#009- Colin Hudson- What Are You Passionate About?

Welcome back everyone! Today's guest is Colin Hudson. Colin has been involved with basketball his whole life and recently just finished his college career at UW-Stout. Colin also does a bunch of interesting work in photography and videography, and is overall just a great person to be around and talk to. He is also recently engaged and I'll be standing in his wedding in just a couple of months (huge congratulations). Join us on the podcast as we talk about travel, photography, basketball, and much more! If you enjoyed this episode or any others, leave a review as it helps push this podcast out to more people! Thanks y'all, enjoy. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

What's up guys? Welcome back to the Mortal Life Podcast. Today is episode nine, and I'm joined by one of my good, good friends. Uh we've been friends for since kindergarten. We played basketball all the way through school together, and uh we've kept in touch all the way through uh through our later years from high school. Um I want to give a really, really big thank you to uh all the continued support on the podcast, and um anybody who might see this episode, welcome. Um if you like this, you know, like it, share it, um, subscribe to the YouTube channel, leave a review if you're watching on Spotify or Apple Music, and uh let's get into it without further ado. My good friend Colin Hudson, this is episode nine of the Mortal Life Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:46

Yeah, we're good. Yeah, what's up, bro?

SPEAKER_00 0:49

Let me let me uh switch one of my tabs over here.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Yeah, no problem.

SPEAKER_00 0:52

I'm I'm outside, so it's like kind of dark, so I'm I'm gonna try and keep one of my like lighter tabs on the other half of my screen. Just so it like gives a little bit more light, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

Yeah. So were you in were you in Arizona at all before that? Before this?

SPEAKER_00 1:07

I was, yeah. Yeah. We we drove over to Cali yesterday.

SPEAKER_01 1:11

Okay, like like like how long? You look sumburned.

SPEAKER_00 1:16

I'm asking. Let's just get that out of the way right now, bro. Okay, okay. I was in the sun today for a long time. Okay, and it was mainly on like my left half, so like you can tell like all this is red, and then my right is just like white.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Yeah, so I I got a little sunburnt. Okay, I was gonna say, is it like super warm there today?

SPEAKER_00 1:34

It was like 85 today.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:36

Um, it's a little cooler now, probably like 65, 70. Okay, so that's not like desert level hot, but like no. Air Arizona, Arizona's been like really warm. And I was I I flew there last Monday, and apparently this is like the the warmest or the hottest um March they've ever had. It was like it was over 100 degrees, and yeah, bro. Like, I'm I'm not for that type of heat.

SPEAKER_01 2:05

No, no, I can't. I'm like, I like sweat too much, bro. Like, yeah, if I'm if I'm like even like in Michigan summers, if it gets above like 80 degrees and I'm like outside going for a walk or something, like I my shirt will be drenched in like 10 minutes, and like I have nowhere to go.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

But um, so what's up, man? Honestly, not much, kind of busy. Uh, I've been traveling around a little bit, so yeah, yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

I I mean I heard about that. You just went to just got back from um Oregon, right?

SPEAKER_00 2:38

Just got back from Oregon, uh, had about a week, and then I went to Arizona and now I'm in Cali. So it's been a busy, busy month of travel.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

Yeah, that's nice though. I mean, that's that's cool that you're like actually getting to go places for for more than just like to stop by. Like it seems like you're getting some getting some good shots in and like for sure, taking everything in, doing stuff, so it's always nice.

SPEAKER_00 3:05

Yeah, good opportunities on the road.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:08

So how's your like school schedule right now? School is pretty chill. I'm all basically all online for my classes. So if I manage my workload correctly, right, I don't have to be there. The one thing that was like keeping me there was like basketball, and now that's over, so I'm a little bit more flexible with where I can be and stuff. Yeah, that's that's nice, but we are on spring break right now, right?

SPEAKER_01 3:32

Right. That's yeah, that's what I was gonna ask too. I I was wondering how that conflicts with basketball, but yeah, I guess like Central just had the Mac tournament like this last week, so that's like the end of it, like when everyone in the division, like obviously, like we're not you guys aren't in the bracket, so it's like yeah, unfortunately, unfortunately, not this year, but um no, that's cool. So have you been to Cali before? This is my first time.

SPEAKER_00 3:59

No, yeah, that's we're we're a little bit south of uh LA, so not San Diego, um kind of like in the middle almost, I feel like. Okay, but how is it it's nice? There's there's like a ton of people though, like the population here, like it's pretty crowded, is what it seems like. And I don't know if it's just because it's like spring break that like there's a lot of people, but like the traffic's crazy. The parking, like when you're on the coast, is like very minimal, it seems like. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

And it's really hard to park, but yeah, that's that's always one thing that like stresses me because I love to travel, but that's the one thing that really stresses me out is like if I were to like go somewhere, like you either have to pay for parking, park super far away, in an overcrowded lot, and it's like just kind of sketchy overall. Like, we just got back from Tennessee last week and we went hiking in the smoky mountains. Oh man, bro. So you're going up this one lane road, like through the mountains, and it's like you gain like a couple thousand feet of elevation, like just getting to where you want to start your hike at. And then it's like cars are just like there's kind of parking spaces that there's a few of them that are like paved and lined and stuff, but for the most part, bro, it's just like cars half off the side of the road, just like parked there. Like that just stresses me out. Was there uh was there snow when you went there still, like in the higher elevation areas or um No, no, I don't I don't remember any because like the the days that we were there, like where we were hiking, the day that we were hiking it, it was like in the 60s. So like yeah, it we would have had to go like even further up. Like yeah, because the the trail we did was 2.7 up, but there was trails that went up to like 6.6, I think was like the highest one that was like on the trail. But like even we got to the top of ours, and you can see where you can just keep going if you wanted to keep going.

