July 11, 2025

"Hitmonchan Strikes Back With Counter" ft. Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan | TRAINER'S EYE #174

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Season 1 Pokemon & Disability Stories

For Harry the Handicapped Hitmonchan, catching Pokémon meant something most of us take for granted: movement, choice, and belonging. 

Born with cerebral palsy and bound to a wheelchair since childhood, Harry the Handicapped Hitmonchan shares a deeply personal journey of strength, storytelling, and self-expression through the world of Pokémon. From boxing dreams and custom wheelchair ROM hacks to trading Legendary Pokemon for friendship, Harry’s story redefines what it means to be a Trainer. He opens up about pain, play, purpose and the joy of seeing himself reflected in a game where anything feels possible.

Listen now to hear how Pokémon became more than a game, it became freedom.

🎧 Listen to heartfelt stories of inclusion, resilience, and connection.
Explore the Pokémon & Disability Stories playlist now!

Sources
Opening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay 

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Your next Pokemon adventure begins here!

WEBVTT

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My name is Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan and this is my Pokemon story!

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Welcome to As The Pokeball turns, where every voice, every journey, and every memory brings us closer to the world of Pokemon.

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I'm David Hernandez and I'm joined by a passionate creator, an advocate in The Pokeball community from sharing Pokemon Continent to imagining a world where accessibility thrives, they bring their own unique spark to The Pokeball universe.

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Harry, the handicapped Hitmonchan.

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I'm honored to have you on As The Pokeball terms.

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Welcome.

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Happy to be

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I think you you know, we talked a little bit about it, for those who don't know you have a disability and we're going to obviously dive into that.

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But you had a very kind of unique question I kind of wanted to bring on, because you have such a unique perspective, you know, living in a wheelchair.

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'cause a lot of us don't know what that's like.

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But you had something on your pace to pitch that.

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I want to ask, if you could bring your own custom wheelchair using any Pokemon abilities or materials, what would it look like and which Pokemon would help you design it?

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So So that, that's an interesting question.

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if I If I had to choose, think I I think I would choose ference, The the, and hooking on from, uh, Violet.

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violence.

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Mm-hmm.

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And the And the reason being I I think it would be totally cool because I could totally get a ference power power the chair.

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Yeah.

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Like they do the team style, motors and, and, and stuff like that.

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So I think, Rev think Red Room and I think I'd go I go with like futuristic but not but futuristic.

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Kind of like that, that, that, oh, what's a good example of like kind like track.

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Mm-hmm.

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Track, yeah.

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think Tron Wheelchair.

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That, that's how I roll with that.

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so you imagine it kind of like the team star, the big kind of vehicle we're talking about.

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Uh, with river Room, right?

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Is that what you're talking about kind of thing?

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Or are you talking about Yeah, but the chair wouldn't be that

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But I but I was just thinking you could you could kind of go with that aesthetic.

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because trust trust me, chairs that big are not practical.

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Right.

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realistic.

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There's some limitations.

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Usually the doors or the, I think the ways to get inside usually kind of a big barrier for y'all.

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Oh

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Oh, yeah.

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yeah.

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More than you'd think.

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So I thought maybe it could be a Rotom form, but it'd have to be an electric chair to where rot to can possess an electric chair and it kind of runs and you get the kind of, you know what I'm talking about?

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Like, you get the eyes of like, it's like the wheels instead and then it gets like each time it moves, it's like electric sparks and stuff like that.

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Chair.

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chair.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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That's what I thought of when I saw that question.

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It was kind of cute.

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It was kind of cool to think about.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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So honestly, the main reason I didn't do I didn't do that is because me personally, I feel like, a bit is older now.

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Mm-hmm.

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they They used it in Galar.

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They used it in, Sun and and They they used it in the novelty for for me, of kind.

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off.

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lemme put it this way, Sure.

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If somebody came to me and they were like, we're gonna give you a I'm chair.

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I'm saying, heck yes.

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But I'm saying from a, And then saying I say in like a aesthetic perspective, and and like, a content perspective, so much I'd love rather do something like rubber because I, I, so I love multiple cars.

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Mm-hmm.

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I'm, I'm a I, I'm fan of big fan of old American muscle.

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and, And, uh, I think it would be totally awesome have have like a chair, like like a car body, but but not like a car, like but just like a car facade, like the is parts about the car.

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and then like you like you had the, the, then you could I mean you could do like the, the flames.

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It would, it would be pretty cool.

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I think.

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And I kind of wanted to ask, what is it about Hitmonchan?

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Is that kind of your favorite Pokemon, or what's the reason why you decided to choose Harry?

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The Hitmonchan, what's the story behind your Facebook page?

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Yeah, so hit the Hitmonchan, kind of an kind of an interesting thing because I had people, funnily funnily enough, my page, I had a guy troll me.

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He's like, who likes Hitmonchan?

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Nobody does.

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And it was funny'cause the main reason that I do is I love boxing.

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Okay?

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Boxing is something something I really enjoy.

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Um, because, oh, I want to beat people up.

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That's, that's not it.

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What it is, is I enjoy the discipline, I enjoy the technique.

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because the thing the thing is boxing is a little bit like martial arts in that respect.

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respect.

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Mm-hmm.

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about It's about discipline.

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what It what teaches you about how to how to control yourself.

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also how to.

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Basically go off when you need to.

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and I, I and I, I think that's a powerful thing.

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Um, just I just love the beauty of it.

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the I love the skill.

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Um, in and, and he, my favorite boxer is actually it's not not Tyson It's not any of those people that people immediately think when they're thinking of Box.

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I'm a I'm a big fan, technical boxers like Ali.

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and and the reason I say that is because, yeah, yeah, Ali Muhammad Ali really strong, but what made him do it his was his technique.

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Um, could he could do things like the, that that no one else could really.

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and and I, I just find that utterly.

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to bring it Bring it back around.

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The reason I chose Hitmonchan is because I love boxing.

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Mm.

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And unfortunately because of my disability, I can't box because quite quite literally I have rods in my my back.

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and they they basically told me when I, so this was when I was 18.

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I got the surgery in 20 They basically told before me.

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If you don't get this surgery, they're like, they organ because.

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spine was so curved that it was literally starting to compress my internal organs.

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so so yeah, that, that's that's why I was like, just just, There's just there's just something about it.

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Like, I think harder.

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but it, it's, it's just It's just one those things where it's it's something that if you put the work in, you get something.

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It's not It's not something that's dependent on natural ability, it's not dependent on, whatever.

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whatever.

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And the one of the things that I pride myself on is, though even though I can't grasp myself, I I pride myself on technique.

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So even though I though I can't box, I learned the I learned the technique and I and I memorized it.

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Now I want to just switch over to Pokemon real quick.

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We'll come back to the everything else you're talking about, but What was your first experience with the franchise?

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My first My first experience with the franchise was actually playing red on my cousin's game boy.

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Okay.

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Mm-hmm.

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He had one of those, uh, 1998.

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They're called the They're called the Play It Loud Boy.

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They were They were the, colored ones.

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So one red, you had, had, blue, had you had green.

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I dunno if you've ever seen those.

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They're called Play it loud.

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And as it turns out a couple of years later, when I was actually 3 or 4, they, they, uh, gave me that really?

