Why I Created As The Pokeball Turns

Your next Pokémon adventure begins here. But this time, it’s not about catching them all, it’s about catching something deeper like connection, healing, and purpose. I didn’t always know I wanted to start a podcast. I just knew I had something to say or maybe, more importantly, that I wanted to listen.

It Started At A Cafe

When Pokémon GO introduced Legendary Raids, I found myself outside a café with a group of strangers. They were older, diverse, chatting freely about Pokémon like lifelong friends. That moment stuck with me. No one was judging anyone. No one cared about age or background. We were just Trainers.

I’ve always carried memories like that. Like the late nights my friends and I spent trading, battling, or showing up to midnight launches for Pokemon games. Or the time I teamed up with a Mystic group to take over every gym in our area, a weeks-long plan that bonded us together in real life.

Those moments weren’t just nostalgic. They were powerful.
They were the foundation of what As The Pokéball Turns would one day become.

My Pokémon Journey 

Funny enough, I didn’t even like Pokémon at first for no real reason. But that changed the day my mom brought home Pokémon Red. I was hooked. My imagination exploded. I didn’t just play the game, I lived inside the pixels. I imagined mysteries beyond the screen, entire worlds underneath the surface.

As I grew older, Pokémon stayed. Even when it wasn’t “cool.” Even when I felt alone. It gave me peace, purpose, and friendships. I talked to my Pokémon like they were real by encouraging them, cheering them on. They were there when people weren’t.

Then came Pokémon GO, and with it, a new chapter. It brought Pokémon into the real world and it brought people with it. I found my voice. I built community. I became someone others could turn to in the DFW scene. Through both good and bad experiences, Pokémon helped me discover who I was and what I cared about.

Why I Started This Podcast

I’ve always wanted to create something…but I wasn’t a musician. I couldn’t draw. I didn’t have the video editing chops for YouTube, and Twitch never felt quite right. But podcasting? That felt possible. Real. Like a place where I could build something meaningful.

But I didn’t want just any Pokémon podcast. I wanted to create the Pokémon interview podcast. One that focused on the people behind the Pokéballs like the community leaders, the unsung voices, the ones with powerful stories who weren’t getting featured because they weren’t content creators.

It wasn’t easy. My first guest ghosted me, a close friend I’d waited all day to interview. No call. No message. Nothing. I quit right there. 

But At GO Fest Seattle, everything clicked. I looked around at thousands of people, each with their own story, and realized no one is telling them. That night, I went home and messaged every local I could. My journey had officially begun. I was done waiting for someone else to validate the idea. I didn’t care if someone had a following or not. If they had a story, I would give them a place to share it.

That mission still drives me today.

Listen to the trailer that goes along with it!

What I’ve Built So Far

Since launching As The Pokéball Turns, I’ve interviewed community leaders, competitive players, content creators, fellow podcasters, and people with stories that left me speechless.

One of the most impactful? A group of friends who worked together to build a PokéStop in Pokemon GO for a child without limbs. Others include a former drug addict who credits Pokémon with helping him become clean, and guests who’ve found healing, joy, or even their purpose through the franchise.

I’ve spoken to my own podcasting heroes. To a Worlds competitor from Japan. To Trainers who simply wanted to be heard.

And somewhere along the way, people started recognizing my show in person. That part still feels surreal.

Where It’s Going Next

I want As The Pokéball Turns to become the greatest Pokémon interview podcast of all time. Not in downloads or fame, but in heart, in what it gives to people. I’m working constantly to grow as a host and listener. To build something that lasts.

This podcast isn’t just about stories anymore. It’s a platform, a movement, one that I hope will evolve to support disability advocacy, dog rescue causes, and community connection in ways we haven’t even imagined yet.

Right now, I’m attending trade shows and building relationships across the Pokémon space. My goal is to create a home for anyone who’s ever loved this world, no matter how big or small their voice may seem.

One voice, one journey, one memory at a time.

Your Story Could Be Next

If you're reading this, chances are Pokémon has touched your life too. Maybe it gave you a friend. A goal. A place to belong.

I’d love to hear your story.

🎧 Explore our curated episode playlists — whether you're into competitive battling, content creation, nostalgia, or community leadership, there's a path here for you.
🎤 Be a Guest — no audience required, just heart.
💬 Join our Discord — and connect with Trainers who get it.

Thank you for being here. Let’s keep this Pokéball turning together.