#664 - Crooners Welcome

Summary

Podcast Summary: This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Episode #664 – Crooners Welcome
Date: June 21, 2026
Host: Theo Von

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Episode Overview

In this solo episode, Theo Von returns to his signature style of riffing on recent experiences, listener calls, and his unique worldview. The episode wades through subjects ranging from greasy tacos, rodeo adventures, reflections on self-worth, and relationships, to biting commentary on modern technology, AI, and the Nashville Zoo data center controversy. As always, Theo blends humor, vulnerability, and authentic conversation, including live call-ins and heartfelt advice.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

"Life's Greasy, Like Al Pastor"

• [00:30-03:28]: Theo opens recounting a recent experience at a food stall, ordering "al pastor" and riffing on the name and its religious connotations.
• Ruminates on the greasiness of the food: “It’s greasy for sure, but like, I didn’t want it like that.” – Theo [03:08]
• Compares greasy food to life: “Sometimes it’s like, is Al Pastor, bro? Sometimes it’s greasy, you know, sometimes it’s just... Life’s just a second class meat, bro. ...But I’m still an entree, baby.” – Theo [04:28]
• Launches into a metaphor about menus as life’s choices and communal vs. individual experiences.

Stagecoach & Discovering He's a “Crooner”

• [05:25-08:25]: Theo recounts being on stage at the Stagecoach festival with Ella Langley:
  • “At first, I was, like, really nervous... But when I got out there... I said, dang, I’m a mountain lion.” [06:38]
• Comes to realize he identifies as a “crooner,” not a traditional singer:
  • “A crooner is a male singer who performs sentimental songs and jazz standards using a smooth, low, and highly intimate voice, bro. That’s me.” [07:20]
  • Uses the analogy of “doing the baseboards” in a house rather than painting the whole thing – his contribution is understated but crucial.
  • Enthusiastically experiments with “stair step vocals” on-air.

Rumors, Judgement, and Mental Health

• [09:20-11:40]: Addresses internet rumors about his well-being:
  • “You know, people thought I was gonna delete myself... That’s a crazy thing to have going around.” [10:08]
  • Receives awkward condolence texts from family and friends: “They put black and white and put a couple doves on it, bro.” [11:00]
  • Finds humor in the bizarre speculation and expresses gratitude for being alive.

Rodeo Culture: Observations & Wild Names

• [11:50-16:50]: Shares recent experiences at the Franklin and Music City Rodeos.
  • Details the mix of riders: “You see these rodeo babies, these cowboys and cowgirls out there...” [12:10]
  • Recites a list of outrageously named rodeo participants like “Shorty Garrett,” “Lefty Holman,” and jokingly, “Pelvis Shatterford” and “Wheelchair Montgomery.” [13:50]
  • Marvels at the physical risk, camaraderie, and spectacle.
  • Humorous insight: “Bronc riding... That's like trying to give your ex-wife a hug at Applebee’s.” [15:00]
  • Expresses admiration for barrel racers and suggests interest in rodeo history.

Thoughts on History, Branding, & American Originality

• [18:17-19:54]: Briefly muses on the origins of rodeo and Mountain Dew, employing vivid metaphors:
  • “I always thought it just kind of appeared one day, you know, just like a stork brought it from a beverage universe.” [19:30]

The Coffee Shop Crush Saga

• [21:15-23:36]: Illustrates the lengths he’d go to impress a barista:
  • “I would leave out of there with like extra cinnamon... I had so much coffee in my car... if I even got in my car and cut the heat on... I’d be awake for one month.” [22:23]

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Listener Calls & Theo's Advice

Jealousy in Relationships

• [26:48-33:28]
  Caller: Michael from Utah: Struggling with jealousy over his girlfriend’s past.
• Theo’s advice is introspective and vulnerable:
  • “I created unrealistic expectations for people that they could never live up to...” [28:10]
  • “If I’m holding something like that against somebody...that really says something about me.” [28:41]
  • Admits using the past as an excuse to keep one foot out of relationships: “It gave me a chance to have one foot out... But imagine if you could be the person this girl doesn’t ever have to worry again.” [31:00]
• Notable Quote: “What if we could all be brave enough...to love the person that we love, like, we know they should be loved.” [33:28]

Being a Father Without a Role Model

• [33:51-36:12] Caller: Jared from Indiana: Wants to be a better father than he had.
• Theo’s advice: “I would write down the stuff maybe that you feel like you didn’t get, and then you’ll kind of have your answers.” [35:06]
  • Reflects on judgment from parents: “The only look I see in a parent’s eyes is judgment, then that's all I’m gonna do of myself.” [36:12]
• Encourages caller, wishes him Happy Father’s Day, and shouts out his son “OT.”

Should I Have Let That Guy Buy Beer?

• [37:12-39:21] Caller: Mason: Unsure if he did the right thing by not stopping a man with Down syndrome from buying beer.
• Theo's response is characteristic in both its humor and compassion:
  • “If a guy has down syndrome, give him a fucking drink. Give him a break, man. Cut his work hours a little bit.” [38:10]
  • “People want to feel included. Buying beer is kind of a ritual when you’re underage.” [39:10]
• Anecdotes about inclusive misadventures from his youth.

Data Centers, AI, and Community Fears

• [41:03-46:20] Caller: Amy Tompkins: Concerned about an AI data center being built near Nashville Zoo/elementary school.
• Theo's passionate take on AI and technology:
  • “Nobody wants a data center, dude. Nobody wants it.” [44:30]
  • Paranoid—yet comedic—theorizing about living forever, surveillance states, and society’s dependence on data: “Some people know how to live forever. They’ve cracked the code. ...They’re creating these data centers.” [44:52]
  • Critique of AI as a false “new God.”
• Adds, “They’re putting it by a zoo, it’s like they’re rubbing it in our face…” [45:58]
• Info about the responsible company (DC Blocks) and local opposition efforts.

Nashville Stadium Development

• [54:45-55:50] Caller: Chuck Holland from “good old Orlenda, Tennessee:” Works on the new Titans stadium.
• Theo: “I like the old stadium. I’m kind of a romanticist... I like old schooler stuff, traditional stuff.” [55:23]
  • Expresses concern Nashville is becoming “more of a tourist destination than it is a place like a home.”

Celebrating Sobriety (5 Years Clean)

• [56:59-62:37] Caller: Nate: Celebrates five years of sobriety, living in the present, and free of addiction.
• Theo calls Nate live to congratulate him:
  • “Just sucking life through the tailpipe, you know? It’s just like, I’m living it raw and it’s just so rewarding and free feeling.” – Nate [60:53]
  • Nate shares that he didn’t believe recovery was possible, but now feels grateful and alive.
  • Theo: “Sometimes I get scared to share that stuff...but I don’t know how else to be sometimes.” [62:06]
  • “Enjoy your walk, dude. Congratulations, bro. And talk to you soon.” [62:30]
• Heartwarming, hopeful close to the segment.

