"What's Your DREAM?" | The MJ38 Show Episode #68 | John & George (Friends of Sound Records)

On this Episode of the Podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/friendsofsoundsa/?hl=en

Matthew and Justin sit down with John Sylvestro and George from “Friends of Sound Records”

John’s a Level 2 Sommelier with a depth of Service Industry experience, wherein which he met George 18 years ago. George owns and operates “Friends of Sound Records” located here in San Antonio.

Today we Talk about The Origins of the Record Store, Spirituality, and Personal Development

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Transcript

1:22

And then we break up, and then I am single for, like, the summer. And then I miss her a lot. And I'm hanging out with my dad one time, and I was just like. Yeah, I feel like I was just like, wanted to date girls and I wanted to like, feel free. And I was just like two tied up. But now I have a different perspective and I kind of wish I had acted differently. And then like six months after that, I was like, nah, I was trippin. This was the right decision. You know what I'm saying? Yes. But it's just like you're shifting back and forth. Yeah. The same things happened, but like how you feel about it, just like it's not even like it wasn't up to me to feel this way all of a sudden. It's just like time passes and like, you shift your frame, you're thinking about stuff. You know what I'm saying? My end game was a little bit different, but I totally relate to that. I dated this girl from Kentucky in high school, Ashley Adams. Like she was a cheerleader. She was kind of good family. And it was, you know, innocent, like sophomore and junior year. She sounds like an All-American. That she is fried chicken. 100% apple pie, dude. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like no crying in baseball. She was like, she was perfect in that way. And I had no cause to break up with her. Aside from feeling this wanderlust like I just wanted. I didn't want to be tied. I felt like I wanted to explore, right? I guess I didn't I didn't turn and start dating anybody else. Like, you know, I didn't turn, didn't turn. Into that someone or the option to. So looking back. I probably would, though I. Probably screwed up a good. Thing, right? But I also would have probably had in my head that I wanted to experience the world. You know what I mean? Yeah. So 1992 biggest flirt voted. Yeah, yeah. Class certified. For yeah. Recognized by everybody. Let's go. I had love for everybody. This is high school your senior year ever getting to love it. Yeah, my senior year I was voted that way. Nice. Let's go. Dude. Did you get a late? We should probably say hello to everybody. Yeah, well, we'll break it in. Welcome in everyone. Little quick little a little riffing before we get started. Started MJ 38 show, episode number 68. We keep on moving. We keep on climbing one by one. Even though soundboard some soundboard. Action. Yeah. If you have a sound bite at home, smash that buh buh buh buh. Give me the morning show and smash me the horn. Grab and comment buttons to please. There we go. It was always Justin, Matthew, MJ 38 and today we have some special guests, one of my longtime friends and also a new friend. We have Mr. John and George, George and John J. And G. George change a few Spanish that the bilingual folk out there. George. Or, if. You like, the Beatles. Exactly. There we go. We got Mr. John's, Somalia. We, we met in the restaurant industry originally at our previous employer. He's, he was a wine guy, gregarious, taking care of the guests to the fullest extent. Depth of wine knowledge, sales of sales and passion for the industry, technical proficiency, charisma through the roof, leadership skills off the charts. The kind of guy you want you want to follow in a bottle. Seriously? And then, we did follow him into battle because so many battles. Humble. When you work a job, sometimes it feels like Humboldt really does. Love you guys. I love you, brother. And now a new friend, Mr. George. Oh, never. I guess y'all go back. What? Y'all go way back? We can go. We can get to that. But he's also a six record store owner here in San Antonio. One more time. Friends of sound, friends of sound, friends of sound. We all located at. 706 work. Okay? No, I said how long? How long? That being. How long has it been going down? We've been in San Antonio since 2016. Established in Austin in 2006. Oh, okay. Awesome. So awesome. Austin was fired. I was in Austin. I wasn't there from the very beginning. I joined the Austin team in 2015, early 2015 or so. Okay, I. Did a year of like, prerequisite work, I guess, if you would. Okay. And then opened up the store about a year later. Here in San Antonio. Yeah, here in San Antonio. Nice. That's awesome. That's awesome. How many of y'all came from the Austin spot to open up this one? Just me. Solo solo venture. That's me. Okay. Me what's it like a franchise option. So the, the store was founded in 2006 by your name, David Hafner. David Hafner is a, If you don't know who David Hafner is, he's a world class, record dealer, DJ. Big, big time, big time record dealer. And he, established store in 2006. I was, living in Austin as a DJ. It's a professional DJ, and, I had a. Yeah. So I had a, I had a buddy who, I bought private records from. So I was able to, like, have buddies that dealt private records and, like, dealt out of their homes. But they had these are the guys that had the sauce. Like these guys had the records that you collected in magazines and like, the records are like exclusives that you don't see when you walk into the record store. Yeah. You know, so I. Didn't know that was a thing, that there was records that were harder to obtain. Oh, yeah. Yeah, absolutely. There's more there's definitely rare records. That's all I'm saying. And conversation you had to explain to me too, that those maybe might be like more expensive or higher value records. Right, if they're harder to find and stuff like that. Absolutely. That's your stuff. Yeah. It's like trading cards like anything like that. Exactly. Right. And so essentially, like I just like in any industry, like where, like you said, collecting cards or whatever it is you collect, there's hierarchies and collective tiers and tears. Yeah. You know, there is the coolest part of a hobby is that there's like s tier stuff that's like rare and difficult to find. Yeah. And so, so after, so I finally was able to meet like the plug, you know, they would meet the guy and he'd call me, he'd be like, hey, man, I got this, honey drip 45. You know that. Impeach the president. 45 you know, like he says, you know, this is a hanging on producers walls. You know, this is like the foundation and the Holy grail sample, record for, like, all hip hop tracks. You know what I mean? This is like the sample, you know, and he's like, I got a I got a minty fresh AC copy, which is like a term of just, like, slang for, like, never played. Like, you fill in, like, I got the. Jordans in the box. Yeah, there's actually Bailey. You know what? You what you want to hear is a collector, you know? And he's like, I got it. I'm just like, oh, man. So it was. This guy's name was Jameson. And I met him through the circle of, record deejays in Austin because I was a vinyl DJ. So vinyl deejays were, you know, there's there's a there's a difference between vinyl deejays and, like, digital deejays, you know, vinyl deejays have a little bit more of, you know, a little bit more of an attitude, I guess. You know, there's a bit more of a purist. Yeah. Sorry. Bad attitude. Yeah, a romance with it. It's a protective. Ship. You're trying to protect the purity. And so, for me, it was a big thing. But, you know, that kind of gets into ego and it gets into a whole lot of other things. Which eventually I worked out, you know, but at the time, it was like it was just like, oh, you got these little cheap records. You know, I'm going to mess with you. So there's a different little hierarchy. So I was able to meet the guys in the record community. And I met this guy, and, he wound up getting recruited to manage Friends of Sound in Austin. It turns out that David Hafner had, had, had a reputation of, of recruiting, knowledgeable, experienced guys who just weren't saying, like, customer service guys, but they were like straight record head knowledge. They knew the. Industry, like they knew music. They knew records. Passionate about it. Yeah, they knew their stuff. And so, so he hired Jameson, and Jameson and I were good buddies. So he says to me, well, you're coming along with me. And that's kind of what he told Dave was like, hey, whoa. I got a guy with package deal. He's. Yeah, he's coming with me. And I was just like, wow, okay. Like, this is crazy. Because at that point, I had already been going to Friends of Sound, and so I already kind of knew, like the deal there. And like, the thing is that of all the record stores in Austin at the time, Friends of Sound was a place where you went when you wanted rare records, you know. Like, is that like, kind of what they're like, that's that was kind of. Yeah, exactly. The more rare stuff. That and 45, which are the little, little small records. Not even the big the big LPs. Okay. Which start to get into their collecting. I mean, they're all collectible, but the 45 is certainly a niche. And what's the difference between those two? It's one song on each side as opposed to 6 or 7 songs on each side. Okay. So is that what came about or smaller? So yeah. So I mean, so if you want it. So, I'll give you a little, a little history. Lesson on this question. Okay. So the reason why the so the 45 I'll try to make this quick. So if you go back to 19, I want to believe 1954, 1955 is when the 45 was created. And before that, it was, put on a ten inch record, and it was called, it was called a 78 because it rotated at 78 rotations per minute, and it was made on a material called shellac. And shellac was very fragile. And it could break really easily. But this was meant to be played on the big Victrola turntable with like, you know, you see those old antique like 20s and 30s and 40s, these were the records that went on those. So what ended up happening is, is in 1954, RCA, I believe was RCA. And I hope I'm saying this correctly, basically created the 45 and they made the first vinyl record. And so the 45 became the thing that replaced the old outdated version and which wound up becoming the format which radio deejays used. So when you were trying to get your when radio stations were operating, you know, they played 40 fives. They didn't play big LPs. So that's the reason why they so they transitioned to the 45, which created the 45 single that created like, oh, you want to get your song on the radio? Here's the hot single. They would give you a 45. With one song on it. Right? One song on side on it, and then that there's ones, one on each side, okay. And so usually on the other side there'd be like one side would be maybe like a ballad, and then the other side might be like a rock track and maybe the bands trying to show some diversity. Right. So and this is their record that's going to the, to, to the radio stations in hopes of being played on the radio. Right. Okay. Okay. So okay. So quick history. So so the 45 is is a very kind of like niche kind of like type thing. So if you go into a lot of record stores, you're not really going to see a whole lot of 45. So when did the first record come out? I mean, that's the thing. Like, you know, if you go back and we start talking about what I was just talking about, like, the ten inch record, right? The shock record. 78. Right. You know, those were like, you know, 20s, really 30s, you know what I mean? And some of the more expensive years. Yeah. And some of the more. And when it comes to like and you start talking about value and rarity and stuff like that, the, some of the most valuable rare records are, actually, 70 eights and the ones. But there was but you gotta realize, see, there was, big band records, 20s, 30s, it was all kinds. That was the format at which it came up. But the thing that's worth money now is, blues records. So Blues 78, because they, with a lot of blues musicians, a lot of it wasn't recorded as I could get into. I could just get into this whole, like, we're beginning to start off, we're starting to go into all types of other little like subgenres. And so please take us down the end of this tangent. I'm so okay, so I'll finish this one. So so like sessions the session. So right. So 78. So so the 78. So the ones that are valuable are blues 70 eights. Musicians like Jelly Roll Morton obviously like the big one that comes to a lot of people's thought is a Robert Johnson, obviously. And we'll start and, we'll kind of finish with Robert Johnson of this kind of wrap up, this whole part of it. Is that the reason why they're worth a lot of money is because they didn't do a whole lot of recording. Right? So Robert Johnson, little San Antonio history, a lot of every from what I understand, most of his recorded catalog was recorded in San Antonio at the hotel. So they had set up a recording studio and they did recordings there. So all the recordings that you hear now or something. Yeah, they had a suite there. And and so a lot of the, a lot of this stuff was recorded and then and I want to say like the 60s and 70s, this guy name, Chris, Chris Short, oh gosh, I'm forgetting his name. But he started a record label called Our Huli. He started recording blues musicians because a lot of these musicians, blues musicians in say, the 70s and early 80s were were dying. They were getting really old because they had been playing. They were born in the 20s, in the 30s, you know, and these are guys that crazy stories, you know what I mean? Like, we're traveling blues musicians. Like, you know what I mean? You know. And you start hearing stories about, like, the Dust Bowl, you know, things like that, and you start hearing these crazy stories about barn parties and how people died. Juke joints and joints. And speakeasies and stuff like that. And, you know, and then you start getting into, like, you know, obviously like into, you know, like in the Dixie South, you know, Mississippi places like that, you know, you hear it's in the music, you know, I mean, these musicians were like traveling, you know, talking, telling these stories, you know, and the thing is that a lot of it wasn't recorded. So it was a certain point where. So that's the reason why a lot of these blues, 70 eights are worth a lot of money, because these are some of the only recordings. I mean, now things have changed. Like now people are reissuing things. They've remastered stuff, you know, they do things, you know, but luckily, like, you know, there was some people that started getting a little bit smart as these musicians were getting older and said, you know what? We need to record these guys like before. They had something before. They passed. And there's a lot and there's a lot of connections to like there's like Houston has a huge, huge, huge, huge lightning. And the lightning slim I believe is from Houston. So, there's a lot of like Little Joe Washington, another guy from from Houston Blues musician. So there's a whole connection and then you start getting into, like, Louisiana, Houston and then San Antonio and Texas and then like, you know, you're talking about like chitlin circuits and on, you know, all that whole thing. And so it's all it's. Yeah, it's it's a whole bunch. So anyway, so back to the record store. So I started getting access to these records, got a job at Friends of Sound. Was working there for about a few months, and, David Hoffner, the owner, comes up to me one day and he says, what's your dream? You know, and at the time, I didn't at the time, I didn't know that Dave was like, mega plugged, right? Like Dave knew everybody. You only met him a couple times as like a. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, he was my boss. I was working at his store, you know what I mean? And I mean, at this point, he was just like this figure that, like, I knew on the store, but, like, I hadn't really interacted with him yet, and I hadn't really. So this was my this was really him saying, okay, I got this new guy that's working for me. You know, I got it. I got a guy I don't know. Right? I got to get I got, you know, I want to know this kid, you know, I mean, I want to know what this guy's about, you know? And so, I mean, he says, you know, he says, I know you're a deejay, you know? So I know you get a little discount on the records. I was like, yeah, it's great, you know? And he says, but you know, what's your what's your dream? What do you want? And of course, you know, I, I didn't think anything, you know, really of it. I was just like, oh, I want a record store, you know, is what I said. And he goes, okay. And I'll never forget. And he goes, okay. And he just kind of walks off. Okay. So a few days later, I'm at work, and, and he comes in, he says, hey, man, let's fucking office real quick. And I'm just like, oh, okay, hands you piece of paper. It's like a movie. It was like. It was like a friggin movie. He hands me a piece of paper. As soon as I grab it, he goes, there's your dream. What the hell? And I'm kind of looking at him and I'm like, why didn't he goes, yeah. And he's. All just. Super cool. Like, no big. Deal. He's just like, yeah, give me that much money. And then you got your story. Let's make it happen. And I'm just like, can I, you know. Can I think about it? Yeah. Can I think about this for a second? And he's like, yeah, sure. Just let me know. So I, I had some money tucked away. Luckily, you know, I reached out to to call my mom, right. Call mom, call mom first. So I called mom, and, you know, she didn't she didn't understand, you know, but also, two, like, this is 2016, right? Then I'm saying I want to open up the record store. 2016 records were popular, but they weren't. They weren't popular like they're popular now. You know what I mean? Market share. Has increased. You think over the last it's it was more. Yeah. It was, you know, I mean, and even in even going back to 2006 when the store opened, yeah, nobody was nobody was buying records in 2006, you know, I mean, I was yeah. You know, I was into it. Yeah. I mean, I was I mean, I started buying records in like 99, 2000, you know, like right after, like graduating high school. To like, listen to or to. Yeah. To listen to, to listen to, you know, and if you want, we'll get into that story too. So, so Dave says, yeah, this will be your record shop. Give me this money and it's it's yours. And I was like, okay, so I thought about it. Talk to my mom. My mom didn't really understand it. You know, she knew that I love music and she knew that I like these things. But it was something that I kind of, like, kept, like I didn't. I would try to keep it away from her because she saw it almost as like a waste. You know, she was just like, you know, because my mom's old school, my mom's baby boomer, you know, and she doesn't, you know, those types of generate that generation of people didn't, I don't think, understand, artistic creativity. And, like, you can make a living off these things. I, you know, my mom was, you know, get a job with the government, you know, get your you get your benefits, get your insurance, you know, and you're good, which, you know, and there's nothing wrong with that because, like, her house is paying off her. She's got her insurance. You know, we're talking about her good her, her her her death plans and. Yeah. And everything's taken care of, you know, she's good, you know? So. So that's great, you know? But, you know, it was really hard for her to understand and, and at the time, too, like, I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Yeah. Up to that point, I had been working in restaurants, and I had been been doing the server grind, you know, that really didn't I didn't really see an end to because, like, I didn't want to be a manager, which would obviously be the next thing. Right? Like, okay, you've been a server for ten years. Like, yeah, time for you to get real and get some insurance. Like next level of the. Game gets you a management job, which is nothing wrong with that. Yeah. You know, I mean, you can be very successful. And I've seen people have great careers fulfilling and rewarding. Yeah. And enjoy it and yeah. Enjoy it. Yeah. And truly enjoy it. And be passionate about it. And for a long time it was something that I was definitely passionate about and that I loved and cared about. But as I got older, I started to say I might be able to like, do this other thing and not have to work for somebody else and not have to to do it like that. And so of course, when I'm telling my mom I want open a record shop, she's looking at me like I spent the whole, like, crazy. Like you talking about. You know what I mean? Records, I guess local. You know what I mean? Like, what are you talking about? Yeah. Most of my family, you know, was kind of like, you know, I have a cousin, was real successful, millionaire, like, my entire family. And I was like, hey, cause, like, you think you can help me out? And he's like, record store, like, you know, and I'll never forget it. He told me, he said, he says you're never going to become a millionaire if your passions and for him, like, he's money, he's business. You know, he's like, no, things have to make sense, you know? And he's like, you know, get it, get a get a demographics report. And I was just like, come on, bro, are you going to. Yeah. Okay. I'm gonna go pay to get you a demographics report for you. Like, why don't you just tell me? No. You know, just just say no. So, like, so me trying to convince people and convince everybody that, you know, this was going to work, they were just kind of like, you're crazy. You know, this is dumb. But luckily, I had some money tucked away. And so I convinced my mom. I was like, yo, I need, like, this much. She was like, all right, fine, let's do it. Let's go. So. So I came back to Dave. I'm like, all right, let's do it. And so this was in oh gosh, let me see. 2016 case of the store opened up in August of 2016. I started in January, New Year's Day. I met the guy that was going to be the future manager of the store, who Dave already knew, and put him into place and kind of was already like, Dave was already kind of behind the scenes, kind of pulling the strings. Architect and kind of setting things up as much as possible, all while giving me the opportunity to travel across the country, buy records, like I said, the prerequisites, right? Like you can't open up a store, like you can't open up a mechanic shop if you don't know how to work on cars. Right. Type stuff. So, so that's what he did. So he sent me all over the country. I went to Louisiana, I went to when I got to California, I went to Utah. Like different record stores or to like a convention. To, to to. Well, see, you got to realize to like Dave is. Like, plugged up. He's the guy. He's the guy. He's the guy, you know. So he would he would