"Pichu Became My Lightning Rod" ft. Politichu | TRAINER'S EYE #189

TRAINER'S EYE #189 - Politichu

Politichu-1: [00:00:00] Politichu here, and this is my Pokemon story.

As The Pokeball Turns: Welcome to As the Pokeball Turns, where every trainer has a story. I'm David Hernandez, and I'm joined fresh from the hellhole known as Tumblr, Politichu. Politichu, welcome to As the Pokeball Turns

Politichu-1: I love, I love that you're like, "Oh yeah, from Tumblr, my smallest [00:01:00] platform."

As The Pokeball Turns: I mean, I have to reference the hellhole somehow, especially p- people who kinda get the reference on why that is. 

Politichu-1: Yeah, to be fair, uh, I was on, I was Tumblr, I was a Tumblrina back in the day, so, uh, it's really a homecoming now that I'm back on Tumblr. I rejoined Tumblr after recently getting banned from Instagram. people kept reporting me after I dared to fundraise for a Cuba, Cuba relief effort. So I

thought, "Hey, I could j- I should join another s- social media platform alongside my, you know, Blue Sky, my TikTok, my YouTube, my Twitch." I was like, "Oh, I should join something." Not X. You couldn't make me. 

As The Pokeball Turns: for those who may not know you, you kinda mix both Pokemon and politics, which is very unique, I would say. politics is very divisive. Pokemon's kinda very wholesome. And we'll definitely dive into that dynamic later, but I kinda wanted to start, like, what's the significance of using, I guess, Pichu?

'Cause that is the [00:02:00] VR model that you do use. Why that Pokemon?

Politichu-1: it's a funny story. I am a very impulsive person, very suited to the electric typing. I just, I get ideas, and then I execute on them. So I had gotten all my VTubing stuff, and I was just kinda, like, messing around with models, and I, downloaded this free use Pichu model by, a creator called Bradley. And I just had it just to mess around with, but one day, I was just walking around, and I was mad about the state of the world. Specifically, I was mad about how people were treating trans women in bathrooms. I really wanted to rant about it. It just struck me.

I was like, Politichu. I could just be a Pichu that talks about politics. And that very same day, I recorded my very first video using a free model with a free use background. and I just, I just made a video, and then all of a sudden, I had 1,000 followers. And then I made another video, and then I had 10,000 [00:03:00] followers, and it just sort of exploded. And now I'm a Pichu. 

As The Pokeball Turns: I kind of wonder, so how does Pichu, like, drag the recording studio from, like, the recording shop to here? How do you, like, set it up? Because some of this recording stuff's, like, over two to five inches. It's, like, like three times Pichu's height

Politichu-1: Oh yeah, that's why I have my beautiful mod team and as well as my researcher SnorlaxFacts, who is a big old Snorlax with big old glasses, and is a huge nerd, and helps me with computer stuff because I am infamous for my scuff. My electricity messes with every bit of technology I touch. Every stream has a major problem. I had one time my headphones started doing this thing where any time I connected them to my computer, they always defaulted to maximum volume.

I've had other times where my stream just completely bugs out in like 12 different ways. I had it so that I had a redeem for like if somebody, gave me bits on Twitch, it all of a [00:04:00] sudden made it so that Steven Universe's The Bits, The Bits played on repeat 100 times because

gave me 100 bits. And I didn't know how to s- it was supposed to only do it once.

to this day, if somebody watches my stream at Politichu on Twitch and they follow me, it plays the following sound twice. I don't know how to make it stop doing that. It only shows the pop-up once,

but it plays the sound twice.

As The Pokeball Turns: I think the wonderful thing you talked about is how it's just not you, because I think it's easy to think, like, you're doing this by yourself. How has the people behind you kind of helped build this up with you?

Politichu-1: well, I didn't, I didn't say any other names. Um, I just said my mods.

I've got Awesome Creation, I've got... Who I sort of, I sort of, uh, uh, just decided Creation was gonna be my mod. I was like, "You, mod." And he's like, "What? Why?" I got Gamer Gooses. I got a lovely team and they, they've all been wonderful [00:05:00] in supporting me, especially with my charity efforts.

 I've been involved with a couple bake sales in Winnipeg, and obviously I can't go to them, so I have to have people who are like volunteering to like run these bake sales and help these people because, all I can do is bake cookies. That's all I do. I bake cookies and I promote the event. That's my contribution. I do not want to get doxxed as someone who, you know, talks about politics on the internet. No, thank you

As The Pokeball Turns: Well, I think people kinda wanna know what kinda cookies do you make? What flavor are we talking about? We chocolate 

Politichu-1: Oh, oatmeal? raisin. 

