Life Wide Open with CboysTV
Episode: "What My Dad REALLY Thinks of Me Being a YouTuber"
Date: November 29, 2022
Episode Overview
In this special episode, the CboysTV crew welcomes Ben's dad as a guest, diving into his perspective on their journey as YouTubers. The group shares behind-the-scenes stories on building their business and the realities of content creation, from wild stunts to business challenges, and reflects on the impacts of their adventures—both hilarious and harrowing. Listeners get business insights, family perspectives, and a treasure trove of memorable, funny, and inspiring moments.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Behind the Scenes: The Reality of CboysTV Operations
- Late-Night Edits & Hustle
- The group reminisces about their marathon editing sessions, especially during big drops like Black Friday.
- (03:01) Ben: "We would have to spend basically, like, 24 hours straight editing… for years."
- (04:26) Mike: "It feels good to just see everybody grinding… we had to grind and it was so fun."
- The group reminisces about their marathon editing sessions, especially during big drops like Black Friday.
- Shop Space & Growth Challenges
- Brainstorming about outgrowing their workspace and dreaming up bigger, better shops with foam pits and skate parks:
- (14:53) Ryan: "I think we gotta think about building something even bigger… after watching [Mark Rober and Fantasy Factory], this place is kinda small."
- (16:31) Mike: "This shop really is… about half strictly business for sure."
- Brainstorming about outgrowing their workspace and dreaming up bigger, better shops with foam pits and skate parks:
- Plans to Hire Specialists
- Discussion about hiring a full-time fabricator/mechanic to take CboysTV builds to the next level:
- (17:20) Ben: "I think the next shop we need to have a spot dedicated to just builds that can take a long time… And then we also need to just hire a full-time fabricator and mechanic."
- (21:07) Ryan: "That one dude that's coming up to do the R6, he might be our ticket."
- Discussion about hiring a full-time fabricator/mechanic to take CboysTV builds to the next level:
2. Viral Moments & Pop Culture
- Black Friday Antics
- Reflections on changing consumer culture and past escapades.
- (06:03) Mike: "Me and my buddies would stay up all night… we'd go to Fargo and just drift around in the parking lots until the stores opened."
- Reflections on changing consumer culture and past escapades.
- Taylor Swift Ticket Mania
- The group laughs about how hard it is to get Taylor Swift tickets, jokingly comparing it to getting into Harvard:
- (25:18) Ben: "I don't… Is that true?"
- (25:25) Evan: "I guarantee I could not get into Harvard."
- The group laughs about how hard it is to get Taylor Swift tickets, jokingly comparing it to getting into Harvard:
- Kanye West’s Wild Ride
- Discussion of Kanye’s public outbursts and their entertainment value.
- (29:03) Mike: "He’s crazy but he so entertaining."
- (30:06) Mike: "I just was surprised to see at how horribly he was handling the divorce."
- Discussion of Kanye’s public outbursts and their entertainment value.
3. Camaraderie, Risks, & Friendship
- Challenge Stories
- The group breaks down recent YouTube challenges, including hot dog eating, footraces, and icy water dares.
- (09:03) Evan: "I did not want the consequences. It was like there was a person chasing me with a knife."
- The group breaks down recent YouTube challenges, including hot dog eating, footraces, and icy water dares.
- Push-the-Limits Culture
- Acknowledging the riskier aspects of their work and balancing entertainment with safety.
- (12:05) Ryan: "When I was running, I was thinking, this is inhumane."
- (39:16) Ben's Dad: "That's my biggest concern, is you guys getting hurt… you’re bringing in talent that's way better than you, way more skilled than you."
- Acknowledging the riskier aspects of their work and balancing entertainment with safety.
- Lessons from Mishaps
- Stories of vehicles and equipment being broken, and evolving attitudes on “stuff” vs. experiences.
- (50:33) Ben's Dad: "My conservative mindset is just take care of stuff… but that's what makes you guys great, you know that you can replace it with something even better."
- Stories of vehicles and equipment being broken, and evolving attitudes on “stuff” vs. experiences.
Interview with Ben’s Dad: Reflections, Business Wisdom, and Family Moments
(Begins at 31:00)
A. His Initial Impressions and Turning Points
- At first, he thought Ben and the guys were just "wasting time" until he realized the global scale of what they were building—especially after seeing merch shipped worldwide and hearing about MTV interest:
- (34:53) Ben's Dad: “I thought you guys were just wasting your time until we went to Idaho on a trip and you missed out on that call from MTV.”
- (35:11) Ben's Dad: “When I started seeing addresses on your merch going out to Germany and New Zealand… it’s like, oh my God, these guys have something that they don’t even realize—they have a global impact.”