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Additional Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “I’m a second class meat. I’m a third or fourth class meat sometimes, bro, but I’m still an entree, baby.” [04:15]
• “I'm that low lung monster. You find me in the bottom of your lungs, baby girl.” [08:09]
• On AI & data: “He’s just got emails stuck in his skin...We don’t want any data, bro.” [43:00]
• “There’s nothing more altercated, bro, than when somebody hadn’t paid that alimony or whatever, child support.” [16:11]
• On Mountain Dew: “I always thought it just kind of appeared one day, just like a stork brought it from a beverage universe.” [19:30]
• “You gotta keep finding somebody who wants to walk, bro.” [59:44]

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Timestamps for Core Segments

• 00:30-04:25 – Greasy Al Pastor, life metaphors, and self-worth
• 05:25-08:29 – Stagecoach, singing, Theo’s “crooner” identity
• 09:20-11:40 – Internet rumors about mental health
• 11:50-16:50 – Rodeo culture, wild names, and vivid analogies
• 26:48-33:28 – Advice on jealousy in relationships (Michael)
• 33:51-36:12 – Advice for a father without a father (Jared)
• 37:12-39:21 – Beer and Down syndrome ethics (Mason)
• 41:03-46:20 – Data center controversy, Theo’s vision of AI dystopia (Amy)
• 54:45-55:50 – Titans stadium development feelings (Chuck)
• 56:59-62:37 – Celebrating five years of sobriety (Nate, call-in live)

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Tone & Style

The episode is laden with Theo’s signature wit, metaphors, and Southern charm, interspersed with heartfelt introspection and real advice. The humor remains off-beat and compassionate, even in the face of serious questions, and the show’s strength lies in its vulnerability and community among listeners.

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For First-Time Listeners

You’ll find equal parts absurd humor, Southern storytelling, and raw honesty. Theo’s unorthodox advice, playful rants on modern life and technology, and ability to connect on real issues—self-worth, fatherhood, addiction, and love—make this episode a portrait of the podcast at its best.

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Notable Calls to Action

• Sign the petition against the Nashville Zoo data center: "Nashville Zoo says no to proposed data center" on Change.org [52:15]
• Listener hotline open: 985-664-9503

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Final Note:
As Theo says, “You gotta keep finding somebody who wants to walk, bro... Things can be okay. Nothing's perfect, but things can be okay, right?” [59:48, 62:46]

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Theo Vaughn]

You could say that again.

[Commercial Announcer]

Critics are calling it Pixar's funniest movie ever and a wildly entertaining ride. Blizzard Potato. It's certified fresh and verified hot.

[Theo Vaughn]

Now we party. This is incredible. Wow. I am clearing the rest of the day.

[Commercial Announcer]

Disney and Pixar's Hoppers now available on Disney. Rated pg.

[Theo Vaughn]

I want to share with you that you can now officially buy or rent Busboys, the movie on Apple, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Fandango home. You can also go directly to busboys movie.com for a 48 hour rental there. And if you want something special, they got a dvd. It's limited edition. Only a thousand of those exist and you can grab those@busboys movie.com as well. And thank you, David Fade, for letting me just go on that adventure with you, champ. Amen. All right, what's going on, baby? It's greasy, but you know, it's greasy. Dude. I. I was at. Where was that? Some little, little area or something the other day and, like a food area. And they had a fella and he was selling food, you know, and Mexican food and. And he's like, he puts it on my plate and it's like, it was really like. Like it had like a lot of grease or something. Like, I think it was called al pastor or whatever. And it was a new type of meat. Like 15 years ago, they didn't have it right. And then suddenly it's like on the meat, when you look at the meats or whatever on the section on the menu or sometimes they put a menu like up in the air at a, like at a restaurant or whatever. If you're over at a. At a. You know, you stop in a little restaurant, a little Mexican restaurant, or you're at an Arby's or. So they'll have. On the menu. They have a menu up in the air where everybody can read it at the same time. Because some places, if it's a little someplace, they give you your own menu. In some places, they want everybody to read it together, like group reading or something. You know, my family and stuff. Sometimes we'd go after church and we'd all hold hands and read the menu together and people would yell f or whatever at us. But that doesn't matter. Anyway, what am I talking about? Oh, so I was saying, dude. So the guy, he, I'll order the food that al pastor. Because I'm thinking, oh, the pastor, right? This, you know, I'm thinking, yeah, I want to connect with the pastor.

[Podcast Caller]

I don't know.

[Theo Vaughn]

We just come from church. I'm thinking, like, it's a. It's a religious thing. You know, I'm going to order

[Podcast Caller]

al

[Theo Vaughn]

pastor or whatever, but it's al pastor. It's Spanish, right? And it's. And then. Let me see what it means here, Pastor Mecca. Popular Mechanish Mecca. Sin dish. Marinated pork. And shaved off. It says also shaved off. Vertical split, shaved off. So if this is something that's, you know, it's shaved off. But anyway, the guy puts it on the plate and he's like, oh, it's. It's greasy, you know? And it had, like, a lot of grease in it. He's like, man, it's really greasy. And he's looking at me like. Like I'm supposed to do something, like, I just bought it from you. He's. He's acting like. Like, I made it, like, greasy or something. I didn't make it greasy. You served it to me. He's like, man, it's really greasy, huh? It's greasy. I'm like, yeah, it's greasy, bro. It's greasy for sure. But, like, I didn't want it like that. And then I went and ate it. I'm sitting there eating it and. And he looks over at me from behind the counter like, man, it's greasy, huh? And I'm like, yeah, I mean, you may. You made it. You knew it was greasy when you give it to me, but it's crazy. That's like, say you buy a car for me, and then before you come get it, I take all the windows out of it and shit. And I'm like, man, this is windy in here, huh? Like, yeah, like, you took the windows out, right? Like, if. Yeah, yeah, it is windy. It shouldn't be, but you know why it is, right? Like, that was the thing. And, bro, some people don't even know that. Windows. They put them to stop the wind, right? People don't even realize because people were sitting in a car, they used to not have any windows in there. So you'd be sitting in a car and people would just be in there just cold. Just like, oh. And then they put the wind O's in and it stopped the O's and it stopped the wind. So I think for me, it's just kind of like, how has my week been? Or whatever is, you know? It's been life, bro. It's been life, bro. Sometimes it's like, is Sal Pastor, bro? Sometimes it's greasy, you know, sometimes it's just. Life's just a second class meat, bro. It's a second class meat. And that's okay, bro, you know, it's still a. It's still an entree, bro. It's still an entree. I'm a second class meat. I'm a third or fourth class meet sometimes, bro, but I'm still an entree, baby. Gang, I'm upstairs. Amen, bro. Good to see you guys today. Good to be here. It's been a while, bro, since we checked in on a solo episode. We had Stagecoach. I hadn't checked in with y' all since we had a Stagecoach adventure. And, man, that was a time, bro. You know, I got to go on stage at Stagecoach. And you should. It's. It's in the name of the place, right? Stage coach. What do you think I'm expect when I get there? You know, so. But yeah, I got to go on stage out there with Ms. Ella Langley. And boy, I'll tell you, ifs. I felt like a mountain lion out there. At first I was, like, really nervous, you know, because I had to do my lines. But when I got out there, I did a couple lines and then I looked around, I said, dang, I'm a mountain lion. And that's how I felt. I was just. I don't know, it was just like, you know, it was just like the Lord was just tossing chunks of magic to people and I caught one. That's what I felt like. It was pretty. Yeah, it was pretty. It was a. It was an amazing experience just to get out there. I'm not a singer, right? I'm not a singer by nature, right? If you ask me to sing, bro, it's greasy. You feel me, bro? That's how it is, bro. That's how it is with me. But I am. I did realize this, bro. I'm a crooner, bro. I'm a crooner. Let me see what a crooner is. Crooner, plural. A crooner is a male singer who performs sentimental songs and jazz standards using a smooth, low, and highly intimate voice, bro. That's me. Because the song, it would just like a singer might be like, and this is what it's all about. But the crooner, bro, he just comes in at the end, bro. He touches up. He's like the kind of guy that does the baseboards in your house, right? He don't do all the painting, baby, but he'll come in and just. You feel me? It's like, it's a magical time at the county fair. And then the crooner comes in and he's like, at the county fair. You feel me?