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so they So they actually gave me the play and I this day, and it's in it's in original condition.

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It messed that's with the screen is still good.

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The only The only thing that, um, was added to the was the original, screen screen money.

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plastic plastic parts over the screen itself fallen fallen off years ago.

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and so I And so I got an one and put it on, put it on, but that doesn't really affect the value or, or or quality at all, it just protects the screen from damage..

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What was it like to kind of, I guess, get that play at Loud Game Boy and start playing Pokemon Red?

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Like what was those first experiences for you?

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So it it was weird because, it was basically just like I saw a cool monster and, said, oh is cool.

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And I was like, you know, The fighting the Pokemon to level up, you know?

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mm-hmm.

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And of course I was one of those stereotypical kids.

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who had Who had the starters that was like level 75 of everything.

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Um, and, and and like who the rest of my team was like and, stuff like that because that was like five, the the real starting point, I'll think starting starting point for me was actually Pokemon on Silver, that I got but I got a few years later, And Pokemon Silver is the first Pokemon game that I beat.

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Meaning I beat the Elite Four..

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I beat all beat all of secondary gym game leaders in Tampa because that's that's like not, not, I know some I know some people are completion, but for but for me Kanto gym leaders, they're they're just optional.

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like once you beat the Elite Four, I mean the rest of that stuff is just icing.

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There are some people that are people are.

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Will you have never beaten beaten the the game unless unless you've all of beaten all of these?

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I'm like, nah, nah, you were just,

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you were just done after Joe though.

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Dang.

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You're like, I'm done.

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I've already done Kanto with Jen, Juan.

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There's no reason for me to go back.

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Pretty much.

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I, I, I did it again recently.

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In fact, I, I actually phone every every single, every for every single Pokemon game that's currently for the for the main line.

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own I own every single version.

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I, so So I literally have red, red, blue, yellow, gold, silver, crystal, ruby, sapphire, sapphire, emerald.

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I'm not gonna go through all of them, but you get the idea.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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basically own owned all of them.

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I was I was fortunate because I I managed to get red, red, yellow, gold, gold, silver crystal before they they got expensive.

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So I managed to Managed get all of those, including for like for like 200 bucks.

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Now Now are you're looking at all 200 bucks per So.

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a good investment you had.

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Oh yeah.

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Oh yeah, my Pokemon Collection I that think it's I somewhere in the neighborhood of three to three 4,000 that's and that's just the game.

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What do you think it was about those early Pokemon games, you know, Pokemon Red and even you can go into Pokemon Silver that kept you engaged with the franchise.

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Like what is it about Pokemon specifically compared to other things that you found there?

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I just love I just love the adventure.

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to be entirely honest with you.

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It's, it's, it's the Adventure.

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You can You can do what you.

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can have your, you know, I mean, yes, it's within the content of the game, you know, the context of the game, but you can do what you want.

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You're not You're not restricting to, have you don't have to play for the like in some make games worse.

00:10:28.501 --> 00:10:44.386
you If you don't play for what everyone's playing, then you that You don't you don't have, you know, if I wanna have a team, puff, I can have a team of a jiggly puff, you know, right, I I team, manhan, I can have I have a, It doesn't doesn't matter.

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Mm-hmm.

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I going to Gonna do that.

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No, because you know, thing called strategy, you are you be.

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Who you you.

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I Mm-hmm.

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not I'm not restricted by my disability Pokemon.

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In Pokemon.

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I get my I get my starters, around around region.

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I don't have to I don't have to worry about getting, I don't have I don't have to worry about anywhere.

00:11:04.258 --> 00:11:04.597
I anywhere.

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I don't have to worry about doing anything.

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Mm-hmm.

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the sheer enjoyment just finding Pokemon Pokemon.

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love training them And utterly utterly destroying Miami.

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Like the, that So, so that to me is, is is a win.

00:11:20.427 --> 00:11:20.548
a win.

00:11:20.993 --> 00:11:29.393
you know, obviously you're in a wheelchair Now, when you played Pokemon Red and Silver at the time, were you still confined to the wheelchair or were you still like, what was that disability like at the point period?

00:11:29.447 --> 00:11:29.738
yeah.

00:11:29.898 --> 00:11:33.187
Yeah, so question, question, lifelong my is goes.

00:11:33.302 --> 00:11:34.148
I was born Okay.

00:11:34.674 --> 00:11:36.554
Uh, what's I have what's called Cerebral Palsy.

00:11:36.793 --> 00:11:41.518
Not to be not be, but it's an but it's an umbrella term for over 200 different conditions.

00:11:41.768 --> 00:11:42.118
Right.

00:11:42.222 --> 00:11:53.990
you, you, if you want specific the form that I have is ID um, which essentially means that my muscles are tight and that, half of my back was affected there.

00:11:54.010 --> 00:11:56.510
Two of my were affected this in this case, my leg.

00:11:57.015 --> 00:11:58.635
So at that time period you were already com

00:11:58.696 --> 00:12:00.255
in a wheelchair and.

00:12:00.331 --> 00:12:02.625
I on my first move of three, actually.

00:12:03.196 --> 00:12:03.615
really?

00:12:04.155 --> 00:12:09.176
Um, that, yeah, that's that's actually the age where start start making chairs.

00:12:09.176 --> 00:12:09.535
Mm-hmm.

00:12:09.535 --> 00:12:11.416
There are no chairs for anyone longer than that.

00:12:11.546 --> 00:12:14.472
so I've been I've been in 28 now.

00:12:14.582 --> 00:12:16.793
I've been chair for the for the last 25.

00:12:17.245 --> 00:12:25.466
Well, I was gonna ask though was, you know, as you grew up with Pokemon, was it kind of different, you know, being in a wheelchair compared to like everybody else, maybe around your school crowd or anything like that?

00:12:26.020 --> 00:12:31.676
It, yeah, I yeah, in in truth, I did feel a little bit left out sometimes.

00:12:31.735 --> 00:12:32.155
Mm-hmm.

00:12:32.201 --> 00:12:35.796
that But that wasn't due to anyone else except me me.

00:12:35.946 --> 00:12:36.235
Sure.

00:12:36.400 --> 00:12:41.051
I'cause what I learned about As I as I grew up was life is life was perception.

00:12:41.125 --> 00:12:41.635
Okay?

00:12:41.640 --> 00:12:41.931
Okay.

00:12:41.966 --> 00:12:49.389
So yeah, things happen to you that you You can't control, but you have you have control how over how you experienced.

00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:55.028
I'll quote or Eleanor Roosevelt, can make one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

00:12:55.538 --> 00:12:58.028
And that that is absolutely true.

00:12:58.239 --> 00:12:59.408
with disability.

00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:01.990
You have You have to worth.

00:13:02.505 --> 00:13:05.586
That's That's not something that other people can give you.

00:13:05.686 --> 00:13:15.885
if And if you're searching for other people's validation, I, I've I, I've got a for you, for not gonna not, That that is something that you to to do for yourself.

00:13:15.905 --> 00:13:22.535
yourself And and Pokemon on for me, was a one way where I could, I.

00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:32.325
Experience in some in some way my what my as able-bodied people, because the avatars were were, None of the the.

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:35.710
have been disabled ever in the history of the franchise.

00:13:36.429 --> 00:13:38.345
I And I understand why they do that.