basically like just kind of set up deals and say, okay, like you're going to go here because there's a collection here that I need you to look at, try to work out a deal. But while you're there, go find some more records. And it was. Yeah. And so jam and so jam in and I went out on the road. Turning you loose. Yeah. It's, you know, we got, we got stuck in Carlsbad, New Mexico for like I think I was stuck in Carlsbad, New Mexico for like three weeks. Three weeks. Yeah. It's like stuck there. Like, what do you mean? So we bought we went because we heard we got wind of a of an antique store that had a ton of records. And this was just something that we heard. So we did a little research. We kind of made some phone calls, figured out where the records were. So we go over there and it's a, it's a guy named Don and he's got this antique building that he bought from somebody the previous owner, and they had records in the, in the, in the upstairs. So we go upstairs and there's like, I don't know, there was something like 30,000 records or something like that. Holy shit. He's right. So there's like 30,000 records in there all like in the attic, you know what I mean? So it's all dusty. It's just, you know, this is the. And this is where, like, people talk about, like, oh, I'm digging in the crates. No, y'all ain't, you know, digging in a record store. That's not digging. Like that. Thing is. Digging is going in a house where it's, like, 80 degrees in the attic. Grandma died here in the attic or in the base. Like you're fall. You're taking a step, you're falling through something, you know, that's like a discovery that rats are running past your hand. You know, that's where the holy. You get that? I'm sure, bro. Yeah, exactly. You don't get the whole without the little rat. The golden. Light. That's where that magic happens. Yeah. Oh, like, what's one of the American past poles? So. Okay, so a cha. Cha cha cha. So. So, so it's part. So that's part of the story, right? Okay. Okay. Awesome. So I'm in Carlsbad, New Mexico, we're in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and, we go and we get these records and it ends up being like 30,000 records or something like that. Right? So why were there some more? Were there? We meet so Don so we start asking. So there's in Carlsbad, New Mexico, there's a lot there was like a lot of antiques and a lot of old stores like that. So we just kind of just started walking around and was like, hey, where are the records at? And somebody would say, oh, I got a friend. And out of the ten people that I would say, I got a friend and the ten numbers we'd get, you know, there'd be one that came through or something like, you know, so we meet this guy, oh, gosh, I can't remember his name at this point. I think his name was Dom. And, so we meet this guy Dom. He's like, yeah, I got records, you know, blah, blah, blah. And so we're, we're going to this guy's storage warehouse to get records. And as we're walking through these records, he got, he had a pistol in his back pocket, you know, and I'm looking at Jameson and I'm like, hey, dude, like, we're like, we don't we don't. We don't know this guy. Don't. No. We're in. Carlsbad, New Mexico. Never to be heard from again. Yeah. Various on the desert and we're done. So what's what's it like over there? Sketchy place. It's, you know, it's it's, the people are the people are the people. They're sweet people. It's it's it's, you know, genuine people, hard working people. But, you know, the city, the city itself is it struggles, you know, like, there was there was a lot of, there was a lot of, like, testing and stuff done back in the day. So a lot of the areas are like, kind of like, all radioactive materials. And, a lot of people don't really talk about it. And I didn't really realize that until I got out there and started talking to some of the people. Yeah. But, yeah, Roswell's like, right right there. Really? Okay. Yeah. So it's, you know, you kind of start putting, putting it all together and it starts making sense. Right? And so. So some cause to be concerned, though. I mean, this guy's got a gun. Yeah. So I'm a little freaked out, right? And I'm just like, okay, you know, his name was Delbert. That's his name. His name was Delbert. It just came back to me. Delbert gets here the whole time. Yeah, that's the way it was with Dom is hard. Dom is kind of. I knew it was, but Delbert. His name was Delbert. That's older. And so, But it ended up being a great guy. Nice. That was in there being a really nice guy. So we bought some records from him, and then, we end up. This is the crazy. This is the craziest story. This is the craziest part of this whole New Mexico trip. Probably one of the crazies out of all the. Well, okay. Build a suspense, baby. So we're. Driving. So we're driving through Roswell. We get through Roswell, and there's this little, like, antique shop, like, out kind of maybe like, about 4 or 5 miles, like, outside of Roswell. So it's there's nothing out there putting this, like, antique store. And I go up and I asked, I walk in and I ask this girl, I ask her for records and she's country as well. My, my daddy and my daddy got some records, you know, like country rights unironically. That's her. And I'm like, okay. And she says, and she says, give me your hand. I give her my hand. And she draws a map on my hand with a Sharpie and says, that's where my daddy's at. He has records there. What the hell that is? That would never happen in 2024. So that's a true story. I'm not, I'm not I'm not joking, man. Alright. Sounds like a they go. So I like it. So I get back in the car I look at Jane and I go, Jane, when are we going to get these records? Let us go. I said, fucking let's go. So I follow the map, and I get to a trailer, you know? And sure enough, man, I pull up and dad comes outside. We got we got stuck in and he's like, you looking for the records? I was like, yeah. And he was okay. And so he, he says, but this was like. It was like he did a powered. Like he. Was like he did a little movie. Just just check you just so that I. Knew what was going on. Okay. Yeah. You're stranger. He says, he says, he says, why don't you come inside real quick? I kind of made some phone calls. I said, we're okay. So Jamie and I walk in. I just imagine Matthew McConaughey standing next to you while you tell us so movie like story. So Jamie and I walk into this movie so. Yeah. So Jasmine and I walk into this trailer and on the sofa is the biggest woman I've ever seen in my home. I think it's the one she's. I pictured this way. She's like colossal, like, looking like like six, seven. She knows she is the count. She's the size of Texas. She is the cabbage. Okay. Yeah. And y'all, she's using two shotguns. Like that at all times. Now, this moment in herself. As soon as I walk into this house and. Grandma died in face. Like she's holding them and she's. Looking at me and she's sitting on the couch. She's sitting on the couch. How fast could she be? That's right. What the click draw house. That's. Okay. Yeah, yeah, I know she be half a mile away at the gold chain wick over here. Double, double. She's okay. Okay, so she's in a squat with the with a good posture. She's holding her. Yeah. On the sofa. So that's pretty. And I like this Jamelle James looks cast. But what's wrong? Oh. I walk out and I'm like, oh man, I don't like, but I'm trying to not look like I'm. So I'll keep it cool, right? So I'm not trying to run out of the building. Yeah. Yeah. So I think walking I remember I walk in. I look at it, I go like, hey, for the record, sounds turn around, sounds like a Tarantino. I turn around, I. Was gonna say, dude, you're right. Sorry, I, I was right there with you. Little guy comes out with the dominatrix outfit on in a second. I hit the game. That's I turn. Around, I look, I turn around, I like a gentleman. He gives me one look at me. Kind of do the we meet eyes. You know, we kind of do that. And so we meet this guy, he's like, yeah, what do you think? And then I and then I so then I just step outside really casually, just step where I was. Like, you're smoking a cigaret. It's like, yeah, exactly. Like a smoke break. Yeah, exactly. So I go outside, Jason comes out there, you know, and I'm looking at dad comes out and he's got, he's got two suitcases. And so he grabs the suitcases and puts him on the car like that. New Mexico and and you gotta realize you like, I'm. In the desert with us, like some guy who has a daughter and so. Daughter. Yeah. It's so, so traditional. You know, there's a there's a. Hey, let me look through these. Let me see. Let me make. You an offer. Yeah. No, this dude was not playing poker. He was like. He was like, how much? And just, like, throws a suitcase on the thing, and I. And I'm like. This is big business. You make an offer. I'm like, can I open it? And he's like, yeah, yeah. So I open the suitcase and there's 40 fives in the suitcase. And I didn't really realize. And he's like staring like, pay up. Yeah. But you know what I mean. Like he's like, pay up. I mean, here they are. Yes. Pay up. There was no, like, negotiate. And there was no like, oh, I'm going to look through these real quick and make a decision. Yeah. It was just. Like a fucking yeah shot. Good deal. And so I turn around and I look at Jamie right. And Jason's got this thing to change. Like, damn, it's hard to tell these people. But Delbert was in there. That's older, 6060s. What's daddy look like? Oh, he's he's. It looks country just like that. Mad. Yeah. Daddy country overalls, overalls. You know. Unkempt hair, beard. No shoes. Country strong. Yeah. You probably don't fuck with them. Yeah. Probably drunk. Didn't want to mess with these people. And yet. Sober. So baby, to squeeze in is actually best. This is going to be all day right then probably he's been. Yeah. So. So dad shows up and he's just like 4 or 5 miles. Like how much. And I'm looking at him and I'm like, Look at Jamie. And Jamie goes, 50 bucks. And he goes, nah, that's not going to work. And she's. And I was like, I was like, I'll give you $100. And he was like, my dad, no, my daddy. Guys, it's not going to work either. You know, like I'm like 200 bucks. That's that's just and I'm like, okay. And she says, yeah. So that was more like a get the fuck out now. Like a real valuation. Give that. He says, all right, fine. We give him the 200 bucks you give for the Sharpie. Others and says that's so. You haven't been able to pour through. You just have cases. You have. A suitcase, two suitcases. Suitcases and your. Life. And it's so. I'm and and I'm like, man, I did a real quick like open so and so and they were just back in the car. You know, these were, these were cooked these records. We could you can say you pay $200 to live. Yeah. So exactly. And I get so we get back to the hotel Jamie and I are just, you know, on the drive. Bachelor. Was that real? What the hell was that? Dude, that was not the fucking. That's the movie, bro. With the mask driving like this with Matthew McConaughey next to you. It's crazy. It's what. You like. We got out of there. You know what I mean? So. So we get out, we laugh about it, you know? We just, like, we get a beard. And I. We stop in Roswell, we get a beer, which was weird. Says he says, he. Says, what year is this? This is 20, 2016. Nice. Okay. Cool. 20. No. So maybe 2015. I just imagine. Trying to remember like obviously no. So after, you know, one time pass, you know, things we kind of 2015 2016. Love story sounds like it's out of 6070. Yeah. Yeah. This is kind of reason this was kind of a reason ever. So we get back to the hotel. So we get back to the hotel and I'm leaving behind my colossal. Like like six. Yeah. Oh, this is just full of records. There's records all over the floor. And at this point, we've been there for a couple weeks, two shot, and we have the deal that we still did with the bad guy and the deal that we still did with Delbert. So at this point we have purchased, she's holding. We're now at the point of this story. Right. And she's. Purchased she's sitting. On the couch. How fast could she be? 35 with the click House with the akimbo. So so. That's the reason why we got. Half a mile away. This is Jane because. We had to get them back. Okay. Yeah okay. So she's so what. We were so we were doing like, do you shit with beer, right. Because we needed like an 18 hours to load these things up. We had to put them on pallet, wrap them all on the farm. So are they crazy dusty in the hotel room right now? As can. Be. We'll see. So. Well, there's more. There's the records. I'm not trying to run out of the van. Yeah, I get, I think I do I want there we go. That's what you're looking at it all. Come on. No. Donald's a guy that only antique shop. So those are the records that we bought. I was gonna. Say, dude. You. But they were at Don's, right? There was the records and had a little room with records that we had. Just buy it just from going out. It. I tried like, you know, hey, where'd you go to, like, hey, we're going to go here. We're just we're just going to go. We're just going to go digging. We're just going to go and find some records on it and use kind of connections at Derby dealt. And we were like, oh, I got a buddy or I got. This romance and I had this really. Cool. Yeah. You know, so like in the people that people in the city, we're starting to catch wind that. Yeah. Yeah. So then you know, so Don and Doug would try to get in phone calls like, oh, hey, I got a buddy here, I got a buddy there. And so we would follow these leads, right? I got like, I got like a big old buck knife. This is a badass movie, dude. Yeah. Jamie got some really cool, like, kiss sneakers that were worth, like, 600 bucks, you know? Anyways, so. So we go out to eat dinner with these guys, know we just kind of be there for them. So we kind of created a little. Let's see what we make. You and I met this little I met this guy who is the helper, and I went smoke. He was like, he was like. And then much everybody freaked out that I left with him. And they were basically like, no, you should never leave with this dude. Ever. Oh, and I'm just like, yeah, we went to some dude's house and it was crazy. It was crazy. I think back, and I'm just like these, like staring like that. So anyways, we get back to the hotel, so back to the story. So we get back to the hotel gym, and I get back to the hotel where it was two record cases and two suitcases. And the suitcases are what these are like some antique old suitcases, and we're going through him. Everything. So I was. Shotgun, dude. We're throwing us now. I turned around and I looked, and in the suitcases. It has a I think it has a false bottom in the suitcase. Like a whole like a built in false bottom. I think there's a jackpot. What's that daddy look like? We pull that, we pull the false bottom lid and there's more records. Yeah. Daddy country all the records in there were all. Oh. They were all rockabilly. They were all Texas country rock. Besides that, for many stupid money. And yet really, how many views, how was Utah actually. Right then, just us. And it was really funny because, like, here's the thing to right, is that like, this is the this is the type of thing where Jameson is knowledgeable. Right? And that's the thing about these trips. Right? Is and that's the beautiful thing about about Dave is that like he was able to recognize and understand, I was like, what people's strong points are and how to take advantage of that and let them maximize the potential out of their, out of what they do best. Right. You know me like I was the impersonation I'm the sales guy. I'm the friendly, I'm the face I don't have the knowledge. And the dead have that same. You just he has to have a suitcase full of. I have. More than the. Have in your life. But when it comes to the level and these guys are they want like no. Like science chemistry. Yeah. But at the same time these are also the guys that I get to learn fresh, right? So I get so I get to learn from all of this and say, okay, next time I see this label or this record or this variation, like, I know to pay attention to it, right the other day, this quick, quick side note, this guy called, I. Was driving like this woman was McConaughey. Next story. Crazy. Oh my God, I can listen to something and know that it's awesome. But when somebody brings me in a file on a German base records, I can't sit there and listen to every single one of them right? So there has to be ways that you can figure out right away what's the hot shit and what's not that shit. So I called Dave. Dave. I got a. Deal on these drum and bass records, and he gives me the sauce right away. He says, what you want is you want UK, you know, you want early 90s. If it's not UK and if it's not early 90s and if it's not white. Label it's out of don't you think. Yeah, that's so simple. So, so now I can go through and I can look at the label, figure out what year it is. I can know whether it's a UK because I can figure out whether it's a UK press. Or you can just tell the difference. And so I'm able to make records. So Dave is so Dave is the guy. Right. So in this case. So back to the record looks now see case Jarman is super knowledgeable on R&B records popcorn record at this point. Titty Shaker record. Okay. And these are all these are all like, these are all crazy little. This is this is street record. Negotiate titty shake. The Morocco bouncers and it's it. It's all. They shake their titties. And it goes to see what the thing is, right? Is that, like, that's what most people think. But when you really get down to it, it has a little bit something to do with the way because it's just with maybe like the rhythm. Of tempo. With the rhythm of the. Song. That makes sense actually. Right. Like the way that you. So it all makes sense when you really break it down. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But of course, it's really funny to hear stuff like this. Okay. It's hilarious. Right? When you tell a racket it would you tell a. Record head that like, you know. Yeah. And they sound like a sock on party, like, you know exactly the type of record they're talking. So Jarman is extremely knowledgeable in these types of records. Like this is this is his wheelchair. This is his strong breathing. And so he's going through and he's like, yes, yes, yes, yes. And so there's probably a couple thousand dollars worth of like. Rockabilly 40 for. 200 bucks. And so we score. So we want. Dubby. So yeah. So it was a dub, you know, and usually, you know, there's sometimes there's losses, but, you know, I think for any. Yeah. You know, for anybody that's in business for themselves, like you have to realize that you're going to have losses, but you have to minimize how, you know, you have to minimize this. You don't want a whole lot of losses, right. But you can have it maybe once in a while, but then you don't want to hold. I think the same thing about life. There's times where you're going through a backslide a little bit and I'm just like, like it's okay, except that it's a backslide. But just like minimize. For instance, one thing that I'll do when I'm things are. Going got some really. Like wrong is I'll eat like shit and I'm like tell myself like I don't just fuckin. So just start making every mistake you possibly can just because you're, you're downsizing a little bit. Let's like, taper off some of this backslide right here. But I feel like that's translatable, just not from just like the diet of your life but business, anything you know. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Exactly. So, but yeah. So that was, that was the, I was, that was the. No. You get me Mexico. So, so we wound up getting we finally ended up getting like. But the problem I realize is the problem that we had, the reason why we couldn't get anybody to up was because it was so far off. So anyways, of a normal path that anybody that any of these truckers would drive get back to the hotel, none of them would really go to this part of New Mexico. They would just kind of like they hit something or they'd hit the major cities and then, you know, hit the next major Texas city. So like, we were in this, like kind of no man's land like type area where like it was really difficult. And so we wound up getting the records, we get them back to the shop. It has, and, and it was even crazier because. So now all the records we buy are in the Austin store, but they're in, like, the back room and so we have to we pull that, we pull, we have to organize the boxes in a maze so that we can walk through the back room. So there's like a maze of boxes. I think we stacked them five high and so many deep. And so we create an. Episode of. Hoarders. Yeah. So we created this maze of, you know, to get into the back room of like, boxes of rec and, and then I had to go to right is like, this is the breaking down. And then I had to learn. Okay, so how do you break down 30,000 fucking. So how long did it take you? That took us probably about 2 or 3 more strong points. Damn. And so, but, but the thing was, was that, like, that's in mind. We bought that collection in preparation for the San Antonio store. So we went and bought a whole new collection because we weren't going to be able to completely take everything out of the, because Austin's so I don't have more to the story. So what I didn't realize is, is that we were losing the lease at the Austin store. So we had been in Austin since 2006, and we're now in 20 2016, and things are beginning to pop off in Austin. The markets. Yeah, real estate is beginning to change. You know, we were in an undesirable place. We were in we were off South Congress, but we were in a back alley, like behind a candy store, like you had to go like through an alley, like up a ramp, down a set of stairs, like Tila left. And then there was this, like, dingy, dusty, like, basement guy kind of area. And that's where I've seen suites like that on South Congress, where it's like really kind of. And so out of the way. Yeah. And so that's where the record shop was. I mean, and at this point now, what was once affordable now became really, you know, they wanted like 14 grand ways, damn to be back there. And we were just like, what's not what. Are you talking about? Damn. Like 150 cal. You're. What are you talking about? What do you mean? So then that's when Dave was. And then. So I come along. So the timing of every now that you know now is played out. Looking back on it like the timing of everything just it just kind of just perfect. Perfect. So so Dave knew that he was he was going to be losing the location in San Antonio. So he started planning his next. He decided and he he decided that he was going to go work for a bigger record guy. So there's a guy out of Portland who has a company called records by Mail. Records by mail is like the original first ever record by mail service. So he's had this since like I think the 70s maybe the 80s. Sam and Craig's got these warehouse for like these are all crazy. But the thing about Craig's is that Craig would only buy records if there. 