[Commercial Announcer]

That's him.

[Theo Vaughn]

So that's me, bro. You know what I'm saying? I'm not the singer. I'm not the painter. I'm not doing all of that. I'm not doing the architecture. I'm not doing all that. But when they come in and they need that dog at the end just to do, you know, You hear all those. That's called stair step vocals. I'm trying to think of another good popular song, Fly Me to the Moon. Something from this jet from the past 700 years. Oh, sorry, sorry. But that's like something like, Till you can. Like. Like, here's one like. Like, till you can't. Till you can't. Till you can't. That's Cody Johnson. Like, until you can. And then I come in, like, Till you can. I push that octave further till you can. So I don't do all the singing. I just come in and do that baseboard, baby. That's where they bring me in, bro. I'm that low lung monster. You feel me? I'm in a swamp, bro. They don't know I'm down there. And then I hit them with that, baby. I hit him with that Trace Atkins, baby. I'm that basement bad boy. You find me in the bottom of your lungs, baby girl. So, yeah, so that's so. So that's how I am. I'm a crooner, and that's it. I'm a crooner right there. Male singer who performs sentimental songs and jazz standards using smooth, low, and intimate voice, bro. So they got me out there, bro. But thank you, Ms. Langley, for having. Having me out. And that was a special time out there, and I'm glad everybody got to see it. It's scary to do something for the first time in front of a lot of folks. That's what I'm realizing. So what else? Yeah, what else did we have? Thank you guys. Thank everybody for just paying attention, being a part of this podcast and this. This experience. Love you guys, bro. Let me just say that. And, yeah, what's happening? What else was going on since we last did a solo? Oh, I. I got the. You know, people thought I was gonna delete myself. I don't know how you can share that or whatever, say, online that was. You know, people were saying that was going around, and that's a crazy thing to have going around, bro, because, you know, because then when you see people, they think you a ghost and shit, you know, Some black folks was like, oh, you want your ghost shit now, uncle? All right, ghost unk. And I'm like, damn, ghost, bro. Chill, bro. Chill,

[Podcast Caller]

bro.

[Theo Vaughn]

Yeah, that was crazy, dude, because I didn't even know that this had been happening. And then people are like, you know, I get a text from step, step family, and they're like, is everything okay? You know? And then some of the texts from other people started escalating. Like, damn, Remember when you was here, bro? Dang, it wasn't so long ago. And they'll put a picture of us, and they make it black and white, bro. Like, I'm like, dude, that picture's from four days ago. And they put black and white and put a couple doves on it, bro. And then they throw a stud out there, bruh. You know? I wish I haven't had a phone to call you. Just some of the texts you get, bro, it's like, dude, with everything that's happening, can I borrow your truck? And I'm like, what do you mean with everything that's happening, bro? And then they would put, like, a coffin and then a truck emoji. I'm like, wow. I'm like, yeah, you can, bro, but it don't have any windows. You feel me? It's. It's breezy. It's breezy in there. Oh, man, bruh. So, yeah, just grateful to God, bruh, that we continue to rock and we do it, you know? So that's what's going on, bro. What else? Oh, I got to go to the rodeo, man. I've actually been in two rodeos since I last did a solo episode. I've been over there to Franklin Rodeo, and I've been over there to the Music City Rodeo. Both of them beautiful. And, you know, you see a lot of these. These rodeo babies, these. These cowboys and cowgirls that are out there, you know? And I mean, you know, they had. Who do we see out there? We saw Rocker Steiners out there. Wakey Shala out there, and Wakey Shala. He broke a limb out there. Broke a limb. Lefty Holman, he was out there. Shorty Garrett. Shorty Garrett. And you think it's gonna be a brother, and it ain't Sam Peterson, man. I got to chat with him. Just. You just get to be around these fellows, man. Cade Sonier. Sonier. Sonier. Cade Sonier. Out of Louisiana, they had a Karen Croyer. Me, bruh. They had another rider out there to Baker Louisiana. I can't remember the name, but I got to walk in the locker room, and all of the. The rodeo people are there, and the clown, he's happy when he's out there, but in the back, he's putting on duct tape and he's stitching his own skin up because he's out there battling bulls. You know, he's out there. He's take. He's front lines against the dark animal arts out there. But, yeah, they got all. All the. All the riders. They're all. Every name. They're almost injured, bro. The names that they have, man. The names that they have, they're almost. You can tell they're almost gonna be maybe gonna be injured or something. It'd be, you know, they'll have shorty, lefty, broken Richardson, right pelvis Shatterford. You like pelvis Shatterford, bro. You know, I'm saying, somebody get him a diaper, bro. Get him an adult diaper, bro. Lacerated arm. Legerton, That's.

[Podcast Caller]

He's.

[Theo Vaughn]