00:13:38.684 --> 00:13:40.024
And I'm not saying they should.

00:13:40.210 --> 00:13:42.985
saying not saying gonna I'm not gonna go company, go.

00:13:43.029 --> 00:13:45.024
need to You need to make a realtor for a second.

00:13:45.070 --> 00:13:46.144
why I know why they don't.

00:13:46.144 --> 00:13:46.504
Mm-hmm.

00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:55.741
But But it's it one of things where it it allowed me to realize in eight way, a way, a very limited way, but a meaningful one.

00:13:55.777 --> 00:14:03.874
it was like What it was like to walk around, it was what it was like to climb a hill, it was what it was like know, fall fall off a thing or legend get attacked by a bear.

00:14:03.984 --> 00:14:04.323
you know?

00:14:06.208 --> 00:14:08.249
I mean, you could still get attacked by the bear in her wheelchair.

00:14:08.249 --> 00:14:09.149
Let's be honest, bro.

00:14:09.903 --> 00:14:13.828
But, you know, see, I'm smart enough not to go near the Years my wheelchair.

00:14:13.828 --> 00:14:14.038
See?

00:14:14.308 --> 00:14:14.399
ago.

00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:14.999
Oh, fair enough.

00:14:14.999 --> 00:14:15.418
Fair enough.

00:14:15.418 --> 00:14:15.658
Yeah.

00:14:16.889 --> 00:14:19.142
But, uh, but yeah, that's me.

00:14:19.412 --> 00:14:19.802
So

00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:22.311
what was it like to kind of connect with your friends?

00:14:22.311 --> 00:14:23.961
As you know, y'all were both playing Pokemon?

00:14:24.306 --> 00:14:27.615
So I so I basically just battled with my friends a lot.

00:14:27.956 --> 00:14:36.302
and this more more in the DI wireless wireless communication became, Because when I was when I was growing up, most of my friends didn't have a cable.

00:14:36.682 --> 00:14:39.491
and the and the few did, battle with battle with them.

00:14:39.511 --> 00:14:45.721
We just traded with so like, Hey you need to evolve this Pokemon, or Hey, I need I need this Pokemon.

00:14:46.192 --> 00:14:55.831
And And it's funny because one of The one of The Pokeball that I have to this day, I got I brought in a trade a from a queue.

00:14:56.361 --> 00:15:01.511
So I So I had Emerald and he had something, I can't I can't remember what it was.

00:15:01.631 --> 00:15:03.591
I think I had, and he and he had moved.

00:15:03.591 --> 00:15:04.282
Sapphire.

00:15:04.594 --> 00:15:07.778
And he he, me, me, the whole team and I and I.

00:15:07.864 --> 00:15:08.644
my legendaries.

00:15:09.453 --> 00:15:14.636
Because back then, you know, the legendary just sat in my back since I used them.

00:15:15.476 --> 00:15:16.076
Um,

00:15:16.152 --> 00:15:17.711
you would never use a legendary Pokemon?

00:15:18.057 --> 00:15:19.667
so I So I did.

00:15:19.797 --> 00:15:22.626
I will So I'll say GPA era, I mm-hmm.

00:15:22.976 --> 00:15:23.267
Okay.

00:15:23.366 --> 00:15:28.677
fact fact, I still have my Rayquaza I've that I've had eight I old.

00:15:29.501 --> 00:15:31.451
So you never restarted these game files?

00:15:31.451 --> 00:15:33.221
You've just started once and that was it.

00:15:33.386 --> 00:15:35.802
Yeah, I Yeah, I mean, I've a restarted a few over the years.

00:15:35.876 --> 00:15:36.297
years.

00:15:36.576 --> 00:15:39.710
Um, most most of them I left un touch.

00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.270
the The main reason?

00:15:41.451 --> 00:15:44.289
Is because this is gonna sound sound.

00:15:44.289 --> 00:15:53.809
So, but the but the main reason, because quite frankly, because um, because of my disability gaining a lot, uh, uh, causes actually, a great deal of pain.

00:15:54.277 --> 00:16:05.014
so when it comes to a Pokemon game that I've sunk 60, 70 hours in, I'm not as inclined to put those 60, 70, 80, hours in.

00:16:05.014 --> 00:16:17.788
Again, not because I dislike the game, but because that 60, 70 hours is, is quite a bit of exertion for me with my disability and the way my body just is Anymore.

00:16:17.831 --> 00:16:21.071
And And so have to I have to working, bursts.

00:16:21.250 --> 00:16:32.051
when I when I was a kid, I used to around 5, 6, 7 on my original G-B-A-S-P, you You know, that's, I used to do, to I used to, I used to I used, dungeon.

00:16:32.410 --> 00:16:35.296
but I can't I can't do that anymore, unfortunately.

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:35.561
I.

00:16:36.296 --> 00:16:47.178
lot of a lot of the times when to I go start playing the game, I'm lucky to get an hour, hour hour half before it starts hurting to where it gets it gets harder to continue.

00:16:47.668 --> 00:16:55.725
So I don't I don't play as much about you being that outta love, but but of the sheer fact that fact that I don't have, like I used to.

00:16:56.168 --> 00:17:04.979
well, just that detail adds more, I'll say more presedence of you giving up your legendary Pokemon because you're not restarting these games.

00:17:05.219 --> 00:17:06.058
Legendary Pokemon.

00:17:06.058 --> 00:17:08.128
Usually people don't give him up as easily.

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.759
What made you want to trade your legendary Pokemon for your friend's?

00:17:11.804 --> 00:17:11.963
Pokemon.

00:17:12.365 --> 00:17:16.404
Well, Well, he had some really cool of all, Okay.

00:17:16.904 --> 00:17:24.057
And, uh, I think I think it was doom, Charizard, Um, I can't I can't it's'em.

00:17:24.126 --> 00:17:29.172
It's been so long, Like Like still I still have most of them, to be honest with you.

00:17:29.426 --> 00:17:31.317
you feel like the tray was kind of worth it, it sounds like.

00:17:31.497 --> 00:17:39.771
yeah, it Yeah, it was, um, because and you yeah, you asked, I this is this when I was seven, see I didn't see the value of keeping the Regi's.

00:17:39.836 --> 00:17:40.442
You Right.

00:17:40.527 --> 00:17:44.579
see the value of, keeping these and moving them from game to game.

00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.809
That wasn't really a thing.

00:17:46.085 --> 00:17:46.375
Sure.

00:17:46.650 --> 00:17:48.420
oh, the new Pokemon game came out.

00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:49.934
I'm gonna gonna play it.

00:17:49.954 --> 00:17:54.198
And I trade with my friend, I'm gonna, you you know, X, do x yz.

00:17:54.692 --> 00:17:55.893
you know, Yeah.

00:17:55.923 --> 00:17:56.313
to be.

00:17:56.737 --> 00:18:09.238
the good Good news though, and this and this is actually very good news, handheld games do not actually hurt me much as much as playing on play a PS five because I don't I, it is.

00:18:09.238 --> 00:18:11.998
I, I guess I, it's because require me to use my.

00:18:12.532 --> 00:18:19.883
Central nervous system as much for like the, what I mean by that is of my disability is fine motor motor skills Fine.