SPEAKER_00 6:01

Like there's another bridge, and like there's just like stuff that branches off and stuff, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:06

Yeah, so we basically I mean we took a reasonable assumption, like, because my my watch was at like 2.8 something, and we came across this huge waterfall, and I was like, okay, this has got to be Rainbow Falls. Like, because if it isn't, then like I don't see a bigger one closer, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, I gotcha. But yeah, dude, if I go hiking again, I definitely am packing snacks because I was dying.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

Snacks, PBJ's, uh, lots of water, you know, if you're somewhere warm.

SPEAKER_01 6:35

Yeah. Well, see, like it wasn't like too crazy warm. Um so it wasn't like we were like rolling through it. We just brought like a bottle of water split, Tegan and I. Okay. Um, but like coming down, like I could like feel myself starting to get like really, really hungry. And I mean, you burn a thousand calories doing a hike, so it's like you can like your body knows that it's like it's time to get refueled. But yeah, dude, it was it was funny. Like, right before we got to the Rainbow Falls, um, we saw like this this couple that was stopped. So it was like you could tell they were on their way back down. So like they had already stopped, they're coming back down. They're sitting on a rock, and one of them just opens up like a deli sandwich, and I was like, no, that's like torture.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

Just like take out five, ten bucks, be like, hey, I I'm I'm gonna need that sandwich.

SPEAKER_01 7:29

Like, realistically, how much would you let it go for? Like, how much?

SPEAKER_00 7:35

Yeah, they're probably feeling the same thing too, though, coming down in green.

SPEAKER_01 7:39

Yeah, for sure. But no, it was fun. So that's cool. Um, you guys have like anything planned? I know you said you were gonna go to you you got some beach time today, but I didn't know if you guys are like planning anything specific.

SPEAKER_00 7:50

Yeah, we went to the beach uh today. Um, and then one of Aliyah's friends, uh relatives, he's a surfer, and hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to shoot some surf photos of him and um some video and stuff. Um, so that's kind of the plan right now, but it's we're kind of just chilling. Like we don't really have anything for sure, like yeah, you know, to do right so for sure.

SPEAKER_01 8:15

Um are you in are are you guys like with her family? Like, is this where Aaliyah's roommate like lives or yeah, this is where her uh relatives live. So yeah, we came to visit them. So are you guys in are you guys just like in their house or whatever?

SPEAKER_00 8:30

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:30

Okay, that's a separate place.

SPEAKER_00 8:32

So it's yeah, it's pretty nice.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

That that cuts a big expense for sure. Yeah. Are you guys you guys are like close to where you want to be?

SPEAKER_00 8:39

Like where the beach and stuff is? You can actually walk down to the beach. I think it's like a 30 or 40 minute walk from where we actually are. Uh, but it's also like an easy drive. And where we went today, there was a pretty big parking lot. So we're just able to park and walk down to the beach. Okay. Does um sorry the thing is with like like here in uh Southern California, at least from what I've seen so far, is like we parked and then we had to walk down like so many steps, like just to get to the beach. Um, because everything's like built on hills here. So that was kind of odd. Like it was a pretty long walk from the parking lot still, just down a ton of steps to get to the beach. Because that's all like real, that's all real estate just built on the coast.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

Oh, that's I bet. I bet, yeah, wherever they can make money for their house, they're gonna put more. Yeah, there's some super nice houses we've seen. So yeah, that must have been like a horrible walk back. I feel like that would have been horrible. That was brutal. Because like you sit down by the beach and you're like you're like hot, depleted, tired, and you're like, all right, it's all you're like in a full-on sweat when you're packing up, and then you're like, Oh, I now have to walk like 10 minutes uphill, and it's like this is great. Yeah, yeah. So but no, that's cool. So are you are you liking this so far?

SPEAKER_00 9:57

Yeah, yeah. No, I like it here. It's it's nice weather. I was gonna I was gonna say like it's similar to Florida, but it's not super humid, I feel like, here.

SPEAKER_01 10:07

Okay. I feel like it I feel like there's not a lot of moisture there.

unknown 10:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:11

So that could be why.

SPEAKER_00 10:13

I mean it rains here some, but like yeah, that's probably why. The Ocean isn't super warm either. It was kind of cold today, I'm not gonna lie.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

Oh dang.

SPEAKER_00 10:23

Well, I guess that's nice, though. And I think it kind of stays that temperature like all year round here, just because like obviously they don't have winter and stuff, but yeah. Yeah. Oh, it's nice. How late are you guys staying? We're gonna leave Sunday and drive back.

SPEAKER_01 10:41

So one more day, and then we're gonna have and then is does Aliyah have to go back to school on Monday?

SPEAKER_00 10:48

Yeah. I don't think she has class Monday, but um yeah, we just gotta get back for the for the start of the week.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

So Yeah, yeah. Did you guys did you guys drive? Did she have a car down there? Or would you like to go?

SPEAKER_00 10:59

Yeah, she's got a car down here, so um, we drove that over. And that that was nice. Because like she does drive a Tesla too, so like gas is super expensive right now with everything going on, and like gas prices out here are like I spell like $5.91 today.

SPEAKER_01 11:16

Oh, for regular per gallon. Yeah, that's wild.

SPEAKER_00 11:20

That's yeah, so we we uh it does take a little bit longer to charge and stuff, but um it's just it's it's nicer than having to like pay for that for for that price with gas. Yeah. Dude, how how how long does it take to like charge? Um, I believe there's like different types of chargers, and like we went to one and I want to say it was like 35 minutes, like it was super quick. Okay. And like they like they've there's a lot of places to stop to charge. Yeah, and it and it will like direct you to direct you to like where the next charger is and plan kind of plan your trip just to make sure you're not like you don't run out of a charge and you know have to get a tow or something. So yeah, that's nice.