He. He's riding today. Wheelchair Montgomery, bro. Crutches Johansson, he's over there. He's out of Utah. Yeah, they just, you know, that is just. Everybody's on the cusp of getting injured out there because these look. It's dangerous what these guys do. And these girls, they're warriors. They're out there. They're warriors out there with Animalia, and I love it. I love it. Dude, they let us get right on the back of. They let us get right on the back of the chutes, you know? And who was out there? Dusty, right? Can you look that up for me? Is it the right brothers now? Not the people that flew over there out of Kitty Hawk? I'm talking about the young. These are. Yeah, this is some of them right here. Stetson. Rusty. I think there was only two of them maybe that were there. But, dude, these boys, they some young bangers, bruh. They Some young bangers, man. Some warriors. We got to get a few of them on the podcast at some point, but just to get to see. We're right up on the chute, and they were doing bareback horse, but also bronc. Can you let me. Let me look up what bronc is bronc riding? What is bronc riding? Bronc riding is a classic rodeo event where a cowboy attempts to ride a bucking bronc. No, a bucking horse, AKA a bronc, for eight seconds while holding onto a single rein with one hand. Oh, that's like trying to give you your ex wife a hug. If you're over There at Applebee's or whatever. Say you're meeting up for you, you have a dual, you have a child that you co parent. You're meeting up over there at Rips or Don's, you know, or Applebee's or something. And you try to hug your ex wife or boom, that's the new rodeo right there. Hugging your ex wife, bro. She ain't letting you stay on there for eight seconds. She ain't letting you stay on there for two seconds, bruh. Let she get that check, you know what I'm saying? That that was my mother, bruh. She'd make my dad sit in a car if he didn't have that money. You sitting and we going inside to eat. You sit in the car, brother. There's nothing more altercated, there's nothing more altercated, bro, than when they haven't somebody hadn't paid that alimony or whatever, child support. But anyway, yeah, that's bronc riding, A classic rodeo event right there. And my favorite part of rodeo, I'll say this is the barrel riders. It's barrel racing, I think. And Miranda Lambert does it. She does it as a hobby. If you're listening, I'll put some. I'll put some video on the episode so you can see it. But man, them ladies, and when they hit that third barrel and they had him back, bro, the place gets lit, bro. Let's go. Just singing your heart out, you know, just for some potential lesbian, you know, just who's giving it her all out there. Praise God, baby. But yeah, I was right up on the chute, man. I was right up on the chute and some of the animals, man, they just like, dude, imagine the first person that ever saw a bull. Whoever saw a bull, he probably, he probably went right back to his friends and he said, hey, look, I saw this cow and it's not real happy. I saw a cow. This cow is not real happy. And some of the bulls. But I was on the shoot and some of the bulls, low key, bro, seem a little bit zesty, bro. You know, one of the bulls is like, hey, can you fix my hair for me? You know, I was like, I don't have any lotion or anything. He's like, oh, just use your hands, bro. It's greasy, you know, because I've been jumping around and one of the bulls straight up told me, he's like, bro, I like having young men on my back. I'm like, what? Like, who? Who do I report this to, dude? He's like, yeah, bro, I Like having these young men on my back for a little bit. He's like. But I get so excited that they fall off. I'm like, dang, bro. Bro. This horse needs to be in the Epstein files, bro. But, man, rodeo is a great sport, and there's something for the whole family, man. And you can sit there, you can enjoy yourselves. Get you some peanuts, bro. Get you a little bit of water, a little Gatorade or something, Some beer or something homemade, bro. Bring you a little deviled egg. Bring you a little de out if you've been keeping one in your pocket with a little piece of ice in there to keep it cool. What I want to say the history of the rodeo. Then we'll get into some calls. We had some calls that came in. I just want to learn about the rodeo, and I want to have a specialist on to talk about the rodeo. The rodeo originated in the 16th century Cattle culture of Mexico. It evolved from the livestock roundup and branding practices of Spanish settlers and their Mexican ranch hands known as vaqueros. Oy, mi vaquero. The term itself comes from the Spanish verb rodier, meaning to encircle or round up. The transition from ranch work to competitive sport took place in the American west following the Civil War during cattle drives and roundups, cowboys and vaqueros. Vaqueros began gathering informally to test their riding and roping skills. Impromptu contests between different ranchers and ranches started to spring up. Many historians point to Deer Trail, Colorado, hosting one of the earliest competitive cowboy contests in 1864. Vaquero. And shout out C.J. vaccary, who I went to school with growing up. I don't know if it's similar, close. I don't know. But he was a cowboy. I do remember that. I don't know if he rode or not, but. But he had it in his blood, brother. Praise God. Amen. But y' all would like to learn more about the rodeo? I need to get like a rodeo special, Somebody who knows the history of it. I need to search for that. Yeah, there's a lot of Latinos in there, a lot of Mexican guys, a lot of Brazilians, a lot of Canadians, a lot of Australians. When you see the lineups at these. At these rodeos, a lot of guys from Utah, Wyoming, Alberta, different places over there. You ever think about how something got its start, like Mountain Dew, for example? I always thought it just kind of appeared one day, you know, just like a stork brought it from a beverage universe or something, and then somebody saw it just sitting in a Cooler. Just glistening. Just glistening. But no, it's. It's actually. It's straight out of Tennessee, you know, that It's a real place, real people. It was two brothers working tirelessly to nail that citrus kick that we all know and love. It came from folks with grit and independence, doing things their own way, and somehow they bottled that. That attitude's still in it today. You hear that? That's attitude. Still bold, still unmistakable, still do. It's an American original that's been tasting great since 48. 1948. Red, white, and do. Right there. Done. Limited edition. It's a hometown story in a can. Next time you grab a do, just know it's more than. Than just a drink. It's an American original Mountain Dew. Tasting great since 48. They got a new minion now. His name's Dick. And I. I know how that sounds, but that's the name. That's what they landed on. And honestly, I respect the confidence. You'd have to really believe in a guy to name him that and put him up on the big screen. He's got one eye. He's got one eye, too. Yeah. Which I. I feel like if you've only got one eye, you've earned whatever name you want. Nobody's gonna argue with him. What are you gonna do? Look him in the eyes? He's. He's got. He's. He's got the one. He already won anyway. He's in a movie. Him and his buddies tried to make a monster picture, and the whole thing went sideways. And now there's real monsters loose in Hollywood. What happens next? You. You. You just have to get a ticket and see. The film's called Minions and Monsters out July 1st. If you like Woody, you'll love Dick. Go see Dick with your family. There's genuinely just. There's no good way to say that. I tried. And. And here we are. Tickets on sale now. Uh, when I first moved into Tennessee, I would go to this coffee place and. And I was trying. I was like, flirt. I was like, flirt with the girl that worked there. But, bruh, I was like, I. I just. I couldn't eat. Like, I was nervous, right? And so I was nervous to flirt with her. But anyway, I remember she'd be like, well, do you want this with your coffee? And I would just take whatever extra thing. She's like, yeah, you want the foam on it? Cold foam, fur, whatever they put on it. I'll be like, yeah, I'll take. Yeah, give me a little bit. Cinn. Want. Yeah, yeah. You want cinnamon, Dude? I would leave out of there with like extra cinnamon, like in a little. To go, like, just like I'd have like a 27 coffee in there, dude. I had, I was buying all the roast from her. She had like Ghana, the missing person roast or whatever that they came out with for that kid or whatever. I bought the, I bought the boating at like this stuff. They did a fundraiser for a boating accident. I bought that. I had so much coffee in my car. I had like the stuff from like Estonia, Zimbabwe, like the. All the Middle east, you know, Madagascar or whatever. I had like coffee for kids or whatever. And they shouldn't even have. Kids aren't even supposed to drink it. And I was. I had like 2 pounds of that in my car, dude. And I. If I even. I had so much coffee that I bought from this girl just to go talk to her. And at the end, like at one point, if I even got in my car and I cut the heat on, dude, it would just be like. It literally was turning into like a roaster in my car. And if I did the thing where you close the. So you don't get any outside air conditioning, you know, just like to smell myself type of whatever that setting is, bro. And you just put. Dude, it was. I would cut that on. I'd be awake for one month. Couldn't. Couldn't close my. There was so much coffee in my car. I remember going through a drive thru one time and somebody's like, oh, are you selling coffee? And I was like, no, what are you talking about? I'm just hitting on someone without some of the skills to do it. What do you mean you. Am I buying? You know, if I. Dude, I had, I had so much coffee, bro. If I even went and sat in my car, it would wake me up. People be like, dude, are you tired or whatever? I'm like, yeah, I am. I'm just gonna go. I go sit in my car for 50 seconds. I'd come back in and I'd be fine. Be I could work for another half a day. That's how it was. I was turned. Vanny, we freaking turn. Shout out to my boy Diego Pavia over there in Baltimore, man. Blessings to him, bro. Yeah, what else is going on, bro? Let's take some calls. As always, the hotline, 985-664-9503. I got this one right here.

