Description: I finally did it—my first stand-up comedy open mic! In this episode, I share the nerve-wracking experience of trying stand-up for the first time at a downtown Corpus Christi open mic hosted by Tina La Cochina. After telling guests Chris Longoria and Ronnie Fryar I wanted to try comedy, they got me on the hook and I had to kick myself in the butt to actually go through with it. Learn what it's really like to practice in front of an audience (ouch), why the huge difference with stand-up is you can't practice alone, and how people said I already have stage presence from my years performing classical guitar and playing in bands. I discuss bombing in front of colleagues, the advice to "do it five more times," and how I'm already thinking about how to improve the material. Drawing parallels between performing Villa-Lobos on classical guitar and learning comedy timing—you can feel when the audience is listening and you have control. Real talk about starting something new, not waiting for perfect, figuring it out along the way, and being the example for what I preach: just start, then make it better next time. More eyes watching because of Corpus Christi Originals podcast recognition. Remembering grammar from elementary school to write jokes. Will I do it again? Yes. Recorded November 2025. Blog Post Here.

Real talk about fame, recognition, and staying humble. In this episode, I discuss how a little bit of fame can change people—and how I've noticed it starting to affect me too. My wife and I talked about how some people aren't ready for fame because as soon as they get it, they want more. I share stories about women using their looks to get on my podcast, people demanding free promotion for their events (pay for it like everyone else), and the young woman who put me on blast on Facebook after I professionally declined her request. I'm honest about falling victim to seeking recognition myself—how I started wanting to be recognized at every place I go, how it can become like an addiction, and why I have to humble myself before it affects my character. Learn about the dangers of pride in podcasting, setting professional boundaries with people who "just want to chat," taking a risk when promoting events, and why being an introvert makes public recognition even more complicated. The Corpus Christi Originals podcast is growing rapidly, and I'm learning to take recognition as it comes without seeking it. Checking myself before fame goes to my head. Recorded November 15, 2025. Blog Post Here.

In this episode, I explain why Corpus Christi Originals is now an invite-only podcast and how I'm protecting the vision I've developed over 100 episodes. Learn about my guest vetting process, why I look at digital footprints before inviting people on, and what happened when someone got mad and put me on blast on Facebook after I professionally declined their request. I share what my podcast vision is NOT: not chasing influencers or fame, not about drama or gossip, not just content creation but community creation, not trying to be the biggest but the most meaningful, and not compromising values for growth. Discover how "giving voice to the unheard" became my unexpected mission, why I avoid the gossip trap (the Bible says gossip is bad for society), and how biblical perspectives inform my podcast decisions. I discuss the micro-influencer strategy I used early on, why their response to "no" reveals everything, and how protecting your brand sometimes means turning people away. Real talk about podcast growth, building vs. tearing down community, professional boundaries, and why being invite-only actually strengthens your platform. Writing a book on 100 episodes of podcasting lessons. Recorded November 11, 2025. Blog Post Here.