As The Pokeball Turns: Oh

Politichu-1: I did a big Christmas event where I was doing a video every day as a countdown to Christmas. Uh, that called the 12 Days of Chusmas, where every day I shared a new hot take. And one of my hot takes was that oatmeal raisin cookies fuck uh, chocolate chip cookies to death. I, I love oatmeal raisin, so now it's my, it's my brand.

It's my bit. So I

always to make oatmeal raisin cookies whenever it's time for a charity event in the city.

As The Pokeball Turns: That's so [00:06:00] amazing how the consecration's even gone into the neighborhood. I love it. But I also wanted to start with an origin story. Like what is Politutu's Pokemon origin story? Where does this story begin with Pokemon specifically?

Politichu-1: Oh, well, when I was born, I was born very autistic, so it was only a matter of time, uh, uh, being an autistic millennial, the, the, the Pokemon, that was my destiny. Uh, but I think the first time I heard of Pokemon was my older sister being like, "We should play Pokemon." And I'm like, "Okay, what's that?" And she just kind of vaguely described it to me, and we proceeded to just say like, "Squirtle, Squirtle," at each other

But the second I saw the show, I, I fell in love. I had to get all the movies on VHS and watch them a million times over. Mewtwo was one of my first crushes, as well as James.

I have a real soft spot for James Team Rocket, but also, come on, Mewtwo? I, I, that is my, that is my, my Pokemon defense.

I'm like, "Hey, man, he had real [00:07:00] estate. He was in STEM. He had the sexy voice." Like

As The Pokeball Turns: I mean, they're c- I was gonna say they're kinda two opposite, uh, characters, so I was like, "That's hilarious." James more whimsical and caring, and Mewtwo's more serious and... 

Politichu-1: J- James is more of my, uh, my general type in men. I always tell people I love strong women who could kick my ass and men who are fruity and pathetic

And what is James Team Rocket if not fruity and pathetic? We, we love that for him.

As The Pokeball Turns: He's definitely the definition of juicy fruit, I will say that

Politichu-1: Yeah, I, I love him. Um, but I, I fell in love, I fell in love with Pokemon, and I remember my first time playing the game, I had bought, I saved my money from being a little child model um, to uh, buy a Game Boy from the uh, kid down the street, and his copy of Pokemon Blue. But what he didn't tell me was that that copy of Pokemon Blue couldn't save because he had already run out the internal battery.

As The Pokeball Turns: Oh no

Politichu-1: So, [00:08:00] while Kanto was my first gen, I only ever played the first two gyms of Kanto. I got as far as like, beating Misty 'cause I would just be speed running until the batteries died.

As The Pokeball Turns: Mm-hmm.

Politichu-1: Um,

the first game I ever, like, truly, um, got to play all the way through was Silver, so I am truly a Johtomon. So my Pichu destiny was being written long ago.

As The Pokeball Turns: Now the question that everybody asks is, what did it feel like to finally reach gym three? Because you spent your entire lifetime only going to two gyms. It must've been nice to finally get to Whitney of all people

Politichu-1: Oh my God, Whitney is my favorite gym leader of all time. She is my favorite. She rules. I love that she is a crazy difficulty spike, that she taught children how to, how to persevere. That was the first time I like, was playing a video game, and I felt like, "Yes!" after a boss fight, you know?

Like, I, I felt so powerful, and I love that she's, like, a, a little [00:09:00] crybaby about it.

Like, she's like, "Ugh." Like, she, she's not happy about losing, that's something I really wish Pokemon had more. Everyone today is so nice all the time, and they're such good sports. I need characters to be kind of piss babies about things.

As The Pokeball Turns: You kinda want more authenticity about winning and lose, you know? 'Cause sometimes losing kinda sucks if we're honest

Politichu-1: Yeah. I don't remember my full Johto team, but I do remember my two like mains from my original Johto team, which was my Meganium and uh, my Ariados.

I love Ariados. Back then that was the first spider Pokemon ever.

That was the coolest thing in the world, the idea of a spider Pokemon.

Everyone Gen 1 was like, "Oh, what if they made a spider?" And then they did it, and it ruled, and then now everyone forgets about Ariados, and I, I feel that's such a shame. Justice for Ariados. Give us an evolution to Ariados. 

As The Pokeball Turns: I will say this, you are a person after my own heart, 'cause I always started with Chikorita and I always got Spinarak [00:10:00] because I loved Spinarak, 'cause for the same reason for you. It was just kind of a cute spider, and I kinda liked that it could learn psychic attacks, although you never wanna teach it.