[Podcast Caller]

Ato, it's Michael from Utah.

[Theo Vaughn]

What's up, big Mike? Hey, Mike. Onward.

[Podcast Caller]

I've been with my girlfriend for about, you know, maybe eight Months now. And I love her. I love her, man, and she loves me. And the whole time we've been together, I've been. I've just been overtaken by all this jealousy, man, of kind of her past. And she's told me some things that, you know, she did before we met that, you know, don't. Don't exactly align with, you know, where I'm at or where I've been at, you know, And I've struggled to not hold it against her, you know, I struggled to forgive and forget and just accept and love unconditionally, you know? And I don't know, man. Things just keep coming up. I keep hearing things and kind of just hurts. And I know I'd probably do it to myself, but I'm just asking for maybe a little bit of your advice, man. What do you think, you know, maybe what can I do to just get outside of myself, you know, to stop. Stop putting myself in the center of the universe, you know, and just love?

[Theo Vaughn]

Dude, that's a great question, man. Wow. What can I do to just love, bro? Man, if every. If we. If that was our national anthem,

[Podcast Caller]

man,

[Theo Vaughn]

I bet we would all be in a different place or especially our international anthem as well. Yeah, I think, you know, there's some things, like, it's easy for me to say, right? Like, I. I've made some mistakes in this realm, man. I. I was jealous, you know, I kind of created unrealistic expectations for people that they could never live up to, you know, And. And I would hold, like, old stuff against girlfriends. Yeah, I've done that. Like, stuff they can't even, like, you know, how could people don't. Can't do time travel. They can't go change something. And so if I'm holding something like that against somebody, it's. And I know that they can't change it, then that's. It really says something about me, you know? And I need to make a choice. Do I either want to? Can I not. Can I really not live with it? Or am I just afraid of, like, what other people will think? You know, if I date somebody that's had, like, different, like, past partners or this or that, what are they going to think? I was always like, what. What would other people think of this girl I'm dating? What would other people think of her, man? I lost some good opportunities because of that. Now instead of, what would I think? What do I think? And maybe she need, bro. Maybe. What if it's like, hey, I'm gonna. I'm gonna be the person so you don't have to. Like, I wonder, does she even. Did she even want to, like, live in someone? Like, if out and about or if a. Or if it's a girl and a guy was out and about, like, maybe they didn't even really want to be living that way. And maybe now you're like this thing. You're this person. You're finally this person that's going to be like, I'm going to make sure they don't have, like. Like, I'm going to be there for them no matter what. So they don't have to. They. They don't ever have to, like, put themselves out there like that again. They're going to be fulfilled, right? They're gonna know that I'm here for them, you know? I don't know. Maybe. I don't know. I don't know if that's crazy to say. I can't. I haven't had success doing that. But I'm just thinking, man, what if. What if we were like, what if we were the kind of boyfriends that it was like, oh, I'm not gonna be like that. I'm not gonna hold your passing at you. I'm gonna. I'm gonna. I'm gonna make sure that you have somebody that's gonna be right there, you know? I'm gonna make sure you don't ever have to live that way again if you don't want to. That you don't have to operate in these certain circles if you don't want to, you know? I don't know. It's tough, dude. I was. Yeah, I wasn't good at it, man. I would just be like. Because it gave me something always this little, like, this little extra card of like, oh, why I can be upset, right? It gave me a chance to have one foot out of the relationship. That's the truth. That's the truth, bro. But imagine if you could be like, I'm going to be the person. This girl doesn't ever have to worry again. They don't ever have to worry if they're going to have. Somebody's going to be there for them. They don't ever have to, like, give themselves away to an environment they're not sure about. They don't. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm going to be. I'm going to be this man that they been needing. So. I don't know, man. I'm not preaching that. I'm just thinking out loud. What if the calendar did that to us? Right. What if the calendar. And I don't know who owns the calendar or whatever, probably Bezos or Lutnick or whatever. But what if the calendar. Like, you'd had a day years ago, that wasn't good, right? Or you had a week years ago that wasn't even that good, right? And what if the calendar just suddenly, like, made you relive that? Like, life's going a certain way, and now the calendar is like, oh, I'm throwing in 2011 at you. It was a Wednesday. Remember that? Bam. And you're like, what the. This was so long. I got to do this. So that's kind of like. Kind of what I was doing when I was acting like that. I was like, what about this old thing, this old day, this old relationship? You know? Why don't we live that again? Why don't we go through that again? Because I didn't want. I. I really didn't want there to be enough. I wanted a reason that this wasn't going to work. That's what I wanted, but it's not really what I wanted. What I really wanted was I wanted it to work, but I was afraid to commit to it. I was afraid to commit to it. So let me keep bringing these old things along. Let me keep bringing these old hurdles, but one day, somebody will get tired of jumping over those with you, bro. And then you just stand in there with a bunch of old hurdles and shit, just like a PE coach that's out of work, that's been just using in their car at lunch or whatever and that. So anyway, I don't know if that helps or not, bro, but, man.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Theo Vaughn]

What if we could all be brave enough, you know, to love the person that we. That we love? Like, we know they should be loved. Right? I think that's what I mean, bro. What if we could all be brave enough to do that? But praise God, bro. Let's get another one, man. What we got here?

[Podcast Caller]

Hey, Theo. This is Jared from Indiana.

[Theo Vaughn]

What's up, Jared? And congratulations on your new Indiana Bears. Onward. Love your show. I was just wondering if you've got

[Podcast Caller]

any advice for a man who never had a father and now he's trying to raise three boys. The youngest one's one, and I named them after you. I love everything you do. I just. I don't know.

[Theo Vaughn]

I want to be the father that

[Podcast Caller]

I never had, but sometimes it gets hurt, man. You can probably hear him in the background, but if you got any advice for me. Love you, ma'.

Am.

[Theo Vaughn]

Oh, yeah. That loud when that must be me. That must be me, bro. The loud one, a chatty one back there. The one back there selling dime bags or whatever, bruh. Selling qp, bruh. You know what I'm saying? Pushing weight. That was. That's me,

[Podcast Caller]

bro.

[Theo Vaughn]

It's a. It's a. It's a thoughtful call to think about this, especially around Father's Day, just to think, like, you know, I think what I would do, I would write down the stuff maybe that you feel like you didn't get, and then you'll kind of have your answers. I think for me, I think some of it would have just been direction. It would have been like maybe if my father would have put his hand on the back of my neck more. That's like a very fatherly son or parental type of thing, the back of the neck and not even not looking at your children with judgment, you know, I was. I was looked at with judgment a lot. Mostly judgment, in fact, probably 250 judgment. So that's how I learned that the only way to operate in the world was judgment. That was like the currency, you know, it was like, oh, I'm going to judge you. That's kind of how I showed affection was through. I'm going to judge you less if that sounds cry. I mean, I don't know if that sounds real to anybody or not. You think that's real, Halston?

[Podcast Caller]

That's actually really interesting, but, yeah. Why do you think that is?

