What's Next Podcast

Welcome back to another episode! In this episode we talk about TJ's barbershop, High Rise Studios. TJ gives insight on what its been like to grow a business while making time for his wife and how they support each others fitness journey. We go over our trip at EDC from a few weeks back, Val shares the experience of her first time raving. We go over different stages and sets we went to see as well as future raves and experiences we'd like to go to.

Trigger Warning: In this episode Val and TJ get into some heavy topics regarding sexual assault. Starting off the episode over the disbelief of the current state of the world, they go over their spirituality and religious reconnections. TJ and Val talk about the second coming and how the bible's warnings are all falling into place. TJ goes over the truman show, all the connections that have been coming to light, and how if the second coming were to happen it would be proof of a simulation. Val goes over social media and how it is so overwhelming it is desensitizing. TJ circles back to the epstein files, going over how intertwined those in power are to the files. Join us by listening to our unfiltered conversations.

In this raw and heartfelt episode, hosts Val and TJ sit down with Shalissa, a resilient single mom who opens up about her journey through love, loss, and self-reclamation. With honesty and grace, she shares what it was like navigating a relationship with her child’s father—marked by narcissism, infidelity, and emotional neglect—and the strength it took to walk away. Shalissa doesn’t shy away from the pain, but she also shines a light on her healing: committing to therapy, rebuilding her self-image, and learning how to pour love back into herself while raising her baby. Adding an unexpected full-circle moment, Val and Shalissa reflect on their middle school days and the wild coincidence of reconnecting years later at a club. It’s a powerful conversation about growth, boundaries, and choosing yourself—even when it’s hard.

In this episode, Val and TJ kick things off recapping Thanksgiving — the food, the family dynamics, and the subtle chaos that somehow always pulls up a chair. Val then takes us to Vegas with stories from her trip: the flashing lights, the overstimulation, and the “dress to impress” crowd that sometimes feels more focused on status than substance — people styled to the nines but moving like they’re silently ranking everyone in the room. From there, they pivot into rave culture — the festivals they’ve loved, the ones still on their bucket list, and why those spaces often feel more freeing and authentic than a velvet-rope nightclub.

The conversation deepens as they unpack culture shocks and global realities — from health concerns like rising obesity rates in Mexico, to Brazil’s unexpected cheese-and-coffee combo, to bigger anxieties that linger in the background: climate change, global warming, and the pressure of living in a world driven by overconsumption. They reflect on what it feels like to travel, witness different lifestyles, and then zoom out to ask: How are we all contributing? What are we ignoring? And how do you stay conscious without spiraling? It’s witty, layered, and real — classic Val and TJ energy with laughs, honesty, and just enough depth to leave you thinking long after the episode ends.

This episode dives deep into TJ’s story. Trigger warning: substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and abuse. From a childhood spent navigating the foster system, raised in unstable environments marked by addiction, neglect, and manipulation, TJ opens up about what it meant to grow up too fast—forced into independence in a world that offered little safety or softness. He reflects on living conditions that felt chaotic and dehumanizing, on guardians who hurt more than they helped, and on carrying emotional weight no kid should have to hold. Adolescence brought no real escape—until he met Josilyn, whose presence and family became a turning point in his life. In a raw and unexpected moment the night of his graduation, TJ describes an experience that shifted everything—an “ego death” that forced him to confront his path and choose something different. What follows is a story of resilience, accountability, and rebuilding: from survival mode to stability, from chaos to craft. Today, TJ stands as a professional barber, a husband, and a man who rewrote his narrative—on his own terms.

In this episode, Val and TJ kick things off recapping Thanksgiving — the food, the family dynamics, and the subtle chaos that somehow always pulls up a chair. Val then takes us to Vegas with stories from her trip: the flashing lights, the overstimulation, and the “dress to impress” crowd that sometimes feels more focused on status than substance — people styled to the nines but moving like they’re silently ranking everyone in the room. From there, they pivot into rave culture — the festivals they’ve loved, the ones still on their bucket list, and why those spaces often feel more freeing and authentic than a velvet-rope nightclub.