SPEAKER_01 12:06

Yeah, but that's that's so cool, man. Yeah. Um yeah, gas is like four dollars here for regular. Is it really? It was yeah, it's like $3.99 for regular, $4.99 for diesel. So I was yeah, that was actually I was curious to see how it like compared because obviously like you're in a much larger economy, so it's gonna be more.

SPEAKER_00 12:30

But everything's like way more expensive out here. Yeah, I think gas in Wisconsin before I left was like $319, I want to say, or something like that. I remember filling up to like $3.19, but but obviously it's probably a little bit higher now.

SPEAKER_01 12:45

Ours was like around three like before we left for vacation. It just shot up like in the last really yeah, like I even I went to I got gas like five days ago. I think the first day I got back into town, first full day, and it was like 349 or something, and I was like, dang, this kind of sucks. But like, like I was like almost on empty, so I was like, I need gas. And then the next day, bro, I like looked over the parking lot at the next at the nearest gas station, and I was like, 399. I was on the phone with my dad and I audibly stopped and went, dude, 399? I was like talking about something completely different, but yeah, no, it's it's wild.

SPEAKER_00 13:26

You remember when gas used to be like a dollar during COVID?

SPEAKER_01 13:30

Dude, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:31

Like like in the UP, bro, it was literally like a dollar.

SPEAKER_01 13:34

Yeah, it was a yeah at one time. Like I like when I when I first started driving, it was like low twos. It was like probably 220 or 230 was like what I first remember like when I was 16. But I haven't even sniffed that since, bro.

SPEAKER_00 13:53

No, bro. We I mean I've seen maybe like low twos in Wisconsin, maybe not even low twos in Wisconsin at times, but like it's been under three for a while until recently. Yeah. But yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:09

So um anyway, how's uh how's the wedding going? How's the planning going and everything? Congratulations, by the way.

SPEAKER_00 14:18

I don't know if I told you like to your face yet, but no, I appreciate that. Um it's been going good. Uh Aliyah has been handling most of it, as you probably know. I figured, yeah. Um but yeah, no, and our our parents are helping out with the planning portion and stuff, and but it's been going smoothly. We've pretty much got everything um like nailed in. So yeah. Is it gonna be like big? Is it gonna be yeah? There's yeah, there's quite a bit of people coming. Um I can't say 250, 300. Okay, I wanna say. And I mean we both have really big families as well, um, and even extended families, so like that's that's that's a lot of the people, yeah for sure.

SPEAKER_01 15:01

Yeah. I was I was looking at the venue, dude. That venue looks nice.

SPEAKER_00 15:05

Yeah, it's uh Ali and I went to visit it in fall, and um she was pretty set on it right away. And once once I saw it, it was it was I was like, yeah, this is this is cool. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:18

So did you um like did you just like put your name down like as soon as it was available or like yeah, so it was like nobody because the the wedding venue is actually four venues in one.

SPEAKER_00 15:33

So there's four different like they could have four different weddings going on on a on a given Saturday or something, which is kind of crazy. But the place is like the place is big enough for that. Um and the the weekend we were looking at is Memorial Day weekend, and um like nobody had booked it, and we ended up booking it, and I believe I could be wrong, but I believe nobody else booked it that weekend because we booked it for a Sunday because Monday, yeah, Monday's obviously the holiday and stuff, so yeah. So that was kind of nice. So as of right now, I think it's just us, but we'll see.

SPEAKER_01 16:13

Yeah. I man, I wonder how that would work with four wedding parties.

SPEAKER_00 16:18

They they they obviously have a good system in place to where you're not like crossing paths with other weddings and and and people, but yeah, I'm sure it it gets pretty hectic if there's two or three weddings going on for sure.

SPEAKER_01 16:32

I mean, especially like I feel like that's not a place where people have small weddings. Like, you're not gonna book a big venue like that and only invite, you know, like close friends and family.

SPEAKER_00 16:42

So yeah, yeah, for sure. But yeah, no, I'm I'm I'm super excited. It's coming up really quick too.

SPEAKER_01 16:48

So, yeah, for sure. I mean, I feel that's just the same way. I feel the same way, bro. Yeah, no, that's crazy. I'm I'm I'm super excited. It should be a lot of fun. Um I just got size for my suit. Now I just gotta figure out what watch I'm gonna wear, get some sunglasses.

SPEAKER_00 17:06

You got a lot of Rolexes to choose from, bro.

SPEAKER_01 17:09

Yeah, bro. Yeah, bro.

SPEAKER_00 17:10

I know you.

SPEAKER_01 17:10

Yeah, exactly, bro. I've wear my garment, bro. Yeah, track my steps. Um all right. Well, I kind of want to pivot a little bit. Um since the latter years of high school, and then obviously going beyond, you've been super into like photography. And I I know that you said like that's one of the reasons, like one of the things that you're doing while you're in California, and it seems to be the main reason for your travel and like the bulk of you know why you go places is to get pictures into film. What like got you into photography and what got you to scale it to the level that you have so far?

