Life Wide Open with CboysTV
Episode: "CboysTV Answers Your Questions"
Date: October 4, 2022
Hosts: CJ, Ben, Ryan, Ken, Evan, Micah
Overview
In this lively episode, the CboysTV crew dives into fan-submitted questions, offering candid insights on their business, friendships, creativity, and personal growth. The conversation roams from Evan’s surprise truck upgrade and behind-the-scenes YouTube pranks to sincere discussions about work-life balance, hometown living, content reinvention, and staying grounded. With trademark Midwest humor and transparency, the guys let listeners in on what makes their group (and channel) tick.
Key Discussion Points
1. Evan’s Surprise Raptor Truck [00:00–09:00]
- The episode opens with a recap of the group’s elaborate prank on Evan. They staged a fake vehicle theft, only for it to be a cover for gifting him a fully-kitted Gen 1 Ford Raptor.
- The prank involved hiding the truck and his dirt bikes, with full commitment to making it believable—including checking Evan’s location to keep the surprise.
- The emotional rollercoaster had Evan feeling sick over the apparent loss, only to be overjoyed at the surprise.
- CJ and Mike muse about the suspense and logistics of pulling it off, joking about how easy (and tempting) car theft felt.
- Evan's gratitude is clear, and the group reinforces their camaraderie:
"You've been here a short time, but you've made a big impact, and we love having you around." — CJ [08:14]
Notable Quote:
"The low of, like, no insurance on my bikes ... to, like, gaining a sick truck. That’s a big turnaround in like two hours." — Evan [03:27]
2. Finding New Hobbies & Work-Life Balance [10:00–12:20]
- The group explores the search for hobbies outside work and the challenge of separating fun from filming.
- Golf and personal tinkering projects are floated as ideas, with tongue-in-cheek suggestions about car theft as a “side hustle.”
- They joke about the trials of finding activities strictly for leisure, given how work and play often overlap.
Fun Moment:
“Stealing cars. Oh my gosh. Stealing cars. Yeah. Want to do this? Mike, me and you could be your… new side hustle.” — CJ [12:22]
3. Staying (or Leaving) Your Hometown [17:00–21:00]
- A listener asks about the pros and cons of living where you grew up.
- The Cboys discuss the strong appeal of their small Minnesota town, but agree it’s valuable to see the world—even if for a year.
- Discussion about possibly buying/renting a place in Florida resurfaces, reflecting their ongoing debate about chasing sun versus sticking to their roots.
- Nostalgic and genuine, they note how community bonds anchor their love for home.
Notable Quotes:
"If you're happy where you're at, stay there. I personally love it here." — CJ [18:44]
4. Florida, Hurricanes, and Weather Realities [21:30–26:27]
- The recent devastation in Florida by Hurricane Ian is discussed, with personal anecdotes about friends affected.
- They compare Midwest winters to hurricane risks, admitting their relief at missing certain natural disasters.
- The limitations of insurance coverage for Florida homeowners catch their attention.
5. Drinking Culture & Its Impact [27:20–30:36]
- A fan asks, “If you couldn’t drink, how would your lives be different?”
- Universal agreement that life would be healthier, more productive, but perhaps a little less fun.
- Candid admissions about bar tabs, with CJ revealing he’s spent $10,000 at a local spot since 2019—a stat that shocks and amuses everyone.
- Reflection on how social drinking blends into their local culture and downtime, but also on its financial and time costs.
Memorable Exchange:
“How much did I have to spend to get this? $10,000. I've spent $10,000… and I got my Rewards card in 2019.” — CJ [30:16]
“That is disturbing because we only go to Zorbas like 25% of the time.” — Evan [30:16]
6. Behind-the-Scenes of Content Creation [33:52–55:33]
a. Family Reactions to Content [33:52–36:40]
- The crew discusses how parents respond to their more outrageous podcast and video content.
- Most are comfortable with family knowing, and note their content has matured over time.
b. Using Personal Vehicles in Videos [37:17–41:21]
- Inquiry into whether members get compensated if their cars/toys are damaged in videos.