90 fresh crisp the house of crisp. Yeah exactly. So he'll only buy records if they're immaculate condition. But he's also like the. Tempo. With the rhythm of this. He has more money actually. Right. Like he's the one. He's the one walking. Makes sense when he has the power. Yeah. Yeah. But but he's he's hilarious. You know when you tell a racket it would you tell it. Right. So Dave is the type of person where you know what I mean. Dave will champion records at the time. He makes them. Hot. Yeah. So Jamie is. Extremely I'm sure. He'll make them hot in these times. And then he'll determine the market pattern as well. Yeah. Because because chances are he's going through. He went and found yes, yes 300%. So that's probably how come I bought all of them. Like I said, this is a hot record. Nobody knows I have enough influence. So we want to tell everybody this is a hot request and I can make this a $300 record, you know, because to me it sounds like a $300, right? He's probably right. Yeah. And he does it. And I've seen him do it for several. Several. He just has that ear for it or what. Several times. All right. That's badass dude. Yeah. I mean, and I can even give you a story of a local San Antonio records that we did that with you. You know what I. Really think about, like, six times? So that's Dave, right? So he's he's almighty, like, he's like, I owe I owe him so much. Yeah. I think I'm going to best mentor. I probably could have, but I found that in, in my path in my. Career, you start making every mistake. Whenever I needed the mentor, he showed. Up downsizing a little. You know, there's that. Saying, like, the. Teacher will show. The students when the student is ready. To. I, you know. Like it drops down. And so what's the dream, kid? Here's your dream, kid. Excuse me. So this is like a movie, bro. For real? I want to write this TV show. The characters are compelling. So, So when was that guy. From New York? Hey, kid. Hey, kid. How you doing? And, and so I realized, and this was actually the second time this has happened to me was prior to this, I was in Mexico. They were just kind of like, I wanted to be a DJ. Like, as a kid. That was my goal. I wanted to be DJ like I wanted to be music, like it was a big part of my life. Like I was talking records, wanted to be DJ, couldn't make it in San Antonio, moved to Houston and some kind of, just kind of was in this limbo space in Houston. Decided to move to Austin to become deejay. I was like, I'm going to Austin to be a deejay. That's why I'm going. I love music out there. I get to Austin. Yeah, I get to Austin. Luckily I get I, I meet a guy named Jim Bradford, and Jim Bradford's, like, you know, in his 50s. You know, he's like a he's like a, so he's a, he's he's a punk, you know, he's like, he's like, he's like a like a like a I'm forgetting. I'll leave all the terms and names. Are the. Rockabilly. Created now. But no, he was, he's a skinhead skinhead. Oh. Like what. What, like but not. Like the but like. So. Okay, so. So. So when I say. That they're. And so when I say that it has a negative connotation. Right. Because immediately I thought the same thing. But more like a scar skinhead. So they're like anti-fascist there and tie this there and tie. That, that. Yeah. It's it's, it's it's a whole other thing. Punk only and. So like this. So there's a whole. Other like not politics. There's like a whole like subgenre of like all these people that are into different types of music and they identify with a certain thing. And so that's how, that's how they do, you know. And so Jim would wear, you know, the suspenders and the Ben Davies shirts, you know what I mean? And jeans in the Doc Martens and like, the uniform. But Jim was like one of the nicest dudes you ever pop off and like super, super, super nice. He was a Jim was a vegetarian. You know, we were in Jim was like a 60 year old 50 year old vegetarian. And he had been a vegetarian for like 30 years, like, you know what I mean? So he was just an interesting guy. And so I was able to meet Jim, and Jim mentored me and Jim said, hey, you want a DJ? And I'm like, yes. And he says, okay. He says, look, I'll help you. He says, but as soon as. I hear. You. Yeah. And so that's what fucking roll your eyes or as soon as I hear you. What was one? Because if I tell you something says I'm not helping you anymore. Really? You know, they want to find out what they're doing, and I go, okay. He says, because if you already knew this, you wouldn't be here asking me for what. You're. Talking about. I said, fair enough. I need you to be a student. I said, fair enough. He says, okay, cool. He says, grab those records in this fucking go. Now that. So I had to carry records around. I had to fucking. He was like, I need you to go to this place, and I need you to walk the records to the bar down the street. So, so, you know. And he says, and then he'd be like, hey, okay, so this is an XLR. This is a quarter inch, this is an RCA. This is going to go. Do you know how they were? You know what any of those cables do? There's a guy. You know what I mean? And so he mentored me, and he taught me, how to balance sound, you know, I mean, I would I would walk into DJ parties, and so he it behind the scenes was the most chaotic thing ever. And Craig Scott, you know, you show up to, you show up to a restaurant, I show up to a gig one day. I'll never forget the strategic gig. I show up, it's packed. He's got the whole place jamming right with me. And I'm like, oh, man, I'm gonna walk right into the party. This is gonna be great. I walk in and I look at Jim and he's got this look on his face like just terror. But he's all, you know, and I'm just like. And he goes, sit there. He says, you're not DJ tonight. One. He's the one. I was like. Oh shit, you know he has. Okay, so I sit there and I just start watching what's going on now. And then he basically tells me that he's only getting sound out of one turntable person, but the sound that the turntable is coming from is switching. So sometimes it's this one that sometimes it's this one. No. Yeah. Yeah. And then he says, he goes, I've been battling with it all night. He says, he says that he goes, the PA system here is the most like ghetto house rig thing I've ever seen in my entire life, he says. I had to, like, splice and put a cable, and Jerry rigged some stuff to make it work, he says. Of course it's not working. And I was like, okay, cool. And I'm just like, sitting. And I'm just like, what is going on? And he's so he's explaining to me and as he's telling me that, I'm just like, oh gosh, like that's a that's like that, that kills the party. And I've seen him do it. That's done. Done. You and his and and the party is jumping. He has the whole thing going off and I'm just chilling. I'm like a local San Antonio doing this. And he looks at me and he says, he has. And then I kind of look at him and I go, Jim, what? Like, how about he has this big ol smile on his face and he goes, yeah, he grabs this record, right? He goes, this right now look at him. And it's, it's a studio 54 extended dance mix. So what it is, is it's a record that's already pre-made, so there's no gaps in the. So. And you can make your dream carry this record. Yeah. So what's up, bro? Oh right. He goes I will. Never record compelling. Because it's because it's not the guy. From New York. Hey, kids. Yeah yeah yeah. So I play playlist. You know it's song he says. But I keep this record prior to this just in case I have an issue where I only have access to one turntable. I want to be deejay like I want it. And so he's lesson learned, and I just sit there and jam. What a jam. That's like. I was like, wow, dude. I was like, wow. Okay, so going back to like I said, like, I've always been lucky and I've always had those mentors. And for me, I feel that that's why for me, I feel that this has kind of been like it's just a natural progression and natural path for me. And the funny thing is, is that I've been able to take like back take, take all of the like the lessons and all of the things that I learned from the hospitality industry, like, working in restaurants, grinding jobs, you know, working in the trenches as trenches, as John likes to, to describe. But like, but like the essence. So even like the jerk hole manager that fire when I say give me up for something. You know. My fall tree was the kitchen issue and it wasn't the serve, you know what I mean? I remember, like all those all those types of things, right? They all kind of put me in a position because the funny thing that ends up happening is, is when you get into something real specialized, it's like or. Punk only record. So like there's a whole. Other like not. Real specialized in those things of like all these, I think not very social, the different types of music because there's so and so like the record nerd guy is really not the most social guys in the band. Right? So I come in and I'm like, hey, I love records and I'm friendly and I'll talk to you and I'm not going to act like a jerk when you bring the Madonna record. Hearing, right? You'll think like, I'll think it right. But then that goes back to what I was saying earlier, right? Is that like, I also had to get over this ego of once I had access to that. And so I was, oh, you know, you got I got that sharp Mel's 45. It's, you know, it's on the volt white label promo job looking like, what the fuck are you talking about. What's your what's your video that's about that. So totally. Different. Like, you know getting getting fire though you know and then and but also like having to bring myself like down right. Having to like check myself. And it happened deejaying. I'll never forget. I'll never forget it because I realized if you are a deejay, I had a story here. So I'm in Austin and I'm and I was and I was able to make it like, very, very well as a deejay. Like I got really fortunate and I and I think about this right. Blessings being thankful, being appreciative for everything that you have, even when you don't have anything, it's still important to say, you know what? There's still so much more that I have to listen to that prospective, you know, somebody else's perspect somebody else can look at you and be like, damn, you look like a millionaire. That perspective you are, you know, right? Because of what you have compared to what they don't have. Right? So like there's only so. Gratefulness is like, oh. It's huge. It's and it's something that it's something that I, it's taken me a long time to learn that and not only like learn it and understand it, but put it into practice big time. Yeah, right. Because it's one thing like understanding something or saying, oh yeah, like being appreciative. Yes. That's great. Okay. Like put it in the pocket or like really put it in the programing. Right. And see how it changes. Oh man. So I'm doing this DJ gig and I was really thankful because I was able to, to, to deejay in Austin. So I did I would deejay Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, sometimes two gigs on Sundays. And they were paying me $300 to sit there, and I just thought I was making that every week, and I just deejay. That's crazy. Going from serving, that's. Like going from serving to doing that. And then the jump from serving and quitting my job to DJ like I did a bunch of South by Southwest parties. There's a whole whole bunch of stuff that, you know, that I haven't had of time to get into. But, so I got really fortunate, and I'm Rainey Street in 2017, and I had to do that. No, no no, no, two 2013 2014 2015. This is like, hey there rainy. This is like when raining was poppin. Yeah. And I'm just like. And I was the Friday night Saturday night deejay explained to me, you know? So I got like that's. It was a very humbling thing as well. Right. Because there's also you start getting into and the party at night to these he has you start getting into that to that other type of lifestyle I will. Say is the lifestyle. That lifestyle that comes with it. Right. And you know, the huge you know, that the super rich millionaire guy who's there for Tech Week in Austin and loves you, deejay set and is inviting you to come party at the penthouse and keep the party going at him, you know, and you're waking up it it's you're there and it's five, 6 a.m. and you're looking around and you're just like. What is going on? I don't I really you know what I mean? But there's also that like you're the DJ, right? So for me it was a I had I had moments I'm not going to lie, I had moments where I had to be humbled. I had to have brought back. I had somebody had to pop that bubble that was my head and say, hey, dude, it's not me. You need, you need, you need to come down the fuck back to fucking playlist. You know, it's all those many instances and many things that happened. And I had to say, hey, I have if you want to continue to do this, you have to you have to have this job and do this with responsibility. Like I just yeah, you know, everyone's. Like, what a bummer. Let's have a wild night, dude. I was like, but dog. So it's the balance, bro. Yeah. Can't happen every weekend, right? Because here I am. I'm living my dream. I wanted to be a DJ. This is kind of here I am. But now it's also being threatened because of vices, because of habits. Because. Of temptations, because of all these things. Right. And so it was a very humbling thing for me. And, and with this kind of list, it was like, so I'm deejaying when one day and there's this girl, it's a Sunday fun day, you know, working in the church. And the bar is really not that busy. And so this girl comes up and she's asking me for like, you know, the Miley Cyrus manager and so by this point, I had already. Party, you know. So yeah, it was something they I think it was I think that was actually it. Had to be the number one song. So. So, and I had already made the transition and I had already gotten over myself being a vinyl DJ and transitioning into a digital deejay. I did it right there on the earlier that whole separation, I did it. I made the transition because I was like, you know what? Nobody cares that you're playing a rare record, that a real specialize in those things that no one gives. You just want to shake the titties. You don't get to. Shake that. Exact, like so. So I decided, hey, if you want to be a professional deejay and you want to make this your career, you're going to have to transition. You can't. I come in, so I gave it like, hey, start playing. So I was like, okay, my love records. You know, with that kind. Played the Miley Cyrus. But something happened when I played that Miley Cyrus. Okay. You died on the set. Right? I, I but then that goes back to what I'm, I'm sitting there playing this Miley Cyrus song, watching this girl have the absolute time of her life at that Shamu singing the songs and the the feeling that I'm getting from Johnny. What's your what's your thought about that? Pure as I say, honestly. She's just having the absolute best time and in that moment, like, it all hit the like it all hit me. It was like, hey dude, I'll never forget it. Because the way that that girl feels right now, so is the exact same way that you feel when you hear this rare record. Very well, as a dude, you're like, oh wow, the feeling is the exact fucking same. So why are you going to act like a fucking snapping about it? It's still. Yeah. Why would you, you know, like try. To withhold that from somebody else. You're saying tonight the feeling is the same. You got the same joy. And at the end of the day, really, when it all comes down to it, the person. Because we didn't write these songs, I didn't write these records. I. Well, why am I going to sit here and be like gatekeeping type shit? And it's like, dude, you're saying I and. To some degree it's your responsibility to to. Share it. Exactly. Right. And so I realized in that moment, right, the person that wrote this song, because it's one thing like I wrote it with emotions. It came from a place that was feelings. That's. And with me being so nerdy and so caught up in this ego, I lost sight of all that I lost sight of, like where it all really came from. It didn't come from, oh, this is a rare record because it wasn't a rare record when it was me in Austin. So I did it was made out of somebody's story, emotion, a feeling, some pain, joy, whatever, whatever the song was, you know, like, you know, and as artists and as an artist that that's where the creativity comes from. That's crazy. It comes from your experiences. It comes from pain comes from your joy comes from that comes from all the things that happen to you. When you were a little kid, like I did a bunch of, you know what I mean? Like, because a lot of times the bunch of stuff, you know, as, as an artist or when you're a musician or something, all those trauma and all those things. I got really fortunate. And that's what winds up being the first thing that and you express a lot of. Times you right. It's your first time expressing it. Right. It's that it's that saying you had your whole life to write your first album. Now you had to write your second album in two months. Process. All right. So it's just like all those experiences are they all came from somewhere, right? So I realize in that moment I was like, dude, you've been missing. You've been missing the point this whole time. So you start getting into, you know, and so I love. Party in the USA, to be honest with you, like I legitimate. That's what gives me joy. Like I remember being in the car with like my mom and my sister when I was like 16. And that song comes on and I start being like getting kind of loose with them and they're like laughing. And then I'm like, put my hands up. And then they start singing with me. And like, now when I hear that song in the club, I still go nuts, you know? Maybe. Right, right. And then that's. What. And that's what I realize is, is that up to that point, I had gotten so caught up in the rarity and the physical. I got caught up in the frenzy, caught up in that this thing right here is worth $1,000. I had. And, you know. Because it's so rare, because it's a rare records. Well, you know what? Like, how does it how does it make you feel back I had somebody has. Right. And so it makes me feel great. But it may not make anybody else feel great, but how can I take that same feeling away from somebody else who gets it, even if it's from a Miley Cyrus song? I never say, you know. I mean, so I had them. In place, like, I don't want I don't want you to be too hard on yourself because. That's that's what I'm saying. There's a balance because there's a proper place for your discernment in your experience. And one of the things I love about George is conviction. You know, that's whack, right? No way. That looks good on you. Oh, that hurts. Terrible, but it looks good on you. That's what I want to hear that. But like, I love his. Passion and conviction. I feel like George is important to the culture here in town. And and I respect you and love you for all that because, you know, like, immediately as an artist, what makes you move and what what makes you, not. And and there's correlations with one like the major correlations. And we were just talking recently and I hadn't really even thought about this, but like the table one that everybody loves and that the mommies like, there's a place for everyone. There's a place for every record. Right. And you're talking about the joy that someone has. Yeah. So I can have my conviction is right, but who am I to gatekeeping angrily and diminish with my little told from this is my authority. Like get out of here dude. So I love that about you. I mean, so you know. And so the more that I talk to people, and especially like, right. Creatives, those are my people. And we, we all share a kind of a similar story. And I think that in order to be an artist and in order to be creative, there's like a that comes in. But there also is like, if you want to be professional and touch that which people are afraid to do, that people don't want to do that. So I gave in, you know, and that's where all the that's where all the magic. Especially men the last 50 years ago with the Crown, it's hard to be vulnerable and emotional and connect with people sometimes because we want to be, like real tough and, You know, and I think I. Want to be both. You kick ass for sure. And I think too, like, also like for me, which you just kind of touched on, for me being, being Chicano, like, it's part of the culture. Yeah. I've heard that like the masculinity. Yeah. Like it's part of the culture. Sure. I mean, like, you know, I mean, I remember my dad. Same thing I like. I stopped being a pussy. Like that a lot, you know what I mean? Like. You know, as opposed to just being like, hey, where is this emotion coming? Like, yeah, right. But like, these are things that, you know, you kill you. It's a balance. To just kind of deal with it, right? You know what I mean? So, yes, it's been it's been, it's been interesting. I feel you. Yeah. It's also sounds like you're like your life story is, like, tailor made for you, like the timing of everything and running into these characters, like, like a, like, movies, you know, it's like just certain conversations and being in the right place at the right time. And ultimately, like, I'm I'm realizing now how appreciative and how thankful for things. Yeah. Right. Like we go back to it like it's huge. Like I think about like, yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm hearing myself tell this story. And to me it's just it's just it's just your life. But hearing like seeing the way you are reacting to it and you're just like, no, that's fucking crazy. Like, I, you know, I'm I'm thinking questioning exactly right, thinking my. Story is that low key you want to talk to about writing a TV show about this? I think if we had people that went like you and homie went to different places to buy records and you ran into this like crazy backwoods poppa with the shotgun lady, and it's just like the the kind of adventures that you would go on, go to find records and bring them back to the record store. That's a cool TV show, you know, correlations. American Pickers, and they go and find the Corvette in the barn and stuff like that. I mean, they meet the they meet the, the hermit dude who's created his own little cavern of of newspapers and art and, you know, stop signs and. Whatever, you know, and it's funny, now I'm sitting here, I'm beginning to think of all this, that, that was just that's just one that's just one story. You know what I mean? Like, there's. There's plenty of other stories of, like, digging and being on the road and, you know, like I said, it's I think back on it. And when I do, when I do tell the story and people like, especially like people on the record shops, you know, they'll ask and they're like, that's what wait, you got paid to like, travel and just buy records? I'm like, yeah, right. And they just and I can see them like just it's like a scene on their face, you know what I mean? And you know, but but, but but but one thing that that's happened right. And I don't want to say that this is