And Chikorita was just such a sweetheart, especially from, if you watch the anime, I love Bayleef so much

Politichu-1: Oh yeah, Bayleef, iconic. Iconic. Part of me picking Chikorita was spite, and a lot of the things I do is out of spite I'm a very spite-motivated person. I will thrive out of spite for how, how, how much darkness there is in the world. I'm like, "No, I'm, I'm gonna keep living because there are people who suck who are alive, and I'm not gonna let them win," you know? I need to outlive the people who suck

like, when I when I was a kid, you know, being someone who has, you know, a f- a feminine voice, a feminine air, uh, my pronouns are any and all, uh, because why do you wanna know my gender? What are you, a cop? That's my official stance. But, you know, girly adjacent, uh, childhood, and, uh, all the, all the boys playing Pokemon were always kind of dicks. You know? a lot of that [00:11:00] energy, and so many of the boys I knew liked water types and they also hated anything girly. So they were like, "Ugh, Chikorita," and I was like, "Okay, I'm stanning Chikorita. I'm gonna destroy you.

I'm gonna pick the type advantage against you. I will be your rival."

As The Pokeball Turns: Oh, how did they respond to that? I'm curious

Politichu-1: eating shit. No, but,

As The Pokeball Turns: Damn

Politichu-1: I, I, I was, I was always, like, very, like... I like to be aggressively cutesy when I'm confronted with uh, any sort of like, hatred towards women and then all things feminine. I'm like, "Oh, I need to double down. I'm gonna be so cute, it's gonna make you sick

And cuteness is also a shield in a lot of ways.

As The Pokeball Turns: How so? 

Politichu-1: Uh, like someone who does... I do political commentary, I do a lot of charity stuff, I talk

about a lot of sensitive topics, and I've seen, uh, you know, any sort of creator who doesn't obviously have uh, a dick, or doesn't obviously have like any like masculine presenting, y- they get serious abuse online when you, when you talk about these [00:12:00] things. Um, but I don't get nearly as much because it's cringe to have beef with a Pichu. It's cringe. It's embarrassing. I'm "Oh, what are you gonna pick a fight with a Pichu? That's so embarrassing for you.

As The Pokeball Turns: I mean, I would take you out to get a cheeseburger. that mean I can have beef still? 

Politichu-1: Ah, cheeseburger. 

As The Pokeball Turns: I know, right?

Politichu-1: it's a good shield. Um, it- it also, I find, is a really good reflection of myself. it's funny because, again, being a Pichu VTuber was a complete fluke. But as I have, like, l- lived this life, I've realized more and more that it is so important to me because as an autistic person, it's very easy for both people to infantilize you in ways that is not kind, but also it- helpful in some ways for people to see me as just a cute little guy, because I have times where I struggle due to my disability and, you feel like you're a [00:13:00] child in a lot of situations where you are overwhelmed and you are unable to do the things that other people your age can do, you have to c- be confronted by the fact that eventually it stops being cute. You know, if you are struggling and you're a cute teen, "Awe, that cute teen is struggling." But, you know, as you get closer, once you're in- going towards your 30s or your 40s, all of a sudden if you look like you're gonna have a breakdown in the Dollarama, it's not cute. People think you're on drugs And that sucks. But you know, as a Pichu, if I'm streaming and I'm having a good time and I'm having like, "Ah, I'm getting so stressed at this video game.

Ah." It's a funny bit. It's a funny bit. It's, it's endearing, you know? Being

a Pichu means I can be myself in a way that I can't in, in person

As The Pokeball Turns: Well, that was actually kind of a question I wanted to ask, because you mentioned how early on when you were into Pokemon, you chose Chikorita out of spite obviously, [00:14:00] because the guys were dicks. They were not probably friendly. Did you ever at times feel alienated because you were, I guess, more on the feminine side with a whole bunch of guys who were kinda, being guys would be guy into guys?

Politichu-1: it's really hard because, like, in a lot of ways, like, I grew up with a lot more guy friends than, uh, than female friends because, um, feminine socialization, there's a lot more hidden rules and, like, etiquette to socializing with women than there are, like, between women or between, like, femmes, uh, than with men. the way that the social structure works when you're a kid, there's a lot more going on, and that's a lot harder to track when you're autistic. So I end up, you know, hanging out with a lot of the boys. And, you know, also, like, gender is, is whatever, you know? Gender for me, again, pronouns any and all. Um, you know, gender's a bit more complex. But, you know, you end up hanging out with a lot of guys, and then you get extra girly out of spite, and then it's, uh, what's the truth, you know? Gender for me as an expression was always in response to [00:15:00] something. oh, people expect me to be super girly. Okay, I'm gonna go really, really tomboy. Oh, people expect me to be, um, you know, uh, like, really tomboy if I'm gonna be doing all this boy stuff. Okay, I'm gonna be extra girly while doing the boy stuff. I think that a lot of people operate on this idea that in order to thrive, in order to be, um, you know, a good person, in order to be doing good things, they have to entirely have like a pure heart, like a, like a sweet shonen protagonist, you know?

