay, burnout, and the corporate habit of calling perks “compensation.” But the real headline? He’s got a brand new job! Tune in for the big reveal, plus a full-on gush about the 2025 Tony Awards, Jonathan Groff’s perfection and why Cynthia Erivo might just save us all. It’s personal, it’s passionate, and it’s a reminder to always bet on yourself—and know your damn worth.

In this deeply personal and emotional episode of The Bearded Baldcast: A Wes Side Story, Wesley opens up about his unexpected departure from Disney. With honesty, vulnerability, and strength, he reflects on the heartbreak, the lessons, and the love he found along the way. From the power of community to the courage it takes to move forward, this episode is a tribute to resilience, gratitude, and the belief that every ending holds the seed of a new beginning.

In this raw and deeply personal episode of The Bearded Baldcast: A Wes Side Story, Wes opens up about the silent battles he’s been facing—mental health struggles, the weight of leadership, trust issues, spiritual rediscovery, and the quiet ache of aging. Drawing on vivid parables and reflections from his time in the military, he explores what it means to be broken down by life and built back up by grace. This isn’t just a story of pain—it’s one of awakening, healing, and reclaiming identity on his own terms. Whether you're rebuilding from your own fire or searching for purpose in the wreckage, this episode will remind you that you're not alone—and the journey forward is still yours to take.

After a short break, I'm back behind the mic with some honest reflections. In this episode, I open up about my absence over the past couple weeks, the career crossroads that have me questioning the future of the podcast, and the internal debate of whether to keep going. But it’s not all heavy—because this week, I’m heading to EPIC Universe and I’m beyond excited. I share what it means to experience attractions tied to the I.P.s that shaped my childhood, and how that kind of magic might just be the spark I needed. Finally, I lay out some thoughts on what’s next for The Bearded Baldcast, how I want to evolve it, and what you can expect if I continue forward. If you’ve ever faced doubts about chasing your passion, this one’s for you.

In this episode, I take you along for the ride (literally) as I recount my trip to Oregon—from smooth TSA experiences (yes, you read that right) to airport food adventures. But not everything was sunshine and easy boarding; I have some thoughts about the prehistoric relic working at the Dallas airport TGI Fridays who is now officially on my crap list. 🦖💀

Speaking of sunshine, this vacation has been all about soaking up the rays and fighting my natural state of translucency. I talk about embracing the sun like it owes me something and making the most of every golden moment.

And of course, what’s a trip without some theme park love? 🎢 Eddie and I finally secured our Universal annual passes, which means a whole new world (or at least, a few themed lands) of adventures ahead. Tune in for the details, the drama, and the occasional rant.

🔥 Listen now for:✔️ TSA actually being...easy?!✔️ Airport food hits & misses✔️ The Jurassic-era TGI Fridays employee 🦕✔️ Sunbathing: A necessary battle against ghostly complexions✔️ Universal annual pass excitement!

🔊 Hit play and let’s go! 🎧✨

In this episode of The Bearded Baldcast, we kick things off with some exciting news—the launch of the brand-new website! Make sure to check it out, subscribe, and dive into The Bearded Blogcast, where I’ll be sharing even more thoughts, hot takes, and rants in written form.

Next, we get into a topic that hits close to home: JD Vance and his time in the Marine Corps. As a fellow Marine veteran, I discuss why I find him embarrassing and how his politics don’t align with the values many of us stood for in service.

Then, it’s time for some fun—vacation planning! Oregon is on the horizon, and I talk about what I’m looking forward to on this upcoming trip.

Finally, we dive into the future of theme parks, covering Disney’s expansion plans and the highly anticipated Universal Epic Universe. What’s coming, what I’m excited for, and what this means for the theme park wars—it's all in this episode!

Tune in and let’s talk about it all on The Bearded Baldcast!

In this episode of The Bearded Baldcast: A Wes Side Story, I take you along for a date day with Eddie, packed with all my favorite (and least favorite) things. We start with my deep-rooted obsession with bookstores—specifically, a trip to Books-A-Million, where I once again prove that I have absolutely no self-control when surrounded by shelves of stories. Then, we make the dreaded stop at Hobby Lobby, where I question why a craft store needs to be aggressively Christian and why I keep subjecting myself to the experience.

Of course, no date day is complete without food, and I make the case for why Culvers is the undisputed king of fast food. From there, we dive into my latest hyperfixation—Grease: Live—because let’s be honest, it deserves more love. And speaking of musical theater, I check out the current Wicked stage performers and reflect on how the Norwegian cast’s viral rendition of Defying Gravity on TikTok absolutely rocked my world.

Join me for a chaotic but passionate ride through books, burgers, Broadway, and the bizarre realities of craft store culture!

In this episode of The Bearded Baldcast: A Wes Side Story, I’m getting real about how this constant exposure is eroding our mental health, how patriotism has been twisted into a game of dominance, and how masculinity has been warped into something toxic. I’ll talk about my own experience with PTSD, how it’s shaped the way I see the world, and why I refuse to believe that destruction is the only way forward.So, if you’re feeling weighed down by everything happening in the world, if you’re looking for a way to reclaim your own humanity, or if you just need a reminder that there’s still beauty left in all this chaos—this episode is for you. Because I believe we can be better. I believe we can choose something greater than violence. And I believe, now more than ever, that in a world obsessed with destruction, the most revolutionary thing you can do is create.

Stay safe. Stay human. And most of all—keep creating.

Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s not about power. It’s about earning respect, making tough decisions, and taking full ownership of your journey. In this episode of The Bearded Baldcast: A Wes Side Story, I break down what leadership really takes—the failures, the lessons, and the mindset shifts that separate great leaders from those who just hold a title.

I’ll share personal experiences from my time in the Marine Corps, working in prison operations in Iraq, and leading in high-stakes situations in Afghanistan, where bad leadership meant life-or-death consequences. I’ll also talk about how my time in retail and Disney leadership showed me that not every leader is a mentor and why mentorship only works if you take ownership of your own growth.

We’ll cover:
🔥 Why you have to follow before you can lead
🔥 How bad leadership can destroy a team
🔥 The power of calculated decision-making under pressure
🔥 My leadership mantra: ‘Teach, Don’t Task’
🔥 Why no one owes you anything on your leadership journey

If you want to lead, you have to earn it. This episode will challenge you, push you, and maybe even piss you off—but it will make you better. Tune in, take notes, and start owning your leadership journey today.