like the, I realize the negative side or the bad side. But if anything, maybe it's, for anybody that might be listening or anybody that's thinking of themselves, like. Like I want to. I want to follow my passion and I want to do what I love and make it how I live. There's you're talking about balance earlier. You're like laughing. I see a huge amount of balance that has to go into that. Because what what I've found, if I'm being completely, 100% with you, is that at that point I had gotten so I got really burnt out. The, the, the record shop was caught up in everything. Everything, everything, every day, every day, every day, every day, every day, every day. And so slowly because it's so rare, because things, things started to kind of get chipped away. How does that right. And what I mean by like, I'll give you an example, and so it makes me I love it when somebody comes into the store, but how can I, I can be I can be on the, they can be on the opposite side of the, of the room and I can. So I had them in place. They're digging. And when I hear somebody. That's what I'm the balance because there's a place right where they say, oh, they have this. The things I love about. That, that that's like like I got goose bumps, like, look at my arms. Like I got goosebumps. I, I like, I'm not like drawing. This is terrible. Right. So you imagine. So. Like when I like, love his. Passion. Immediately I'm like, what'd you find that right. Like, would you like, would you find what you find what you find and for me, and this is almost. You know, like it's sad, right? As an art. Is that I. Makes you move. I can't get that feeling for myself. There's correlations with one like. I don't I don't go. To. Other. Record shops and. Dig. And look for. Records that. I've been. Chasing. For, like there's a place because. I have my own store now, and chances are I'll just it'll. Just joy that someone. Will just pop up in there. So I just show conviction. Right. So like that, that. Like Michael deal. Yeah, yeah. Rob. Yeah. But I'm the boss of that bouncer. But I'm. I'm robbed of that thing. That almost is the thing that drives you more than. The discovery, right? I think that feeling right. And so it's. Up more the subconscious, primordial level, like our caveman instinct to hunt, find and bring back the thing that we've been imagining we could go get right. I found a berry bush. Right? Right. That fuels a lot of our testosterone, serotonin, dopamine, the things that balance us. Absolutely. I have a small correlation. So I did improv for a minute, and I was part of a troupe, you know, and I was I performed a few shows at the River center, and I had this one moment where they had this thing called Poets Corner. So, you know, they set the mood and turn the lights down. Everybody snaps instead of clapping. Right? And you get two words, you know, I got logarithms, I took afterlife. Yeah. We both like and and go. Logarithms like logarithms for like. Like like mathematical equations. Okay. And the afterlife and go. And so I got up on stage how y'all do. My name is Cornelius. You know, I mean, I, I'm. A I want to I. Said how about another round of snips. Right. And so to remind myself a little time because I'm like. I can drop the logarithm. This is why I do the thing like this, because I, I'm, you know, and I'll tell you, I'm not Excel spreadsheets. I, I suck at a bunch of different things, you know, my time management now so I can tell you so, you know, I'm not here. Lifestyle. Right. But this is what I was living for. Something quick with it. Right? So, like a, like, movie, I, I. Went in to see, I was like, you know, here I sit on a cloud, try to make my dad proud. I'm realizing now. I wasn't good at math, you see, because I feel that a chemistry. And then and then I try to rhyme log of the logarithms and finished with logarithms. And then I laughed at myself in the audience died laughing because it was so absurd. There was no way. Right. And then I and then I finished. Also one plus. One know we are starting to. Disperse at Redfish Blue and the whole place fell out. Thank you. It was it. Like stuck the landing. Mary Lou. And then at the end of the show, the guy who had the. Ownership of the crew. Came up to me, wanted to know about that. Ran into this like crazy, like, what. Was that like for you? Because in many. Cases, like, this is the reason for the correlation that he had gone into his passion and he didn't have that anymore. No correlation. No. He you know, it's like drug use and your tolerances is going to hurt. You don't quite get the same. So he was jazz newspaper on that moment and I was alive. I was so alive and I am I mean just all energy just exploding from my chest, you know, just that feeling of fulfillment, you know? So that's that's the correlation about about balance, right. About having that. And when you do it again and again when I do, you know, like when you, when you start hitting, you know, game winning championship shots, it's at some point, you know, they lose their luster. Hell no okay. Yeah. That's why they brought me here. How did you see Dwayne's space? It's bad. Like. Oh, it's bad, it's horrible. It's bad for that guy. Who is that? There was. Who the hell is this? The second time it happened, the other one was. Do you guys remember? There's, like, four months ago. Yeah, yeah. Who was it, man? Do you remember? I forget Allen Iverson? No, there's another statue. That was a mustache. Yeah. No, they had to redo. It NBA it was NBA. Yes. And make sure it wasn't Michael Jordan. Was it an older person? I think even the player was just kind of like was it. Yeah. He was right. Like, I don't know I think I look at that. I'm yeah I'm struggling. Dwyane Wade for sure I know I saw that one. Well that just happened. His jaw is he looks he looks like white. He looks like Superman. No no it's weird. His head's like a rhombus. I saw some stuff where it looks like. Like Teal'c from, from Stargate ago. His face is all fat. So. Yeah, it looks. It looks pretty rough. I want to say it was like it wasn't Dirk, was it Chris? No, no, no. Cristiano Ronaldo has won this fight, I guess. But I'm not. I'm saying Cristiano David Beckham had a better one. No it was whoops. It was a bastard. It was basketball for sure okay. Yes this one's basketball. He was on the opposite side. It was. So I got basketball players. Yeah. It was pretty bad. You know that's rough man. Like not even close. Was it Ray Allen. Right. Are they superstitious. They had. This. It was definitely somebody deserving that. Yeah we're still playing. But this is fun because the, the audience is not. They were there. It ain't no. It's like yeah it's magic. So like I can tell you that it was. It was within a couple years. Within the last five years. Yeah. It was recent. Right. Might be the worst ever. Maybe it'll have some kind of comparison to the past. Remember when this happened? Come on Barstool, is that. Oh, God. Bro. Dwyane Wade. No, he was there. Yeah. It was like fucking Thanos. Oh, geez. Dig the rest of the statues. Like that's the money moment. Him on the table on the table. And that's good. But that is not his. Face in. My town. Yes. Right. This is my. Town. That's right. Yeah. It was just. Oh, that's rough. And I think there's some things that that I don't dig on D-Wade. But yeah. How can you argue with a pure moment like that? Jump up on the scorers table? I was sick. My house game winning, bro. All right. Thank you. You ever seen anyone jump on the score table for feeling right? And so no, not maybe not. Oh, I don't know. I don't think I. Know Kobe. I think I don't know that after it was whole heart you'll get. Right I found a That's your favorite right. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh that's my guy. And definitely I cried when he passed. I didn't fall in love with him till after that. Actually, I was when I was, like, really trying to be somebody who was. And I was like, this is what Kobe's about. I remember I was driving to the gym at like two in the morning after I had gone to a work shift, and I was just like not giving up on the lift. I'm going in. Yeah. And I felt like I felt Kobe Bryant, like sitting in the car next to me cause I've been reading about I've been watching his videos and his quotes for a few months now, and I felt him sitting right there with the hoodie zipped up and arms crossed, big old legs in my car. Just going to go get it in the. I got so good. I got to conquer that feeling and. Work boy and dude, I did. Not like Kobe. I didn't like his bravado. And because he was about to notice a lot of my heroes and I was like, because I love the bullets. We'll see where Antoine Howard, this this is why they were seeing stuff back forth. But then I also got and I'll tell you, when I'm up here, my ex, his family had season tickets to the Spurs, so I saw Tony Parker and Manu, Tim, Eric battles. Right. But later this is what I was living after his career or towards the tail end. Because I played a ton of hoops, I started to appreciate his dogged determination. Not not the you know, I am him because I feel but chemistry you got to respect, try to work for the right you put in work and and if you ever see the compilation. I laughed at my favorite show audience dies laughing because it was so absurd simultaneously. And there's got to be. And then also one the exact same form turn around, fade the whole place. Right? So you got to respect the work it was in. Like that was what? Have you seen me? Oh. The dreams. And then at the end of the team, the documentary, I think. The ownership, that was that. Oh, Amy. LeBron. Yeah. LeBron. It's on Netflix Carmelo Bosh it's. Yeah. And Kobe and the. And he said the very first play like I'm running. Through the two of them. And they all. They're all like And and the message. Was that I mean he came. And destroyed and Paul was like drugs. And everybody's like yeah. USA we are not like, right. He's just a message received like that. And he did. And I, he did one of those impacts where you put through. The person who s you know, just how it's all in the interview on the documentary is just like, yeah, you know, I got the message. I was right. Like he wasn't mad. He didn't want to fight. It was like he was letting me know when there were a teammates to start hitting. I was like, I want to be a part of their fam. I think LeBron was telling that story because they were surprised. Yeah, that's why they brought me here. It's like that. Yeah. It's like, yeah. That part that I just have his work ethic. You know that's another thing. Another thing everyone was kind of talking about was in Vegas training for him with coach K, and then they were do you guys remember waking up at like six. So he. Was already and. He was already done. He had already worked out for two hours by 7 a.m. they're like, what the fuck is this guy? That was like, everyone started coming with them one night. They said they were coming back home from the club at like two or 3 or 4 in the morning, and Kobe was already in the gym waking up to the gym. Yeah. So I'm in the elevator. I think on the way where. They were going, I'm. Going to. Sleep. And he was going to work. Yeah, yeah. Dwayne way for sure. They were just like, I saw that one. That just happened. And tomorrow morning he looks he looks like I think it was Carmelo, the guy that did it as a hold out. I saw some stuff. We go at seven. He's got like one of the from Stargate I don't know it's crazy but that's what I'm. He's all fat. Exactly. He never want a ring, right? No, I never want to see. Oh, he was barely on a team. That was great. You know what I'm saying? He was with the nuggets forever. The Knicks. But the Knicks weren't great during that era. The nuggets and Kobe kept on taking them out, you know, because that. Was a squad though when went yeah, hey, I was wrong. Yeah Marcus Camby and James Smith Jesus Smith easy call because he could dunk from the three point line. 360 in the game. It's not even. Close. Yeah they made him open like two K 11 or whatever. Look what he played that year J.R. Smith was off the charts. There was definitely. Somebody who was nasty. Along the way in high school because I was I've always been like, bigger kid, super lightweight when I was younger, and then I lost weight, but I always was bigger. And then Dwayne Wade was kind of like a guard. That was like a big guy, and he shot a lot of mid range, and he would kind of like post people up from the free throw. Keep the space. Yeah. And I felt like he did a really good job of not playing like Allen Iverson. Like let me try to cross you over because I didn't like space positioning. He was down there. And then I was kind of like a fan of his game play. And then I watched him beat them. And then I was just like, oh, okay, not only that can work. I can win championships. I should like, try them on the table. That's why I shoot them. And that's good because. That's what I didn't like about Melo. Yes. Right into the chest up into the chin. Bully ball you know and I think and then when he went to the Blazers I just saw a clip of him talking about that. And they called an offensive foul on him. And they're like, we want you to shoot in the corner. And then he got into his hoodie. Melo game winner. All right. So that was another guy I didn't I didn't like how cocky was especially coming out of Syracuse in the way. The way he just the way he carried himself like just one of those characters, you know, like. And I didn't have much of a slice. Oh, that's your favorite, right? Information like who he. Is or whatever. Yeah, but just. The snap, snap judgment, you know? So I'm judging myself like in saying so. But I bet he wishes he was that differently. And I was. Like, I don't know. I think there's a there's a threat in order to be a hooper at that level, you got to know you're the guy. So, you know, there's a certain there's certain days where I'm like, you know, when I'm jump around before the game, me you know, and I know I'm not watching that I'm better than whoever's coming up against me. I'm sitting. Right there. You got to have some of that as well. But talking about it, I think that's the thing. Like when we're talking about bandits before. They don't have to be that way. Like, I don't think Peyton Manning was ever like I did. I was trying to alpha everybody here, you know, I mean, I'm sure he was charismatic. I guarantee you there's a slice beyond his preparation like that. No, you know, because his his dad was a champion, you know? Yeah. True. And so there's a certain level of expectation where you've got to know you're the guy. You're my. Yeah. It's a. Yeah. And I've seen him on the sideline digging in on somebody. Yeah. He'll go off. Right. So that's there. But but so, so respect to the person who's got that and yet can exude kindness because I played. Yeah that's Guru Mountain stuff. That's all of it. Yeah. You got to be able to do all of it. Multifaceted. This is one of my favorite things about tomorrow Anthony I. Got to. Respect the. Work. I love that we're watching highlights and love you guys. This this is. Nation. If you can try to listen to what it says Williams simultaneously look. And there's a lot. Of what he's saying. Give me that fucking ball. Exact same for getting around fade. Oh footwork. Right. Forgetting everything. That's his favorite way to go to the Dream Team. Oh no no the redeem team the Redeem Team documentary I think. Was that. Oh. Yeah. They brought the fuck out of here. Yeah. And Kobe and then this is what you said the. Very first play I'm running. Whatever my. And they're all like, this goes. And the message came and. Destroyed and Powell was like. And everybody's like, yeah, USA. It's like, all right, message received. It was fucking yes. Yes. And he did I came across it on I did one of those impacts where you because it's a reflection if you go oh yeah. Just a known for a while he was a scream and every time he got a rebound. Yeah that's hilarious. I'm struggling. On the. Statue. I was like he wasn't bad. You know what? I think we're over it. I think that was it. Was that too small? But I don't think though I think LeBron maybe they scrubbed it from the internet. Like you know how they pay money. They get rid of it. They already did it. Yeah 76 is really like that. Yeah it's like Marriott I don't like that loose thread Derrick Rose his work ethic. You know I'm saying he doesn't know he's getting celebrated lately. Kind of talking about like the whole city gets triggered by not finishing I don't know I don't know who who could have been. He was already. Is that the guy with the biggest peak that had the smallest window like DeRozan. Oh like his. Level was like he was so springy. He reached MVP superstardom in like a season. Which one was worse 911 or Derrick Rose. Like yikes I'm just kidding. Just kidding guys. This is just going that's way tragic. That might be too soon. I'm not there yet, but they're saying, wait 20 years. And then it's funny where it haven't gone with 20 years. It. Yeah, I just like when I was there. Remember we saw that stand up comedian. Paul Hofstetter not 911 jokes that I want to get off. What, can we go now? But that's how gentlemen usually feel about Derrick Rose, though. It's just like it breaks your heart. But that's like oh yeah, for sure. Like he had made it to the pinnacle. He was like a dog. That was up against my wizards. I was up against my wizards with nanny and and, John Wayne rebels earlier shot on. He was on that nuggets team with you. Sure. Right. Was the original Manimal. For a silly reason. I don't yeah because he can play with them in two. No no. And represent the the Chicanos Eduardo Nara what's. On the. Horizon or whatever. Let's go play that. You rock. Yeah. He's a wizard. He was a nugget. He was a nugget. Yeah. I think he's from the area. I was against us yesterday. Yeah. There was one question I guess I wanted to ask because. Because your story. It's like the the timing of things. I think it's like a we talked with this are we talked to a couple of different people on our podcast. I like, Chris his barber, his barber, and then also one of my good homies, Austin and his like, Allen like medical journey experience in his life and then his, Chris's barber shop entrepreneurial experience and then also your experience. It's like, well, I was kind of like, I don't know, it's kind of a this podcast is about is like chasing your passion and like doing what you want to do and like I, because I feel like everyone kind of has a calling or something coming out to them. So I feel like your life is kind of played out and seems to be kind of falling in that manner, like a movie asking, that's what I do know, like a crazy. Mellow. Crazy story. Whenever into the chat, up into the chat on the dots and had that perspective of seeing the kind of bird's eye view and how everything played out perfectly. Do you think that in the call, like, is there anything like any mindset or any like spirituality or anything that you carry into, like your day to day outlook that like thank you or that you think may have played a factor into that to like help you get on your path. That's really interesting. That you ask that question because like, what you're talking about specifically hasn't happened until recently. Right. Like during the whole time that I was. The story. That I told. You, you know, judging myself, like. I was. Just. Kind of just going with. Reacting. I don't know, you know what I mean? Reacting. And I don't think that I had understood the appreciation thing and, you know, being thankful phase were, you know, that has been something that's probably been. You know, and I. More this year than anything else, you know, starting at the beginning of the year. But I went through I think that's until a little break up, man, the little break of the beginning of the year and it really shifted my focus. And it really started to have an effect on me when I started thinking about you, basically what you talk about like, so now when I wake up every. Day, you know, before. I go to bed, you know, I do the what am I thankful for? So. You know, like, hey, today sucked. Gotta know you're right. Like, this was bad. That was I've. Seen him on the side digging in on. I saw a car off right. So, you know, I still got. That, but. So. So that's douchey hat. Who's got that I really wanted, you know what I mean? Like, I got those Jordans or I got. Yeah, it's all of it. I have electricity. All of it. Yeah. Seriously? Yeah. Yeah, something like something like like the the basic, basic, basic things. Right. Like that. It's very easy to get like and taken for granted but also but, but also to like understanding and realizing too that like how how everything is so connected. Right. Like one of the biggest things that that for, for me, I forget in the year after the break up, right, was like me being like, oh, I was emotional and sad and I was devastated. And I said, you know, you need to start making changes. So you. You. And slowly I started to understand and realize how everything that I had been up. To this my board. Was keeping me from just from really seeing everything that everything else that was going on. Right in the examples or in the examples where I was drinking too much. Beer before his teammates around him, I was around him. Eating water burger and then going to sleep right afterwards. I wasn't sleeping eight hours. I think that three out of five nights. You know, but I was doing I was doing it every day, right. But I also started to freaking like, recognize and realize like how all those little things were affecting stuff, like it was affecting my sleep. If I don't, I mean, don't sleep. So I don't sleep well. You get bags into your eyes, your skin starts to look up on the internet. Right? And these are all things that I when, when, when you read when I left the last relationship, one of the things that my ex told me was, and this was the trade with me I don't like, she says, get back to loving yourself. Right. And I started thinking about those are those are off that that's loving yourself getting an adequate amount of sleep. Right. Brushing your teeth with the comb in your hair, cleaning out your belly button. You know what I mean. Like that those. Yeah. That's that's self-awareness and that's how you see yourself. Yeah. Like looking good when you go out presenting something that like people want to see, people want to talk to you before they're drawn. You. Any trends, all those things you saw might be too soon. And I started exercising. And then it's funny, eating, right. Because all of that has an effect on your mentality or the way you look at things, the way you think about things. And then you start understanding and realizing the meditations and start realizing that the exercise is a form of meditation. It's the easiest. It's people say, I don't know how to meditate. My wizards just go outside and do some exercise. Go, do go do 10,000 steps. Go do your work, go for a walk, go go go to. And for me and for me is I went to. I started going to Woodlawn Lake every day. It's right there on my house. So I