00:18:19.883 --> 00:18:23.960
Motor by motor skills are things like writing, using using stuff stuff like that.

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.319
Mm-hmm.

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:29.190
My, my motor skills are kind, They're not not great.

00:18:29.190 --> 00:18:40.079
So so a handheld where it's more more, actually gives actually dexterity opposed to, say where where.

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:40.859
apart.

00:18:41.609 --> 00:18:43.769
And I also have to look up at a screen.

00:18:44.230 --> 00:18:50.723
It, it's hard to explain'cause unless you have have it, it kind of That's just how it shakes out.

00:18:50.993 --> 00:19:00.469
But fortunately for me, The Pokeball games are on handhelds, and those handhelds allow me to play for the hour, for the two hour, Yeah.

00:19:00.503 --> 00:19:02.669
can Can I just save my name and turn it out?

00:19:02.729 --> 00:19:03.148
Mm-hmm.

00:19:03.233 --> 00:19:05.868
to I don't have worry that I'm not connected with my tv.

00:19:06.084 --> 00:19:15.025
I don't have I don't have to worry that it's it's really gonna lose power I'm a I'm a complete idiot forget to charge my, that's that's, that's why I do that.

00:19:15.085 --> 00:19:16.224
And that's, I love head.

00:19:17.069 --> 00:19:32.042
it allows me to play those games that I've played for years, and it allows me to still enjoy a franchise that, quite frankly, I enjoy I enjoy on more probably more than any franchise I've ever played in my life.

00:19:32.292 --> 00:19:38.460
and, and that's partially because I I say it on my, mm, It's on it's on my terms.

00:19:38.555 --> 00:19:40.259
not It's not on somebody else's terms.

00:19:40.444 --> 00:19:44.019
not It's not dependent on physical capabilities lack lack.

00:19:44.664 --> 00:19:50.634
It's dependent on my strategy, my ability, my desire.

00:19:50.994 --> 00:19:51.625
Right?

00:19:51.894 --> 00:19:52.585
Hey you.

00:19:52.974 --> 00:19:54.625
Yes, you with the ears.

00:19:54.924 --> 00:19:56.005
Don't go anywhere.

00:19:56.214 --> 00:19:57.414
We'll be right back.

00:19:59.056 --> 00:20:01.155
Love hearing real stories from real trainers.

00:20:01.516 --> 00:20:06.885
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00:20:07.486 --> 00:20:10.486
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00:20:10.635 --> 00:20:13.125
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00:20:13.665 --> 00:20:19.006
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00:20:19.576 --> 00:20:24.046
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00:20:25.502 --> 00:20:31.742
Now, I wanted to know, since you played a lot of Pokemon games, what do you have a particular favorite generation of games that you enjoyed playing the most?

00:20:32.113 --> 00:20:36.313
so my favorite is probably four.

00:20:36.750 --> 00:20:44.673
but the reason I love gen four is it was the first game that I got at night launch, like the official, like midnight launch.

00:20:45.242 --> 00:20:47.583
That was the first game I ever got, that way.

00:20:48.035 --> 00:20:53.795
And I remember just looking at the box art of Palkia because I got Pearl and my brother got Diamond.

00:20:54.634 --> 00:21:01.595
remember I remember looking at the back thinking, and thinking, man, what the heck?

00:21:01.744 --> 00:21:03.224
This is so so awesome.

00:21:04.625 --> 00:21:09.575
And it it just was amazing, So, it was just magical.

00:21:10.470 --> 00:21:11.160
I can understand that.

00:21:11.190 --> 00:21:20.460
'cause especially that was also the first time we had wireless play and especially'cause of Mount, I think it's Cornets what it's called, it made the region feel much more bigger than it probably was.

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:24.180
'cause you know, you couldn't go anywhere without going through Mount Cornet.

00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:27.420
I don't think there was any part of Seno you could not pass.

00:21:27.809 --> 00:21:27.869
Yeah.

00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:38.125
And that alone kind of just made it seem more, as much as I love Gen three, gen three, the big thing it struggled with was, establishing, its kind of, I'll say height in a way.

00:21:38.125 --> 00:21:38.905
It was very flat.

00:21:38.905 --> 00:21:42.476
Hillen was outside of Mount Chimney, but gen four, you had Mountain Cort.

00:21:42.746 --> 00:21:43.645
You felt like it was hilly.

00:21:43.645 --> 00:21:47.635
Like it added that depth to the game, I guess was what I'm trying to say.

00:21:47.635 --> 00:21:47.695
Yeah.

00:21:47.816 --> 00:21:49.405
Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.

00:21:49.465 --> 00:21:57.570
It really was a huge depth change, The way they handled it you know it's kinda funny, people critque Gen four and they say, you.

00:21:57.570 --> 00:22:00.810
They say, oh man, so, Oh oh man, this stuff.

00:22:00.810 --> 00:22:06.030
And I'm like, know, know, maybe I feel differently because I'm disabled.

00:22:06.300 --> 00:22:07.441
What I mean by that is I.

00:22:07.758 --> 00:22:12.083
I learned very early on that life really is is great.

00:22:12.258 --> 00:22:13.038
is beautiful.

00:22:13.278 --> 00:22:22.310
You need to take the Take the time to to life because those moments that you have, you may not you may not get, right?

00:22:22.935 --> 00:22:23.226
yeah.

00:22:23.270 --> 00:22:29.384
to seize to use the To use carpe diem, deal, to you have to seize right?

00:22:29.474 --> 00:22:29.825
right?

00:22:29.954 --> 00:22:34.461
to You have to seize every moment because that makes that makes it great.

00:22:34.560 --> 00:22:46.528
So for me, that of Gen four kind of mirrored how I I had, because of my my disability, so for me, never never felt like an I a to, slower.

00:22:46.917 --> 00:22:52.528
It never it never felt like an imposition just to in take in the atmosphere to just.

00:22:53.218 --> 00:23:00.891
Marvel at all the things that were there, because the truth is The Pokemon games are a lot deeper than people give them credit for.

00:23:01.248 --> 00:23:06.934
but a lot of people just gloss over it and go,"oh go, oh, it's just a monster catcher, you know?

00:23:06.970 --> 00:23:07.309
you know?

00:23:07.450 --> 00:23:08.190
Oh, you know?

00:23:08.255 --> 00:23:08.914
more than that.

00:23:09.320 --> 00:23:21.099
it's It's very obvious that intended for it to be you imagining yourself as a kid a world that's that's new in a world in a world that's different.

00:23:21.845 --> 00:23:24.005
just Just like it's right?

00:23:24.069 --> 00:23:24.420
Right.

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.299
The world is magical.

00:23:25.414 --> 00:23:27.460
Things Things are magical things things.

00:23:28.174 --> 00:23:31.535
and then we get a little older and we realize, oh, it's not mystery.

00:23:31.827 --> 00:23:34.198
It's just whatever phenomena, you know?

00:23:34.468 --> 00:23:37.917
Oh, it's just the Aurora Borealis, or it's just the whatever.

00:23:38.262 --> 00:23:48.809
But when But when you're a kid mountain you that you see over Murphy, you wonder you wonder if there's a dragon inside or or you wonder if things are gonna are gonna come out.

00:23:48.809 --> 00:23:51.955
And I guess Pokemon kind of did that, right?