B. Business Lessons and Hard Work
- Draws parallels between building a YouTube business and running a successful practice. Emphasizes vision, scaling up, and relentless work ethic:
- (36:28) Ben's Dad: “You can have a vision that’s as big as your community… or global impact. Now it’s just a matter of scaling it.”
- (36:59) Ben's Dad: “You didn’t get here by accident… I watched you guys grind hard.”
C. Proudest and Most Difficult Moments as a Parent
- Shares immense pride, but also the anxiety/fear from their riskiest stunts—especially after Ken's neck injury:
- (38:16) Ben's Dad: “That is what… I live in this world of people that have injuries, and now… they’re dealing with them… that’s my biggest concern, is you guys getting hurt.”
- Recognizes their ability to inspire and uplift young people through entertainment:
- (42:10) Ben's Dad: “Your message is far reaching. I read those comments. These kids… you guys can make them laugh, cheer them up, and give them a better day. That’s why you’re here—to serve through entertainment.”
D. Family Anecdotes & Learning Life Lessons
- Tells origin stories about Ben's early work ethic (getting a job at 13 to pay for a broken four-wheeler) and orchestrating tough “teachable” job moments:
- (43:36) Ben's Dad: “I kicked the door open, I said, get your ass to work. And then I called Dave, I said, Dave, let him have it.”
- (44:30) Ben: “That was a defining moment in my life, I swear to God... when I have employees, I’m not going to treat them like this.”
- Reminisces about motorcycle adventures, family traditions, and epic road trips through all 48 contiguous states and into Alaska:
- (54:22) Ben's Dad: “This was a 10 year run… went to every province in Canada, Alaska, thousand miles over permafrost.”
E. Memorable (and Sometimes Hair-Raising) Adventure Stories
- Surviving motorcycle breakdowns in the far north, relying on strangers' kindness—
- (57:15) Ben's Dad: “I'm sitting on the side of this gravel road… here comes this truck… with a Tommy Lift. These two guys... get my bike fixed, give me their truck, refuse my $200… just awesome.”
- Witnessing a fatal car accident and feeling its long-lasting impacts —
- (62:05) Ben's Dad: “I have PTSD from that… I open the door, flames rolling over this guy, tried to help, but he didn’t make it. I just got out of there… That was an adrenaline kick for 10 years."
- Notes about his brother and father’s similar travel exploits—from dodging bandits in Mexico to being lost at sea.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- (34:13) Ben's Dad: “I used to think I needed cars and snowmobiles… now I get to sit back and watch. I get more thrill from that than having all this stuff myself.”
- (42:28) Ben: “We saw the success, but also didn’t have handouts.”
- (44:01) Ben: “That was such a defining moment in my life… I’m not going to treat employees like this.”
- (50:48) Ben's Dad: “My conservative mindset is take care of stuff… but that’s what makes you guys great, you know you can replace it with something better.”
- (54:21) Ben's Dad (on adventure): “I was addicted to it. This was a 10 year run.”
- (62:05) Ben's Dad (on trauma): “I have PTSD and I still kind of do when I think about it.”
Important Timestamps
- 00:00–03:00: Banter on office mishaps, sleep schedules, and editing grind
- 03:45–06:00: Black Friday memories, changes over the years
- 14:53–17:20: Expanding the shop, dreams for the future
- 31:00–34:13: Ben’s Dad joins, reflects on CboysTV’s growth
- 34:53–36:28: When making videos became “real business” to Ben’s Dad
- 38:16–42:10: Parental pride and concern—balancing excitement and fear
- 43:36–44:30: The story behind Ben’s work ethic: a tough life lesson
- 54:21–59:24: Motorcycle odyssey tales: Alaska, permafrost, and the kindness of strangers
- 62:05–64:41: Recounting a traumatic fatal accident in Oregon
- 68:00–68:56: Hilarious family memory of CJ puking in the car: “There was puke on the dash!”
Tone & Style
The episode is delivered in the familiar, lighthearted, and candid CboysTV style—blending self-deprecating humor, wild storytelling, and heartfelt reflections. The crew’s camaraderie is ever-present, and Ben's dad brings a touch of fatherly wisdom, nostalgia, and honesty to the proceedings.
Summary
This episode offers fans a rare perspective—what it’s like for a parent to watch a group of small-town friends grow a YouTube empire while staying grounded in work ethic and family memories. Whether you’re here for the shop talk, crazy challenge recaps, or life lessons from the Cboys and Ben’s dad, the episode is packed with laughs, heart, and genuine advice for creators and dreamers alike.