started going to Woodlawn Lake every day. And I started I started reading in a sort of an audible audiobook present. The, the Rick Rubin book. Yeah. Recently the most recent one that he did. And so he started talking about stuff. And I was. Like, yes. And there was one thing I wanted to share your story. All of that's related. I think that's like a. And he was talking about. A couple different people on our podcast. That going out into nature, which if you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it, especially if you're creative, if you're an artist, and maybe even if you're not. What's it called? It's called the the Art of creation. I believe, is what is the name of the book? Yeah, look at it. It's almost angels. It's all gray with a little, like, square on with a little like, like everyone thing. I believe it's called the art of creation. And so basically what what what. What he. Starts off in the very, very beginning of the book. He says, we're all artists. You know, like, even if. You don't think that you're an artist, you're an artist. And he uses examples. He says, he says you take a different route home, everything. You just created something that you hadn't done before. Is there anything? So you are now in mindset. Or any like. Sphere. And then he starts kind of breaking into like breaking it all down like that, and then he starts explaining, like how factor into that, going into things with a child like mentality. That's really interesting, right? Like not understanding curiosity and not understanding rules. Right. And so I'm listening to these things heartbroken. And then relating stuff like being a preacher and he talks about at first he said this, he's the first thing he says. He says when you go out, be pay attention to the to everything that's breathing and living around reacting. And he says, the trees are living, the grass is alive, the wind is blowing. The insects, the bugs, the dragonflies, the butterflies. All those things are living, breathing things more, you know? And then I started to, to to understand the correlation to God. Right. And so I started, I started doing these walks and these meditations and then I started going to the, I went to this class. Right. I had this friend and she had a bookstore this called In Utopia Books. And her dad was like, she came from like a, her family. They were off the college. There are big theology, right? So her dad was like a theology, and she also studied theology. So they studied religion and God. It was it was their that was that was their thing. And so she went to school and so she held a little a little class, you know, little discussion pads. And she says, I'm going to present this idea, right. You know what I mean? And so I was like, oh my God, let's check this out, because she kind of presented as more like a philosophical idea about God. I was like, whoa, wait, those two things aren't supposed to be like like them go together, right? So let's hear what you're talking about. And basically what she described and she and she said was, she says if we can like she said, I know this sounds crazy. She says, but everybody has this idea, an image of God that's untouchable for me. Right? Like God's in this big thing where like, we can't we can't get there, we can't get to him. Right? Because he's so outside of yeah, he's so big and so more than us. Right. He's not touched, he's not attainable. And she says, but if you start to recognize and understand that he's in everything that you do, he's in the way that you live. I started to recognize, oh, you know what I mean? He's right there in those living, breathing plants. And I see everything that everything the. Butterfly. That butterfly, the grass that I'm walking on. You know, like, and then how it connects to me in my body. And so I started to understand and calling all these things and I started receiving powers, I was this all makes sense to me because up to this point, my, my, my religious beliefs were like I was raised Catholic. Mom put me through private school when I did the sacraments. And, you know, the whole the whole thing, right. The Catholic school. Yeah. Like, you know, up until up until I was like eighth grade something, but, and like, but I did like catechism and I did like all the sacraments and like, I went through the whole thing, you know, but during that whole process, like, I didn't get. It, you know, like real spiritual connection. I didn't understand it. I just was like, I was like, okay, there's this thing you're so God. And and then I get older and I started having influences and people. And then you start hearing that like, no, that's actually just the story and you can trace it through, you know what I mean? Like that's symbolism, right? Every, every, every great solution has a story that's similar to. The sort of creation like. Yeah, the whole. Story, how we got. Resurrected, you know, the whole story. Right. And so I'm thinking why those things are so well, my mom taught me this, right. And then I'm thinking too, like, because although it has an effect, what I can't do is go tell my mom, hey, mom, everything that you thought was. Yes. Right. And so, like, finding that balance, but also being aware of these things and saying to myself, like, I still believe in that, but how can I make this? People say something that I can relate to. Yeah. To where? Like because my mom is like, well, you got to go to church, you know? And as I said, I had this discussion with my mom yesterday, and that's what I said. You know what I said? That's where we're different. And I was like, I, I don't think that I have to do that. And I was like, because I can go outside right now and do a sort of audio, audio kind of, you know, and she kind of looked at me and she was like, and it was crazy, right? Because I got to this point with my mom where like he did. And so we both respect each other's like, views, right? Because because they're not they're not very different. They're very similar. But when I started going to and then so so I'm going back to early in the year when I started exercising and doing all this stuff and then recognizing and going to this class and this and this girl was telling me like, no, like, highly recommended. He's here. He's right here. And that was so much more relatable to me because it was something that I could be like, okay, like, this is how I can make that connection, right? And so it was a powerful thing because it drove a lot of the like, hey, this is also related to this. This is also related to taking care of your body. Starts off in the right like loving yourself, you know. And then and then that also extends into you. Can't you can't practice and think all of these things, he says. And then get kind of get, get in your car and go have a road rage incident. You just created something that you hadn't. Right? Yeah. Yeah. Like, it doesn't it doesn't it doesn't work like you. Truth on both sides. You know, going to church doesn't, like, absolve you of everything. You could, like, just go to church to check a box. You know, it's it's more about how. You're right, how. You live outside, how it really. Is. And how it is, how you put that practice into your life. Right. So I started recognizing and realizing, like the whole spiritual thing and God thing, and I started thinking about like exercise and everything all just started coming together and it all started making sense. And I was like, two. And I started getting I started losing more weight. I started feeling more confident. You know, I go out and people are like, dude, like when you're glowing, like, what the fuck? You know what? I'm just like the dragonflies. I don't know, I'm just. I'm just happy. I'm just happy, right? Like I'm happy. Like I'm happy. Like. Like I'm putting good stuff and I'm eating real. You know, I'm not consuming six IPAs every night before I go to bed and consuming a thousand calories, and then wondering why I feel like shit when I wake up behind this friend and sleep till noon. She had a book store, you know, like dawn, wake up at 6 a.m.,

get your day going, be in bed by 11: 1:33:09

00. She came from, you know, let's that's that's that's, that those bags and circles in your eyes go away. And that's all part of the self-love. And and once I started doing that, everything started as different. I was that was everything else. Everything, everything. Everything all started to open up. It's crazy. And so even with, like, the record shop. Right, like for, for a long time, like I left the record store right for. And so I was like a couple of years like I did not work like a, like I did not work at the record shop, like, at all. And I was like, whoa. And, I was real burnt out, you know, all that stuff happened, right? Let's hear. But what ended up happening is, is I started to, she said, touch into other passions because, like, we talk about it, right? Like it's crazy. She says, you, you have a passion, you love something and you do it like, and you get burnt out, but like, you're still a passionate person like that, like that drive and that desire to do things. At least for me, it just I just had to find another outlet. So more for it. You know what I mean? So that same drive and that same desire and passion to be a record, guys, to go dig for the records and get in the attic and you know, and do all that like it's still there. It's just maybe no records the same way. Yeah. No. At this time. Yeah. You know, but it means it doesn't mean that I can't come back to it or it's not there or. Yeah. You know, I think it's just like an evolution. Like you have to evolve as a person, right? Like you can't just, like, stay in the same place, right? You know, and so all of the, all of this realizations and understandings that have happened all year have like led me to where I'm at right now. And I feel I feel better than I have probably ever in my entire life. That's amazing. Right now, you know what I mean? Like, and it's positive. It's good because I'm doing all of these things like being positive, thinking positive things. But, like what I did, recognizing and putting microphones in, like, I, what I like to call, you know, like triggers, right? Like when something that I know triggers me and I know I'm going to get upset. Okay. Do something because you know, you're getting upset about it. Do something that's going to offset that to where like, it's no big deal. And then I get like, I'll give you a perfect example. One thing that drives me crazy is when somebody drives the same speed as me when I'm training the crew. Yeah, I think it's great. Who doesn't like that kind of get off? My space is off anybody, right. So it sounds like I recognize it happening. The whole story, right? You like the stop? I just stop, I'm just. I go. I'm just like, right. You must be in a really big hurry, okay? And I make a joke, and then it's good. I'm sorry. With six months ago or maybe a year ago, like, this church thing I still do. That's the biggest barometer for my mental health. For what? Traffic is the traffic for the people on the road. Or like what? You know, another one is like the. And I felt so. And it's almost like things would happen on purpose. It feels once I started doing all these things, it was like I became more aware of, like all the little things that were happening. And I'd be like kind of random. And she was like, and this is an opportunity for you to be better about this. Seriously, this is an opportunity for you right here. And this is your chance. Right? And I'll never forget it. I remember I was I thought I was doing so great right there. Very simple. And then you have moments, right? Literally has moments where like, things aren't great and I'm at a red light at night and I need to get somewhere, and this person is just not making that focus. And then I turn on the red light, and I'm just like, about to start honking, about to get started getting Charlie right. And I say relatable to me because chill out. I could be like, okay, like like chill out, make that connection and guess what? Right. And so it was green lit. No, the the car turns and so I'm passing and it's a little bitty old lady who's and I say to myself, she probably scared to even be on the road. Right. Can't. Yeah. You might have made her give up her license. Me. Behind. I can't get it on me. I'm really. Yeah. And I was just like. And then that happened. I'm just like, dude. Like, yeah, there you go. That's going to church. Doesn't, like, absolve you. Yeah, I think that's beautiful. I think it ties into like, because that's like a prime example of like something that's a little thing, like a small interaction in your day. It only took you a couple minutes of your life. And like we, we live a lot of minutes. So it's like I think it kind of ties into, when, whenever you were talking, there was a, a clip that flipped in my head from, Jordan Peterson. I forget who he was quoting. Maybe Nietzsche, I don't know, some philosopher guy, but he was just saying that it was, like some people, most people don't see God because they look, they don't they don't look low enough because they kind of put them in that abstract out there like, oh, we'll never get there. But I think it's as low as, like where you are. It's right here, it's right here, it's right here, right right here. That's what we're looking at. Right? Like you're right. Like it's it's like it's. Like, you know, when the breeze that comes in, it's the moments of being a little reprieve, a little bit of emotional discipline to be like, okay, let me, let me hold it. Let me slow down a little bit here. It's it's only my whole life to realize it. Yeah. Like it took me, like, literally up until this past year to understand it, recognize that I think myself like, man, be. How much further would you have been if you have just recognized it? But I also understands timing. Like timing. Things happen when. All on its own time. When they're supposed to, because that's when you're going to get the most out of that. You know, it's wild that. Out of that, I know almost 20 years and we're on a similar resurgence. And I feel like I got a similar lesson in my divorce and divorce six years and it's like, why do we have to get like thrown down on our faces to like, take stock? I mean, when things are, when thing, when things are humming along and doing well, I don't I, you know, for me it's harder when things are going well, it's harder, you know, when they say, let God take the wheel, it's harder for me to, to not want to, you know, just like, let things be like. But when we get these harsh lessons. So. Well, like. When I went through my. Divorce, it was. Devastating. Doesn't cover it. I've got a lot of words there was no word for for how how awful that was. Right? And so I got all these lessons and I did a lot of similar things. You know, it's no there's no mystery sunshine, exercise. It's the sleep discipline, the food you're eating, the relationships that you're choosing to connect with. Or. Or distance from. You know, all these things are baseline, right. And, and the psychology of your mental health. Right. So I was doing all those things. You know, and. The the end game for me was to get my relationship back. Well guess what boys. That was not the right answer. I didn't do it for me because it was the right thing to do. I was doing it to an end to get my relationship back. Well a couple months ago I was doing about a girl and I was, I was, you know, had, you know, the rug pulled for me at work and devastation. Right. Well, like triggers. Right. Like when something that I. Started to do the same stuff. And I'm not some. Portions of. Wisdom. Right. Or utterly frail. Share with me. That's your story. Well, the more I get wise, the more I get humbled, right? So let's just say that I started to glom on Wiseman. I was nothing at all. So I have. Somebody drives. Rigidity in my Catholicism, in my upbringing and had a, you know, tumultuous upbringing. It was, you know, if my son was not a healthy environment from the outside. So as soon as I. Right, sure. But on the inside, not at all lived in fear, survival mode like constantly. So it's it's so wild that Georgie and I are on like. And I'm making. A similar arc. And that is. Because my mom warned me against two things when it came to spirituality, against the occult and against meditation. And there's some, you know, schools of thought about it. And I don't I don't think you should, you know, and, and put yourself out there because there's, there's not. When you. Talk about energy and frequency and in moving out into the quantum and you. People might need people, but when you. When you start to get out of the 3D, the, the, the no body, no space, no thought, and just for yourself and that way you can get in, tap into, all these different frequencies in there and, and, and I've gotten some level of understanding for. You right here. And. I've definitely heard people say to be careful. I remember I was like, well, there's bad stuff or that you could. Yeah, you don't you don't have a remote, you don't have a TV guide, you go and you channel into something. It could be something negative. That's correct. So I did some some prayer about it because I still have those roots and I still have those beliefs. And so I don't have rigidity. I think there's something in Catholicism called the, the Nicene Creed. And one of the lines in in the prayer is one holy Catholic, apostolic church. And they're just they're just saying, this is the only way. And I I'm not convinced I feel, you know, and I say that respectfully. Yeah. Right. And I say that fearfully because I don't pretend to know you. And I don't say that with 100% conviction. But if you look at people who have ever other beliefs, even in tune, and. I was this. Little spirituality thing, you know, you name it, no Hindu and Protestant Methodists, you name it. I've, I firmly believe that, you know, I as a as a believer right now, there are so many hard and fast things in Scripture and that's my channel. And, this is this is where I witness, you know, because the more I start to understand in meditation about these energies and frequencies and the gratitude and the joy and the compassion, don't look, I start to go back to the word. I put them in that. And and so in Genesis, in the beginning, there was a. Word like, right where you are, right right. Here. And so historically, I would argue, you know, it's a bunch of different random people writing all these, all these verses and, you know, through history historically supposed to be inspired by God through the Holy Spirit. Right? And so you got father, son, and Holy Spirit through all in one. Like literally. Entity. And again, major humility here I don't pretend to know, but I have conviction on this one. So I started to pray on it, and I felt that if I. Like. Timing's better. So what's what's Holy Spirit, you know, in in scriptures, talking about image and likeness of God. So that's the, the energy that is God that is within us. So when you start to talk about aura and when you know someone is really loving and doing the right thing and you just you just feel those wavelengths coming off of somebody, it's just infectious, right? And it's just all pure, unadulterated, honest love, like unfettered. It's it's it's own thing. So I, I feel like the Holy Spirit stronger than any of the force. So I would pray for protection to be in that right channel. So, shout out to Doctor Joe Dispenza if you want to do a little research on this meditation. And he's the man I did. I did a weeklong retreat in, in Nashville. That's amazing. I've always wanted to go to one of those. And it was pretty wild. I've got a lot. And of all the people in there, I felt like I was really guarded, right. You know? And and that's not really the necessarily the way to be in that, but to, to your point, you know, it's human. You can't just open up. Well, I also have this, you know, my, my mom and be careful, you know, and, you know, I mean, so, I've had to navigate that and find my way to connect. And so my. My reservation might be good. Like, you shouldn't just do a Ouija board because there's but there's people, there's a Ouija board, but there's people, but there's. People who are about that. I, you know, I don't. Think they should I. I agree and this, you know, people think there's, you know, innocent, Satanism. I don't think so, but that's what I agree with you. There's people that are either dumb or I didn't. Let's just say it, to be generous. They didn't have a mom telling them to watch out for that stuff. And I was. We're all on our own, and I feel like I got what I needed to get the rug pulled. So this recent stretch, and it's been 3 or 4 months now. Well, I've been incredibly lucky for a time to myself. And, for me, it started my spirituality started with the surf in Maui. Like good grief. I was lucky to be able to do this. And on like day three and like I was I have I was in a bad way at work. I felt like I was the champion of the morale of the house. And it was it was not the way it was supposed to be. And everyone's upset. And it was about vibration and frequency, right. So on, on like day three, I, I took a breath out in the water and oh yeah here. So it's it's wild right. And and so you're talking about spirituality. I think it does begin with the breath. I as soon as I started to understand some of these concepts about the quantum, about the past, the present and the future. You know, if you spend your time looking at the past and what was me and I'm feeling some kind of way and some of it's nonspecific anxiety, like I grew up in that fear, that fear mode. Right. And what's wild is when you, you know, we start to get into the science about how much your brain are we using, you know, like the intellect versus the subconscious. We're just we're just cruising along at 5%, you know? And I love what you're talking about. Rick Rubin, you know, take like, brush your teeth with the left hand, you know, get out of bed on the other side. Of the bed. You know, make make a different dish or, you know, go visit somebody you haven't seen. You know, those those things where you become the creative. Because if you live in the predictable past, what do you think you're going to get? What do you create is a predictable future. Right? So if it's boo hoo, you're going to get boo hoo and right. And if if you're putting out all this energy. So what's wild? The biggest thing I got out of Scripture, the word was praying in gratitude, as if it's already gone down. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's already. Happened. It's already. And that's it doesn't have to be for somebody who's Catholic. That doesn't have to be for. Right? So when you put out energy, thank you for getting me the right job. Thank you for getting me the right relationship. That's right for me, you know, you know, and you and you put it out there with that energy of knowing, then you you open it to what you're supposed to be. And it's about mentality. Yes. So, you know, a lot of the stuff, a lot of the lessons that I got, it's particle versus wave. Have you seen the experiments where the electrons are observed fast things. Right. And then double slit and somehow they're doing an experiment, whether or not observe, which is kind of an oxymoron. It's recorded, but they're not watching it live. Correct. And so what happens to them? They are no longer particle. They go into wave. Yeah. Different. Right. So and so when you have a wave like this see it, touch it, feel it. Right. And the more you can get into the quantum which is this you, you know, lo so you start thinking about when you're asleep and going from, alpha and beta into gamma and theta waves. Right. And these are people who can just straight meditate and go into, you know, and then they're floating on the ground. Right, right. So it's it's a fascinating concept, but it makes sense in the most have conviction on this basic way that I can break down is when that particle is a straight line of frequency, when you can fully immerse into the quantum, get out of yourself. Right? And no thought, no time, no space, nobody. Right. And that's hard for me. My brain is busy, man. So what I what have I been doing? I've been really nice to myself. Oh, here comes a thought. And I'm just gentle as a feather. Here comes a thought. And I, Bruce Lee, infectious. And the more I can stay in there, the more you enter into infinite knowledge and can channel in these things. And, and people start talking about manifest. Yeah. So, so, I think that these principles are true and I think they can actually coexist with my spirituality in in word. Right. Hundred percent has the creator. Yeah. So we are just infants just barely scratching at the surface of this science at the surface of the science. Yeah. Yeah. And if, if someone wants to tell you, you know, all science all the time, you know that, that's fine. That's fine for them. Right? But we barely even get it. And I think there's a bit of an awakening, you know, going on. I think so. Right. Yeah. I would say that 35. Years I think that's starting to have some things. Happening. So I'm starting to recognize what's been preprogramed. I'm sitting in my gut. Right. Which is this story, you know, and I think Georgia knows I like this this analogy that Dispenza has of the horse. Right. So you people, you you're you're on this stallion of the horse and the horse. Is stopping. So you rein back on the rider. I want that water. But let's just say so you so you can, you know. And I'm feeling some kind of way. I don't even know why I want. Because you talk about, you know, when you're feeling bad and you start to decline for me, you know, Haagen-Dazs, peanut butter, chocolate ice cream, you know, smoking too much or you know, all that. And. Right. So I can't really been insulate. Yeah. All the. Avoidance stuff. Yeah. Poor coping. Right. So that's that's one advice that I've mastered as, as of right now, I just haven't been smoking. So I'm, I'm good because I want to I want to have that sharpness. That's good. Actually took it the other way and I went I did 38 sessions in a hyperbaric chamber to. Get oxygen. To 90%, to get these neurotransmitters and pathways in the brain. And there's some permanent healing because I was looking for that healing in the in the frontal lobe from sleep apnea, car crashes, bouncing off of cars, smoking all this. But, you know, just negative, negative. Thinking waves to the noggin. Yeah. Well the board. Yeah. There we go. So, you know, football hits and basketball as soon as I songs and stuff like that. So to to tie it all back in when you can, you know, if you spend your time open up to and again I'm, I'm looking for the Holy Spirit to put me in the, in the right channel to get to get the right information about wholesomeness and goodness and and dispense is talking about love, compassion, joy, gratitude mean and having an open heart, you know, and a coherent heart and therefore coherent brain energy. And there's a correlative, you know, and a back and forth. And it's it's crazy when you start to study some of the physicality, like, I'm not Captain Yoga other side of the, you know, but when you start to look at chakras and the energy centers and the kundalini, the different breathing. So I learned about where you have cerebral spinal fluid that you can draw up is a like a straw like straw up into your pineal gland. And you start looking at the pineal gland through the eyes of Egyptian meditation. You know, there's a reason that people are celebrating. Horus and all that. And oh. Man. So I guarantee you we've we've gained and lost all this information as if it's already several times over. Yeah, right. Come on, comet, hit wipe us out and Atlantis stuff like. I think that's legitimate, you know. Who's to say Younger Dryas theory is right? It's hard to disprove if you look at. That's that's right. So I'm, I'm I'm much more open. But I also think that aren't I think we are not meant to fully understand because I think faith is the key man. I heard this guy talking last night on the podcast about the the coolest thing in the world is like the mysteries that we don't understand. And if we didn't have the mysteries that we don't understand the purpose, it actually might not just be boring, but that might be close to like, enlightenment. And then like, we would eat the apple of good and evil so that we could know everything. But if you knew everything, we think of it as like a sin. Because why? Because you would know corrupt information or we would hurt people. But maybe just knowing everything takes away from the magic of what God made for us. And that is just it's just like, who would want to take away from God's work? You know what I'm saying? Sure. So I don't think we can really I don't think we'll ever know these things. Like the Library of Alexandria needed to burn to preserve God's mystery. You know what I'm saying? At least that's kind of this with I caught last night that like, oh, I don't think we'll ever find out about aliens. Actually, we'll never know if there's really aliens, because if we knew, then, like, so in this guy's eyes, we would be closer to full enlightenment, which, like, isn't what we're here to do. Actually, you know what I'm saying? I can. Break down. It's a thought experiment. I'm not saying I'm married to those beliefs, but I. Think we'll we will actually get some of that knowledge. And I think we'll also start to understand things beyond this 3D plane, right, where our capacity for thought is in to 40 and 50, pass into the quantum. And I think, you know, God is love got his light. That's where we're talking about our particle, this corporal body versus wave, the spirit where people exist. I don't think we even barely we're not even remotely scratched on the surface. Like we're not tapped into what we're we're capable of. And he's, you know, and so again, I think they can wildly humble in and just this bit, you know, I'm I'm reluctant to say the term wisdom. Yeah. But this stuff about at the surface, you know, the, the past present and future and all being, one light instead of wave if you're if you're in energy alone, then you can open up like Georgie's been into all these new possibilities, you know. Right. And I think it if you can, if you can open up to that, all the possibilities are available to you. So that's where that manifestation comes into, like, what do you really want where you know, you know, so what I like what does it look like to you and get it. Get it. Yeah. Get a real get a real picture. I want to record store, you know, like, you know, for me, I want to open up a restaurant and I can picture Sylvester's tasting room, and I've got some business plans, and I've been lucky enough to have this, this thing, so I, I, I fully, firmly believe this is not a maybe, you know, and I'll get to it. I actually think I'm, I'm on the cusp sooner than later at this stuff is is coming to me. And the more I smoke too much relinquish control. Right. Sleep and give it up to God and and then pray. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you for bringing this to me. Yes. And not knowing that's. Don't pretend to need to know, master. In fact, the magic. That's where the magic is. The magic is in the unknown. That's where the faith is. Don't pretend you can't have faith without the unknown. You can't. That's. That's the requirement for the faith. Yeah, the unknown you have happen to. But yeah, I think I. I love what you said because this is, I remember talking to one of our coworkers a long, long time ago when we worked on the Riverwalk. But I remember coming to, like, the thought of about. It's like whenever someone gives you a gift, like, what is what's your first reaction? Thank you, thank you. Like, no matter really every time, no matter what. So he's like maintain that thank you mentality outlook on your life no matter what is going on. It's like thank you. It's like, that'll be like kind of projecting that manifestation forward of I'm gonna be I'm going to be given reasons to be thankful if I'm like totally holding that energy right now and that it'll already happen, I'll be given things to be thankful for, even in the unknowing or even in like a a bad situation. If you're still able to be like Jocko or fucking David Goggins and be like, good, okay, that thing fell through. Okay, good is is a blessing. Because of this, I love. And just like I push through it.

Oh, there's a 20 top coming in at 9: 1:56:16

00. Can I have them please. Yeah please I want like do I. Look I been working all night for this. You know what I'm saying? It's like flipping it on its head like that. Yeah I can. If there's one thing I could boil down about how there's been a resurgence in, you know, for everybody listening is you have your everyone's got their past right, and everyone's got a different dose of different things and things they've been dealt right. And I feel like these are very purposeful things. There's a reason everybody's got a spectrum of gifts and talents and lessons that they've gone through. So to really boil down to one thing I have is you can look at it and people talk about victim mentality and what the you know, what the young kids are in the culture and you know, oh, you know. Don't touch. Me. You know, I'm hit, you know, and it's wild to me to see some of that. So, you know, I've got some grandmothers now. So there is a little bit of wisdom. It wasn't until recently that I started to look at my mom and dad differently. But I also think, thank you for the lesson. I started looking at the the difficulties like, thank you for the lesson in my divorce about like that. When I was in the thick of it, in the throes of it, like I worked for like 11 months to try to reconcile. And if we didn't. Have it was it was very I was looking for opportunities to reach out and have you. And I'm so glad that it didn't come back to me now, like, you know, for for a multitude of reasons. Right. But how do I do it? And I can tell you the most demonstrative shift that I know that there's been some movement is after six years and I was just texting the ex only is that I've reached out and we hug it out, cried like, and you know, it's not perfect. I still don't I feel like an anger, resentment, like the whole thing. Oh, you're human. Needed to burn, right. But I have been able to get over that. And I'm breathing because I'm looking at. It. Differently. Well, thanks and gratitude. For. The lessons. So you can choose to be the victim, or you can choose to say thank you, because that's what I was supposed to do. And that right there, no matter who you are, what it is, is, is how to how to boil that down. Now, I do have a, you know, a bigger thing and I homage, shout out to God and Jesus and. All the down bro big man upstairs the dog. Because that's my that's my channel. And, you know, if anybody's even remotely, you know, thinking I think it's my calling to, to represent not by a blah, blah blah, but like how I'm living it and, and that's, you know, you're talking about traffic and I'm feeling some kind of way and I'm getting angry behind the wheel. I already know him off base and I, you know. Yeah, my kids listen to me. Yeah, yeah, my. Kids next to me, you know, and I would never badmouth their mother. And so man was I putting out some waves. I was putting out some, some energy of anger and pain. Resentment. You know, I couldn't sit next to her at the basketball game, you know? So now I'm, I'm again not perfect with it, but that's been a huge shift about how am I viewing all this stuff and, and that's it's been wild and I've, I brought up Dispenza to George. He's like was like like say one, you know, like I really I know I'm surprised him and the trajectory that we're both on, it's so wild. No one knew for almost 20 years that, And you're right, it's it's almost natural to be like, man, if I only had this, like, in my 20s, you know, like, I had some, some failures. It's it's it's stayed with me. I didn't finish my degree at school. University of Maryland. I was like, I had I had wrestling for years in high school. So in the structure of going high school. And then that winter was the first winter I didn't have structured workout, you know, and so I did well, pleasure fraternity got clubs and, you know, define like a 3.0. And then the second semester was some winter doldrums. Drinking every night start smoking. Bud was eaten late at the dining hall. I was like sleeping 16 hours. She and and so my books back for beer because I was not happy and settled and was not looking at myself. I was I was all of. This dude, I pledge to that fraternity, to my story so similar. I got prescribed codeine because I was sick and I was having like terrible coughing that was waking me up in the night. Later was, they said it was, one of our coworkers long, maybe meningitis, I think maybe. But because my spleen ended up rupturing. Yeah, yeah. So they thought it was maybe flu, maybe cold. And I've gotta just want to take this to health center or whatever. I'm just too tired too quickly. They give me some codeine every time. The second semester of my freshman year, I did all right. My first year, my first semester, I'm taking codeine at night, helping me sleep. I just can't wake up for this 8 a.m. project. Fuckin. It's like business school. But it's like I was physics of like, damn. Thank you. What's the. How ironic. Yeah. What's the Excel class where they teach you how to do all of the Excel and Word stuff? But it's a it's a business school class. What's called like C I am or c I c I guess. So maybe it's this computer science blessing because I was maybe something worse than the business school computer science class, and I just could have gone. And then after I want eight weeks, I show up to a class, you know, they're doing stuff. You know, they're like, all right, there's go up to, like, I don't even know what I'm doing. I sat there for like an idiot and then proceeded to tank dude. Just like, yeah, not. And you feel better about yourself not looking at myself in the moment. That's what's led to a lot. Not saying like, hold on, what's happening here? Just like this. Weird, like slip into this gray area where I just, like, just tanked it. And then I look back, right. I was thinking this morning, actually, when I was trying to wake up at 630 in the morning and I'm like, the fuck is wrong with you? Why can't you just wake up when you want to wake up? You know what I'm saying? Then I'm like, you know, maybe I'll talk to myself, like, what's wrong with you? But I'm like, what is that? You know, talk about like grace. So one of my struggles with, especially with my spirituality is like this all or nothing perfection. And and and we're not, we're not. It's not possible, you know. So does that mean premeditated failure? No, no, no, but as soon as you have a shortcoming, you you acknowledge it. You you sit with it for a second and then you and then you pick your head up, you know, like, yeah. So a lot of this undoing that I've had was a story of that I'm not worthy. I'm not good enough. I was always under duress, you know, and and it's perpetuated in my gut. There's a there's this rewritten story that's it's an invisible bull ring. My nose, you know, like running me around. And so the wildest thing is, like, I'm feeling some kind of way, and it's it's it's not a bill. It's not a test. It's not some pressure, whether it's nonspecific anxiety and feeling some kind of way about from the past that have reached out and perpetuating living now. So as soon as I started to have some shifts about how I saw the past, I got more energy, resentment, release. And that's and that's where there's some spirituality, you know, Yogi, Yogi kind of stuff, you know. Yeah. Darren Pearson talks about that for sure as well. I'm, I'm, I quote him all the time, but that's one of my dogs. He's just like in my rolodex of mental thoughts. But he was talking about like, if you have an event or if like, is it within your past and the story of your past, if you're not able or if there are parts of it that whenever you do, like reevaluate or like try to remember what happened. And it's like if you're reading the story of your past and there's portions or paragraphs or entire chapters that you can't read without, like cringing at or without like some sort of emotional response, it's like part of you is trapped there. Like part of your energy is still out there. Like you're not projecting your energy forward and upward and onward like part of you, like you're only processing it 70% of. Like your no. Creative ability, like you're like your artistry like that. Root is talking about like we're all creatives and artists, like we're creating our life and like, lives are canvas. So it's like you don't have all your tools there. If you're like, leaving some of your energy in the past. And I'm saying. There's a concept called internal family systems, which is focused on the inner child and stuff I started to learn about, you know, so I've got scared to death, little John and I and I'm pretty sure he's about five years old, you know, scared to be abandoned unless I've got an older one who's scared also. Then I've got angry. John. I started to get started. Get you know, maybe a little bit stronger. I want to fight stepdad, you know, like. And then I've got, you know, these layers. But they, these inner child, these inner children don't I know, I know I'm a 50 year old man trajectory that way. And I've got you, you know, like I've got them. So there's some discussions where, you know, they don't know about each other's existence. And some people might think, oh, this is a little loosey goosey, but no, they're, you know, in the psychology about addressing and having conversations. And part of that in some of the stuff is through meditation and to open up stuff. So that's why people go, you know, and get this, you know, hypnosis and unlock stuff that's been repressed. I mean, I, I feel for somebody who, and again, I say this wildly, humbly, I'm just barely starting to get going on this stuff, you know, but if, if and because my coping was avoidance in so many different forms, you know, and I don't want to name them also. We all I don't I don't want to I don't but take stock. With the self. We feel in some kind of way. That's, that's my my $0.02. If anybody's going to get a takeaway is to be kind with yourself about the shortcomings because it's all good. We're all coming. Up short stories. So you know, I still the this morning I'm telling you I'm trying to get up at 630. And I started thinking about, man, you failed that college coffee. No you didn't you didn't make it to college to be an athlete like you wanted to. That's on repeat. It's it. I didn't realize it was until, like, this morning, that's what. Then later on, I was like, wow, is that even on my conscience? Like, why was I, like, evaluating, you know, that's like ten years ago. Yeah. But I was just like, Justin has no problem getting up to be at this workout, you know? And in fact, he finished school just fine, too. But you can't get out of bed and you couldn't finish school. Like, what's what's wrong with you that you can't compete at that level. But it just wasn't even true, like, to be honest with you, like, no offense or anything, but I should have told you before, Justin, today. This is just. It's not to say that I'm better than him at all, but just like the story I was telling myself of, like, he's already beating me there because I'm that shit because blah blah blah blah blah. But then in post, when I just look at what happened, I got up at a decent time. I got out the door decent time, I showed up at a decent time and I should be just like, happy and thankful for that. You know what I'm saying, dude? To say that it's not even true. I show up. How? How cool is that, right? I'm not worth. Go up to bullshit, right? We all are. Yeah. And then like, right. Like that. Not that you're not good enough. And whatever, whatever avenue. Faith. And if it's just relationships. Or career or just like this. Your aspirations and and your your artistry and all that. Whatever you're trying to do and then I know. We are. We are all the artists. We are all the crew. And I was. Trying to wake up at 630 in the morning. Yeah, yeah. It's cool. It's it's a nice reminder because we just get. Yeah. Even myself, you know, I did this podcast to talk to people about gratitude. Like even on my own self. This is like, my whole life is kind of about trying to find these people like Rick Rubin or Jordan Peterson, so I can try to, like, I don't know, heal myself or something and be the best version of myself I can be just like this. But like, even for me, I just get jammed up, you know what I'm saying? I think anybody can just get jammed up in life just a lot. It's so much hard to cover all your bases and know all the ways that you're limiting yourself and all the ways you can release yourself and unlock yourself where the energy is hidden in your past that you haven't let go. It's a difficult thing to manage all. Love and respect the version of all of this that I. Got, bro. Hell yeah. I think you're the first person to come on the podcast and witness, you know, that's hard. That's awesome. That's part of my I think my gut it. Thank you for my calling. Maybe not necessarily to to lead. I'm not trying to make anybody off but. Right. Yeah. That's saying stay true. To yourself self sing praises all the time. I also, you know struggle. It's not the struggle. Yeah. We're all just living our living our liquid I view gentleman Victor. He actually did have a lot of testimonial like things to say to you. Yeah he was, he was he was popping off once you get moved. Yeah. Moved. You know what I'm saying? You want to talk about it? Yeah. And I don't think there's to have some shifts because like. Yeah, what Joe to spend was talking about because I love that guy. I love like everything he's about and his practices and his books and all that. And I would love to go to a week long, week long retreat. That'd be badass. But I think that there's like a maybe a thought that you could like, they're kind of mutually exclusive or like what he's talking about