00:23:52.016 --> 00:23:52.365
Right.

00:23:52.465 --> 00:23:58.500
you go to the mountain and you And inside pretty pretty cool ones depending on the game.

00:23:58.573 --> 00:24:02.101
and and what it really is, is it's the mystery.

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:04.105
it's the joy.

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:07.500
and I think they try really the joy of the joy.

00:24:07.509 --> 00:24:12.319
Being at the joy of Joy was just experiencing a world is that was different.

00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:13.720
Mm-hmm.

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:16.075
Different from the world that lived as people.

00:24:16.525 --> 00:24:20.815
do you still have that kind of joy when it comes to Pokemon or even just the life in general?

00:24:20.815 --> 00:24:24.414
'cause you said for you it was normal for the game to be slow, I guess in a way.

00:24:24.775 --> 00:24:28.718
Do you still find that kind of sense of mystery when you play Pokemon or even life now?

00:24:29.186 --> 00:24:34.116
So, I'm going to be one of them contrarians and be like Gen 9 in the best they have ever been.

00:24:34.442 --> 00:24:40.182
and reason the reason I say that is, is, gen nine gen nine has technical issues.

00:24:40.402 --> 00:24:45.821
Yes, you can go nauseam about the technical issues, but but you know what they mean.

00:24:46.007 --> 00:24:53.461
They They manage things do things they've been trying to do over for over a decade, they and they managed to do them the in the game.

00:24:53.567 --> 00:24:59.102
Not only Not only that, they but they managed to do it in a way we've that you've never seen before.

00:24:59.234 --> 00:25:01.664
The Pokeball show up on the Overworld.

00:25:02.115 --> 00:25:02.625
Okay.

00:25:02.835 --> 00:25:08.654
So So into a into a field, you walk into a, there's a there's a giant rock master of you.

00:25:09.434 --> 00:25:11.664
That's that's never been a before.

00:25:11.954 --> 00:25:18.362
and and count don't count in that in that because technically title, Even though it count.

00:25:18.571 --> 00:25:20.082
I'm not I'm not necessarily.

00:25:20.102 --> 00:25:21.451
it because it's not a mainline.

00:25:21.902 --> 00:25:28.791
but that really did, In nine nine really tried a lot of things and they did a lot of things very well.

00:25:29.162 --> 00:25:34.382
And, and And, and quite frankly, when I look at Gen nine, gen gen nine was an experiment.

00:25:34.412 --> 00:25:40.201
I can I can tell by Gen Gen nine was They they wanted to what they they could do.

00:25:40.801 --> 00:25:47.917
And I, And and quite quite frankly, I think I think that Legend Z ca is gonna is gonna be the fruition.

00:25:48.048 --> 00:25:52.248
it's, know, it's gonna be the culmination what of what they figured out with.

00:25:52.362 --> 00:25:53.051
Gen gen.

00:25:53.357 --> 00:25:58.664
I think that we're a certain a certain challenge coming in, um, that we didn't see before.

00:25:58.875 --> 00:26:02.934
And And I, I think that's the fact that the the.

00:26:02.984 --> 00:26:05.474
they're starting to be more younger fans again.

00:26:05.535 --> 00:26:07.815
'cause you know, it's kind of a cyclical thing, right?

00:26:07.815 --> 00:26:17.045
So the younger fans grow up and Then they become older older and then and then those older fans have, and then and then their kids, you know, grow into the the franchise.

00:26:17.345 --> 00:26:25.627
And And so I think I think we're gonna see Great and full disclaimer to those people saying, how can you say Gen nine is the best gen?

00:26:26.048 --> 00:26:32.708
Well, I can say that that, that as someone who literally played every single game, didn't I didn't stop A lot of a lot of people.

00:26:32.798 --> 00:26:37.807
said, They said after after I just couldn't I just after gen six, I just after six, I just it.

00:26:38.166 --> 00:26:52.759
The thing about Pokemon is, and this is, this is just a personal thing, and this is not an attack toward anyone but I think what people need to get better at doing in the fandom is is, each game as if it's not connected to the rest of them.

00:26:53.202 --> 00:26:55.487
Take each game as it is.

00:26:55.799 --> 00:27:05.549
Don't Don't try to say, well, it's not it's not like that game I played when I was, so it's so it not, I think you I think you a disservice by doing that.

00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:17.692
think that allowing nostalgia to be the lens through which you view Pokemon is a mistake because it's always meant to be about new experiences, about new things.

00:27:17.992 --> 00:27:19.853
So treat the games that way.

00:27:20.242 --> 00:27:22.012
Treat them as a new experience.

00:27:22.163 --> 00:27:24.682
Do not treat them as a 25-year-old.

00:27:24.785 --> 00:27:28.984
Franchise that you've played since you were four, because guess what, guys?

00:27:28.984 --> 00:27:30.365
The games aren't any easier.

00:27:30.545 --> 00:27:31.565
You just got better.

00:27:31.872 --> 00:27:45.018
Um, that's That's basically the thing is, is, you know, and I, Warners and I, and I, and I promise you there's gonna be comments, people this and they're gonna go, you're just a new Jenner.

00:27:45.228 --> 00:27:47.057
You're not a Gen Warner guys.

00:27:47.057 --> 00:27:48.228
I am a Gen Warner.

00:27:48.541 --> 00:27:49.892
I grew up on that stuff.

00:27:49.951 --> 00:27:57.977
And you cannot cannot tell that the that the gen one the and the gen two and the gen three objectively better better than the modern eight.

00:27:58.082 --> 00:28:11.537
can You, you enjoy you enjoy them more because they with your childhood and they, but you but you cannot tell me that that they're objectively better because that is an outright.

00:28:12.001 --> 00:28:15.777
And I'll And I to say that anyone wants come at come.

00:28:15.781 --> 00:28:16.412
it, because.

00:28:16.761 --> 00:28:18.035
It is, true.

00:28:18.394 --> 00:28:19.835
I'll use a perfect example.

00:28:20.164 --> 00:28:31.422
gen five introduced experience for for catching Pokemon because for those for those who don't remember, to prior to gen five, when you caught The Pokeball, you got nothing.

00:28:31.801 --> 00:28:32.221
Mm-hmm.

00:28:32.281 --> 00:28:43.805
could you level 70, legendary, go go through all stuff entire entire wiped, and you you catch it and you nothing for it The than The Pokemon itself.

00:28:44.347 --> 00:28:45.008
Whoa.

00:28:45.893 --> 00:28:46.192
Yeah.

00:28:46.913 --> 00:28:47.217
You know what I mean?

00:28:47.217 --> 00:28:47.218
Yeah.

00:28:47.258 --> 00:28:48.337
like what a letdown.

00:28:49.807 --> 00:29:00.817
And, and then, and then gen five came along and they were And they like, finally gonna give you experience for battling, which which makes, even even from a standpoint.

00:29:01.508 --> 00:29:03.857
You're, you're gonna tell me that my Pokemon.

00:29:03.907 --> 00:29:07.298
fights this other Pokemon but it doesn't doesn't.

00:29:07.538 --> 00:29:09.218
for it because I decided to catch it.

00:29:09.488 --> 00:29:11.413
So what happened What happened to that experience?

00:29:11.712 --> 00:29:14.173
It just magically disappear either.