Like, But sometimes it's okay to, like acknowledge your own negative feelings and be able to channel them into something positive, and I want that to be what my platform is, you know? Like, I think that the world is absurd, and it is stupid, and everything in the news is mind-boggling. It's mind-boggling that these terrible things are allowed to happen. But I choose whimsy. I choose whimsy every day, and I choose whimsy out of spite. I'm going to have a great time, and I'm going to make things better. [00:16:00] Fuck you. I'm gonna be a cutie-patootie about it.

As The Pokeball Turns: Because the world is kinda so dark at times, and you said that you're whimsy because of spite, do you do that because that's kind of your way of coping, I guess, with everything going on? Or is that kind of what you generally believe, that you kinda believe in a better tomorrow, if that makes sense?

Politichu-1: I believe in a better tomorrow, and I believe that whimsy is an important thing for us to hold onto as we move towards a better tomorrow. Whimsy is art, whimsy is joy, uh, and whimsy is imagination, and that's what you need to be able to get a better tomorrow. But at the same time, uh, I think whimsy is a great way to fight. It's a great, uh, counter because the kind of people who are being abusive, again, it's cringe to fight with a Pichu. Uh, it's cringe to, uh, be d- doing problems when... Th- th- like, how do I put this? Um.... have you heard about Anti-Fascist Frog?

As The Pokeball Turns: I have [00:17:00] not

Politichu-1: So, during the, uh, big, big protests that were happening, uh, in, and still ongoing in, in, in many ways, um, the protests that have been happening, happening against Trump and his, his, uh, ICE in California, uh, there was a hero who rose, which was a guy in an inflatable frog costume

And that's whimsy. And there's been, you know, certain levels of, uh, people who take it too far where they go, "Oh, we're gonna, we're gonna go to the protest and we're gonna do this dance that we choreographed." I'm like, that... You're wasting time choreographing dances. That's not actually you doing things. But if you're at a rally, you're at a protest, and you're dancing, that rules. But, like, don't, don't make a whole thing out of doing practices to go to the th- just go. Be silly. Make it so that it's very obvious that you are not threatening, you are not someone who's trying to tear down the city. Be a little whimsical about it, because then any s- anyone who sees the photos, who sees the videos [00:18:00] of, you know, these terrible people, ICE smashing and attacking people who are just being a little whimsical about it, it's obvious to see who's at wrong

As The Pokeball Turns: Now after Pokemon Silver, how did you kinda continue to progress into Pokemon?

How did you keep engaged with it? Were you still playing the games, the anime? 

Politichu-1: yeah, I was playing, I was playing all the games. I, I kinda fell off the anime a little bit, uh, somewhere around Hoenn. I just, I did not care for Max. He insists upon himself. but I, I kinda fell off the anime, but I was still, like, really engaged in the games.

I was constantly, you know, imagining myself on my Pokemon journey. I, I was always having just a blast with it. Um, I played Ruby, I played, uh, Pearl, uh, 'cause of course all the boys were getting Diamond, 'cause oh, Pearl is pink.

Ooh. 

As The Pokeball Turns: Pearl gang, let's go

Politichu-1: Yeah. Um, I didn't actually get to play, uh, Black and White though, because, uh, uh, my DS got stolen

As The Pokeball Turns: It did? Oh, no

Politichu-1: Yeah. Yeah, I, I would bring my DS to school and it, it got [00:19:00] stolen

As The Pokeball Turns: Never got it back I assume?

Politichu-1: Yeah, no.

As The Pokeball Turns: Oh 

Politichu-1: no, it w- it was it was install- it was stolen from the teacher's desk by another student

As The Pokeball Turns: That must have been difficult for you though, especially at that age. You know, losing DS like

Politichu-1: yeah, it

brutal, but, eh, it made do. Uh, I got, got a 3DS in time for, uh, X and Y, and been playing all the games since. Though again, I also did not care for, for Sun and Moon.

I, I, I did not care for it. Insists upon itself. yeah, I, I could not relate to Sun and Moon. I, I really couldn't. I was like, "There's not... It's so confined. Everybody's tutorializing you every two seconds." And I just don't relate to like, "Ooh, tropical island adventure." I'm like, "I'm Canadian. It's cold." Like, I I think of, of, of going on a journey in like Hawaii, and I'm like, "Ooh, that's too hot. I'm not, I'm not built for that.

like a sweaty Pokemon adventure."

As The Pokeball Turns: You want the Snowpoint City of the world

Politichu-1: Yeah. Well, give me, give me some more, you know, temperate.

Give give me [00:20:00] Sinnoh, you know? I can, I can handle Sinnoh 

As The Pokeball Turns: what is it about Pokemon that kept you engaged for so long? 'Cause some people, they do fade back, but what do you like about Pokemon compared to other franchises?