SPEAKER_00 17:55

Yeah, that's a good question. I feel like um like in high school, this was late high school. I I was a senior, and and I'd always been into like um like just film and stuff, even if it was like on a GoPro or something. Like I think I got my first GoPro when I was in like eighth grade, it was like GoPro Hero 6 or something like that. And I would just like film like videos just for fun. I wouldn't post them anywhere, but like just to have, you know. And um, it was not until like later in senior year where I like wanted to get my first like actual camera. Like I was really, I was really interested it is interested in photography at the time, just from like watching people on like YouTube and stuff, and so I bought my first camera, and then I was just kind of like freelancing, like I went to some sporting events at ESCI and um just did like some portrait shoots and stuff, and like I just got like hooked right away. Like I just enjoyed having a camera in my hands and taking photos of literally like anything. And I mean that that summer after high school, I kind of kept doing that, um, and then I feel like it eventually just kind of led to like doing like senior portraits and just shoots for fun and stuff like that, and um and then obviously school like college, I went to college and that started back up, and I feel like I kind of like stepped away from that for a little bit. Um but like it was still like a a passion of mine, and I hadn't really tapped into like the business side of it at that point. Like I was just kind of freelancing and doing stuff for fun, really. Um but yeah, and then I guess I'm trying to think of just the timeline here in my head. Like after my first year of college, I think it got a little bit more serious, and I started to do I started to do more senior portraits because I was only a senior year of high school. And then I I did my first wedding that summer as well, and that's when I got a little bit more serious, like with it from a business perspective of like, okay, like this is pretty cool that I can maybe get paid for some of the work that I'm doing and stuff. Um and so I I I said I continue to just do that for like a year or so, and obviously, like through all of this, I was like traveling a little bit here and there, and I would just bring my camera with me, but that was more just like a hobby type thing, like bringing my camera on a trip. Like from a business perspective, at that time, I wasn't really gonna get much out of bringing my camera places, like it wasn't like a job, you know. And so I feel like now um I I I feel like I'm skipping a I feel like I'm skipping a place. Like after I after I okay, I'm just trying to like map this out in my head because it's like I should have written it down on paper, kind of like a rough timeline.

SPEAKER_01 20:53

But it's it's gone through a lot of evolution from like from an outsider perspective, it it looked like it was like uh I'm doing this thing because it's cool, and I see other people do it too. I'm doing this thing because it's cool, and now I'm starting to get good at it, and now I'm doing this thing because it's cool, and other people think it's cool, and I'm starting to get even better at it, and then now it's where you are, and it's taking it into this other realm and trying to incorporate business into it. So yeah, I I guess and you can kind of yeah, you can kind of just pick up.

SPEAKER_00 21:32

Okay, okay, yeah. So I feel like you know, high school, like freelancing, it's for fun or whatever. First year of college, things kinda slow down, summer things pick up. Um, and then when I went to Stout, when I transferred to Stout, um, I felt like it really picked up there. Um, 'cause like right away I got in doing sports stuff, um like going to football games and like volleyball games and stuff in the fall, uh before basketball season. And that's where I kind of like tapped in with like the sports photography side of things. And I I was just doing like strictly photography, no like video and stuff. Um and then obviously basketball season starts, things slow down again. And then once basketball season wrapped up that first year at Stout, um, myself and two other individuals, we started like diving into like the business side of things and actually working with businesses doing photography and like social media and like just content creation, um, like all around graphics, video, photo. Um and that was kind of like that spring and summer, like that's what we were doing. And I was still doing a lot of work with just individual clients and people like doing senior photo shoots and weddings, but um like we kind of I kind of like transitioned to more trying to work with businesses from a business like side of things, and then obviously next year school comes around, kind of pick up back up, pick back up with sports, doing sports photography and and that kind of stuff, and then basketball season starts and it kind of slows down again. And now I'm like I'm really trying to pick back up with um basically with both the business side of things, like working with businesses as well as uh working with individual clients, um doing senior photo shoots or weddings and and stuff. So I feel like once I got to Stout, like I made more connections and was also closer to a bigger city where I could go and um talk to businesses and uh find businesses, businesses to work with. So that's kind of where I'm at right now. And then obviously like with traveling and stuff, like that side of photography and and content creation, like I really wanna I really want to give that a shot and see what I can make of it. Um just because if I don't, I feel like I'm I'll never know if I could actually made something work, right? So I'm I am I am also working towards that right now. Um but my biggest problem is like having too much stuff going on that none of them really start to excel. If that makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 24:29

Yeah, yeah. I can yeah, but I can I can kind of you you gotta balance that like opportunity cost kind of thing. Yeah. I have this obligation and it's important to me. I have this obligation and it's important to me, but it needs more time, but I don't have more time right now. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 24:48

Um but at the same time, I feel like I have my systems like kind of dialed in to where the photography side, like I know what I'm doing, and then working with businesses, like I'm still learning what that looks like, but I also feel like I know what I'm doing, so now I can now like work a little bit more and explore the content creation and and and travel, like filmmaking side of things, um, as well as doing photography and stuff through that as well.

SPEAKER_01 25:17

So is is is that something that I know you said that you're you're like doing your thing right now, like you're really trying to like put something out there. Is that something that like is that your main goal right now? Or like what what is like plans post-graduation? Like, what does that look like? Does that include photography?

SPEAKER_00 25:40

It it definitely includes photography. Um you know, Ali and I have talked about like you know, where we're gonna end up after we're both done with school and stuff. Um and I feel like like that's that's something that I've worked towards, photography and um like filmmaking and like working with actual businesses. That um like that's that's that's what I want to give a try. Like I want to give that a try. Like I want to be an entrepreneur and try and make that work before I settle down and work for somebody else. Right.

SPEAKER_01 26:16

Yeah. So yeah, for sure. Um what if I were to ask you what do you think separates you from like other people that are doing similar things? Like, what separates you from someone that simply just goes out and takes pictures?

SPEAKER_00 26:43

I mean, obviously the work you've already done separates you on paper and like your style as well separates you.

