Chats & Tatts host, Aaron Della Vedova, is known for pushing the creative boundaries with every artistic medium he works in. However, his full coverage back pieces, rib to legs, and torso tattoos are definitely his specialty. With long hours tattooing well known musicians, athletes, public figures, influencers and many others, Aaron knows that tattooing heavily involves building a relationship, a bond, with his clients. On Chats & Tatts, he dives into those relationships with his clients, helping tell their stories, share their crazy pasts and path, and many times sharing a glimpse into his guests getting a tattoo on the show. Tune in to get a behind the curtain peek at the world of high level artistic tattooing and those who express themselves through this fascinating, diverse medium while radically redefining the art of modern tattooing.
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Refugee Camp to Freedom In America: The Inspiring Story of Sathya Chey Patterson
Episode 66
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 • Duration 01:19:40
Hailing from a family of Cambodian genocide survivors, Sathya Patterson's parents worked diligently to support their family. Starting with recycling cardboard and cans, they eventually built a small business empire that allowed them to retire in their fifties. This success was achieved through hard work, saving, and making prudent investments in real estate, gold, and diamonds.
Building wealth through hard work, wise investing, and living within one's means, coupled with forgiveness and compassion as integral paths to healing trauma and cultivating self-love, can lead to personal and financial freedom. Sathya Shea Patterson's journey exemplifies this principle. Patterson's experience as a single mother at a young age further reinforced the importance of financial stability. She returned to school when her daughter was three months old, earning a finance degree from Cal State Fullerton.
Patterson's journey to success in the financial world was also largely due to her commitment to showing compassion towards those who have caused harm, recognizing that they may have been acting from a place of confusion or pain. By delving into her inner child and offering love and acceptance, a spiritual journey and practice that began in her 20s, she was able to heal past wounds and nurture a sense of self-worth.
Join Aaron and Sathya for a heartfelt discussion on finding purpose, choosing compassion and forgiveness, and embracing life to the fullest.
Chat Breakdown:
00:00:32 - Living a Mindful Life
00:03:06 - Landon Patterson and His Connection to Sathya
00:03:47 - Cambodian Genocide
00:04:57 - The Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot's Regime
00:06:06 - Sathya's Parent’s Survival Story
00:11:06 - Refugee Camps
00:13:07 - Western Privilege
00:15:05 - The Human Capacity for Evil
00:16:20 - Ignorance and Unenlightened Actions
00:18:01 - Sathya's Family's Journey to America
00:22:03 - From Recycling to Entrepreneurship
00:24:26 - The Importance of Financial Literacy
00:25:30 - Addressing Trauma and Healing
00:30:26 - Spiritual Growth and Self-Reflection
00:32:49 - The Role of Plant Medicine in Healing
00:34:44 - The Importance of Consistent Spiritual Practice
00:35:32 - The Necessity of Forgiveness
00:38:10 - Compassion and Understanding
00:40:05 - Self-Love and Personal Growth
00:41:21 - Meeting Landon and Building a Family
00:41:35 - Single Motherhood and Pursuing Education
00:43:42 - The Path to Wealth Management
01:09:40 - Building Soul Alignment
01:17:02 - Real love and relationships.
Quotes:
"It was a shame to me that I saw so many Americans living paycheck to paycheck."
"My family ended up there because we all survived, my immediate family at least, survived the Cambodian genocide that occurred from 75 to 79."
"My dad was so proud to be an American. He said, what's American? Country music? Give me more of that Garth Brooks, you know? So I grew up listening to country music. That's how proud he was to be here."
"It's time to be your own divine mother and father."
“When I'm struggling with forgiveness towards somebody that's hurt me, I often picture them as a child."
"Good people have beautiful relationships. Good people have friends. Good people have wealth. Good people get all the good stuff about life."
"Instead of asking, how do I make more money? Instead ask, who do I need to unbecome to allow more money into my life?"