[Theo Vaughn]

Oh, well, I think it makes perfect sense because if somebody judges, if all I know, if all I look, if only. The only look I see in a parent's eyes is judgment, then that's all I'm gonna do of myself. And it's all I'm gonna do, probably, of others, especially if it's like an intimate. If there's like, intimacy or just communication. So, yeah, that's what I did. And it's a survival skill that can help you a lot because you're judging things. Really good at judging this, judging out. You know what I'm saying? You get really good, but it'll keep you alone, too. It can. Anyway, so. But blessings to you, bro. Happy Father's Day to you. And I'm just thinking out loud, too, bro. I don't know any of this. I'm not a scientist, you know, But. But, yeah, so. But blessings to you, bro. Tell OT I said, what's up, bro? Type blm. I'll see him in the streets, boy. Gang, let me see what else we got here.

[Podcast Caller]

Hey, Theo, It's Mason, I just had a.

[Theo Vaughn]

What's up, Mason? Thank you for calling, brother.

[Podcast Caller]

Question for you. You know, I kind of just wanted to see what you thought about it,

[Theo Vaughn]

what you, you know, caught a little Wisconsin there, boy, you know, or Illinois, maybe Onward.

[Podcast Caller]

Do. The other day, I walked into a gas station and there was a man who clearly had down syndrome. He didn't look the oldest.

[Theo Vaughn]

Oh, yeah, the Ops.

[Podcast Caller]

And he was trying to buy some beer, and I kind of read the situation and knew what was going on, but the clerk, actually, you could tell he didn't know what to do. And he, you know, he kind of looked at it and he actually turned to me like, sir, what do you think of this? And I don't know if I should feel bad, but I told him it looked good, and he sold the clearly underage man with down syndrome alcohol. And I'm just wondering if I did the right thing, what you do in that situation. Thanks, gang. Gang.

[Theo Vaughn]

Yeah, bro, of course. Of course, dude. If a guy has down syndrome, give him a fucking drink. Give him a break, man. Cut his work hours a little bit. Like. Yeah, dude, I remember when we were growing up, if a guy, down syndrome, you give him a beer, you'd bring him. You'd even get some beer from inside. If your dad wouldn't give you a whole. Can you come and just give him. And just let them just drink it out of your hands, brother. Like, you got to support people, you know, People with Down syndrome love to drink beer because I think it has sugar in the. It's a lot of. It's sugar based. Why do down syndrome people love beer? Oh, it just shows a picture of Ireland, so. County Cork, specifically. But, dude, it's like. I think. I don't. I believe. Look, if somebody has down syndrome and if they might have it or whatever, I think you got to let them drink, bro. That's the type of place I'm from, you know, I almost had it. I was on the ropes and I think you gotta let people cook if they have it.

[Podcast Caller]

And.

[Theo Vaughn]

Yeah, dude, when I was growing up, we would get a. We had a guy who had. I don't know what he had. He had something. Something pretty strong. And we'd send him. We give him 50, $60. Go in there, bro, one time, bro, this kid Damien, dude. And bro, one time, we give him the money to go in there, and he went out the back. Dude, he went out the back and ran up there to a senior center and broke down a bunch of the wall art and the windows in there. So, you know, I'm saying we never got our money back, though. But the I'm talking about is like, you don't know what's popping, bro. You don't know what's popping. So I don't think we should hold somebody back from having a good time. I do think the underage thing, but if somebody has down syndrome, bro, I say let them cook. You know what I'm saying? I say let them cook, bro. But, yeah, I mean, should you feel bad about it? I don't know. I mean, as long as y' all aren't making fun of the guy or doing something like that. As long as y' all aren't, you know. Plus, people want to feel included. Buying beer is like, kind of like a ritual when you're underage. I'm not saying, you know, I'm not sitting here condoning it. Don't do it. I gotta say that for legal reason, but people do it, you know. Even down syndrome people do it, apparently. So whatever, bro. You know, he probably. He might not even have down syndrome. He might just live too close to a data center, bro. You know what I'm saying? That motherfucker. He might be all hopped up on data and shit, you know, Little Ricky's on that data, so let's take another call here. Speaking of data centers, actually, hi, my

[Podcast Caller]

name is Amy Tompkins. What I would love is that Theo Vaughn could talk about, or even mention the fact that a Georgia company is building an AI data center right next to the Nashville Zoo and right next to an elementary school. So, like, smack dab in the middle of these two innocent, beautiful creatures on God's planet, these evil ghouls are coming in and destroying the air, the water, the environment, you know, the. The Earth, everything that we have. I mean, these animals are already in a zoo, okay? And now they're going to come in and. And do this to it. So it's like I'm just trying to do whatever I can to bring attention to this.

[Theo Vaughn]

Amen. Thank. Thank you for calling. I agree, bro. Now, the thing is, they got data everywhere. I'll say this, dude, on behalf of everybody that's human and has a heart. AI, bro. AI. I don't have any friends actual, that are. That are ever like, hey, AI. What? How's AI? You know what I'm saying? Nobody's doing that shit. We're already fine. We can already order our food fast enough. We can already watch a movie if we want on our phone. Like, we don't need anything else. I don't know who else needs more shit. I don't want any data, brother. They got too much data now. What happens? The kid, you know, the kids playing at school or whatever, and he falls in a fucking. They got a puddle of data outside of the data center or whatever, and he's got a bunch of data and shit on his shirt or whatever. You can't. You know, he's got a bunch of, like, Love island episodes that won't come out, you know, stained up for sure. Especially the new season. Bit much, but it's like, you know. And what. How does that even work? They got a data leak at the factory. Now he's at your kid, you know, Little Ricky's got a bunch of data stuck in his leg or something, you know, he's got a bunch of maps of, like, from the 1300s or whatever. Or he's got a bunch of Epstein files just stuck in his spinal column or something because of the, you know, the data. He's just got emails stuck in his skin or whatever, you know. It's just like, we don't want any data, bro. We don't want any. Nobody wants a data center, dude. Nobody wants it. And the people that want them, to me, bro, they seem kind of evil. It's like, what's going to happen, you know, you. You fall down and you get a bunch, you know, a bunch of loose data flies out of the factory or something now. And your kid's got, you know, he's got five episodes of. Of Dutton Ranch or whatever stuck in his neck or something. It's gotten crazy. We don't want it. Nobody wants the shit. And so here's what I think. I really believe this. I think. I really believe it. I don't know, but I believed it yesterday. I believe that some people know how to live forever. They've cracked the code. And so suddenly they have to put the rest of us. They have to lock us down. They have to, because if everybody finds out about it, then everybody's going to be able to do it, right? There's got to be. Some people have to take. Like, have to separate themselves. And I think this is how they're doing it. They're creating these data centers. It's all just gonna. It's all, I think, gonna be. I believe this is my hypothet theory that they're gonna all. It's all gonna be locked in with these flock cameras or some company like this, Palantir, one of these companies is going to be owning all of this information. They're going to put it all in. It's all going to be. We're all going to be locked down, everybody. You're not going to be able to live or do anything that feels human, right? There's going to become this kind of score, this sort of like social and even emotional sort of credit score. And then AI is going to become. It won't. It won't ever really, but it's going to try to become like our new God, right? Because I think people go to God for their feelings, for their. For help, for hope, right? They. They lay their. Their. Their faults at the feet of Jesus for. For hope, right? And it's all get. You're going to have to like appease somehow. You have to get. Do well enough for the data center to grant you whatever you then need, right? Does that sound crazy, Austin?

[Podcast Caller]

No.