SPEAKER_01 26:53

Um but it really I guess it really depends what I mean from a from let's talk from either a photography aspect working with individuals or like working with actual like businesses and I yeah, I I would say like just I would say more like the photography, just like not necessarily working with individuals, but like the the travel, like the chase for the shot, like okay, like where does that come from? I like obviously like the first thing I think of is is passion and curiosity, but I yeah I I would say that you would probably have a better explanation of like what you're doing, like like what is the greater purpose of like what you're trying to do?

SPEAKER_00 27:46

I feel like growing up, I got a lot of inspiration from like people that I've watched on YouTube specifically. Like that was a big platform where I got a lot of my inspiration to pick up a camera and and film something or take photos of something. Um, and if I can like now step into that space where I'm creating something that's reaching somebody and either helping them or educating them, like I feel like that's that's what I'm passionate about. And I feel like it like it's kind of coming easy to me now. Um when I'm when I'm filming like travel content and and posting stuff. So the biggest the biggest I guess struggle in a way is like consistency, spreading out like content, because you know right now I'm traveling a lot, but you know, I might be grounded for two or three months in the near future, right? So it's like how can I stay consistent and make make this work with everything else going on? Yeah. Um but yeah, no, I think like that's just something I'm super passionate about, and like I'm a big believer in like you like follow your passion. If you truly have a passion for something, whatever it might be, like follow that passion.

SPEAKER_01 29:07

Right. Um I have this uh kind of line of reasoning that I've picked up from a few individuals, in that, and I mean a lot of people think that they need to have this like sort of prerequisite knowledge of the field that they want to excel in before they even start, when in reality you start, then you pick up the post-requisite knowledge, and then that's what actually excels you. Yeah. So, like, like how is that developed like from photography? Like, what have you learned about it's not necessarily what you need to know before you start, but what you learn after you start that matters?

SPEAKER_00 29:56

Like, I wish I I wish I would have started documenting my life sooner. I wish I would have started picking up a camera, like picked up a camera sooner and got out of my comfort zone. Like that's that's something that I look back on and just like wish I wish I would have done. Because it's like not everybody really cares about what you're doing. Like if you if I picked up a camera and started like walking down the street, like talking to the camera, because I'm like filming myself, like you might like in the moment you might be like, like these people might be judging me and stuff, but like nobody really like cares about what you're doing in a moment like that. Like they might look at you for a second, but like their days like continuing. So I guess um for me, like I wish I wish I would have started like documenting like my life sooner.

SPEAKER_02 30:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:56

And I feel like I wasn't so much like okay, I don't have the equipment, but I was just like, I didn't really have like I would I I I cared too much what other people might think of me if I started doing this, you know? Yeah. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:13

I feel like that's changed a lot with me too, like just like posting on social media, and I obviously I still have my barriers, like like posting like posts, real posts on my like main Instagram is actually like still pretty terrifying for me. And I think that just stems from uh like your Instagram following is essentially a history. So what I kind of bring that back to is like when I started my Instagram, like that history, that's part of who I was and what's got me to where I am today, but it was also a time of severe insecurity. And I think if you would have asked me to kind of post the videos, even that like that I'm posting on TikTok today, like if you were to ask me to post those on Instagram when I was in, you know, nine, tenth grade, I would be so scared just because of like that sense of judgment. But now, like looking back, the reality of it is that judgment would have been very transient, like short-lived, if there at all. And I think that's exactly that's that's one of the things I'm still working on, but it's it's one of the things that I'm actually starting to grasp, and I think you are too, that it's just like the idea of people don't really care as much as you think they do, like even both ways, like it's a double-edged sword. Like, yeah, even if you're doing a great job, someone can go into your Instagram and be like, good job, good photo, love your content, man, and then what do they do? They keep scrolling, they forget about it five minutes later. Like you can you can apply that to to both to both sides of the spectrum. Like if someone but like the reality is like you said, like it's it's your passion, it's not anybody else's. So you you really need to like be able to channel that because you're not living someone else's life.

SPEAKER_00 33:10

Exactly. Yeah. Um and like regardless, like there is gonna be people that look at you and might judge you, but like at the end of the day, like their opinion, it doesn't really matter to you.

SPEAKER_01 33:24

Yeah. Like, so yeah. That's um, so yeah, that's that's one of the things that I've been trying to get over personally. I didn't I I wanted to know how it kind of translated into what you're doing right now. Okay, I got a couple like more trivial photography questions, then we can move on. Okay. What is the favorite photo or piece of content that you've ever filmed? You don't have to show me if you don't have it relative readily available, but if you could describe it and then yeah, just answer that and then I'll give you the next one.

SPEAKER_00 33:58

Um, what comes to mind first is hold on, let me just scroll down. And why, obviously. Okay, okay. Um we'll just go with something more recent because like this is a question that I could think about for a long time. For sure. And probably like never give you an answer. And I would just be like, hey, Zach, I'm still thinking about this. Like two years later, I'll call you and be like, hey, I'm still thinking about this.

SPEAKER_01 34:22

Uh I changed my answer, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:24

Um what comes comes to mind first? Uh so this past summer, uh, myself and two of my friends, Noah and Storm, we we built a van out and traveled to the Tetons in it and camped there for a week. Um and we we took this photo. It was like a a three-person, like like we needed all three of us to take this photo. And Noah had the idea of it, and I think he got some inspiration from somebody else too. I don't know what the whose whose Instagram it was, but it's a photo of the van on a bridge in front of the Tetons. And I mean, I'll you want me to like show it on the the stream or yeah, okay, okay. So it's this photo. Yeah, I know like the Spotify and Apple music listeners won't hear it, but it's this photo right here. Um, and I was driving the van, Noah was standing on top of the van, and Storm took the photo from like 200 yards away. And it just like the photo's sick, but like just remember like that photo brings me back to to that specific day this past summer. And it's just like it's just like a good memory, you know? Yeah, like when you when you see a photo and you remember where you were at that time, like it starts to bring back like those feelings, like in that place. Yeah. And so I just think that was a super cool photo that we we kind of put together, um, all three of us, and and stuff. So that's definitely that's definitely a cool one of my one of my favorite photos for sure.