The conversation deepens as they unpack culture shocks and global realities — from health concerns like rising obesity rates in Mexico, to Brazil’s unexpected cheese-and-coffee combo, to bigger anxieties that linger in the background: climate change, global warming, and the pressure of living in a world driven by overconsumption. They reflect on what it feels like to travel, witness different lifestyles, and then zoom out to ask: How are we all contributing? What are we ignoring? And how do you stay conscious without spiraling? It’s witty, layered, and real — classic Val and TJ energy with laughs, honesty, and just enough depth to leave you thinking long after the episode ends.

In this episode, Val and TJ kick things off recapping Thanksgiving. Val then takes us to Vegas with stories from her trip: the flashing lights, the club scene, and the “dress to impress” crowd that sometimes feels more focused on status than substance — people styled to the nines but moving like they’re silently ranking everyone in the room. From there, they pivot into rave culture — the festivals they’ve loved, the ones still on their bucket list, and why those spaces often feel more freeing and authentic than a velvet-rope nightclub.

The conversation deepens as they unpack culture shocks and global realities — from health concerns like rising obesity rates in Mexico, to Brazil’s unexpected cheese-and-coffee combo, to bigger anxieties that linger in the background: climate change, global warming, and the pressure of living in a world driven by overconsumption. They reflect on what it feels like to travel, witness different lifestyles, and then zoom out to ask: How are we all contributing? What are we ignoring? And how do you stay conscious without spiraling? It’s witty, layered, and real — classic Val and TJ energy with laughs, honesty, and just enough depth to leave you thinking long after the episode ends.

Val and TJ play Truth or Drink, starting with playful banter and slowly diving into more personal and thought-provoking questions. This episode balances laughs, honesty, and real moments that show what happens when comfort zones get tested.

In this episode, TJ and Val dive deep into romantic relationship dynamics within Hispanic culture and unpack the unspoken expectations placed on women versus men. They explore how daughters are often held to higher standards, expected to be responsible, nurturing, and resilient, while sons are frequently coddled and excused from accountability. The conversation expands into how many people have children without being intentional, unknowingly projecting their unresolved hurt and trauma onto the next generation. TJ and Val also open up a thoughtful discussion around psychedelics—how they can lead to powerful breakthroughs, self-awareness, and life-changing realizations when approached with intention. This episode is raw, reflective, and rooted in truth, growth, and generational healing.

Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/listentowhatsnext/?next=%2F

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-podcast/id1590782956

Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/05SH0yLqzq331RUlzdr0YH?si=c4ad796b53234191

Tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whatsnextpodcast?_t=8j5R56v0bCY&_r=1

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@whatsnextpodcast21?si=UGaNqjbtABGl8MrQ

Val: https://www.instagram.com/va1andrad3/

TJ: https://www.instagram.com/tjsblendzz/

In this week’s episode, Val and TJ are back with some banter—loud laughs, real talk, and absolutely zero filter. Val opens up about straps, raves, and the whole electric energy of finally letting herself have fun again. She shares how diving into that scene has been its own kind of freedom.

We also get into Val’s dating life—yup, the celibate era continues—and how being single has actually been a vibe. But that doesn’t mean the dating pool isn’t… rough. Val talks about the challenge of meeting women who are truly intentional, and how most who approach her seem to be looking for nothing but sex. TJ, of course, chimes in with jokes, commentary.

Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/listentowhatsnext/?next=%2F

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-podcast/id1590782956

Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/05SH0yLqzq331RUlzdr0YH?si=c4ad796b53234191

Tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whatsnextpodcast?_t=8j5R56v0bCY&_r=1

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@whatsnextpodcast21?si=UGaNqjbtABGl8MrQ

Val: https://www.instagram.com/va1andrad3/

TJ: https://www.instagram.com/tjsblendzz/