Politichu-1: I think something that really connects to, to me with Pokemon is that it is a world where It really is a utopia in so many senses. The first, the first bad guys of, of Gen 1 and 2, Team Rocket, they're just capitalists who are wanting to take advantage of Pokemon and abuse nature and in Pokemon that's a world where most people go, "Hey, that's bad" and that's refreshing, that hits. It's a world with walkable cities where kids can just go wandering and be safe. it's truly a, a wonderful world, um, and that's something that, you know, really inspires the imagination. But on top of that, I think just being kind of a lonely kid, you know, being autistic and feeling disconnected from other people. Pokemon, that's someone who's your best friend It's partially also [00:21:00] why Digimon is such a big series for me. I love Digimon because it's, it's your best friend. It's, it's the idea that, oh, there's just a, a friend for you. That's your partner, and you're besties, and they're gonna be with you no matter what. that's something that really hits when you're a lonesome child

As The Pokeball Turns: You mentioned having autism kind of, I guess, affects the way you kinda relate to people. Like, what is that barrier for those who maybe don't have autism or are not familiar with it, and what does that kinda look like in everyday life that we may not realize?

Politichu-1: Oh, oh, good question. Well, for me, I have always had an issue where I don't understand people's passions and as a person, I feel very strongly. Autism is having a lot of strong feelings one way or another. I have very strong, passionate feelings about pretty much everything I would get really frustrated because I can't understand people who don't have that same level of, of, of passion about the things that I have passion about or I'd feel like that disconnect of like,

"Oh, I love Pokemon," and [00:22:00] somebody goes, "Oh, I love Pokemon," and then we start talking about it and it's very clear that we have a different level of love for Pokemon and then they get put off by it. They're like, "Oh, that's actually kinda cringe caring that much about this thing." like that could be a huge barrier as well as, um, with autism I have a lot more like little things that constantly debuff me throughout my day that most people aren't aware of. Like for me, going and having a shower is a much more harrowing experience because I have to be like mentally prepared for like, "Okay, I have to go into the shower and then get wet in the shower and then I'm wet and then I have to go through the process of becoming un-wet and I have to go through that u- discomfort of of having been wet, um, and being out of the hot water that I have now acclimatized to into the cold and then I have to figure out what clothes I'm gonna wear and how I feel in them." And like every little task becomes so much more because I have to [00:23:00] be thinking about, "Oh, what textures of clothing am I willing to touch today?" Um, you know, what level of, uh, texture sensitivity am I at? Uh, how loud is going to be- is the place that I'm going? Like, you know, but also can I tolerate having my headphones on my head the entire time I'm at this loud place?

Because, you know, that's also a sensation on my head. it's just constant debuffs that make me more and more sensitive to the things that I'm already sensitive about and it can be overwhelming.

As The Pokeball Turns: And you have no control over these sensations, just to clarify?

Politichu-1: Yeah. I,

I can try to accommodate myself. I can try to, you know, wear my noise canceling headphones. I can try to, um, avoid certain fabrics even though I'm like, "Oh, that's cunty but if I wore that I'd hate it in like minutes."

and it's really frustrating because I get more and more frustrated, and I'll get overwhelmed, and then when I get overwhelmed, I get emotional, and I then feel like a child throwing a tantrum. Uh, you feel like that, and you feel embarrassed because the things that are bothering you, [00:24:00] no one else is bothered by. And it, it can, it can be so devastating to deal with.

And then just even dealing with the physical aspects of autism. Once you get into the social stuff, there are so many, like, hidden social rules in life that I think allistics tend to take for granted. Allistic is a word for not autistic. Um, like for example, if somebody asks me, "How are you?" It took me forever to learn that most people don't actually want an honest answer to that question. That's just a social nicety where they're, like, expecting you to go, " you know, pretty good." Whereas I'm like, "Oh, let me tell you." And, and, like, that drives me insane. I'm like, "Why don't you ... Why do, why, why would you ask the question if you don't want the answer to the question?"

As The Pokeball Turns: Or somebody you to figure it out

Politichu-1: oh, it's ... It, it drives me nuts. Uh, and people don't say what they mean, and because people don't say what they mean, they think you aren't saying what you mean.

They look for hidden meanings in the things I say, [00:25:00] and then they get offended by hidden meanings that they have interpreted for themselves, and I'm like, "No, I'm literally telling you in very direct language what I am saying." and that feeling of just not speaking the same language of most of the species is infuriating.

I had to take, uh, anger management classes when I was a kid because I'd get so frustrated because I was like, "Why are people, like, making up stuff about the things I say? I'm being very clear with direct language." I'm hyperverbal autistic. I have hyperlexia. I have a wide vocabulary that I use very precisely in many circumstances. But, it still was never enough to not feel completely misunderstood

As The Pokeball Turns: I was gonna say, it sounded like you were being misunderstood and they were just taking your words a whole different meaning than you even intended, or even you're capable of probably

Politichu-1: and there was also a lot of times where I was insensitive to other people's feelings because I couldn't pick up on them because I [00:26:00] can't read people's body language as well, or, uh...

yeah. Yeah, the feeling of being misunderstood is just absolutely brutal. It, it devastates you. It makes it really hard for like, I'm, as you might imagine, I'm pretty astute, I'm pretty intelligent, I like to keep to up to date with the world. I am full and replete with trivia, but I can't do things like hold down a regular job because it takes me longer to pick up, uh, like new social rules and skills for a new job, and every place that has ever hired me has gone, "Oh, yeah, no, you're autistic.