Podcasts and the Comedy Industry: The Brian Redban Effect
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 • Duration 55:29
Brian Redban's Impact on Podcasts and Comedy Industry:
On this episode of Chats and Tatts, host Aaron Della Vedova welcomes special guest Brian Redban, a comedian, producer, and owner of a comedy club in Austin. They discuss their long friendship, Brian's diverse creative ventures, AI, cancel culture, and their upcoming tattoo session on the show for Brian's custom Della Vedova arm piece.
Brian Redban played a pivotal role in the growth of podcasts and the comedy industry, notably through the creation of The. Joe Rogan Experience with Joe Rogan and the wildly popular comedy podcast Kill Tony. His contributions were instrumental in the success of the Death Squad podcast network.
Initially, Brian and Joe utilized Ustream for fan interactions and Q&A sessions, which evolved into the concept of podcasting, garnering widespread popularity. Brian's dedication to managing multiple podcasts, including editing and production, underscored his commitment to the industry. He ventured into entrepreneurship by launching a t-shirt company alongside his podcast endeavors.
The success of Kill Tony, a live podcast featuring comedians performing one-minute sets and receiving feedback, solidified Brian's influence in the comedy realm. The show's format attracted a large audience and provided a platform for up-and-coming comedians.
Tune in for an insightful and entertaining conversation with this hilarious and creative guest!
Chat Breakdown:
[00:00:39] The future of AI in robots.
[00:05:17] Shane Gillis' Tr*mp impression.
[00:10:16] Uncensored comedy and censorship trends.
[00:11:12] Phones at comedy clubs.
[00:16:02] Cancel culture in comedy.
[00:18:23] Comedy booming in Austin.
[00:24:49] Changing the history of earth.
[00:28:12] Starting a podcast network.
Tattooing as a Human Connection ft. Luke Wessman
Episode 56
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 • Duration 01:50:50
Luke Wessman's journey into tattooing began with a traditional apprenticeship, where he learned the ropes of the trade by sweeping, mopping, cleaning windows, and running errands. On this episode of Chats and Tatts, host Aaron Della Vedova introduces this distinguished tattoo artist with a traditional aesthetic rooted in his hippie Tennessee upbringing and Southern California influences. Luke's impressive career includes appearances on TV shows like New York Ink and Ink Master, as well as being featured in Forbes magazine. The conversation delves into Luke's background, his ambassadorship for Monster Energy Drink, and his creation of the Lost Art of the Gentleman.
The episode highlights the connections between the host and guest, who share mutual friends and close proximity in their neighborhoods. Luke's journey serves as a testament to the value of hard work, respect for clients, and flexibility in embracing new developments in tattoo artistry.
Join in as Luke, with a cigar and scotch in hand, shares his journey as a tattoo artist and his passion for spreading love for tattooing around the world.
Chat Breakdown:
[00:03:48] Tattooing for 32 years.
[00:07:09] Hippie commune in Tennessee.
[00:13:18] Tattooing as a form of armor.
[00:16:29] Transition into tattooing career.
[00:21:13] Identity in creative professions.
[[00:28:33] Making a living as an artist.
[00:35:12] Meeting tattoo legend Horiyoshi.
[00:40:14] Horiyoshi's unique tattooing approach.
[00:42:21] Tattooing Marlee Matlin from L Word.
[00:48:11] Tattooing as a therapeutic experience.
[00:58:20] The lost art of the gentleman.
[01:02:44] Promoting chivalry and respect.
Stroke Recovery and Gratitude: A Tattoo Artist's Inspiring Comeback ft. Stevie Randallyn
Episode 55
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 • Duration 01:16:48
In this episode of Chats and Tatts, I had the privilege of interviewing Stevie Randallyn, a tattoo artist who overcame a life-altering stroke. Stevie shared her journey of experiencing a stroke at a young age and how it affected her ability to speak, taste, and even tattoo. Despite facing significant challenges, Stevie's determination and resilience shone through as she navigated the difficulties of relearning how to tattoo with one hand and overcoming the limitations caused by the stroke.
Stevie's story is one of redemption and inspiration, showcasing her unwavering passion for tattooing and her ability to adapt to new circumstances. She highlighted the importance of support from the tattoo community and the impact of her stroke on her personality and perspective on life. Through her experiences, Stevie emphasized the power of gratitude and the ability to find strength in the face of adversity.