is not like religion per se, but I think there's like a I don't know, I'm like right in the overlap, like, call it spirituality, you know what I'm saying? It's like, yes, I didn't really and like going to church because I mean, you're talking like I'm, I'm going to church. And like, I guess you also mentioned that your mom, all the generation there are more like, watch out for that stuff, for that wiggy stuff. I mean like a a rigidity. Yeah. Right. Yeah. And, and somebody had mentioned it's. Like part of that. That you talk about if you're not practicing. So what if you go to church and your cousin, somebody in the parking lot. Like, right, like give me a break. And, and I'm not trying to judge in fact. 70% the. That's actually one of the biggest takeaway takeaways from religion. And it's kind of while you start reading some of the Old Testament reading fire and brimstone down on their heads and your tools there. It's pretty crazy. Sorry. It's some crazy stories. So, David, it would be nice. If if you're going to start in the middle, you know, Psalms is pretty, pretty, pretty wild. And there's a long 1 to 169 that's that's heavy. But like that's, you know, Jesus turn the other cheek. You you're not trying to wish any pain on anybody. Right. But we also have some basic human elements. And someone's your bully, your attacker, your oppressor. Right. Or like how how often have you been turned around and, like, pray for that person. Like, you know, I, I don't wish anything on them and wish them well, you know, and children and principle is you really doing that for yourself, you know. Yeah. Like that's that's our best selves is to want good for everyone. Just, you know, can you imagine if everybody had that same mentality, you know, across the globe. You know, we'd have we would just there would be sharecropping and and people everybody be focused on us, you know, and maybe not necessarily communism but like yeah, but like everybody be free. To everybody be good. Is everyone at least good. Like right there. Good. At least baseline chillin good. I feel if our world that you're so high doesn't mushrooms. Yeah that's what I was what I was getting to because I was I say it's like I don't think they're mutually exclusive. I think that's because, because I never really I never really went to church growing up for like, Christmas Eve and Easter, maybe. And that was pretty much it. But then after I had a bad experience and dabbled into like the the mega multivitamin psychedelic realm and go into like peeling back the curtains of like, what's going on here and like, sort of like whenever you're in that place, like your ego's kind of stripped away. Yeah. And like from that place I've like, felt. I felt the spirit. Just like, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. It's like it wasn't like a question. It wasn't just like, oh my God. I started thinking, this is this is all crazy. All this, this 3D thing is just like a 3D thing, and we're all being generated into this thing from something else. I don't know, there's there's something else going on here. It's pretty much like the ultimate takeaway that very much is universally been found later on. Like those all those like mescaline, ayahuasca, all those types of things like LSD, mushrooms, all that stuff was like just everyone's pointing towards that same thing. Just work out, you know? But I think that so I think that having that I was able to enter into that spirituality and everything sort of gone with you had like shifted like my taste in music. It was definitely hip hop driven, like Big Sean Drake, J. Cole and Kendrick. And then, like a lot of their music started to hit a lot differently after that. Not to say that period I was able to like, kind of hear what they were saying about sort of the abstract nature of things and the creative nature, the interactive nature of life. But then and, and you're able to manifest things with your own mentalities and that kind of stuff. Shout out to I got out the door. It's like, I think all of that. And like, so it's crazy that I'm able to like, see Joe Dispenza and like, see Big Sean and like merge the two. And like, in my own mind, it all makes sense and everything's like, oh, this is what's going on. This is not an assignment. A question in my mind. And you're like in that other space armchair. Like there's no like, oh, well, there's no doubt there's no like feeling the dialog becomes more of a monologue and the monologue becomes like a here's like getting fed information instead of like, having a debate whether it's true or not or whether you're being biased or unbiased or whatever. Whatever's going on, we are all but I think it's just a crazy, awesome thing that happens is really about. And just getting into that abstract realm will bring you to like a place where you're just, like, spiritually, like you chill, like you're good. You don't need to, like, go to church necessarily. But I think that because I guess the way that I kind of phrases like church and bring me to like, I can trust God, I don't know, heal my soul is like God brought me to the church. I came in contact with God directly, like God is bigger than him, but he's bigger than a church. He's bigger than a building. He's bigger than a belief system. He's bigger than belief systems. You know that saying that bars are the ways that, yeah, a lot of people are. Yes. There's stuff a lot of people get turned off because men are fallible. It's a difficult thing to manage. So you've got. You know, all these gilded churches and people are poor and suffering. And how does that job, you know. And so I'll share it. So I it just recently went to get my annulment paperwork going so that the church would recognize my divorce wouldn't be bound by that. And my ex did all the sacraments except for for her confirmation. She refused it. She wrote a letter that was so eloquent that they actually published it, you know, and she, like, got respect because she's highly intelligent, you know, shout out, shout out to my ex. Shout out. So yeah. So there's. Because like I didn't remember this at the time. So I. Call up that, Church and the lady is like, you know, what was the date? And, and I was right. John Michael I'm like, yeah. She says you weren't baptized. That's like, all angry gatekeeper style. Or like, well. He saw and I was so floored. I was not like. I don't know. I'm ready for that. And, you know, I had had some feelings on it, you know. Yes. Like I didn't really I was like, I just like stammered to her like, well, I've got a picture of myself on my grandmother's lap on my grandfather's baptismal account, and I've receive all the sacrament like, and I'm. And later on I'm like, like I wanted to cuss and be like, you know. Yeah. And and I'm like. Fuck me. I was just married to your church. What are you talking about? Get baptized. Bitch. We talked. About. So obviously that's the challenge for me that I'm given this very specific challenge. So I end up. And then I remember my mom couldn't find my baptismal certificate. Right? So I started this, this hunt, and it turned out to be wild like I found in my scrap book. First Eucharist story was like it was an interesting man. So I call him up and the lady couldn't be nicer, and she had to go back before the computer files and started digging in the stories. Crazy. And so it what my usually they're attached, but it wasn't. It was just my know. So she was super nice and had some nice ties. And so I called my mom had an association, who lost her husband with so I, I call up Fort Meade because I remember going to the there, I was like, maybe the chaplain baptized me or something. They didn't even call me back. So I was like, you know, when I do it here. So I called up the Archdiocese of Baltimore. And this is after calling the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Can't get anybody call me back. They're real busy, I guess, you know. Right this way. Is are big Jesuit. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. It's funny, it's funny. Hey, I did it. I'm. I'm good now. So, I everybody I had this lady who, that normally answers the phone was on the lunch break. So the lady, the woman in charge of records, Janet, was unbelievably cool. And it was the person in charge of records. She was like, I got you. She calls me back the next day. Oh, yeah, we got you. There's record at, Saint Anthony's in in Falls Church, Virginia. I don't even know if it's parish. So I think that's. I was a peanut. Yeah. You know. Yeah. So I, I went to church growing up, Weeks and weeks go by and while, but then. After I had the. Joe Dispenza retreat, I got a phone call from Saint Anthony. Hey, this is so-and-so. We got your records. You want to come pick it up? I'm like, well, I'm in Texas. You can't get to Virginia right quick in the mail to me. Right. And like, it was one of those, like, felt coincidental. Things because. I was like, super. You're all serendipitous and open. And it was I was heart was pulled because it. Was weighing on me. Right. You know, and I wanted to be free. And I was like, yeah, my, my ex, who was a lapsed Catholic and I was supposed to be the champion university of that. And I was horrible. I was we went to church on Christmas, you know, and I did not do I did not toe the line. I was like, right. So I, you know, openly admitting all that. And that was a big reason, I think, for the for the failure to enter into that space. But I'm like, you know, my, my ex who wasn't Catholic. Like my, my. Divorced me and I should I be bound by this, you know what I mean? And I felt like, no, heck no, you're not. Yeah. You know, so, I get. Back and, like, nature of things. When I get back from the retreat, I'm expecting phone ringing off the hook. Your job offers. With your own mortality. And like, all the shifts and think. Relationships, you know, like Joe and like Sean and I didn't get the knocks on the door like I thought. Now they've done a lot of work before going. So I think I had already started to kind of engender some, some of these synergies beforehand. So I had some, you know, some discussions, some job offers and stuff like that. But you want to know when the date is when you start. And and so I was trying to be comfortable with not knowing like having a debate. So a couple weeks go by. So I called back to Falls Church on Saint Anthony's. And the lady was like, oh, come back to us. Like, I don't know how. So confirm the address that. And so she emailed back out and I got it. So now I'm just waiting for one notary signature and I'll be able to see all this stuff, you know. Yeah. But part of the exercise was, you know, you get I jumped 50 hoops and then got your questions and pay your money to the Catholicism. At some random, some random. Well, what events bigger than. What what came out of that was also answering some of the questions that you drew of a relationship didn't take my last name. So I told her at the time, oh, man, like, I want you to take my name. But I love you. That's not the deal breaker. Okay? And she had a long term relationship. You know, this boyfriend for six years, she's like, I want to stay friends with this guy, you know? And I'm like, well, I don't like it, but I love you. Go ahead. I, you know, and so, like, all these concessions I was making kind of came back up, you know, again with I was made to feel less than. So I was accepting less than, you know, and so you can, you know, people can argue on either side, but but I felt some kind of way. So I want my partner to understand that and maybe squash that or minimize that or, or express something in a different kind of way. I don't know Switzerland on that, but. It's not. Relatable. But you know what I mean. So. So I don't expect, don't accept, you know, less than your worth. You have to have your healthy boundaries and, don't compromise yourself. Love yourself first and then that's the pool that everything else swims in. And so it comes back to how you're taking care of yourself. And yeah, I feel like that was that was what I was called. I, that was it, it was awesome talking about self-love and I, I was like that was cool. That was a weird territory, not a weird direction. There's a couple over about, but yes, I'm glad it went that direction. The main idea. Like, yeah, I guess was super cool. So what's going on, I guess is the next foreseeable future for the beach we talked about. So obviously that's a challenge. Well, we have to. Move. Okay. And then I remember. So we got to move. I'm thinking one that will be, we have to be out of the space by the 1st of January. So I'm not going to have much of a holiday season this year. Gotcha, gotcha. It's kind of sucks. Yeah. So we're looking at we're looking at we're looking at making some. Digging and then. Yeah, that's, that's that's about really all I can really say right now. Yeah. That's a long story. That's it's like we're, we're looking to make a move. Stay in in the city. Yeah, we're staying in San Antonio. We're staying in San Antonio. Hopefully staying in the same neighborhood. Okay. We like to stay in the same neighborhood. I, I. I'm just kind of upset. Because I remember going. Yeah. Yeah, man, I'm just upset, you know? Gentrification. Yeah, man. I was like, I, I watched it right in front. Of my face. Really happened. Just right. This is literally right in front of my eyes, man. You know, the city came in. They put a lot of money into redoing the the streets and doing the infrastructure of, like, that part of the neighborhood. It's funny. They did a horrible job. Oh, shit. Like they made a four lane street, a two lane street. And normally answers the phone. A sound backwards. That sounds silly. Yeah, so. But it's really nice. It was a huge street. Paved streets, freshly paved. So, like, the traffic's crazy. And then once they did that, taxes went up, you know, the building went for sale, you know, you know, another outside investors, you know, that have deep pockets, bought it and slowly it was like, hey, your rents going to go up here. We need you to pay more. Hey, we're going to do all these improvements in the building, but, yeah, I think you're going to have to pay for. It to me. You know what I mean? Really? As far as, like, increasing your rent. And rents, it's just like little charges, like, like, you know. Yeah. This is an open interest. And we signed the lease. It was. It was worth. You, like, lived right down the road. This like. Like was part of the community. He was an artist in San Antonio. Like is what I like to call him. You know these these people. People like me, you know, it was like a I think our lease agreement was, you know, so not big. Tell me why this was a tweet. It was like this. But I'm. Like, this is like, I. Got a. Lawyer. What's all what is all this in there? You know, so there was a lot of like, gray areas is like stuff that happens to the building. It's like, well who's responsible? Oh well what the what does the contract say or what is the lease say when I get the lease is really not saying. You know what I mean. Yeah. So so that's kind of that's going on relationships. And that sucks. Yeah. So I mean, I don't really know, like. For, like what? It's kind of sad. Like, I don't really know, like what the future really holds. 100% hundred. Percent for the store right now as far. I mean, we have a second location. We have a second store in Eureka, California. That's right. When the date is and we've had this one here for a while now, but, yeah, I don't, I don't I don't really know what's going to happen. No matter where you land. You got friends, you sound label, and you'll be out there not just letting people buy stuff. You want to engage people in. The. Experience, though. So we'll see what happens, man. It's it's kind of up in the air. So. Yeah, I don't really know. I'm, I'm sure everything, everything is going to work itself out. Yeah. Yes, it always does. Yeah. We've got some we've got some plans and some things that we're working on. We've got, we've got some pretty big plans. Some random. Just kind of hoping that at. Random comes here. Yeah. The timing. Right. Exactly. You know that the space luckily, you know, the, the community has been really good. The community has been great. We've had a lot of, like, help from, people getting the story out, and, we did, we did some new stories and some coverage, and I've had people in the community reach out and be like, hey, you know, like, my buddy owns this place, or this place is for rent or this space is available. So that's been good. That's a positive. So there's been a lot of that. So yeah. So something will come up I think it was it always kind of a part of what we're talking to or talking about alluding to throughout our conversation today. We're kind of good. But the timing of things and like the just the way that things play out because like whenever you're in the store, you're in the store and like, you don't like when you're watching a movie, like you don't know the you don't know. Yeah. But then like after you finished like the, you know, is, you know, how it's going to or it's going to work out, it's going to play out fine. But you don't know exactly the details. And I think, yeah, we talked about like that's where the magic is the not knowing. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's where the faith is a. Conversation that we're having earlier. Yeah. That's kind of where it's at yourself. So yes that's, that's and I say what's like the, the record. So how's the, how's that market like other as far as like your competitors or like a couple other stores in the area. There's a lot of stores in the area. It's actually funny you ask that because one of the things that, you know, we were talking about, like being a purist, right? And kind of going back to different styles. Yeah. You know, that's kind of something that's beginning that we're beginning to see in the store. Yeah. What I mean by that is that, we're like purist, you know, we're like old heads. I like I like old records. I like old jazz records. I like blues records. You know, soul, 40 fives, disco, reggae, funk, boogie. You know, cumbia jazz ballads, you know, tell. You rare. Groove. Library records, you know, minimum wage dance music, you know, progressive house music. Like, I love all of it, man. Like, I'm, I'm, I'm all over. And so my store, we try to keep that purist mentality by staying. But what's happening now is like, records are popular. Hopefully. So you can go buy a record at Walmart right now. Really go buy a record. When did that start happening again? Because I guess I'm sure they had them. And then you took them away and so they brought them back. It hasn't been so recently, but like right in front of my records have become such a popular thing that, like, you can go buy your records at Walmart. That's crazy. That's crazy when you're shopping at target, right? Yeah. So and so what it does though is that like it infrastructure. It creates competition for me one. Right. Job. Oh but you now have the popular chain places selling the thing that was supposed to be. Yeah. Niche. It's really nice. So that so. Yeah. So that's where the demand comes. Right. Because like it's so like I don't crazy. I got into selling. Right. Because I like I like I like the records that I like. Yeah. You know I like to connect to the people that get and understand what I'm trying to do. Now I'm having to maybe sell records to people who don't really get it. They might they they might buy this record and they don't even have a record. But, we're going to do. It just like to have it as decoration. They just want they just want it because it's cool. Yeah, because it's a. Way to collect it. Yeah. And so it's just like. Or like they don't want the standard black variant. They want the one that's red with sparkly glitter and purple or something. And the cover is so it's just like so like okay. So it's like nontraditional. So it's just like yeah. So there's. Like so are you buying the record for the music or are you buying it for what it looks. Like? Yeah. The esthetic like. I'm, I'm about what it sounds like. Yeah I see, yeah. You know what I mean. And so now there's like a consumer that is chasing that thing, the popularity. Like the fad part of it. Right, sweetie? Or and so my tour doesn't carry I don't carry a whole lot of new records, you know, I mean, like, you want, like, some Sam Cooke records, you know, you want some Miles Davis LPs, you want some John Coltrane, you want some of that stuff, like. Yeah, I got those records. I don't have all the leases. Right. The Tyler the Creator record. Yeah. So not to take anything away from it, but like, those are just not on records. I usually sell my store. So now there's this difference of like, okay, well there's money in that though. I was gonna say, yeah, you might be in the market. So how do you find that market? Right. And it also kind of goes to that whole purist mentality of things. Right. Like, I mean, we have a second. I got into I got I open up a record store because I love music, not because I want to sell records. Yeah. I see you're saying, you. Know, and. You appreciate the art of it. Yeah. So like, but now I'm kind of getting pushed to the point where, like, hey, you know, or like rent, you got payroll, you got, you got taxes, you got income taxes, you got state taxes, you got property taxes, you got oh, you you want to write a check to your employees or you got to pay tax for that too. You know what I mean? Like and all of that stuff. So there's a lot of overhead in running a legitimate business. Of course, you know. And so now it's just like, okay, well, like, can you sell. Exactly. Five of those Harry styles records like, I'd rather sell one John Coltrane record has been. Yeah. You know what I mean. Yeah. You signing into the. Yeah. The. Yeah the balance in the sales. So, so, so that's kind of where I'm at you know. But like ultimately like what I have to remind myself and this is the positive thing that I take away from it is that when I have, when people come into my store, that's been good. I want them, regardless of whether they're looking for one of these records that we talked about as like a new addition. I mean, I just like a newer record that just. Came. Recently that you can get at Walmart. Right? Like, yeah, essentially the consumer and the customer. And I hate to say this, I don't want to say like, I don't want to serve customers at the store, but it's like like I want to move here, right? Like that's because that's who I am. That's the target audience. That's right. You know how it's going to. And so what I'm having to recognize and understand is that, like, I may not get that person in my store, right? And somebody may come into my store and they're like, oh, you don't have the. That's where the faith is a. Dua Lipa record, or you don't have the. Sabrina Carpenter. Right? Exactly right. And I'm going to be like, no, I don't. I say what's like and. I can't because it goes back to what we, we've been talking this whole time, right? Is like, I can't have that mentality of I'm better than you. Right? Or I get this more than you. And right now in this, in this specific instance that we're talking about, it's really hard, right? Because I'm looking at people that buy their records at Walmart and want this new commercial music that's on the radio. And I've never. Been I've never been. Me. Right. Like, so it's hard. But what I've the balance. Right. Like so we talked about setting balances and setting triggers and setting things to kind of like check yourself. Right. And so the thing that I've done to check myself in this very specific situation is say, you know what? I may not have the record that this person wants, and that's okay. I don't have to try to bully them or be snobby to them. I can just be cool music. I can just be chill like I love. I can just create more of an experience. So my store and you're going to leave here without getting the record that you want, but you're not going to be upset. Yeah. Different value. You're not going to be like, oh, that sucked. You're going to be like, oh man, that definitely was pretty cool. That dude was pretty nice because, I mean, we may end up. Having a conversation about them or they had them. And then you try to say. You know what? So it's more about selling that experience of coming. To the store, right? The hospitality. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. It goes back to the restaurants. Right. And stuff is like, because if I was just going to be the straight snobby record guy, I'd be like, no, I don't. I saw that record get out of here. Go, go to. Walk. Go to Walmart. And get it. You don't even even like, why would I do that? Like even though real talk. I just said that's that's the way that I'm thinking now. Yeah, yeah. Thinking like that. But I also said, hey, you know what? You don't have to push. You don't have to put that out on everybody, right? You can just be like, man, you know what? I don't have that record, but I'm not going to give you attitude or make you feel like you're lesser than me, because that's not what I'm here for. I'm here to help you out. So instead I'm going to say, hey, you know what? There's this other record. Store. That might have that record and that also allows me to, to, to share, right, and help another small business and help this person that want something that I don't have, not feel like I'm judging them. That's why this recording. Yeah. Right. Because yeah. Because it's hard for me not to have that. Yeah. I'm sorry. Like, it's just it is. But I become more aware of how I. Present collect it. Yeah. And how I make how how it is, is something that's been and this is, this is, this is it all comes down to this statement on the one that's how your actions and what you say and what you do make other people feel covers. Regardless of how you feel. And that's a perfect example right now. Right of that whole situation that we just described. Like I don't know how I feel about it, but it's just like but how is what I'm saying going to make that person what it sounds like regardless of how I feel about the consumer thing, you know? So yeah, so it's super important. So I so I've had to learn that. Some of these pieces snowflakes I mean you can't control it. Everybody just said you know. Yeah, yeah. No I'm with you though. That's a normal, rational person just acting out of love and right there. So, so like, let me just be cool, right? And let them, like, let me just sell you an experience. Right. Because the cool thing about this, the great thing about the story is that we also sell vintage clothing out of it. Oh, so. So there's a bunch of like that to take. It's it's really fun because I now have like two different demographics coming into my story. Like, I had to I. Was I'd say, yeah, you. Rent out some of my store to a clothing store and these, this clothing store, they're called the Warehouse. They're awesome. These kids are great. And, like, the thing is, too, is that they're they're they're younger than me, right? Like, I'm. I want to be 44 this year. And so these guys, you know, I'm getting up there and I'm getting real, you know, I'm getting real. But, Yeah. So like, these guys are like, you know, in their early 20s, early 30s, you know, and it's and it's really funny to like, see you and be around them. Right. Because what's very clear to me is the, the difference in the generations to your employees. Right? Yeah. And honestly, like, I'm really impressed with these younger with these younger generation of kids like and I think that the funniest thing is that one of them, his name is Jonathan. He's been on and he's become like a cool friend. But there's been incidences and there's been things that have happened where he relates something that I can relate to. I'll give you the example, because I've been very big here. Yeah. He describes his relationship with his dad as like he said, like, you know, my dad was kind of like, you know, kind of difficult to get to deal with. And it's kind of like, you know, it was I was angry, he was kind of mad. And he goes, so I grew up like you touched on saying, kind of being like, scared a little bit. Yeah. Like being scared of him. Yeah. He didn't necessarily say that. Right. But the point that he was trying to make is that, like there was a time when I was in the store or something was happening and I was getting really frustrated, essentially. And I'm the type of person, I hate to say this traditionally, for most of my life this is changing, but for most of my life I've been the person that wore the emotions honestly. So when I was upset, you knew I was upset. I recognized that right? And I also noticed and recognized that I also that it's such a strong thing that I can change and shift the whole feeling of a record or you don't have the right. Yeah. And so there was a time when I was in the store, something happened and I started to get frustrated and it started to come back to what we were and everything I can. And I'm looking around the room and I can see everybody's faces and they're like, you, right? Or I get. This on eggshells a little bit. You know, like, and I'm thinking to myself like, wow, look at what my actions are making everybody feel right because I'm like, right? And so a few days later, Jonathan comes up to me. He's like, hey, man, he's like me, right? Like, so it's hard. He's like, you can't do that, dude. The balance, right? Like he's like, you can't do that. He says, like, we're in a store, like there's customers. There's other people. He says, you, you, you can't do that. And this is a this is a 27 year old kid that's telling you this, you know, and I and part of me wants to sit there and be like you talking twisted like you talk about it, but I and then right afterwards, he says to me, he goes to this. He goes, I spent a lot of time watching my dad be very angry about, you know, and all of a sudden it all hit. And I was like, it's fun. I was like, and you're going to leave here? I was like, you know what? I grew up with a dad. Very similar. Yeah, different, except my generation accepted it and and became that thing. This generation said, I don't want to be like that because. And he was telling me in that moment, I don't know. Don't don't be, don't be like my dad, dude. You know, and it's like, I'm really here, you know? And I was just like Tevye. I was like, oh, like you're. Yeah, you're right. You. You know, but it was me also having to say. Go to what is this? You know what I mean? But, like, maybe. Maybe this kid has something to say that. I just said. That's. Yeah, that's. Yeah. I mean, because really, what it all comes down to is like he's talking from an experience that he had has nothing to do with his age. Right. You know, he's talking about an experience that he had. Right. And so there's me with that whole mentality and ideas like, what do you know, you're a kid. Because that's not what I meant. It was an experience, man. He's right, he's right. And he's right and he's right. Exactly. And it was him recognizing something that he saw already and telling me, hey, caring enough, another way to say hey and help this person that was like that don't have not because really, his dad was very much like my dad. So really what he was telling me, he was telling me like. And that's going to hit harder than. And that's exact. Yeah. It happened especially because I'm going through I've been going through something with my dad over the last couple years. My dad got real sick and so I had to start taking care of it. Your actions and what you say. And up to that point, I had a horrible relationship with it. Throughout the. Whole relationship with him. And all of a sudden I'm putting a room and I'm saying, you're telling me, like, okay, you now have to take care of me. It's just like, but. And there was no healing. There was none of that. It came before that. It was straight. I hate my dad. My dad's a piece of shit. I can't stand for him to. Okay, now you got. Take care. I mean, you can't. That's the movie. Movies that. You know what I mean? And so all of this was happening. I'm with you, though. That's all. In the last. This is all happened. This happened in 2022. So. And then I got into a relationship, and then I started to understand and recognize the things and issues that come from my childhood that were, you know, like it was like perspective. You get a new relationship with something that's going to trigger your childhood stuff. So then you're watching your childhood stuff impact their relationship, which would have been a little more behind the smoke and mirrors of what is behavior super. Wolf and and complicated. Right? That's crazy. It was. So it sounds like life in general has had a proclivity to reveal itself to you, like it keeps coming for you. Men like I'm the last. I'm going to say man in the last in the last couple years getting up there. I mean, a guy walked up to you and said, what's your dream? Here's your dream. That's not a super common experience, I don't think. But like, I'll have an heir, but you've got this life. It just keeps coming right at you, man. Yeah, I yeah, I mean that that's what it sounds like. Awesome. It's really cool to hear that. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It's like and but the thing that I realized the most about my dad, honestly, like, and this is probably the most beneficial thing that helped me and it helped me in not just my relationship at the time, but in all of my relationships, because I also started to understand and realize too, like a relationship is a relationship like. Rather it's romantic. It's a friendship. It's it's it's a child mom, neighbor. Like it's still a relationship. And there's a very common thing he does that means you need to address it needs to be upheld. Right. For that relationship to be worth it to for it to be healthy, for it, whatever it is, a friendship, whatever it is. And so one of the things that I realized with my dad was, was that I, I thought that I was and he didn't over say that what I really did was I just took all this anger and frustration and hate and I compartment analyzed it, and I just put it away and it's put it away. I said, I'm just going to put it there and it's not going to enter my life because it's because it's there. Off to. The side. But like I've been the person that caps it, leaky seals break. You knew I was right. And so those things started to seep out. These things that I thought that I had compartment analyze started to seep itself into my life. And it was finding itself into my life in ways that I didn't realize. There was a time when I was in road rage. Some frustration started to come out and I started to recognize and say, you know, why are you frustrated? Why are you upset about this? What is making you so upset? And I started to recognize and realize the thing that was making me upset was all the anger and frustration that I was carrying from my father that I had dealt with, because I decided to just put it away. Hey, man. Right. And so once he's like, you can't do that. Once he got sick and I had to start taking care of it, it forced me. Customers said like sort of that, sort through it and take care of that. And I thought that once I got him, so I started taking care of him. I sorry, helped me out. He started getting worse. He eventually got better and he got into a place where he's good. So he got put into a nursing facility, care facility. He's good. And so I thought, cool. He goes, I. I'm done. We're good. Like we're good. That's resolved. Like I'm finished with that. Yeah. And then little things started to happen. And I said to myself, oh wait a minute, this isn't done yet. Right. And so one of the things that was huge was, was that I was my dad would always say, I love you, I love you, I love you, but I never felt it, never felt it. Because the actions, right. The they just weren't there. And so here I'm a grown man and and for the first time, I'm doing stuff for my dad. And I can feel that he loves me. And it's the first time that's ever happened, and I'm sitting there and I'm just like, oh, shit, that's what this feels. Right. But it took me so long to, like, get over what I had to do with my dad. I had to just let it go, okay? I just had to say, you know what, dude? You're not going to get an explanation for that specific incident in that conversation or that thing that he did, because guess what? You're not getting an apology, I guess. What capacity? Because guess what? He doesn't remember exactly to you. But he don't remember what happened. Yeah, right. You don't remember that comment that he made or that thing that he did, because that we can all think about those things and not remember that time that we did something because we've all done it years ago. Right? So I had to let go of that. Like, you're not going to get up. I'm sorry. Yeah, right. And I had a friend who I played baseball with, and his dad and my dad were really good friends, and they all hung out together and did everything together. And his dad was very similar with him. And he told me, he says, you know what, man? He says, when my dad was dying and my dad was passing away, he says, the only thing that I ever wanted was an apology. I thought, right. He says, I want an apology from my dad, he says. And when my dad was dying, I got the apology and there was no. But he wasn't apologizing to me. For me. He was apologizing for himself. My dad's a piece of shit because he's sitting there dying and he's dying, and he's thinking about all these things that he said. This is when now he wants to to be apologetic. And so he said to me, he said to me, he said this to me. He says, he says, so what I can tell you is this, you can you can hope that you're going to get that apology from your dad your whole life and not try to work for that apology and understand him and understand it, because when you do get it, it's going to feel so fucking backwards because you're going to realize that you didn't. Really do it for him. He was apologizing for himself and the smoke. He goes in that's he goes in, went into the pacing is that made me even more upset. And I was like, wow. And what I understood was that the mistake that he made was that he didn't really try to get in there, understand it completely. I mean, like, I want you. A little bit more like. You know what happens? It's not a super comment. I'm gonna let it go, I don't think. Yeah. Like. Right. And so when I finally let it go and I said, right, and I'm not going to be upset anymore. Yeah, it all started open. That's what it sounds like. And so now I'm at that care facility that's my dad. And he needs to just this just happened last week and he, he had a seizure. And so he fell. And his health is still, like, not the greatest. Right. And so he had a little incident, and he had a seizure, and he fell, and he broke his glasses, right? His glasses. Right, right. And so I get to that, I guess I get to visit him and he's just like, hey, you know me, oh, my glasses are broken. So I'm like, and I feel a little frustrated because I'm just like, damn. Well, I only got 30 minutes, 45 minutes to spend with you, but you need glasses. And then he wants to go. But I'm just like, yeah, but like putting you in the work, putting in the whole thing. Just like it's just a lot, you know? And so I'm finding myself like getting frustrated. And then I had to stop and say hey over it. He can't see right now all this anger and frustration. How frustrating is that? Like how frustrating is that? Right? Right. And so I said, all right. So I went and got him his glasses. And when I came back and I gave him his glasses. He was so fucking happy. He started crying like, thank you. And I was like. Oh shit. Right. And so there's that love. What a big switch, a big swing and a big swing. Yeah. And I was just like, wow, there's that thing that I wanted my whole life, right? And here I am getting it. Yeah. Here's the one that's more worse off for not having had it for you until this phase in his life. And I think the crazy thing is, is that just what you just said I can catch and I can see him realizing it? Yeah. Me said like as it's happening. Like in real time. Yeah. And to me I'm just in and I'm just like, wow. Because I decided to just. And what to do when all this is done is it's healed. That's what just healing. Once he got. You know what I mean? So yeah, it's been it's been crazy. There's something to be said for those lost, for your pain. There's something to be said for that. That it's like you're probably not doing that downward. So that's good. No. Right. You can kind of tell me that hopefully. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because because I recognize it. Right. But I also start to think about like John, the kid at work telling me, don't be like your dad. Right? In these incidences and moments where I'm catching it and saying it's okay in his whole life, like he's now, like practically dying. Yeah. And he's barely getting it, but he's not even understanding that he's. Getting it fully, fully, Right. And so you know what I mean? Like, it's a trip to the teacher, you know, it's never too late, but earlier is better. Yeah. Yesterday's better, but, yeah, today it's just. So and so. Now what I find for the first time in my life is I want to go see him and. Wow. You know what a switch. Yeah. Whereas before he was just like, oh fuck that dude. Like I. Hate you. Angry angry angry. Yeah. Now it's just like, cool. I'm gonna go see you tomorrow. Yeah. And when I walk in, he lights up and I feel the love that I want. Right. But it took me. This awesome man. Yeah, it's really cool. That's beautiful. Yeah, it's really cool. It's really cool. But I had to let go of all this stuff, right? Like, there was so much that I had to do to get to this point. Sure. I sort of to. Yeah. Things with understanding yourself that the more you start to understand yourself, as soon as I gain some level of that, then I start to see everybody else differently. Right. And I got this Sicilian stepfather whose father couldn't return the I love you on his deathbed. Okay? Right. Like so I got some empathy. Right? So can you imagine that? So the generational stuff. Yeah. Because, man, my kids are subject to I almost feel like it's welling up, channeled. You know, it's not even me. It's my stepfather barking. It's like it's. Yeah. So I so I try to own it fast in real time. What? Yeah. Yeah yeah. There's all there's there's, you know, it's very personal. It's very, very different for everybody. Yeah. But these commonalities. It's a very common story. Yeah. Everybody you know in. In the human experience. You know when. I talk about the. Human condition, it. Was very similar. Story. I us people. Are it's all just in a different way with it's it's. All dealing with relationships and ourselves. Like luckily for me, like I have a wonderful mom. My mom mom's fucking awesome. Somebody else's story is maybe with their mom, you know what I mean. So like I don't even know what that's like right. Like it's, it's all kind of trauma. And then to think about that I think about that I'm just like man like I hear stories, right. Like or I heal people, friends of mine. And they'll say things about their mom or like their dad or like their brothers or like their relationships with them. And I'm just sitting and I'm just like, understand it. Because when you do. That's. Yeah, right. That's how you are. That's how you interact. You know, that's how you are, you know. And so it what it does is it when I end it and it's all tying back to, I think the thing that we've been talking about this whole time, being appreciative and thankful, right. I mean. Letting go of things if you're that kind of let go or whatever. What, like you had to let go of your feelings about your dad to open the bridge? That connecting with your dad. Yeah. But if he could have let go of whatever was stopping him from bridging to you when you were younger, that. May to say that may have saved his life. His relationship with my mom. Right. Say, you know, it may have saved all these relationships, but yeah, the grateful thing, the thing that I'm thankful is that I'm able to recognize it, see it, and learn from his mistakes. Yeah, right. That's awesome. Because I think as a parent, that's what you want most, is your children to learn from. Because you could be a drunk just repeating exactly what happened to you and not give a fucking. But there's something about that that your spirit, like you had a will to fight that to be different to you felt bad when you realized that maybe you were even potentially acting in the same manner. Yeah, well, I think other people delude themselves a little bit or they keep the box like more secure a little bit, just so that way they don't have to quite feel all of the like it's too painful to even recognize it. Like they just have to keep it buried, you know? Right. And but that's where that's where the biggest learning, that's where the biggest growth happens is in that pain face. The music is like really owning some data, like sitting with it and like feeling it like that's what you learn. That's where the lessons come from. And that's where the, the desire to not be that person or really comes from hell. Yeah. We'll you. Yeah, man, I think we're actually running out of space on the, on the cameras. So we're going in at the winding down. That's going to be the audio portion of the pie. But thank you for joining us. I appreciate your coming out. What was saying. It was a lot to say. Sorry. Yeah. No, no we're it talked a whole lot. We can literally go for days. We can go for days. I'm telling you what a great discussion was. Yeah. It's always absolutely not the last. Love you guys. Plug the plug the shop one more time. Yeah. Friends of sound seven. Hundred friends of sound. It's new spot coming soon. Yeah. I'm socials. Friends of sound. Instagram. Friends of sound. Essays. Instagram. Yes. Let's go. Look first. Sylvester's tasting room in neon somewhere. Sylvester is coming soon for everything. More pots, more knives. Yeah. Thank you for coming out. I appreciate your time. It's awesome. Still. Yeah. Let's go. I got piss.