No, it's fine. We'll, we'll, we'll, we'll make accommodations absolutely." And then they don't. Then they don't because they're like, "Oh, you, you're not immediately picking up on the vibes."

And I'm like, "Well, the vibes aren't part of what you told me to do, so tell me what the vibes are

As The Pokeball Turns: Mm-hmm. And it goes back to how we have a lot of unspoken language, especially when you come to workplace culture, I'll call it, that people who live with autism have to [00:27:00] pick up, and it's, it's a challenge. It really is. It's not so much as just clocking in, clocking out. There's a lot of stuff that goes on that We take for granted, I say

Politichu-1: But, you know, as a streamer, it's been really refreshing because I get to be myself. Like, I get to just talk about my interests, and the people who have followed me followed me because of those interests. They followed me because I can talk about Pokemon or Digimon for hours at a time. The other day, 'cause I have a lot of health issues, I've been having, um, a lot of issues with my hands, and it's made it really hard to do gaming streams. I was like, "Oh, I'll do a Just Chatting stream on both TikTok and Twitch. I'll just do that." And I chatted, which was just raw me talking with just chat to bounce off of. I did that for, like, eight hours without noticing. I was like, "Whoops." Because I can just talk forever, and I don't have to worry about, uh, any sort of social whatevers.

I can just ramble, and it's great

As The Pokeball Turns: I mean, you go from, you know, being kind of a loner growing up to now ha- finding your [00:28:00] people who kind of enjoy the same interest behind a Pichu, no less. How does it kinda feel to be seen for who you are instead of what you can't be?

Politichu-1: Well, I wouldn't say I was ever a loner. I was just

As The Pokeball Turns: That's how described it. 

Politichu-1: which I feel, I, it's... I'm a, I'm a social butterfly. I, I, I love to talk to people, to the point where it was stressful for my parents. They were like, "Please stop talking to And I'm like, "Yeah, but once I talk to them and we ch- exchange names, then we're not strangers.

Now that's Frank, the man that I just walked up to in the grocery store and asked if he wants to hear about my opinions on Poliwag." Like, you know what I mean? my parents were stressed.

As The Pokeball Turns: Oh, I'm sure

Politichu-1: yeah, when it comes to being a creator, it's, it's been so nice. It's been so nice, and I've gotten to know so many other lovely creators who accommodate for me, and have an understanding of my, my disabilities, how, like, both physically and, uh, mentally, sometimes I struggle with content. And they'll, they'll [00:29:00] reach out to me and be like, "Hey, you haven't posted in a while. Do you want help with a video?"

And I'm like, "Thank you. I need help." Um, it's just, the hardest part is not comparing myself to other creators, because I don't post as much as I would like. I would also like to, like to have an easier time, but you know, I write my own scripts. I, then I have to also research my scripts, 'cause I wanna make sure that I'm not spreading any sort of misinformation.

I have to record everything, which I insist on doing at a very fast pace, because I'm like, oh, I'm mostly recording for TikTok, and I need to get the video out super fast. If I don't get the information out fast, they'll scroll. So I have to be like, Politichu here, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Like, I have to, I have to be yapping.

As The Pokeball Turns: That's gotta pretty stressful at times, I imagine

Politichu-1: yeah, but, uh, you know, I just, I just, I do that. I remember, um, early on, another creator, The Saltiest Chicken, asked me when we were doing our, my very first collab, uh, he was like, "Oh, how fast do you usually speed up your videos, like, your recordings?" And I'm [00:30:00] like, "Oh, I don't speed it up.

I'm just high-pitched and talk fast."

he had a good laugh about that. We're good pals now. We went to see the Mario movie together, and it was so nice because he, he described it as being really nice to be at a movie with someone who was so excited to be at the movie. Because the thing about autism, once you unmask, um, I'm... When I'm watching a movie I really like, my arms are vibrating, my legs vibrating because I need to be stimming, but I also need to be doing it like very controlled so I'm not actually making noise or disturbing anyone in the theater, so I'm just like, like internally. And, and I'm just like, ah, like gasping at every moment. I'm having a blast. And he's just like, "Oh, it was so nice having someone who was thrilled." And it was really touching to have someone appreciate the things about me that other people would look at and go like, "Oh, that person's being a weirdo at this movie for babies

As The Pokeball Turns: There is something I did wanna touch on because you do talk about Pokemon and politics. You said you do [00:31:00] Pichu because it's cringe to kinda argue with the Pichu, which I can kinda resonate with. But the other side is that politics can get kinda heavy. You have to stay informed to do your videos. You have to kinda be, have a pulse on what's going on in the world.

how do you kind of, I guess, handle, I guess, that kind of responsibility in having to kinda, as much as you wanna turn away from the world events, you actually have to kinda stay engaged?