00:29:14.347 --> 00:29:23.538
Like so, So, I so it pretty that they actually made a lot of quality life improve that that have been steadi over over time.

00:29:23.837 --> 00:29:27.843
the last thing I'll say on I'll say, I do not I do not think Game Creek is lazy.

00:29:27.948 --> 00:29:32.508
hear I hear people say, game oh, game Creek lazy Oh, they've never done this.

00:29:32.508 --> 00:29:33.962
They're never doing doing this.

00:29:34.008 --> 00:29:36.077
Well, news flash to you guys too.

00:29:36.377 --> 00:29:50.343
You obviously don't know how corporate structure works because the reason that the time, so tight, some of these some of these games have been a within a year and a half When when some other games take three, four years.

00:29:50.522 --> 00:30:00.823
reason reason that timeframe is a year and a half to maybe two years maybe, is is because that's a corporate mandate That is that is not the developers going, we're gonna put a game out two years.

00:30:01.022 --> 00:30:01.712
promise you.

00:30:01.712 --> 00:30:02.103
They're you.

00:30:02.103 --> 00:30:03.222
They're not sitting there going.

00:30:03.363 --> 00:30:05.042
okay guys, let's do this again.

00:30:05.913 --> 00:30:08.407
not That's not what they want be, I promise promise you.

00:30:08.553 --> 00:30:19.637
But But they're accountable to people and and you can't just go, oh, well we didn't we didn't feel it was ready, we're we're, we're, we're not gonna You can't do can't do that.

00:30:20.282 --> 00:30:28.271
that That is not a, I have friends who live and and work in, you you don't get that level of mm-hmm.

00:30:28.531 --> 00:30:42.271
And so for all those people who say that they're lazy, and that they don't uh, they don't care about the game that is from from somebody who played them, one, one basically That is complete complete loaded, It's not not true.

00:30:42.551 --> 00:30:49.561
it's very obvious obvious that they, because how, how much how much of it, times do many we.

00:30:50.071 --> 00:30:51.571
of characters from previous games?

00:30:52.021 --> 00:30:52.652
A lot.

00:30:53.041 --> 00:30:57.662
How many times do we see Pokemon from previous games or battle people?

00:30:57.902 --> 00:30:59.162
Uh, I'll use Sun and Moon.

00:30:59.372 --> 00:31:07.682
We got to fight Fight in Sun in from the the original game, They just they just randomly show up and you get to fight at level.

00:31:08.134 --> 00:31:10.244
They obviously cared a lot lot.

00:31:10.865 --> 00:31:23.575
And so I feel like its rude of us as fans that they say that they don't care because if that if that were the case, Why do they go out of their to give Charizard Mega forms?

00:31:24.255 --> 00:31:28.785
Why do they go out of their way to always add new mechanics?

00:31:29.397 --> 00:31:32.093
Well, my last question just in regards to gen four

00:31:32.167 --> 00:31:32.587
Mm-hmm.

00:31:32.992 --> 00:31:36.232
if you were gonna do a play through, what six Pokemon would you have on your team?

00:31:36.692 --> 00:31:40.366
So Torterra, Lucario, Hitmonchan.

00:31:40.386 --> 00:31:44.047
If I can even get one, I'm, I'm not even, have to look that up.

00:31:44.997 --> 00:31:45.446
It's okay.

00:31:45.561 --> 00:31:46.011
No worries.

00:31:46.011 --> 00:31:46.882
I can judge you on that.

00:31:47.376 --> 00:31:55.717
Um, Um, Hitmonchan if I if I can, which think I think I can, I think, think I'd have I think I to trade it up from technically I could.

00:31:55.836 --> 00:32:07.852
I, and and then I'd also do Luxray because I love Luxray and Gastrodon, pink one, not the blue one because I just love that little slug.

00:32:08.573 --> 00:32:12.563
And, and, uh, the one probably Magmortar.

00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:15.414
Although Magmortar is kind of a big of.

00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.559
because.

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:22.589
I usually didn't have anyone to trade with at the time, I almost was never able to get them.

00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:26.460
In fact, I don't think I I don't think I dropped original play through of Pearl.

00:32:26.849 --> 00:32:32.720
I don't think I got Magmortar or Electivire until I had already I like like 600 hours.

00:32:32.750 --> 00:32:35.164
so Oh, time to get Magmortar, 600 hours.

00:32:36.470 --> 00:32:37.579
600 hours.

00:32:37.962 --> 00:32:42.163
So eventually you start your Facebook page and I wanted to know what the inspiration behind that was.

00:32:42.163 --> 00:32:42.883
For those who dunno.

00:32:42.883 --> 00:32:45.613
It's called Harry, the Handicapped Hitmonchan Facebook page.

00:32:45.913 --> 00:32:47.623
What made you wanna start that page?

00:32:47.623 --> 00:32:49.093
It started last year, I believe.

00:32:49.198 --> 00:32:59.508
Yeah, it was it was, Um, um, what made what Made the page Page was I looked at The at the person community and I was like, there's no Hitmonchan.

00:32:59.728 --> 00:33:04.137
I was like there's no Hitmonchan page And I was like, Hitmonchan is my favorite Pokemon.

00:33:04.137 --> 00:33:07.288
And nobody ever talks about Hitmonchan'cause they really don't.

00:33:07.557 --> 00:33:13.048
In fact, I don't think most people even remember Hitmonchan unless they played the early games.

00:33:13.432 --> 00:33:25.048
but, looked at that and I was like, you know, gonna make a I'm gonna make a Hitmonchan page and then I I'm not just gonna make a Hitmonchan page I'm gonna make a disabled Hitmonchan page because I'm disabled too.

00:33:25.434 --> 00:33:28.585
and and quite literally my thought process was.

00:33:28.646 --> 00:33:35.210
I'm disabled, you know, and, I wanna reflect what actually like for me as a fan.

00:33:35.666 --> 00:33:37.007
And so I did.

00:33:37.423 --> 00:33:52.160
one of some of the funny things that joke joke with because I'm with a bunch of Pokepages One of the admins, I always joke that, uh, my, my, my favorite would be, So I just, I just roll up on them and sky uppercut.

00:33:53.825 --> 00:33:54.325
But, uh,

00:33:54.410 --> 00:33:56.644
well, well, doesn't that mean, you know, rollout?

00:33:56.644 --> 00:33:57.035
Probably.

00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:58.009
oh.

00:33:58.009 --> 00:34:01.380
Um, Um, a, so a, a little bit of an aside here.

00:34:01.549 --> 00:34:05.089
um, Um, because with what you're talking about with my page.

00:34:05.130 --> 00:34:08.317
page, in The Pokeball community there is something called ROM hacking.

00:34:09.126 --> 00:34:16.027
I don't know if you're familiar with with that, Essentially, essentially you modify the old ROMs and add new features.

00:34:16.416 --> 00:34:16.956
Well.

00:34:17.706 --> 00:34:20.239
had a friend who I love dearly.

00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:26.449
he is a rom hacker and he helped me make a rom hack called Rolling Thunder.

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:30.019
Now you might be thinking, why is it called Rolling Thunder?

00:34:30.949 --> 00:34:38.900
the answer to that is both of the protagonists that you can choose, the boy and girl have custom sprites and they are in wheelchairs.