[Theo Vaughn]

So that's why they need. Because what does anybody thought? What. What data do they. We already have. Like we're sharing pictures, we're sharing phone. We all have video in the cloud. Like we all have this stuff that, you know, there's millions of episodes of different movies and all of this in the clay. What do they need? It's a. They're asking for a lot of. Suddenly they need. That's a lot of space to just need data everywhere. So yeah, it's unbelievable, bro. It's unbelievable. I could talk more about it. I would love to know more people's thoughts about it, but I don't give a about it. I don't see what it's going to do for us. I don't understand to be human. I think we've led a lot of terr tarantulas that aren't humans start to take over society and, and we're seeing the repercussions of that. And some of us, we didn't let it happen. But I believe that, yeah, the devil is alive, bro. The devil is alive. And the devil is a liar, bro. Anyway, I'm not trying to preach and I think some of it just makes me mad and it's scary. They're putting it by a zoo. It's like they're rubbing in our face like, you know what I'm saying? Because a lot of that is showing control. They're putting it by a school or whatever. Some kid, you know, he's on. He's like, he's on a swing set and he just hits his head like there's some data going through the air or whatever and he hits his head on some data or whatever. Now he's got a concussion and he, you know, he just, he's just stuck singing Spotify lyrics, you know, just a bunch of data. He's just sitting there, you know, reciting. Just Larry Fleet and the cast of Hoes and Luke Bryan and Morgan Wallen deep cuts. It's like, it just, it's, you know, I don't know, bro. I don't know what's gonna happen, man. And some girl today, she said, and when, when do we stand up? When do we. It's a good question. I don't know. There's some, there must be something attractive in us just watching are Demi like, we're like, I don't know. I don't that makes any sense. Oh, I do want to get the president of Mexico on here. Ms. Claudia Shine Bomb. I will come to Mexico City. I want to come down there. So I would love, yeah, I would love to get the president of Mexico on just to learn. I want to learn like about like the Mexican American relationship from the, from a Mexican point of view, from a leader there point of view. Not, you know, I just want to learn more. I think it would be exciting. And so this is my beacon for that. You know, I'm trying to speak what I would like and yeah, I would love to know like how, how do our laws, like the laws that we make here, how does that affect things that happen in Mexico? What are like the truths about cartel stuff in Mexico? I would love to know about like what are some of like the big long term goals of Mexico? Just things like that. It's interesting because I don't ever, I don't ever learn about it. I probably could but it would be nice to learn in person. So that is something I would like to, I'd like to have that opportunity if you would grant it to me. Amen. What else? Oh yeah, eight bro. Let's talk about Atlanta. Atlanta's got the most flock cameras, bro. Yeah, speaking of. Also just going back real quick to the data center. The company behind the Nashville Zoo data center, the one that's near there allegedly is DC Blocks. So let me look at them. Who owns DC Blocks primarily owned by Post Road Group and Bain Capital Credit owned by alternative investment Jonathan Levine, John Wright. Firmwide strategic direction is steered by managing partners David Gross and chairman such as Steve Pagliuka and Josh Bekenstein. Bekenstein. This is all AI overview. This is from Google AI Atlanta based DC blocks proposed building a 24 acre two building data center campus at 648 Grasmere Park. That's Unbelievable, dude. I go drive over there all the time. I go to a meeting not far from there. Unbelievable. The Nashville council. The Nashville metropolitan council passed an initial temporary moratorium that seeks to restrict larger scale data centers from being built within a half mile of homes, bro. The thing is that most of.

[Podcast Caller]

The.

[Theo Vaughn]

Most of the flock cameras. Now, I saw one the other day, just saw one the other day over there by the donut shop, bro. I was giving me a couple donuts Brasil, depressed at night. I pulled up over there and they had some kids over there milling around. But I waited in my car about seven, 11 minutes, bro. Waited. Today their mom came and picked them up because I just didn't want to be embarrassed, bro. And then I walked in there, got me a couple of donuts, bro.

[Podcast Caller]

And.

[Theo Vaughn]

And on the way out, I saw a flock camera. I was sitting in my car eating donuts. Get seeing the flock. But Atlanta's got the most, bro. Let me see. Flock group incorporated, doing business as flock safety, is an American manufacturer and operator of security hardware and software, particularly automated license plate recognition, video surveillance, and gunfire locator systems, bro. Dude, I saw a video the other day. It was like the block versus Flock, bro. And it was a lot of gangsters and bangers out there in the streets and. And what they were thinking of flock cameras, man, because that's really where it's gonna, you know, Because a lot of, like, gangs, they, they, they. They own certain territory. But now these flock cameras are coming in saying they own it. So that's, you know, I'm saying that's the battle we gonna see soon, bruh. Flock versus the block, bro. So that, you know, I'm saying, because otherwise they're gonna have surveillance on what all of these bangers, bro. I'm curious, bro. Ain't no blood, ain't no cripping because of flock. Dang, bro. It's gonna be interesting, man. Let's take another call. We got a nut. We got a lot of calls that have come in.

[Podcast Caller]

Before we do that. Here is how you. What you can do as a citizen to oppose the Nashville zoo data center. So you can sign the petition on Change.org titled Nashville Zoo says no to proposed data center.

[Theo Vaughn]

Okay, great. And we'll put the link to that in here. We'll put it in here in YouTube information.

[Podcast Caller]

Cool.

[Theo Vaughn]

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[Podcast Caller]

This is Charles Holland. Chuck Holland.

[Theo Vaughn]

Hey, Charles. Hey, Chuck.

[Podcast Caller]

From good old Orlenda, Tennessee. I'm a certified wigger. I am doing work on the new Titan stadium right now. So I would just want your thoughts on what do you think about them building this new stadium and what do you think about the old one not going to be there no more? Anyway, I just like your thoughts on that.

[Theo Vaughn]

Amen, brother. Thanks for the call, dude. I think my thoughts are simple. I like the old stadium. I liked it. I'm kind of a romanticist. I like, you know, I like old schooler stuff, traditional stuff a little bit. I think it felt a little bit more like the city felt a little bit more Comfortable and more. You could just pull right up. You were right there. The new one, it just feels like it's taking us to a new and bigger place, and. And I know that's where the city is headed, and I know I'm just a transplant here. So take my. I'm part of the problem, you know? So take my thoughts with a grain of salt. But I'm just saying that's how I feel, bro. You know, from one dub to another, bro. You know what I'm saying? It's black and white to me. Just like, bro, you feel me, bro? Just like you, bro. You feel me? Cut. I just like that smaller feel. It felt it fit a little bit more. Sometimes I worry that Nashville is just becoming more of, like, a tourist destination than it is a place, like a home. But then I would do. I don't know. You know, I don't have a family right now. I don't have those other elements that give it that. So those are just my thoughts, but that's how I feel. But at the same time, bless you boys for staying over there and building it. And I'm curious to see. Yeah, this part of me is curious to see what it looks like, but, yeah, I don't know. There's something that felt like a little bit more like a. I like that old F150, bro. That's the. You know, in my heart. My heart's. You know, is. Is it probably like a 88F150, bro? So I like something that would match with that. I like that old stadium right there. But thank you, brother. Praise God. Stay safe, bro. Type blm, bro and wlm, you know, you. You bow both. All right. One last call, man.

