The Bryce Crawford Podcast — The Island Boys Interview
September 1, 2025

Episode Overview

Bryce Crawford sits down with the Island Boys—Fly Soldier and Kodiak Red—for a frank, wide-ranging conversation about faith, family, trauma, fame, money, sexuality, and their tumultuous journey in and out of the public eye. Centered on Christianity, the episode explores themes of redemption, brokenness, and the search for real peace in a world obsessed with success and pleasure. The conversation is interwoven with candid admissions about their past, their careers, struggles with lust, the OnlyFans controversy, and spiritual questions about Jesus and purpose.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Island Boys’ Background, Family Life & Brotherhood

• Juvenile System & Upbringing:
  The twins discuss growing up in West Palm Beach, not Miami, and their difficult adolescence—being in and out of the juvenile system from ages 13 to 18.
  • Fly Soldier: "We were in the system from 13 all the way to 18 years old... did almost like two years in a juvenile prison." (06:00)
• Brotherly Relationship and Distance:
  Since boxing each other for publicity, the brothers have grown apart, partly due to rehab, romantic relationships, and physical distance.
  • Kodiak Red: "I put myself in the front line. I made myself look stupid. But I saw the vision with us, and I still do of course, but... things turned distant." (02:57)

2. Fame, Music, and Controversy

• Path to Fame:
  Inspired during incarceration, they became rappers, leveraging haters and internet trolls to boost their exposure using "the 6ix9ine method."

  • Fly Soldier: "We used the hate for fame...we would rile up a bunch of haters on live, troll them so they could click our link." (08:42)

• Symbolism & Tattoos:
  The eagle tattoo, influenced by Kodak Black, became part of their image and helped link them to other rappers.

  • Kodiak Red: "I saw Kodak come out of jail...he had a vulture...I could do it a little bit better...so I got a bald eagle." (09:24)

3. Money, OnlyFans, and Moral Cost

• OnlyFans Controversy:
  The twins famously made millions on OnlyFans, stirring controversy by releasing videos of them kissing each other for profit—a decision they now view with regret.
  • Fly Soldier: "That's the devil right there. That was the greed. Money, greed, money, greed." (84:02)
  • Fly Soldier: "I was making 1.5 mil a month...just for kissing each other...but it didn't feel right. I felt shameful, I felt guilty, I felt not fulfilled." (85:21, 85:47)
  • Kodiak Red: "I always make a joke and say the devil's play money." (85:09)
• Aftermath & Conviction:
  The brothers state they feel "praise God" that OnlyFans banned their accounts, calling the money empty and likening the experience to "the devil's play money."
  • Fly Soldier: "I'm completely against OnlyFans because...you're selling yourself. You're selling your soul. That's how I look at it. And you got a dollar sign. That's Illuminati right there." (88:07)

4. Struggles with Lust, Addiction, and Seeking Fulfillment

• Candid Discussion on Lust:
  The Island Boys open up about their past sexual addictions, linking it to attempts to fill emotional voids after drugs.
  • Fly Soldier: "I was trying to tell my mind I needed this girl on Monday...Tuesday...Wednesday...and if I wasn't, I was jerking my...that was my addiction." (52:05)
• Bryce’s Personal Testimony:
  Bryce shares his own story of crippling anxiety and a suicide plan, and how a supernatural encounter with Jesus at a Waffle House changed his life.
  • Bryce Crawford: "So the night I was planning on taking my life...Jesus encountered me when I was in that Waffle House, and he stopped me...I haven't had crippling anxiety or depression since that day." (19:22)

5. Views on God, Jesus, and Spirituality

• The Island Boys’ Beliefs:
  Both express belief in a higher power but remain noncommittal toward organized religion, leaning into a more "spiritual" worldview.
  • Kodiak Red: "I'm not, like, 100% religious...But I believe that there's a higher power. I believe in God's presence." (13:19)
  • Fly Soldier: "We don't think much of, like, who created us. We think more of, like, what is our purpose of being in here?" (18:38)
• Skepticism about Mainstream Christianity:
  Red expresses concerns that some Christian followers appear delusional or only "convert" for social media attention, referencing OnlyFans models.
  • Kodiak Red: _"Are a little come off delusional...They went through so much with pregnancies...now they're like 'I'm into Christianity.'" (39:20)
• Bryce on Christianity vs. Manifestation:
  He argues faith in Jesus is not about faking perfection, and distinguishes prayer from the popular "manifestation" movement, warning the latter "doesn't care about you."
  • Bryce: "Manifestation doesn't care about you. If we're not communicating with God, then who are we communicating with? We're communicating with the devil." (35:26)

6. The Search for True Peace

• Misplaced Hopes:
  All guests agree that society promises happiness in success, fame, money, and substances—but none have delivered lasting peace.
  • Bryce Crawford: "The peace that I believe every human being looks for in money, fame, sex, drugs, alcohol...I found just by giving my life to Jesus." (29:02, 09, 85:47)
• Joy vs Happiness:
  Discussion about the difference between fleeting happiness and deeper joy or contentment, found only through spiritual means.
  • Bryce Crawford: "Happiness is temporary...but joyful joy is like something I was searching. I wanted this eternal peace, and I was trying to find peace in everything else." (23:04)