Overall, Stevie's journey serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity to overcome challenges with determination and a positive mindset. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of perseverance and the ability to find beauty and gratitude in every moment.
Chat breakdown:
[00:02:33] Stevie's love for tattooing.
[00:04:51] Overcoming adversity.
[00:09:33] Stroke recovery and realization.
[00:12:53] Overcoming challenges for two daughters.
[00:16:49] Overcoming self-pity and finding inspiration.
[00:17:41] Tattoo community and support.
[00:29:31] Overcoming language challenges post-stroke.
[00:35:13] Life-changing effects of stroke.
[00:39:57] Lack of gratitude.
[00:42:09] Acupuncture and stroke recovery.
[00:47:00] Juggling motherhood and tattooing.
Nikko Hurtado: Tattoo Mastery, Social Media Addiction, and Giving Back to the Craft
Episode 54
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 • Duration 01:58:32
The Impact of Social Media and a Deep Dive into Tattoo Artistry with Nikko Hurtado
We kick things off by discussing how we celebrate the world of tattooing and creativity with a legendary figure in the tattoo industry, Nikko Hurtado. Nikko's work in photo-realism tattoos has significantly influenced host Aaron Della Vedova's career, and his presence on the show is an honor.
They delve into the addictive nature of social media and its resemblance to slot machines. We explore how algorithms manipulate our behavior, potentially leading to addiction and mental health issues. This topic sets the stage for a broader conversation about the digital age's impact on our lives.
Nikko Hurtado has been tattooing for 22 years and is renowned for his photo-realism tattoos that resemble HD photographs on skin. His talent has led him to tattoo celebrities like Puff Daddy, Drake, and The Rock. He's also a prominent figure on TV shows like "Ink Master" and "LA Ink," a father of three, and the owner of Black Anchor Ink with locations in Hesperia and Hollywood, California.
During our conversation, Nikko shares his journey in the tattoo industry, starting from his apprenticeship at Art Junkies Tattoo to his current status as a respected artist. He reflects on the evolution of his career and the importance of continuous learning, which includes taking classes in different art forms like sculpting and Japanese tattooing to better judge on "Ink Master."
Nikko also delves into his entrepreneurial ventures, such as creating Revolution Ink and Vortex rotary machines. He emphasizes the importance of owning his work and not being tied down by sponsorships or external pressures.
The episode concludes with a discussion on the economics of tattooing, the potential for industry growth, and the importance of staying productive and innovative during slower periods. Nikko's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion for one's craft, and the transformative impact of tattooing on both artists and clients alike.
Join us for this inspiring and insightful conversation with Nikko Hurtado, a true master of the art of tattooing.
Chat breakdown:
Tattooing: From Rebel Art to Professional Industry ft. Ryan Roi
Episode 53
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 • Duration 01:34:55
Exploring the taboo topic of money in the art world, Aaron Della Vedova and guest tattoo artist and financial coach, Ryan Roi, delve into the importance of artists' relationships with money. Drawing from his experience owning tattoo shops for over 20 years, he highlights how financial stress can hinder artistic growth. Despite the stigma around discussing money, Aaron and. Ryan emphasize the role of financial freedom in pursuing creative passions.
Thank you to Sullen Clothing for their support and collaboration opportunities for tattoo artists. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the intersection of art and finances, spirituality, and finding balance in a changing landscape.
Chat breakdown:
[00:01:16] Money and artists' struggles.
[00:04:48] The pirate lifestyle in tattooing.
[00:08:25] Overcoming addiction and life changes.
[00:14:23] Ayahuasca experiences and recommendations.
[00:20:21] An ego death experience.
[00:21:58] Deserving self-worth and acceptance.
[00:25:19] Healing through gentle experiences.
[00:30:37] Embracing paradox in spirituality.
[00:34:40] Unbecoming for more money.
[00:37:10] Financial struggles during COVID.
[00:43:40] Scared fearful thoughts of the future.