SPEAKER_01 35:58

That's that's that's super cool, and that's just like that's that's so interesting, and it's just like this full circle moment of like these these three people that have that have come from like wherever they come from, they meet each other and they decide to put their heads together for one common goal, and it's a singular moment in time that will never be recreated, and it's like you've got it. Exactly. Like you have it. That was that that's cool. Um, yeah. Okay, rapid fire.

SPEAKER_00 36:32

That's a more that's a more recent, that's a more recent uh photo.

SPEAKER_01 36:35

So no, that's that's awesome. I like that answer. Um, what is your favorite spot to shoot? It could be like a spot repetitive spot, or just like the the favorite trip you've been on, photography-wise, overall.

SPEAKER_00 36:50

Okay. Um, let me answer this favorite spot to shoot, and then we'll go on a fit. We'll go on to like favorite trip. Um a place I find myself going back to often, mainly because it's close to where we live, is Miners Falls in Munising. Like I try to get up there once or twice, even like three times a year. Um it's it's a short hike, right? You've been on it.

SPEAKER_01 37:17

Yeah, um, we went there one time a couple summers ago.

SPEAKER_00 37:19

Yep. And like it's just it's it's a short hike, and then you gotta like go down by the base of the waterfall, and like I don't know, it's just it's just cool to go back to that spot. And I've gone there so many times and taken so many photos, but it's just like it's just a cool spot to go. Like, yeah, there's not much more to it. So I mean, yeah, I guess, I guess that's that's one of my favorite spots to go, especially because it's close to where we live as well. Yeah. And it's just a pretty unique piece of yeah, like spot.

SPEAKER_01 37:52

So it is super cool that like whenever I mention like that I'm from the UP to someone like down here downstate, like if they've been up there, like the first thing they say is like, oh my gosh, have you been to Pictured Rocks? It's like, yeah, dude, I've been to Picture like more times than I can count. But it's just like still every time I go back there, like it's so like breathtaking, and just to know that like that's basically in our backyard, like it's super cool.

SPEAKER_00 38:17

Yeah. I got to uh I had one weekend in fall open to go back back home from school, and I actually went up there and took the the pictured rocks cruise like during the fall, like colors, and that was super cool. Like, if if if anybody has a chance to do that, like they should totally they should totally check that out. It gave a really cool perspective of the shoreline good stuff.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

Yeah. So all right. Uh and then the last, oh, did you want to explain? Yeah, yeah. Favorite, like trip, photography related trip that you've been on.

SPEAKER_00 38:52

Oregon was was something special this past this past trip, just because it's so fresh, two weeks, two weeks ago. Um but like that that was a really fun trip, and I felt like we saw so much. Um and just like the thing that comes to mind is the the trail of 10 falls that we went on. Like those waterfalls were just so like stunning and like so easy to just photograph. Um, and it was just super like just super unique how we could be like on the coast of Oregon and there's a bunch of like seastacks and stuff, and then we're like in a rainforest and there's waterfalls surrounding us. So that might be my favorite, but like as of right now, recently, that's but that's been my favorite trip.

SPEAKER_01 39:42

So all right, last one. Um if you would have like one place to shoot that you haven't been yet.

SPEAKER_00 39:52

I really am itching to get to Alaska um because I feel like it's just so wild out there. Like that's that's definitely one I don't know what part of Alaska like, but I just I want to get to Alaska just because it's I've I've just seen so many photos of that place that it's it's it's it looks cool.

SPEAKER_01 40:14

Yeah, there's a lot of out there. Have you done um I guess I I can't think of any that like come to mind besides like maybe some on travel. Have you done much like wildlife photography?

SPEAKER_00 40:27

Not not really. I don't really have the equipment for wildlife, and I've never really like felt like the investment of getting like super telephoto lenses was worth it to me. Just because you know, I'm I'm not the most patient person. Um and I say that because like my my brother loves to fish and stuff, and like he can go up for hours and and not catch a fish and just be fishing. And if I did that, like it'd be driving me crazy. Like I want to I want to have something on the line the first 10 minutes I go out, or I'm losing so yeah, the wildlife in a sense is similar to fishing. Like you're gonna go out in the woods and and wait for wildlife for for hours, and I just you know that's not super interesting to me yet. Maybe when I'm old and I can't move as much, I'll go out and wait, wait around for something. But yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:20

It's just like whenever I think of I mean I I I don't know why, but whenever I think of like like you said, like Alaska, I think of like a big, like vast plain with like a huge forest behind it, but then I see like a giant ass moose like on the tree line, and it just seems like that'd be such a sick photo.

SPEAKER_00 41:40

But yeah, I guess a bear or two, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:44

And that's like that's like something that like you can't get from a zoo. Like you need to be there and like being able to experience like obviously animals are cool no matter where. I mean, to me at least, but I feel like seeing an animal like that in the wild, where it's like obviously like your safety is like a little bit in jeopardy. Obviously, there's ways to like super minimize it, but it's like that aspect of this is a real living creature, and like we share the same space. I don't know, it's kind of like a level playing field kind of thing.

