The Antihero Broadcast
Host: Tyler
Co-host: Mike
Date: January 20, 2026
Episode: PATREON TUESDAY (Patreon-exclusive, extra candid, inside look)
Audience: Veterans, first responders, blue collar Americans
Overview
This Patreon Tuesday episode is an unfiltered, highly interactive session with the tight-knit Antihero Broadcast community. Tyler and Mike dig into ongoing show production challenges, their anti-corporate, loyal-to-the-boys brand philosophy, thoughts on divisive public figures, gender roles in tough jobs, and open the floor to Patreon members for genuine feedback as they evolve. The episode features heavy behind-the-scenes discussion, including production struggles, the Brent saga, merch details, live event planning, and some sharp-edged cultural commentary—all in the duo’s signature irreverent tone.
Key Topics & Insights
1. Behind the Curtain: Show Production & Patreon Value
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Production Growing Pains
- Wrestle with staff roles (notably Lewis’ inexperience as producer), exploring how larger shows run full teams, and debating how much structure/analytics to add (“I don’t want to robotize it. Robotize it? Is that a word?” — Mike, 39:01).
- Share Matt the Growth Strategist’s lengthy recommendations for beefing up production and creating Patreon-exclusive value (43:47–45:00).
- Weigh need for careful show topic preparation vs. keeping conversations organic and ‘for the boys.’
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Engagement, Feedback & Transparency
- Openly solicit opinions from Patreon members about exclusive content tiers, opsec/vetting, and how to ensure core supporters always come first (“This is a show for the boys, by the boys…” — Tyler, 51:34).
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Patreon Tiers, OPSEC, and Future Exclusivity
- Serious discussion about how to keep out “nefarious” types without pricing out genuine supporters (“People with bad intent will spend good money to screw somebody over…” — Peter, 65:46).
- Brainstorm ideas for closed, trust-rich small group tiers and honest polling (52:08–54:51).
2. Raw Banter: News and Cultural Commentary
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Don Lemon, Activism, and Identity Politics ([03:25–09:52])
- Unfiltered takes on Don Lemon’s recent activism in a Minnesota church, his media persona (“He’s a fraud, dude. Fraud, fraud.” — Mike, 08:23), and broader gripes about performative outrage.
- Frequent jokes and biting humor about Lemon’s marriage, race, motives, and media spins.
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Gender Roles in “Dirty, Dangerous Jobs” ([16:15–24:33])
- Riff on viral videos about women working in male-dominated jobs.
- Strong, controversial opinions about physical/hard labor industries, why men and women are different in survival roles, and how women shift group dynamics in male-only fields.
- Personal experiences from law enforcement and blue-collar work provided as evidence (“You throw a woman in a male dominated industry, it fucks everything up...” — Tyler, 18:35).
3. The 'Brent Split,' Building for the Future, & Brand Loyalty
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Brent’s Departure: The Real Story ([70:45–76:31])
- Frank talk about how former co-host Brent left without proper statements, how it affected the show/ownership, and why Mike stepped up (“I offered then I was like, if I have to drive over here every week, twice a week… it's not gonna fail…” — Mike, 71:09).
- Reassurance to Patreon backers that the brand is in better, more loyal hands now (“...the show would not be here if it wasn't for Mike.” — Tyler, 79:58).
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Friendship, Trust, and Business ([78:34–81:18])
- Contrast former purely business relationships with the current friendship-based leadership.
- Honesty about disagreements, decision-making, and “for the boys, by the boys” ethos.
4. Merch, Side Hustles, and Real-World Business
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Merch Operations Deep-Dive ([89:33–94:50])
- Explain drop-shipping, profit margins, custom orders for Patreon, and how they’d rather build community than chase margins.
- Banter about Mike's "Dogs Over People" side business, Shopify woes, and hilarious copyright disputes (“Yeah, I'm not ordering it from you.” — a prospective customer, [98:00–100:15]).
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Custom Merch Promise for Patreon
- Announcement: Top Patreon tiers will get custom merch (name/number/label) if they want, just DM Mike.
5. Community, Events, and Live Engagement
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Live Show Planning ([98:18–99:54])
- Aspirations to get on the road, meet the community, and reinforce in-person connection.
- Discussion of event sabotage concern by past associates, importance of “riding for the brand.”
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Loyalty vs. “Spies” ([103:39–104:17])
- Real talk on how betrayal and sabotage come sometimes from the closest circles (especially in law enforcement).
- Mike: “I would never in a million years, Mike…dedicate my life to destroying you. But you got people that will do all of that and more for the dumbest reason.”
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
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On Don Lemon, Identity, and Media Outrage:
- “He’s a…He’s been entitled his whole life, and he’s married to a white guy, so he’s never struggled…He preaches oppression. He’s got everything, including a white husband.” — Mike, 04:06
- “He couldn’t even hack it at CNN. He’s irrelevant…just gets to an irrelevant status, and now it’s like, what can I do to get myself back out here?” — Mike, 09:38
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On Gender and Blue Collar Jobs:
- “I just don’t think women are tough as men. They can bear children…But I’m talking about…an oil rig for 10 months…They’re just built different.” — Mike, 17:11
- “You throw a woman in a male dominated industry, it fucks everything up, it fucks it all up.” — Tyler, 18:35
- “I trust male doctors more, male nurses more. Women have their strengths…” — Tyler, 16:47
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On Show Philosophy and Audience Trust:
- “This is a show for the boys, by the boys, so keep that in mind.” — Tyler, 51:34
- “I don’t want to robotize it. Robotize it? Is that a word?...I want to be regular dudes. I don't want it to be a job-job.” — Mike, 39:01
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On the Brent Departure & Brand Survival:
- “If I have to drive over here every week, twice a week, whatever it is…It’s not gonna fail. Like, we won’t let it fail.” — Mike, 71:09
- “...the show would not be here if it wasn't for Mike. And you guys can take that how it is. But I'm telling you…” — Tyler, 79:58
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Comic Relief/Classic Banter:
- “You ever jerk a horse off?” — Clint, 26:28 (and ensuing riff from Mike and Tyler)
- “You throw a handful of chicks on an oil rig for 10 months—no way. No way…” — Tyler/Mike, 17:47–18:37
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Don Lemon & Minnesota Church Incident: [03:25–09:52]
- Controversial Takes: Gender Roles in Work: [16:15–24:33]
- Audience Q&A on Patreon Structure, OPSEC: [51:34–54:51], [65:46–67:11]
- Patreon Feedback and Merch Customization: [84:13–94:50]
- Brent Departure, Leadership Philosophy, Brand Survival: [70:45–81:18]
- Side Hustles & Merch Logistics: [89:33–100:51]
- Event Planning / Locking Down “Friends Only” Events: [98:18–103:53]
- Comic Relief/Banter/Personal Life: [26:28, 79:58–113:30]
Tone & Style
Consistently irreverent, informal—heavy on sarcasm, off-color jokes, and “for the boys” loyalty. Reliant on real-world experience, not polish. Ad reads, production woes, and business transparency all handled in a frank, sometimes self-deprecating fashion.
Summary for New Listeners
This Patreon Tuesday is a behind-the-scenes, community-driven session that highlights what makes the Antihero Broadcast unique: fiercely loyal hosts, no-nonsense perspectives on tough blue-collar and first responder work, and a strong commitment to transparency, honesty, and listener feedback. There are sharply opinionated takes on cultural topics (Don Lemon, gender in heavy industry), an inside look at how the show is produced and managed, and a heartfelt segment about the show’s survival and thriving after key personnel changes. From merch details to metrics, every facet is laid bare “for the boys”—with no corporate script and no fear of controversy.