[00:47:09] The evolution of tattooing.
[00:49:55] Tattooing and financial coaching.
[00:55:42] The growth of tattooing industry.
[01:02:47] Authenticity in marketing.
[01:03:30] Marketing as a lighthouse.
[01:09:33] The psychology behind marketing.
Artificial Intelligence and the Law ft. Charles Lew
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 • Duration 01:42:21
The development and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) is a topic of great interest and concern. In this podcast episode, host Aaron Della Vedova and guest Charles Lew share their fascination with AI.
Charles, an attorney, AI advisor, and state coder for California, highlights the importance of addressing the intersection of AI and the law. He emphasizes the need for laws and regulatory frameworks to manage the negative aspects of AI, such as deepfakes and biased algorithms.
The conversation delves into the potential negative consequences of AI, including job displacement and the misuse of AI technology by dictators or terrorist organizations. However, the conversation also explores the positive aspects of AI. Charles highlights the potential for AI to revolutionize access to justice and provide better solutions than human judges.
Furthermore, the podcast mentions that these young individuals are more concerned about work-life balance and prioritize their mental well-being. They understand the importance of taking care of oneself and promoting a healthy work-life balance, which is a significant shift from previous generations that often prioritized work over personal well-being. This mindset of the younger generation is crucial in the context of AI.
Tune in to gain insights into the evolving world of AI and its implications for the future.
[00:29:33] Job displacement and autonomous vehicles.
[00:31:08] Ominous cooperation and AI potential.
Deepening Our Understanding of Life: Insights from Miguel Ruiz Jr
Episode 51
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 • Duration 01:40:44
Host Aaron Della Vedova welcomes back guest Miguel Ruiz Jr. after their previous popular episode. Reflecting on the past year, Aaron shares his surprise and delight in discovering that their audience resonated most with their conversations on philosophy and spirituality. As a seeker himself, Aaron expresses his interest in exploring these topics further on the show. He introduces Miguel, the son of renowned author Don Miguel Ruiz, who wrote the influential book "The Four Agreements." Aaron credits this book with having a profound and life-changing impact on him. Together, Aaron and Miguel delve into spiritual wisdom and discuss its transformative power in shaping one's perspective on life.
Join Aaron and Miguel as they delve into deep conversations about life-changing events and the power of spiritual teachings.
Chat Timeline:
[00:01:06] Philosophy and spirituality.
[00:04:05-00:04:15] Tattoo art and extreme experimentation.
[00:39:02] Creating something that feeds the soul.
[00:43:03] The younger generation's reinvention.
[00:46:19] The meaning of gender roles.
[00:51:28] Conditioning and Domestication.
Wrestling with Success and Failure ft. Zion Clark
Episode 50
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 • Duration 01:11:32
Zion Clark was born on September 29th, 1997 in Columbus, OH, with a rare birth defect called Caudal Regression Syndrome that left him without legs. Adopted at the age of 17, two weeks before becoming homeless, saved him in many ways.
You might know him. from. America's Got Talent, or on Instagram as Big_z_2020, or as the elite wrestler or from his inspirational documentary on Netflix called Zion. Being born without legs hasn't slowed down our guest today on Chats and Tatts.
Zion, a former Kent State wrestler born with no legs, made his professional MMA debut a success in 2022. He won a unanimous decision over non-disabled opponent Eugene Murray at an event in San Diego called Gladiator Challenge: Seasons Beatings.
Host Aaron Della Vedova dives into the crucial role of having a dominant mindset in wrestling or fighting, and in life. Aaron also reflects on his personal journey of self-awareness and growth. He acknowledges that he was once arrogant and failed to fully recognize the privilege he had as a white male in America. However, as he has matured, he has become more aware of his privilege and understands that not everyone is automatically granted favorable circumstances in life. They touch on childhood trauma and its effects on adulthood, and his love for tattoos.
Join Aaron and Zion for this candid and inspiring conversation.
Chat Breakdown:
[00:01:20] Acknowledging my privileged upbringing.
[00:04:21] Overcoming adversity and achieving success.