00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:43.030
the custom sprites, you actually You actually them pushing their the over world.

00:34:43.342 --> 00:34:46.132
it's a it's fire red, so it's gen three.

00:34:46.170 --> 00:34:50.940
and you get an extra group of starters and they're all wheel based starters.

00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:57.503
So one of them is Sandshrew, one of them is Mareep, and the one is Spheal.

00:34:58.693 --> 00:35:01.110
And um, really cool because.

00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:06.269
The characters are in wheelchairs, and the dialogue is adjusted to reflect that.

00:35:07.170 --> 00:35:14.824
in fact, the rival conversations with Blue, he actually makes jokes about your disability in oh my gosh.

00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:16.300
So it's actually kind of funny.

00:35:17.469 --> 00:35:20.619
Um, but uh, no, it, it was great.

00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:25.577
And, and I'll be honest with you, when I, when I played the finished product, I actually cried a little bit.

00:35:25.976 --> 00:35:32.851
that was that was the first time I that I played a game where the where the character reflected me me.

00:35:33.391 --> 00:35:33.612
Mm.

00:35:33.896 --> 00:35:36.811
and it changed things things.

00:35:36.972 --> 00:35:52.038
A because no no, was I just I just, a random I was a trainer in a in a wheelchair, through The Pokeball world in a world in a world that's not people for people like me, just like world, built for people people like me.

00:35:52.393 --> 00:36:03.960
And And it was a very meaningful experience because, I got to roll through the grass and and Pokemon like like I imagine that I were a real thing.

00:36:04.456 --> 00:36:10.052
So it So it was a very experience and one which which I absolutely do absolutely do not regret.

00:36:10.376 --> 00:36:12.117
to take it take it back to Facebook page.

00:36:12.836 --> 00:36:23.047
it's funny when When I started the the page and I page and I other at the other page, some of some of them left messages on my thing and they said, you why you handicap tip handicap?

00:36:23.967 --> 00:36:27.847
And And answer the answer to that is not use the term term to handicap.

00:36:27.896 --> 00:36:28.436
myself.

00:36:28.797 --> 00:36:32.126
most people do Not that are, that have disabilities.

00:36:32.306 --> 00:36:38.083
In fact, in fact, it's actually considered, um, derogatory, derogatory in some circle.

00:36:38.202 --> 00:36:44.523
don't I don't consider it derogatory, Uh, uh, because truth, truth, most people aren't being derogatory when they do this.

00:36:44.523 --> 00:36:47.643
They just don't understand that it's that it's not appropriate.

00:36:47.949 --> 00:36:50.150
but But the reason I did the alliteration.

00:36:50.630 --> 00:36:58.480
So Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan, triple H, for, for wrestling fans out there, triple H maybe.

00:36:58.539 --> 00:37:01.349
Anyway, um, to play the game.

00:37:02.222 --> 00:37:03.242
but that's why I did it.

00:37:03.242 --> 00:37:08.443
It was the alliteration and And to reflect the fact that I am disabled.

00:37:08.742 --> 00:37:09.132
Right?

00:37:09.172 --> 00:37:09.523
right.

00:37:09.762 --> 00:37:10.182
different.

00:37:10.507 --> 00:37:19.166
and to be to, honest with you, I am utterly blown away by the response that I got from people, because it's been mostly positive.

00:37:20.036 --> 00:37:23.817
you get your share of trolls, which of course is the internet.

00:37:24.056 --> 00:37:29.786
just That's how, it's But the the vast the majority of the people that I with been.

00:37:29.849 --> 00:37:30.760
Beyond beyond.

00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:36.177
In fact, I have I friends that I would not have made otherwise if it weren't for the page.

00:37:36.516 --> 00:37:42.106
so to all my Pokemon page made friends out there, are gonna be listen to some later.

00:37:42.677 --> 00:37:50.666
I love you I love and you and you know, you know, my impacted my life in ways that I, I can't believe, express words.

00:37:50.996 --> 00:37:52.146
And if I and I.

00:37:52.797 --> 00:37:56.681
I don't think they'd I don't think it be adequate, it's been a it's been a beautiful thing.

00:37:56.967 --> 00:38:09.487
I've b een able to see Pokemon just not just as a game, just not just as a car just as an anime, but but as a group of people who just enjoy something so much that brings so brings so much joy to their life.

00:38:09.952 --> 00:38:14.541
And I I great great pride in knowing that I was a part of that.

00:38:14.896 --> 00:38:21.489
I was a I was a part being, good, good, happiness to to someone, because for me, that's is.

00:38:21.909 --> 00:38:29.889
It's happiness, it's joy, but not just in the super metaphysical way way people say, oh my gosh, too much.

00:38:31.166 --> 00:38:37.163
it's beautiful in that it brings so much much happiness to everyone.

00:38:37.202 --> 00:38:49.833
much Pretty much that I everyone that I know in the community, brings brings them so much joy and it's and it actually saved some people from making life decisions that wouldn't have been good for them.

00:38:49.943 --> 00:38:50.233
that.

00:38:50.452 --> 00:38:50.873
Mm-hmm.

00:38:51.572 --> 00:38:53.623
It it really is a beautiful thing.

00:38:53.882 --> 00:38:57.422
So those for those people listening, okay okay to love Pokemon.

00:38:57.603 --> 00:39:05.492
It's It's okay to, you you know, your have Pokemon tshirt Pokemon Plushies, which I actually have a few on my shelf back behind me.

00:39:05.952 --> 00:39:06.733
it's okay.

00:39:06.793 --> 00:39:07.072
okay.

00:39:07.302 --> 00:39:09.032
There's There's nothing wrong with that.

00:39:09.043 --> 00:39:22.849
In fact, fact, frankly, being comfortable with that that and having that part of life that's literally positive because it makes makes you happy and that and that.

00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:30.590
matters way more than what Than what people think about you than what than what people you you know, might think about working on.

00:39:30.784 --> 00:39:40.931
joy that that joy, that's all that's all that really matters because your experience with Pokemon is entirely your own, and and that's what makes you great.

00:39:41.387 --> 00:39:47.688
Now, I know you mentioned how earlier you understood why Pokemon doesn't, you know, have a wheelchair avatar choice.

00:39:47.815 --> 00:39:51.925
do you ever hope they will someday, and if so, do you want them to be like an avatar?

00:39:51.925 --> 00:39:53.784
Do you want them to be actual character within the game?

00:39:54.025 --> 00:39:57.050
So, I want to be the player character.

00:39:57.355 --> 00:40:00.690
And and reason the reason I say is is.

00:40:01.514 --> 00:40:03.195
there are lots of gamers like me.

00:40:04.005 --> 00:40:09.960
we're not talked about a lot, but disabled gamers are actually, I think I I think I looked up a metric somewhere.

00:40:10.065 --> 00:40:16.362
think they I can think that disabled make make a, uh, actually I'll just actually, I just use general term.

00:40:16.472 --> 00:40:16.762
Sure.

00:40:16.858 --> 00:40:20.771
in general, constitute a$1 trillion labor market.

00:40:21.217 --> 00:40:28.525
So for businesses,$1 truly To put that in perspective of the United the United States.

00:40:28.646 --> 00:40:29.766
I think somewhere in the neighborhood.

00:40:30.061 --> 00:40:30.751
trillion.