- Broadly, everyone accepts it as a collective investment ("for the greater good").
Quote:
"Many days someone else is doing more than me. So if that's my thing, it's my time to shine." — Ryan [39:09]
c. Dealing with Repetitiveness & Longevity [43:39–49:59]
- They explain efforts to avoid repetitive content, keep creativity fresh, and justify reinvesting in bigger, more inventive video ideas.
- Past experiences of resisting algorithm pressure in favor of authenticity are shared.
“We just keep reinvesting... and keep reinventing and growing.” — Ben [43:50]
"Other than the thin ice vids, we've never really repeated ourselves." — CJ [46:02]
d. Merchandise & Design Process [50:13–56:10]
- Mike (Ben) delves into the creative process for merch—finding inspiration everywhere, using an ever-growing “puke board” for unused designs, and curating what feels fun and authentic.
- The balance of originality vs. drawing from what’s already recognizable (parody, classic logos) is addressed.
- Simplicity often wins:
"Just a basic font right on the shirt. Simple. People love it. Goes. Sells out three times in a row." — CJ [54:20]
7. YouTube and Hunting [57:46–59:41]
- While fans want hunting videos, YouTube’s policies make this nearly impossible.
- The team is candid about the pleasures of going hunting off-camera, respecting platform guidelines while finding fulfillment outside filming.
8. Reflections on Success & Starting Out [61:04–68:39]
- The gang reflects on not knowing if CboysTV would work, initial doubts, and the motivation that kept them grinding.
- They agree that focusing on one step/goals at a time—and enjoying small wins—was crucial.
- The group emphasizes gratitude, the importance of celebrating milestones, and staying humble.
“You gotta just keep focusing on that next step. Don’t focus on three steps ahead… just take it one step at a time, no matter what you’re doing.” — CJ [66:48]
9. The Story Behind the "Dog" in their Outro [69:13–71:14]
- The “dog” is a nod to Duke, the late canine mayor of Cormorant, MN—immortalized as the channel’s quirky copyright mascot.
- The idea was inspired by classic TV outros, adding a hometown touch to each video.
“The mayor of Cormorant was a dog... So really funny, Duke.” — CJ [70:09]
10. Lighting Round: Hottest Female Celebs [73:09–74:03]
- Megan Fox and Anna de Armas get top nods.
- Mike confesses a long-standing Emma Watson crush.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On YouTube longevity:
"I think we’re only getting better." — Ben [45:53]
- On small steps:
"Better take a really small step and then be happy that you made that step than ... being scared to take a big one and then not doing it at all." — Ben [67:15]
- On authenticity:
"We've just done it this way for so long ... all these bits ... I feel like it's just more entertaining and it's more, like, personable, and it just makes for a way better show..." – CJ [49:23]
Episode Timestamps
- 0:00–9:00 — Evan’s truck prank story
- 10:00–13:20 — Hobbies & healthy balance
- 17:00–22:00 — Hometown vs. moving away
- 21:30–26:27 — Hurricanes in Florida
- 27:20–31:21 — Drinking culture, funny money spent
- 33:52–36:40 — Parents & CboysTV content
- 37:17–41:21 — Using personal assets, compensation
- 43:39–49:59 — Content creativity & avoiding repetition
- 50:13–56:10 — Merch design process, favorite collabs
- 57:46–59:41 — Hunting on (and off) YouTube
- 61:04–68:39 — Success, motivation & mindset
- 69:13–71:14 — The outro dog explained
- 73:09–74:03 — Favorite female celebrities
Tone and Highlights
- Warm and irreverent, with lots of storytelling riffing and inside jokes.
- Honest about the challenges of being content creators, especially around revenue, motivation, and YouTube’s constraints.
- Underscored by recurring gratitude for the journey, each other, and their loyal fanbase.
Conclusion
This episode offers a transparent, playful, and sometimes surprisingly deep look into the world of CboysTV—balancing high jinks, business, growth, and their love for their hometown and channel. Whether you’re a long-time subscriber or just getting started, this is a quintessential peek behind the handlebars.