[Podcast Caller]

Hey, Theo, this is Nate calling you. Yeah, I'm just feeling really grateful this morning.

[Theo Vaughn]

Amen, brother. Thanks for the call, Nate. Onward.

[Podcast Caller]

Five years ago today, I woke up

hungover for the last time.

And, man, I'm much the better man

than I ever, ever imagined I could be. Yeah, I've just, like, learned to live

in the moment, be present, be right

here, deal with my

work through my problems. Feel free.

Sitting here today, and I'm just feeling free, man. I'm feeling really, really free.

[Theo Vaughn]

I wonder if we just call him, wish him happy five years. You think that'd be great.

[Podcast Caller]

Yes, You've reached Nate. Give me a message, and I will

give you a call.

[Theo Vaughn]

What's up, Nate? It's Theo from the podcast. Dude, you hit the hotline the other day. I just wanted to call and wish you a happy Five years, man. Thanks for just sharing with us, you know, just the positive energy, the possibility, you know, like, just the. The promises that you said that they talk about in the program that, like, you know, that. That the old stuff will fall away, that you will. Hey, what's up, man?

[Podcast Caller]

Hey, what's up, bro?

[Theo Vaughn]

This is Theo. Is this Nate? Yeah, this is Nate. What's up, bro? I heard your voicemail on the hotline. I just want to. Just wanted to call and wish you happy five years, dude.

[Podcast Caller]

We're.

[Theo Vaughn]

We're on the podcast right now, but I can. I can keep it off either way, but I just wanted to call and wish you a happy five years, bro.

[Podcast Caller]

Oh, no, that's cool, man. Keep it on. Yeah, thanks. Thanks a bunch, man. It's a big deal for me. I'm real happy. I'm actually out walking on a date with my wife right now, and let's go.

[Theo Vaughn]

Y' all take walks, huh?

[Podcast Caller]

Well, you bet.

[Theo Vaughn]

Yeah, I like.

[Podcast Caller]

Yeah, we went out for some. Went out for some supper. Now we're out on a walk. Got the five. We got five kids. All five kids are at home because my oldest is 16 and can hang out and watch them and. Yeah, life's good, brother.

[Theo Vaughn]

Bro, supper and a walk. Y' all must be rich, huh?

[Podcast Caller]

We ain't rich, but we. I was just trying to get out and get the snow. Yeah, we gotta get out and keep knowing each other, dude.

[Theo Vaughn]

That's a big. Yeah, that's a great point, bro. Dude, I love taking walks. I invited a girl on a walk not even too long ago.

[Podcast Caller]

Yeah.

[Theo Vaughn]

Yeah, she kind of bailed the day off, but that's life, bro. What you gonna do? You know? Sometimes you just gotta fight.

[Podcast Caller]

You gotta keep.

[Theo Vaughn]

You gotta keep finding somebody who wants to walk, bro.

[Podcast Caller]

That's right. Someday you'll find the one that'll keep walking with you forever. I got that one.

So.

[Theo Vaughn]

Amen, bro. Amen to that, dude. Yeah, well, we don't want to bug you or hold you up, man, but I just want to say thank you, bro. It's nice you to call and share that. Just that milestone, just that fact that it can happen for people and. And just sharing about some of the promises that can come true, man, like.

[Podcast Caller]

Yeah.

[Theo Vaughn]

Did you believe it when you started that it could happen?

[Podcast Caller]

No, man, because, you know, I. I drank for quite a few years, all through my, like, 20s and into my 30s, and I just kind of figured it's just like, I'm just gonna keep drinking. And then one morning, for me, it was different than for a lot of folks, I think. Like, I woke up one morning, and I was like, man, that's it. I'm done. And.

[Theo Vaughn]

But once you quit that, once you went to meetings up, did you believe that it would be done, or did you.

[Podcast Caller]

I mean, it's. It was hard, right? I mean, it was really, really hard. Like, yeah, I. It seemed like, you know, you'd get 30 days, and then you'd get 60 days, and you get 90 days. It's like, man, I'm never gonna have a year. And then all of a sudden, you blink your eyes and it's five years, and you don't even think about the. You don't even think about what you're. At least for me, I don't think about what I'm addicted to anymore. It's just like. I'm just. Like I said, I'm just sucking life through the tailpipe, you know? It's just like, I'm living it raw, and it's just so rewarding and free. Free feeling. Whereas before, it was like, you know, I mean, I think we have a lot of things in common where it's like, my mom wasn't great to me, and I was growing up, and I was. I was running from a lot of different things, and here I am, you know, not running from anything anymore and just becoming a better man every day, so. Because I think it would. Yeah. No, I didn't. But here. Here it is, and this is going to keep going, so.

[Theo Vaughn]

Amen, bro. Well, tell your wife that we said hey, and thanks for putting up with you and putting up with anybody and. And congratulations, bro.

[Podcast Caller]

Yeah, thanks. Steal. I appreciate it, and I appreciate you. Thanks for sharing your life with everybody and. And, you know, the honest stuff, because that's where people grow when we're honest with each other, and we just kind of have some vulnerability. So. I appreciate that about you.

[Theo Vaughn]

Yeah, thanks, man. Sometimes I get scared to share that stuff. I feel like it's like. I don't know. I feel different ways about it sometimes, but I don't know how else to be sometimes, you know, that's the weird thing.

[Podcast Caller]

Yeah. You got to be you. And I think that's a beautiful part of you. So don't. Don't ever let that go, man.

[Theo Vaughn]

Well, thanks, bro. I appreciate that. Yeah, bro. One day at a time, man. That's it, right?

[Podcast Caller]

One.

Yep. One day at a time.

[Theo Vaughn]

Amen, bro. Enjoy your walk, dude. Congratulations, bro. And talk to you soon.

[Podcast Caller]

Yeah. Thanks, brother.

All right.

Cheers, bro. Yeah. Bye.

[Theo Vaughn]

Dang, bro. That's awesome, bro. Out on a walk with his wife.

[Podcast Caller]

Hopeful.

[Theo Vaughn]

I may have sounded hopeful, you know, possible gets home, has some kids over there. Things can be okay. Nothing's perfect, but things can be okay, right? So anyway, I don't know what we're doing, but we're going to keep trying to do it. And that's. That's about all I got today, man. I got to run. I got to meet my friend over there, get a little snack or something over there. And look at. My friend has a new. They're selling a. My friend selling a picnic table over there. So I'm going to go put a bid in on it. What else? That's about it. So you guys be good to yourselves, man. Thank you for paying attention. I had fun, bro. I. I think I've been scared sometimes of doing solos, but I had fun today, and I hope we can do this again sooner. And. Yeah, just. Thank you, guys. The Hotline is always 985-664-9503. Houston, thank you for your patience today.

[Podcast Caller]

Thank you for rolling with the punches of life, serving us a little grease with the technical problems.

[Theo Vaughn]

Hey, bro, you must. Hey, it's greasy. That's how it is, bro. You think it's gonna be smooth, and it is, bro. It's smooth, bro, but it's greasy. Praise God, bro, be good to yourself. You deserve it, baby. Gang. Like these leaves I must be cornerstone oh, but when I reach that ground I'll share this peace of mind I found I can feel it in my bones but it's gonna take.

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