Politichu-1: Part of being a Pichu is because it is how I stay engaged. If I'm whimsical and fun about it and being a Pichu with a funny voice, I can have that fun. I can make it more tolerable for me to participate in these dark things that otherwise would destroy me as someone who has, you know, depression and anxiety and trauma. it's one of, one of those things that this is w- how I stay engaged. People go like, "Oh, why don't you just, like, make videos of, of, of, and make it not fun, and not m- and make goofs, and not be a VTuber?" And I'm like, "Yeah, I could do that, but I wouldn't make any videos if I tried to do [00:32:00] that." I would get burnt out so fast. I want to be a person who is able to keep people engaged. Like, my goal with wanting to have my audience, my monstituents, uh... You know, it's a lot of people who say like, "Hey, yeah, I've tuned out of, out of politics because it's too hard for me to deal with, like, just the onslaught of everything, but you make it easier for me to absorb and to engage." And, like, that's, that's the dream. You know, if it takes a little rat baby telling you, "Hey, this, this charity's happening right now," uh, to learn about it and then go and donate, then hell yeah.

That's the dream 

As The Pokeball Turns: Hmm. Well, I did wanna ask, so what do you hope to kinda keep doing with this moving forward? You know, you got stuff going on in the community. Of course you do, you know, the content creation on the side. Like, what do you hope this kind of evolves into or are you just kinda playing it by ear?

Politichu-1: Well, in a dream world, uh, I always say I would love to be successful enough to be able to buy grapes without thinking about it. It's b- I, I live in, in... [00:33:00] My dream world, my, my greatest economic desire is I would love to be able to go to the grocery store and put grapes in my shopping cart without having to think, "Oh, yeah, but grapes are pretty expensive.

I, uh, it's not, it's not worth it. I should put it back." Like, to be able to buy grapes without worrying. Like, so that, that would be the dream. Uh, I would love to be able to go more full-time with content creation, but it is a struggle because, you know, I need to hit a certain level of success in order to be able to then bring on, you know, like, a dedicated editor to save myself the time so that I can actually make the content I wanna make, because editing and filming and recording and researching and, uh, you know, trying to organize collabs and stuff, that's so much, and I am very disabled. So, um, I, I do my best, but I'm kind of working with a big hurdle that I have to jump over that a lot of other content creators may not have.

As The Pokeball Turns: Mm-hmm

Politichu-1: Uh, it's, it's a, it's a bit harder for me, but I have such an amazing community built up. Like, my Discord server, PokeParliament, we have community nights on Sunday nights, and it's so good.

It's so [00:34:00] many autistic people Like statistically, we, we, we always joke, like somebody comes in and they're like, "Oh yeah, you know, I'm also autistic," and we're like, "Yeah, you're here, it's diagnostic" This is diagnostic criteria. Be in Politichu's server, there you go.

and it's great. We'll, we'll, we'll do bits where we'll, we'll all start echolaliing.

I'm, I, I do it in de-voice acting. I play, um, various characters in, uh, Dragon Ball Classic Abridged on the Gunchpot YouTube channel, where I play all, all sorts of characters, including Chi-Chi. Um, 'cause I have the range, you see, and I can do any kind of voice you can imagine

As The Pokeball Turns: Nice.

Politichu-1: Uh, and, uh, it's, it's so fun because I have this community where, you know, people love echolalia, so we'll just do full Family Guy skits in my Discord server. We'll goof around. Um, they, they'll support me through everything and always wanna reach out and make sure that I'm doing well, because I have so many health issues, and I'm in and out of the hospital. And I could not be more grateful for the platform that I [00:35:00] have now. I'd love for it to grow, but even just having what I have now is a dream. Though eventually I'll probably have to stop being a Pichu if I don't want Pokemon killing me in my sleep.

As The Pokeball Turns: Hey, at least you didn't take its mascot. I think you're probably safe for that for 

Politichu-1: Yeah, people always ask me like, "Oh, when are you evolving?" And I'm like, "Uh, no.

As The Pokeball Turns: Probably 

Politichu-1: If I became a Pikachu, I'd die."

By all rights, I should be in the clear because, like, let's be real, um, people have had Pokesonas since the dawn of time.

And it starts making you wonder like, oh, what if somebody has, like, a Lucario fur suit? Is that, is that mimicking Pokemon? Like, it's one of those things where, like, legally Nintendo has every right to be like, "Hey, can you stop?" And I'm like, "Fair enough." But it would be a bad look in a lot of ways.