SPEAKER_00 42:19

Yeah. Have you seen the video of like I think I think it was a photographer, and he was like kind of he might have been a guide to like a tourist group, but he was like there was like a grizzly like charging at him, and like he stood his ground and eventually it stopped, but like it was it was wild. Like I'd never seen anything like that, yeah. But yeah, wow, scary stuff to be honest.

SPEAKER_01 42:45

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I wouldn't want to be the one to take the picture, but it'd be cool looking at it.

SPEAKER_00 42:49

No, no, um, and I I've actually never well, I take that back. I was gonna say I've never seen a bear in the wild, but when we were going through the Tetons, we saw two um, I think they're grizzly cubs. We never saw a mama bear, but um yeah, I've never I've never ran ran into one on like a trail or something that was just from a car.

SPEAKER_01 43:08

Yeah, no, I I I haven't either. Like I haven't seen that's like a big thing that people are surprised that I like. I haven't ever seen a moose. Really? Like in person? No, never, never a moose.

SPEAKER_00 43:21

I saw a few in Colorado one time.

SPEAKER_01 43:23

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I guess I haven't been like out west too far, but like just like in Michigan and like I've been to Canada, so it's like they're kind of like over there a little bit, but yeah, not ever seen one.

SPEAKER_00 43:38

Have you ever seen like a wolf in the UP at all? Uh like in person?

SPEAKER_01 43:44

Honestly, no, I don't think I've ever seen one. I've definitely heard them like at night, yeah. But I I don't think I've ever like encountered one in the daylight where I could like make it out.

SPEAKER_00 43:55

Yeah, I'm I'm yet to see like I know there's a lot of wolves and and there's even Bears and stuff, but like I'm yet to see any of that, and I feel like I'm out in their territory a lot.

SPEAKER_01 44:05

It's wild, it is, it's insane. Yeah. I like I totally would have felt like even like driving, because like I I drive home a lot, and I feel like I from like the amount that I've been like all over the UP and like downstate, like I felt like I would have seen something like that, like a mess or something, but I don't know, maybe one day. Um so okay, let's just pivot a little bit here. Um so you just finished basketball, right? And this was your senior year?

SPEAKER_00 44:38

This was technically my junior year.

SPEAKER_01 44:40

Okay, so are you going you're going back next year? You got one more? I'm not going back.

SPEAKER_00 44:43

I'm not going back next year. No, it was uh it was a personal decision I had to make. And you know, just with where my life's headed and the things that I want to pursue uh in business and and photography and and traveling, like like basketball is a full-time job. Like whether what no matter if you're at a JUCO or a D1, like it consumes a lot of time and like you really gotta be committed.

SPEAKER_01 45:08

So yeah, yeah. Um that's actually um I mean that's that's good for you. I'm I'm glad you made that personal decision. That I mean, I'm sure that wasn't an easy one to make.

SPEAKER_00 45:19

It was it was tough to make because you know I I love playing basketball. Um but knowing like that I'm not gonna be playing it forever, and I don't know if my future is in basketball as a player or coach, um, making that a career. So like I had to, you know, I had to make the decision.

SPEAKER_01 45:39

So yeah. Um well I know that you've come from like a a a basketball, decently basketball-oriented family. Um how how has that like shaped your passion for basketball and just like your passion for other things and how that how that applies?

SPEAKER_00 46:03

Yeah, um I mean I all my life I've I've I've known basketball, really. Like um pretty much since as long as I can remember. So just that alone, like like that's been my life, basically. Like there hasn't been a season that's gone by without you know, bad or a year that's gone by without basketball. So um yeah, I mean it's always it's always just been a part a part of me. And I think that it's helped me become a better player over the years, especially. Um, obviously with my dad coaching um Escanaba growing up, like I've been around, I've been around basketball. So um and then having a brother too, that's that's also helped a ton. I feel like um being able to play somebody that was like a lot taller than me growing up and a lot stronger than me definitely like shaped me into a better player and stuff. Because he, I don't know if you know, Carter was a lot taller than me growing up, yeah. Like I hit my girl spirit late, and he was also a lot more like strong.

SPEAKER_01 47:13

So like you were, I mean, you were even up until like our freshman to sophomore year of high school, you were like what six two, six three? Yeah, probably about. And then you went from like six three to like six eight, and then you grew another inch after that, something like that?

SPEAKER_00 47:33

About a half an inch, but yeah, we'll call it, we'll call it six nine. Yeah, yeah, let's do that. Um, yeah. I I feel like I kind of hit that growth spurt maybe sophomore year into my junior year, really, is when I when I grew. Right.

SPEAKER_01 47:49

Is there anything that basketball's taught you that you're able to apply to your life?

SPEAKER_00 47:56

I will say, like, it's made me it's made me physically like I don't know how to say this. I'll say this first. Like mentally, it's made me stronger. Um and then physically, like I'm glad I I'm glad I was in basketball because like physically it's it's done a lot for me. And and the commitment to basketball also means like a commitment to staying fit and living a healthy lifestyle and um yeah. Could you elaborate on that? I guess I'll have to also think about that question a little bit more as well. But um, like mentally, like you're gonna like throughout my years playing basketball, like I was faced with like some like I it's it's it's hard to explain. Um like you gotta be mentally tough to like make it through, I guess. And like there's some there's some days where like I did did not want to be in the gym and and mentally like I had to get over that hump. And since I got over that hump, like it's it's helped me as a person, and it helps me get over other humps in my life um outside of just basketball. So I guess taking that what basketball has taught me and applying it to different areas of my life has helped me as a person.

unknown 49:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:29

So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 49:31

I feel like that's always one question I keep circling back to, like whoever I have on, is like because a lot of them are either high school friends or college friends, and yeah, I mean, mostly everybody experiences you know high school sports or something like that during their during their lifetime, and I feel like everybody, if you ask them like something that they've learned from a high school sport or the college sport, whatever it may be, that it's like like there's always something to take away that like applies to their life. And I I just think I think with you um like having so much more experience in a sport like basketball from going from like I I mean you were playing basketball since you could walk pretty much, yeah. So it was just like going all the way up like through like elementary, high school, JUCO, a transfer, and then university basketball, like like that's a lot. Like I I I can I know you've experienced a lot, so I'm glad that you guys that you had I'm glad that you're able to like share the um like the experiences and the stuff so that people can apply it to other aspects of their life.