[00:09:04] Collecting information through losses.
[00:14:33] Fire and determination.
[00:17:25] Finding Inner Warrior
The Family Episode: A Tale of Adoption and Reunion
Episode 49
Wednesday, January 3, 2024 • Duration 01:10:41
In this touching episode, Aaron and his son share the story of their reunion after years of separation due to an adoption when Aaron was only 16. They are joined by Aaron's wife, Holly, who was a staunch supporter of the reunion and making Dustin a big part of their family life.
Aaron recounts receiving an unexpected email from his son, leading to their joyous reunion. They reflect on the picture that had been their only connection, a young boy in a yellow lumberjack outfit, the immediate connection, Dustin's upbringing, blending their family, regrets, and more.
Tune in to hear their heartwarming journey of adoption, acceptance, love, and a beautiful reunion.
Chat Breakdown:
[00:00:00] Adoption journey begins.
[00:01:09] Family dynamics and unexpected reunions.
[00:08:46] Finding long-lost family.
[00:14:00] Life in structured religion.
[00:15:00] Tension and rebellion in Utah.
[00:21:49] Meeting for the first time.
[00:24:47] Bonding and discipline.
[00:27:31] Strained relationship with adopted father.
[00:31:59] Mormons and family acceptance.
[00:34:47] Life's unconventional paths.
[00:36:51] Adoption and personal identity.
[00:41:02] Feeling of not fully belonging.
[00:46:13] Breast milk tasting experience.
[00:47:05] Feeling a sense of belonging.
[00:50:02] Resentment towards religious beliefs.
[00:54:36] Having a son's impact.
[00:56:15] Family dynamics and sibling relationships.
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"My kids can play on that roof. Yeah, he did. Some kid was up there. Yeah. That's fishy as heck."
"Anybody that goes to a comedy show and gets that offended, You're a fucking nerd. You are a fucking nerd. Get away from me."
"You don't want to as a person who's worked from the ground up building this craft to see fans be denied. Breaks your heart."
"So really, if you unwind this whole thing, you, Brian Redman, change the history of f*cking planet earth forever."
"A computer can never have a soul. I don't care how smart it gets."
"We kind of look like a problem. We kind of are a problem. We're kind of fucking a lot of shit up."
"If the nefarious characters of the world really want to fuck with us, they get us totally hooked on this shit, get it fixed to where it's mostly right almost all the time, and then just start plugging in their answers to the questions when they can."
[01:05:38] Embracing traditional values in masculinity.
[01:08:40] Cancel culture and forgiveness.
[01:13:18] Judging by character, not race.
[01:16:34] Providing livelihood to community.
[01:29:36] Tattooing and back pain.
[01:42:42] Long-term career planning.
[01:45:00] Building authentic partnerships with companies.
[01:48:00] Discovering peace and joy in golf.
[01:50:25] Taking risks for success.
Quotes:
"There's a saying in Hawaiian proverb, there's two ways to be rich, work more, want less, right?"
"You're living with me and my mom on bunk beds, dude, you're good."
"Getting tattooed for armor."
"I personally was really worried about survival. I was on my own. I was living with my friends and my friend's parents. It wasn't about like, Oh, I love art. I'm going to be a tattooer. I need to fucking make sure I can survive."
"I got in Miami and we were charging $300 for a name tattoo. And I was like, holy shit."
"If I don't stop sucking this tit, I'm going to be attached to it forever."
"Look, man, I don't want to look in the mirror and see the person that did all those things. I want to see somebody else."
"There's a saying I like, and it's instead of bashing what you hate, promote what you love, right?"
"All I can be is myself. That's the most unique thing I have is myself."
"I think it's incredible to be able to employ people and give them livelihood. That is just like, that's an ultimate, man. I think it's beautiful."
"If you can pull it off and it makes you happy, fucking go do it."
[00:51:19] Overcoming challenges in motorcycle riding.
[00:58:59] Embracing individuality in tattoo art.
[01:00:08] Drawing on iPad vs. paper.
[01:06:42] Tattooing and personal growth.
[01:11:59] The evolution of tattoo marketing.