7. Industry Darkness & Illuminati Stories

• Both denounce aspects of the music industry as "devilish" and "Illuminati," claiming multiple personal encounters with darkness, deception, and manipulation from major figures, notably citing Kodak Black.
  • Fly Soldier: "We find it like demonic because it’s so fake...it’s devil talk...not working on anybody’s other time. Puppets. Be free by the name of God." (26:05–27:14)
• Retell eerie stories involving Kodak Black they interpret as figurehead of spiritual darkness.
  • Fly Soldier: "He said, sometimes I gotta sell my soul for them to pay attention...When I called him, he was acting completely demonic. Not godly." (63:13)

8. Redemption, Growth & Hope

• Current Focus:
  Fly Soldier is focused on creating family content and being present for his children, candidly sharing about his son's time in NICU and an ongoing custody battle with his daughter’s mother.
  • Fly Soldier: "When my son was in the NICU...it was the most harshest time in my life...I went through it because I didn’t want [my partner] to go through it." (67:32)
• Kodiak Red’s New Perspective:
  Red values calm and positivity, spending time in nature, and keeping away from drama. He acknowledges self-doubt but is working to boost his self-worth.
  • Kodiak Red: "I live a pretty calm, peaceful life...drama free...My self worth should be always high. That took me some time to realize." (78:54)
• Mentoring & Trust:
  The brothers discuss the difficulty of finding trusted mentors due to their backgrounds, expressing envy at Bryce's ability to trust his faith community and friends.

9. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On OnlyFans & Regret:
  • Fly Soldier: "The money that I was receiving, it didn't feel right. I felt shameful, I felt guilty, I felt not fulfilled." (85:47)
• On Struggling with Lust:
  • Fly Soldier: "Every week was a different girl. And if I wasn't, I was jerking my...that was my addiction." (52:05)
• On Redemption:
  • Bryce Crawford: "If I put my faith in Jesus ... then I get to be with God for an eternity. ... Repentance means a change in mind that leads to a change in action." (29:02–31:20)
• On Jesus Loving Brokenness:
  • Fly Soldier: "But why does he like the broken me?" (37:53)
  • Bryce Crawford: "People that think they know it all and have it all together...can't do anything with the prideful, right...But if I give my all to God, he can do something about it." (38:00)
• On Real Freedom:
  • Fly Soldier: "Freedom to me is...wake up and say thank you, God...me do me moving with the joys of God and that's it. Not being a puppet...the industry is fake and it's all Illuminati and it's all demonic and it could absorb you." (26:38)
• On OnlyFans Banning Them:
  • Fly Soldier: "That's when I realized that that money...didn't feel right. I felt shameful, I felt guilty, and I felt not fulfilled." (85:47)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–05:00: Candid talk about their relationship, boxing match, and growing distance
• 05:54–11:18: Early life, time in juvenile system, first ambitions in music
• 13:10–16:18: The brothers’ spiritual beliefs and experiences of near-death and addiction
• 19:16–24:39: Bryce’s testimony—depression, suicidal thoughts, and his encounter with Jesus
• 29:02–32:24: Bryce on forgiveness, grace, repentance, and practical spirituality
• 39:20–42:10: Island Boys’ skepticism of public religious conversions
• 47:58–48:47: Discussion on overcoming hate, anger, and showing love to “enemies”
• 52:05–54:10: Open conversation about lust, addiction, and coping strategies
• 63:12–66:01: Illuminati stories, "evil" in the music industry, and Kodak Black
• 67:32–79:55: Updates on Fly Soldier’s and Kodiak Red’s current lives and struggles
• 84:02–85:47: Reflections on OnlyFans, shame, and guilt
• 87:19–88:47: Lasting impact of choices and the reality of "joyful money" vs. empty money

Tone and Style

The episode is raw and confessional. Both the host and guests are honest, sometimes irreverent, but show respect when discussing personal pain and faith. There’s humor, but also gravity as they grapple with trauma, regret, and the longing for purpose. Bryce’s evangelistic approach is gentle, logical, and non-judgmental, anchoring the conversation in scriptural principles while giving plenty of space for the Island Boys’ skepticism and personal experiences.

Summary

This episode of The Bryce Crawford Podcast offers an unusually candid look at the inner lives of the Island Boys, unflinchingly examining fame, mistakes, trauma, and the search for ultimate peace. Both guests reveal deep wounds, regrets, and questions about faith, openly wrestling with the tension between worldly gain and spiritual longing. Bryce’s testimony provides a hopeful anchor, suggesting that redemption and true peace are found not in money or image but in surrender to God. The conversation, rich in storytelling and vulnerability, is a must-listen for anyone interested in faith, fame, or finding meaning beyond the mirage of social media success.