SPEAKER_00 50:52

Yeah. I also think too, like just with sports and and if you're on a team like like I've met so many different people playing basketball who've came from like all different areas of of the United States and and of the world. Um and like that's that's cool too. Like the people you meet and the people you stay in touch with um is is is pretty special. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 51:20

Yeah. Sports sports really do like bring people together. Like that's yeah, that's one of the things that I noticed even like coming here, you know, you guys got like like we had a center last year from like Lithuania. It's like they're they're playing with like some some dude from like an hour south of here and like they've never met, but like you you form kind of like this this brotherhood with like your teammates and your coaches and stuff, and it's it's it's a really beautiful thing to be able to like put that all together and then also be able to like perform and compete is kind of cool too.

SPEAKER_00 51:56

So and I will say my first year of college um on the on the baycot when I went to Bay, um three other teammates. I also so I'll say this, I'll just tell the story. So myself um and three other guys from Bay, Justin, Tyrell, and Cade. Um, we all played at Bay my first year. Justin was a sophomore. Um, he went somewhere else. Tyrell went somewhere else, Cade stayed there, I left, um, and we all circled back and ended up on the same team at style this past year. So we all went our separate ways for a year and then ended up on the same team again, which is pretty cool. And I feel like that that connections with my connection with those guys have has grown a lot just because of that. Um so yeah, yeah, awesome.

SPEAKER_01 52:52

That's all I got for you, man. Good job. Good job.

SPEAKER_00 52:56

How how long was this?

SPEAKER_01 52:58

Uh I'll let you know after. Um I'll check the recording. I'll I'll send you the audio file after. But um it uh I'm assuming about an hour. Yeah. Um yeah, man. Well, uh, do you have anything else that you want to say? Otherwise, go ahead, plug your socials, whatever you want.

SPEAKER_00 53:17

I think I'm good. I mean, I wanted to ask you, like, with with the with this podcast, obviously, I think this is like what episode nine or ten? Uh you'll be nine, yeah. Um nine, okay. Um like are you looking to like like do this for a while? Like, is this is this something you're enjoying? Is this something that like like talk to me about that, I guess. I was just curious.

SPEAKER_01 53:41

Yeah, yeah, I don't I don't know, man. Um I think over like the past year or two I've discovered like the the power of words and how I believe that everybody on this planet has the um has the opportunity to move people with their words and they all have something to say that's valuable. And I think like a podcast in a society like today, like we have access to more knowledge than we ever have, like at the touch of a button. And it's like it's so readily available, and I just think being able to like be a part of that and be a bit be a part of the distribution of knowledge and like whatever you want to call it, motivation, inspiration to other people listening. I think that's super super helpful. And I like I'm also just curious. I'm just a curious person, like I just want to learn from people, um, even people that are nothing like me. I feel like we all have something in common. Um, whether it's like how how we got here, our goals, or like what what keeps us up at night in terms of like passion and inspiration and stuff. So um I mean I I just I was gifted to be able to, you know, have the the resources to you know have a laptop and access to stuff like this. So I was like, I mean, what why why let it go to waste? I think we got I think we got something good here. So I'm just doing it for fun right now. I I mean I guess I don't really have any long-term goals except for just scale, scale, scale. Um you know it's it's it's nowhere near like like a full-time job yet or anything, but um it's a it's a fun hobby, and I also think that um one of the things that I want to be able to look back on uh in my later years is that I was a good communicator, and I think through this podcast, um you learn to you you learn to communicate with people and you learn to be able to have meaningful conversations, and I think that that's something that especially short form social media has like taken away from us is like the power of like meaningful conversation. And so I think like getting into this place, like obviously I have I have a structure, I have questions that I want to ask you, but I think being able to go into those those deeper levels of thinking and kind of bring things full circle is is really like reinforcing to the idea of having meaningful and deep conversations, and I think we can all benefit from that. So I guess a long-winded answer is I don't have any like long-term goals right now, but I'm having fun and I have I have more people that I I want to talk to, and I guess we'll see how high up the uh totem pole we get.

SPEAKER_00 56:35

For sure. That's super exciting, dude. I'm I'm I'm I'm glad you're doing this. Like and you're also good at like speaking to other people as well, like on the podcast is is what I've noticed.

SPEAKER_01 56:46

Yeah. So thanks, man. No, um, well, yeah, we'll uh we'll keep going. But um, if you want to take a second, go ahead and plug your socials.

SPEAKER_00 56:55

Yeah, um, everything's basically Colin Hudson underscore uh on Instagram, YouTube. I have TikTok. I don't really use TikTok that much uh anymore. But um yeah, go give it a follow, check out some of the content. Um yeah. Cool. I appreciate you. I appreciate you having me on here.

SPEAKER_01 57:12

Yeah, of course. Thanks for coming through. Um, always welcome. Yeah, if you want to pop in back, but um well, have a good time on vacation. I will uh I'll send you a link once it's posted and then I'll uh talk to you later. Okay, sounds good.

SPEAKER_00 57:26

Appreciate you. See you, bro.

SPEAKER_01 57:27

See ya.