[01:14:29] Tattooing traditions and inspiration.
Quotes:
"It's amazing to me what humans can get done when there's no way out."
"Just because you're having an emotion doesn't mean you have to react to that emotion. You can just stand back and look at it and decide what to do with it."
"I feel like we all suffer from a disease as human beings of lack of gratitude"
"If you were a female tattooer, it was like a unicorn."
"I noticed that I'll choose to get tattooed to like, kind of like work through that pain. It is a type of therapy."
"If you don't show up in the algorithm, then no one knows you exist."
"And you can deepen and enrich that experience by having a connection to the human being that's tattooing you."
"Thank you for who you are, for being an inspiration to me. You know, I have my little bitches and whines that I get up with every day. I'm going to bitch and whine a little less after being with you."
"I was terrified, because I'm like, dude, I've been tattooing at that point maybe 20 years. I'm like, if I go on there and lose on the first round, which is very possible, my ego couldn't have handled it."
"And you can tell she really loves tattooing. That's the point, right? It's for the love of tattooing."
"You show up, you show up, dude, you show up and you keep showing up and you knock on that fucking door. And then that door eventually opens, you know what I mean? That's the whole point of perseverance, right?"
"That's my Bible, man, really, is The Four Agreements."
"Honoring your word is a big one, but especially the word you make to yourself."
"I want to look in the mirror and be proud of me. For sure. You know, when you look in that mirror and you're like, oh, you're kind of a, you kind of fucked up yesterday. You knew better. You did it anyway. The guilt. I've had those days and I'm like, I'm sick of this, man. I don't want to look in the mirror and feel that way, you know?"
"You don't have to be born with some special creative talent. The one thing was that ability to create, and that's being removed."
"I think AI is gonna get to a point where it's gonna be like the second coming of Christ."
"Like, step out of your comfort zone and try something different, you know, and don't just be that Internet tattooer, you know, because it's going to lose some magic. And it's the magic that makes this industry so great."
"Tattooing's cool, and being a great tattooer is cool, but to me what's cooler is experiencing the things you can't read online."
"Any support you've ever given me, dude, has led me to this point in my life, and I just want you to know, even if you felt like you were unseen, unheard, or not paid attention to, I'm telling you thank you."
"And gratitude is what you're talking about there. And, uh, that's a good place to vibrate in is gratitude."
"You have to let go of control. And when that happens, stuff happens."
"But at its core, the truth God, reality, is paradoxical. And I think I try to embrace that paradox as much as I can."
"Instead of asking, 'how do I make more money?' Start asking, 'who do I need to unbecome to allow more money into my life?'"
"There's that special thing that makes tattooing this weird, strange world that anyone from outside of tattooing could just never fucking get"
"There's a lot of bullshit out there. You should be skeptical of me."
"Creatives are uniquely positioned to be great at marketing."
"It's about building trust. That's what marketing is about building trust."
"That's what they're ultimately demanding right now, at least in the current iteration of the algorithm. They're demanding connection. They're demanding resonance."
[00:40:01] Universal enlightenment and cooperation.
[00:43:22] Work-life balance and younger communities.
[00:46:58] AI in the Bible.
[00:51:59] Profit-driven business and corruption.
[00:55:02] Homelessness and data representation.
[00:57:31] UFO phenomenon and hallucinogenics.
[01:02:19] AGI and its implications.
[01:06:08] Sentience and programming issues.
[01:09:51] Hypothesizing the future of AI.
[01:13:33] Unlawful detainer actions.
[01:17:32] Unlawful detainer defense
[01:21:38] Holistic health and treatment.
[01:24:10] AI's potential positive impact.
[01:30:01] Robotic Bill of Rights.
[01:34:31] AI regulation and awareness.
[01:36:56] New tool for homelessness.
[01:41:11] Finding goodness in everyday life.
Quotes:
"We're on the precipice of godlike intelligence, an all-knowing, all-powerful, if you will, entity."
"A dictator gets a hold of this thing, he builds whatever he wants to build, he exterminates the entire human race, then you go over here and you cure fucking leukemia."