But again, I probably should switch off eventually. I'm, I am looking at doing, like, a GoFundMe or something for my birthday to try to get a legally distinct model done of my merchsona, which is anime character [00:36:00] design I made for all of my merch because I definitely can't sell Pichu merch.

but, 

it's one of those things where, like, I know my time is coming, but, uh, I, I'm cherishing my Pichu moments while I can. ' Cause again, I became a Pichu 'cause I'm broke. I don't have money.

As The Pokeball Turns: Well, Politichu, we like to ask this question with every guest, and I do definitely wanna open it up to you. One question I always ask is, if somebody was gonna come battle you six on six in a Pokemon battle, what six Pokemon would you bring? Besides 

Politichu-1: Oh, okay, okay, okay. Besides myself. Okay, that's

As The Pokeball Turns: Unless you wanna 

Politichu-1: People always ask me, "What's your favorite Pokemon besides yourself?" And I'm like, "I'm never gonna tell you. It's I should be your favorite."

I'll ask my chat, I'll be like, "Oh, what's your favorite Pokemon?" And then they'll all be like, "Oh, Umbreon. Oh, Garchomp."

And I'm like, "It should be me, you fools. The answer is me." No, um, okay. Um, I'm gonna say, uh, [00:37:00] Breloom. In honor of Luigi, 'cause I think that is the most political Pokemon after me. Uh, probably before me, let's be real.

Um, oh, actually, let me, let me, let me look at my... I made one of those Poke Pickers, so it's

easier than looking at the top of my head. The Ultimate Poke Picker lets you pick all your favorite Pokemon of every type, of every gen, and you also select your team, and I wanna make sure I'm remembering what the fuck I'm saying. I'd have a Tinkaton, uh, because let's be real, that's my energy He's a big hammer. Little

baby, big Hammer Yeah.

I could put Tinkaton would help me put the banhammer on, on people. It'd be great.

Um, I would have a Sneasler. I love Sneasler. She's a diva, she's a queen Um, she's got that Manny. Uh, I love Azumarill. I've always loved Azumarill. When I was a kid playing, in Johto, um, I had a [00:38:00] Marill lunchbox, and I thought it was the coolest thing on the planet.

Nothing, no possession t- was more dear to me than my Marill lunchbox. Uh, I would also love Rimbombe.

As The Pokeball Turns: Ooh, okay

Politichu-1: Rimbombe is, uh, so cute, so gorgeous. Uh, great great Pokemon in, uh, you hit them, hit them at, uh, with a Rimbombe in singles. Ugh, shit.

As The Pokeball Turns: Definitely underrated too

Politichu-1: yeah, underrated Rimbombe. And, uh, reminds me of my childhood imaginary friend, which was

a Digimon named Kojimon, because I knew that Digimon was, like, Japanese, so I kind of just made up a name that sounded Japanese without thinking of what it would actually mean And it was a bee Digimon, and I loved him dearly

and, uh, my, my partner Pokemon would be my Purugly, 'cause I have a big, fat cat, and he's a Purugly, and he's 12 times my size, and he [00:39:00] crushes me every time he, he wants to snuggle, and it's fine.

Oh, and, uh, to wrap up, I, I, I do wanna share one thing with your audience,

As The Pokeball Turns: Sure

Politichu-1: and that is my motto:

all you can Chu is all you can Chu. this was actually advice given to me by um, Clint McElroy, of podcasting fame. Uh, he gave me some advice at my darkest hours. he was always so sweet, um, and kind, um, talking to me and giving me advice when I was dreaming of being in radio and doing podcasts myself, but, you know he told me this when I was really struggling.

He told me, "All you can do is all you can do," and that it was words from his late wife, Leslie McElroy. And it really hit me, and it struck me in a way that I don't even think he fully even knows that it has changed my life. All you can chu is all you can chu is the acknowledgement that there are things that you can't do, but you, that you should focus on the things that you can, and that doing the things that you can do has [00:40:00] value and worth. If you can't be out there door-knocking to help with, with your political movement, if you can't be out there being on a flotilla to go h- deliver aid, you can do a live stream where you fundraise for a Palestine fundraiser. You can do these little things, and they matter

Also, oatmeal, oatmeal raisin cookies are the best.

As The Pokeball Turns: That I can agree 

Politichu-1: The other thing that, number one,

all you can Chu is all you can Chu.

Number two, oatmeal raisin cookies fuck all your other cookies to death.

They're best. They have the texture. They have everything.

Yeah.

As The Pokeball Turns: Well, thank you for listening to As the Pokeball Turns, where every trainer has a story. If this episode resonated with you, share the episode with a fellow trainer and follow the podcast for more voices, more journeys, and more memories. I'm David Hernandez, and remember, your next Pokemon adventure begins here