Canal Street Dreams Episode Summary: The Kid Mero

Released on July 11, 2025

Hosts: Eddie Huang and Natashia Perrotti
Guest: The Kid Mero (Miro)
Platform: Full episode available on Substack (BasedFob Substack) and a free half-hour version on YouTube.

1. Introduction and Longstanding Friendship (00:00 - 00:20)

Eddie Huang warmly welcomes his guest, Miro, affectionately referred to as "The Kid Mero," highlighting their 15-year friendship.

Eddie Huang [00:00]: "Canal Street Dreams. We back. My man. My homie of almost 15 years now."
Miro [00:06]: "Go back like a durag flap, you know what I'm saying?"

2. Early Ventures and Victory Light (00:16 - 00:40)

Miro reflects on his early days with Victory Light, a blog he ran during a financially challenging period.

Miro [00:16]: "Victorylet was a blog that I was writing. Blog spot, blog spot, blog spot that I was writing when I was very angry... I was very broke."
Eddie Huang [00:39]: "You was a middle school teacher."

3. Anecdotes from the "Fresh Off the Boat" Book Signing (00:52 - 01:21)

Eddie shares a memorable moment from the book signing event of "Fresh Off the Boat," where Miro discovered "ancient pills" in his steeple jacket.

Eddie Huang [00:52]: "Remember you showed up to the Fresh off the boat book session signing... and you were wearing a steep tech and you found old pills in the steep."
Miro [01:05]: "Triple stack. Ferraris... Allegedly."
Eddie Huang [01:16]: "Allegedly. Allegedly."

4. Miro's Rise and Media Connections (01:21 - 02:26)

The conversation shifts to celebrating Miro's appearances on TV alongside influential figures like mayors, showcasing their mutual support and pride in each other's successes.

Eddie Huang [01:21]: "But she get me so hyped too, because you were on blog spot... Now I'm seeing you on TV with the mayor, dog. Like the future mayor, you know what I'm saying?"
Miro [02:26]: "And I was talking to Kareem... we understand media in a way that a lot of these new casts don't."

5. Navigating the Media Landscape and Vice Community College (02:26 - 04:13)

Miro and Eddie delve into the complexities of the media industry, discussing their experiences at Vice Community College and the shifting dynamics between TV and digital platforms.

Miro [02:26]: "We understand media in a way that a lot of these new casts don't. TV versus the digital shit that's going on now... we are positioned to take advantage of that."
Eddie Huang [03:01]: "We've also hit every bucket."

6. The ILY Coffee Campaign and Activism (04:13 - 05:18)

Miro recounts his participation in the ILY Coffee campaign, where he boldly included the hashtag #FreePalestine, leading to immediate backlash.

Miro [04:30]: "I put free Palestine. And they... Take it out right now."
Eddie Huang [04:59]: "I was like, yo, you said I could put any phrase I wanted... do not participate in this campaign."

7. Residuals and Corporate Challenges (05:18 - 06:14)

The hosts discuss their frustrations with Vice's corporate practices, particularly regarding unpaid residuals.

Miro [05:12]: "They robbed everybody, bro. How much money they owe you?"
Eddie Huang [06:14]: "I fought them in the bankruptcy and got my show back."

8. Authentic Representation vs. Corporate Demands (06:14 - 15:44)

Eddie and Miro explore the tension between maintaining authenticity in their creative work and the demands of corporate entities to dilute their unique voices for broader appeal.

Miro [11:01]: "I need you to tell, because I know how you move... I appreciate you."
Eddie Huang [14:43]: "It's like, nah, grimier than we were, bro."
Miro [15:44]: "I'm independent and control my own destiny and hustle more."

9. Personal Lives and Relationships (15:44 - 17:07)

The conversation takes a personal turn as they discuss their relationships and how success has impacted their personal lives.

Eddie Huang [16:00]: "How's wifey feeling about the whole, like, roller coaster ride? Like, where's she at, bro?"
Miro [16:23]: "She was like, yo, listen, you broke... she put her name on the credit card."

10. Creative Freedom and Authenticity in Media (17:07 - 24:45)

Eddie and Miro critique the current media environment, emphasizing the need for genuine representation over tokenism and box-checking diversity.

Miro [21:42]: "It's like five white dudes in there, looking at a mood board... same thing."
Eddie Huang [22:30]: "They do laugh sometimes when they try to explain shit to you... people don't want, like, real."

11. Independence and Control via Substack (24:45 - 31:09)

They discuss their shift towards independent platforms like Substack to retain creative control and bypass the limitations imposed by traditional media executives.

Miro [29:08]: "Let me tell you something. Agents are not agents anymore. Agents are fucking brokers."
Eddie Huang [30:14]: "It's hard to have good executives because you got to have good taste and be artistic."
Miro [31:09]: "Producers at Warner Brothers, Universal... they are triangulating to get you for the low."

12. Gambling and Personal Stories (31:09 - 44:57)

Miro shares an entertaining story about a high-stakes gambling experience, highlighting his risk-taking nature and camaraderie with Eddie.

Miro [08:10]: "That's the greatest trip ever. That's the greatest trip ever."
Eddie Huang [38:07]: "The worst thing happened to me last football season... I missed this parlay, bro. Brutal."
Miro [43:26]: "I made money all 2006 betting Mets over four and a half runs and Italy to win the World Cup."

13. Conclusion and Future Prospects (44:57 - 45:39)

Wrapping up the episode, Eddie and Miro express their commitment to staying true to their roots and creative visions, despite industry challenges. They share light-hearted banter and reaffirm their brotherly bond.

Miro [44:43]: "I just be ready... the game is up, but we're here."
Eddie Huang [45:23]: "Thank you for coming on the show, because I felt like, wait, Miro just kind of gave us a perfect ending."

Key Takeaways:

• Authenticity Over Corporate Compliance: Eddie and Miro emphasize the importance of maintaining genuine voices in creative work, resisting pressures to conform to corporate expectations.

• Challenges in the Media Industry: They discuss the difficulties artists face with residuals, creative control, and the dilution of their work to fit market demands.

• Shift Towards Independence: Highlighting platforms like Substack, the hosts advocate for independent avenues that allow creators to retain control and authenticity.

• Personal Stories and Camaraderie: Through entertaining anecdotes, particularly about gambling, the hosts showcase their deep friendship and shared experiences in navigating the entertainment and media landscapes.

• Future Vision: Committed to their creative integrity, Eddie and Miro plan to continue producing authentic content, whether through podcasts, writing, or other creative ventures.

Notable Quotes:

• On Authenticity:
  Miro [15:44]: "I'm independent and control my own destiny and hustle more."

• On Corporate Challenges:
  Eddie Huang [05:18]: "I fought them in the bankruptcy and got my show back."

• On Creativity vs. Market Demands:
  Miro [24:45]: "You got to dilute that sauce a little bit, you know what I'm saying?"

• On Personal Relationships:
  Miro [16:23]: "She was like, yo, listen, you broke... she put her name on the credit card."

This episode of Canal Street Dreams with The Kid Mero offers an unfiltered glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of creative professionals navigating the modern media landscape. Through candid conversation, Eddie Huang and Miro advocate for authenticity, independence, and the preservation of genuine voices in an industry often driven by corporate agendas.