"We really don't have any mechanism to stop it. We don't really have the laws or the regulatory framework in place to do anything about it either."
"Artificial intelligence as it sits right now, chat GPT, which is going to get fine-tuned, we're building a fine-tuned model built off a chat GPT engine, that will provide better access to justice than an army of lawyers ever could."
"You already live in the metaverse. You're in virtual reality. You spend 50% of your day like this, you are digital. You're there, just accept it."
"To hurt another is to hurt yourself."
"We don't even know we're conscious, but I'm going to say that computer is now, that AI is now conscious."
"Let's all visualize the future we want to see for ourselves."
"It seems like where at least my bubble of the universe is the universe where people want to learn and grow and deepen their awareness of life and with practice perhaps become a master of their life, of their parts as you would say."
"There was a message. It was without words. Its physical existence was a message from the Toltecs to us."
"I'm not the person I thought I was. I am one of the stars. I am life."
"The truth exists whether you believe in it or not."
"Everyone's projecting and your temptation will be to believe it."
"Hell is when you don't understand that the agreements in your mind are simply agreements and they aren't the truth."
"It's the voice of truth, it's what comes through you when you're quiet and clear of attachment and just open."
[00:26:31] Existence without exposure to Christianity.
[00:31:23] Childhood trauma and its effects.
[00:36:15] Inequality and human connection.
[00:42:29] Staying hydrated during training.
[00:45:36] Weed and athletics.
[00:54:48] Flow state in wrestling.
[00:57:32] Freedom of speech and censorship.
[01:02:04] Foster care system reform.
[01:06:55] The ring of fire.
Quotes:
"No, fighting gets you into fighting shape. That's why you see these little guys knocking out these big dudes, not because they're stronger than them. They just actually know how to fight. Shit's about to go down."
"I am Zion Clark in Big Z, but I'm also the world's fastest man on two hands, three-time world record holder. I'm also multiple-time All-American at Kent State University."
"Because it's truth. Exactly. And truth, a universal truth I would call it. Universal truth always shows up no matter where you go, no matter what language they're speaking. The truth is the freaking truth, right?"
"Yeah, you get the money from the foster care system, then you get the government-assisted money. So you're a big ticket out of it. You make more money. I was a motherfucking piggy bank."
"I'm regular, yeah, regular food. Dude, I went to the national championships, and the morning that I placed, I had eight soft potato soft tacos from Taco Bell."
"I call it the ring of fire. I think there are the universe, God, call it what you want, is prepared to give us our dreams, but it never just gives them to you right away. It wants to say to you, you really want this? Yeah, I really want this. Okay, I'm gonna make you suffer for just a little while, because I want to make sure it's not talking shit."
"Dude, I lost for years on end, bro. But it was really like... You gotta just learn from your mistakes. And so I just kept coming back and I kept getting my ass kicked and I just kept going back and kept getting my ass kicked."
"Thank you for fucking leaning into life and just taking advantage of all the gifts it has given you and crushing and being an inspiration to so many."
[01:00:32] Raising a child as the center of the universe.
[01:03:19] Sibling relationship and communication.
[01:07:24] The family episode and love.
[01:09:30] Future plans for the podcast.
Quotes:
"I don't know if he's my dad, but whoever this guy is, he's a heavy hitter, kind of famous tattoo artist."
"Well, yeah, I mean, I got that email and just blew my mind. I was I don't know. I don't want to say never been that excited because I have had two daughters and I have Married this beautiful woman over here so I've had some big moments in my life but that is in the top they're not even one better than the other there's like five big moments and that's one of them."
"I was taken from Tanya and placed with a family who I've actually met and I can't remember their names, but I met them way later in life and they had me for, I think it was seven weeks."
"I just had questions, I suppose more important to me, the older I got, but I was too busy being a wild man up until I joined the military to spend too much time on it."
"I have some friends who remained the center of their family's universe. And there are some of the most entitled pricks I've ever met in my life because they never got knocked down and realized that they had to share."
"Our relationship, you and I, has just been, like I said, best friends."