00:40:31.141 --> 00:40:39.085
So disabled people make up one 17th of the nation's gross domestic product.

00:40:39.530 --> 00:40:45.318
So there definitely is a is a place for for that in the in the series.

00:40:45.367 --> 00:41:02.047
But But given that Pokemon Japanese Japanese franchise and and historically the Japanese have been very, I don't know how to describe it, um, um, careful in their portrayal certain things I don't I don't think they will ever do.

00:41:02.235 --> 00:41:04.605
and and doesn't doesn't upset me.

00:41:04.815 --> 00:41:06.057
doesn't doesn't bother me.

00:41:06.057 --> 00:41:15.248
Um, because Even even though we make up a much larger, than most most people, it's it's still a very, part of the overall fan base.

00:41:16.208 --> 00:41:20.905
financially speaking, speaking, it it doesn't actually make that much sense.

00:41:21.327 --> 00:41:27.447
But as a fan who has been playing since I was a child, it would be something great to see.

00:41:27.777 --> 00:41:38.038
And if they don't give us a wheelchair A wheelchair because animating many wheelchairs are actually kind of crazy, um, um, especially in ay environment, which games are.

00:41:38.391 --> 00:41:52.690
Um, made a they a character like that, that would actually be kind of cool because heck, heck, we seen more veterans, we've seen, you know, know, scientists and despots and mob bosses.

00:41:53.172 --> 00:41:57.927
So there's there's some room in there, I think, for people, Mm-hmm.

00:41:58.182 --> 00:41:58.693
people.

00:41:59.117 --> 00:41:59.407
Yeah.

00:41:59.728 --> 00:42:19.565
But at at the end of the the end of the day, also what's that's also what's great about Pokemon on because even if even if they don't add it in, I still can play can, I that I choose, I can I can still to to pretend that my character in wheelchair, I don't I don't, it there because I have I have control over what my character does.

00:42:19.806 --> 00:42:27.925
I have control over team I team I have, what what bag I get first, what, what, you know, elite form member I like the most.

00:42:28.065 --> 00:42:30.085
Always love choices that I get to make.

00:42:30.106 --> 00:42:30.525
Mm-hmm.

00:42:30.646 --> 00:42:31.005
for me.

00:42:31.405 --> 00:42:31.916
So.

00:42:31.945 --> 00:42:47.824
So, Well, I want to finish this interview on this last question, for those who maybe don't have a disability or don't know what it's like to live in a wheelchair, what's one thing you wish people understood better or maybe take home with them from this interview about living in a wheelchair or living with your disability?

00:42:47.824 --> 00:42:47.869
Be

00:42:48.340 --> 00:42:51.510
Disabilities are exactly that.

00:42:51.751 --> 00:42:53.360
They do not define you.

00:42:53.813 --> 00:42:55.393
It is lack of ability.

00:42:55.512 --> 00:42:57.612
It does mean a lack of humanity..

00:42:58.059 --> 00:43:21.978
So what I mean by that is, a lot people automatically assume that people with disabilities, they just and they just assume that we, I don't, I don't, and this is an assumption on my part as well, and I'm not gonna that, not sure, but I, I get the feeling that people assume that that we don't experience like way, when in actuality we experience the same things that other people do.

00:43:22.548 --> 00:43:25.909
Heartache, loss, pain, joy.

00:43:26.373 --> 00:43:30.123
We experience all of those things, but experience them differently.

00:43:30.702 --> 00:43:39.177
And to, to, to, to wrap up your question, the other the, would say I would say is take take time to get to know the disabled people in their life.

00:43:39.286 --> 00:43:43.331
Because most people, people, whether it's mental, a physical one.

00:43:43.331 --> 00:43:51.762
Take physical, the time the time to ask what life is right for And and instead what life is like for them, ask them.

00:43:52.092 --> 00:43:57.467
in closing, I'll leave you with something that changed my life life in a way that is that is unique.

00:43:57.882 --> 00:44:01.347
When I When I was a kid, I used to I used to me very upset.

00:44:01.543 --> 00:44:04.628
and I And I used to be mad because my body didn't do it.

00:44:04.693 --> 00:44:06.347
I used to be I used to be upset.

00:44:06.467 --> 00:44:09.072
I used to, me know, piss me off in, express.

00:44:10.208 --> 00:44:14.947
and I I used to say, you know, my you know, my dad would say, you know, are, why you.

00:44:15.103 --> 00:44:15.313
this?

00:44:15.313 --> 00:44:16.572
What you know, what's going on?

00:44:16.753 --> 00:44:17.472
How can I help?

00:44:17.483 --> 00:44:19.663
Can I, say, I used to say, well, you just won't understand.

00:44:19.722 --> 00:44:20.543
You just won't understand.

00:44:20.563 --> 00:44:21.583
And I used to say that.

00:44:21.702 --> 00:44:26.543
then And then one day my dad my dad told me something and completely changed how you been.

00:44:26.833 --> 00:44:30.663
And he And he said, well, then well, then help me understand.

00:44:31.632 --> 00:44:50.085
And the the moment he said that my world world changed because realized that that times time that I used to say that have I couldn't have even said Been teaching teaching people been and helping them understand what what life was like for me.

00:44:50.527 --> 00:44:54.384
And And so just just remember may we may look different.

00:44:54.583 --> 00:45:02.143
and this is And of speaking of this be for general, may we may look d we may we may differently but at our at our core.

00:45:02.233 --> 00:45:03.403
are We, you.

00:45:03.804 --> 00:45:07.844
And, and, and, and that that that is something that I wish people.

00:45:08.034 --> 00:45:10.853
could just, I wanna shout it from the rooftops.

00:45:11.273 --> 00:45:12.853
We are We are not different.

00:45:13.427 --> 00:45:16.027
We, we We we're, we're different in our lives.

00:45:16.128 --> 00:45:17.987
not We're not different in our humanity.

00:45:18.331 --> 00:45:21.505
And that that probably the crux.

00:45:21.835 --> 00:45:31.889
If if more people did that and understood that, I think I think most of the things that I struggled wouldn't wouldn't be a thing anymore.

00:45:32.458 --> 00:45:35.465
Some of those biases would probably disappear.

00:45:36.190 --> 00:45:40.465
Some of Some of them would stay, but but some of them would probably disappear.

00:45:40.920 --> 00:45:44.581
Well Harry, if people want to connect with you, if they wanna check out your Facebook page, where can they go?

00:45:44.581 --> 00:45:45.751
By all means, please plug away.

00:45:46.172 --> 00:45:49.333
So my page is Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan.

00:45:49.572 --> 00:45:55.992
Um, I also stream on Twitch, not by my Pokemon handle, but for those who want to, see my streams.

00:45:56.233 --> 00:46:00.012
It is at the Real Wheel, Lord, Twitch and YouTube.

00:46:00.853 --> 00:46:00.913
So.

00:46:02.568 --> 00:46:09.318
well, thank you for listening to, As The Pokeball Turns, if this story resonated with you, share the podcast with a fellow trainer and don't forget to follow us.

00:46:09.318 --> 00:46:12.168
For more voices, more journeys, and more memories.

00:46:12.469 --> 00:46:16.849
I'm David Hernandez, and remember, your next Pokemon adventure begins here.