Matters Not Podcast

In this heartfelt and unexpectedly insightful episode of Matters Not, Chris sits down with a very special guest—his seven-year-old nephew, Aiven. What starts as a lighthearted conversation about daily routines, school, math, and favorite colors quickly turns into a surprisingly thoughtful look at curiosity, emotional growth, and family bonds through the eyes of a child.Aiven talks about his love for math, football, Formula 1 racing, and his ambitious dream of becoming an astrophysicist. Along the way, he shares honest reflections on friendships, boundaries, handling anger, and what he’s learned from mistakes at school. Chris uses these moments to gently explore bigger life lessons about self-discipline, learning from failure, and growing into a good person.The conversation also touches on family trips, becoming a big brother, favorite animals, music tastes, and what love and loyalty mean at a young age. It’s equal parts funny, wholesome, and deeply human—reminding listeners that wisdom doesn’t always come with age.This episode is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful conversations come from simply listening.

Buck is back—and Matters Not picks up right where it left off.Chris and Buck reunite after the holidays to catch up on life, fatherhood, unfinished house projects, and the chaos that comes with both. The conversation moves from deeply personal reflections on Christmas as a single dad to family memories, loss, and the strange feeling of watching eras close.From there, the episode takes its usual unfiltered turns—breaking down pop culture fatigue, Stranger Things, nostalgia-driven reboots, gaming and streaming culture, and how the internet has turned everything into performance. The guys dig into DNA tests, Viking ancestry, generational myths, and the absurdity of identity in the modern world.Things get heavier as they discuss healthcare failures, identity theft fears, policing, protest culture, and how political division thrives on outrage and consequence-free behavior. Rather than picking clean sides, Chris and Buck wrestle with nuance, personal responsibility, and the reality that most situations aren’t as simple as the internet makes them.As always, the episode blends humor, cynicism, introspection, and blunt honesty—wrapping up with reflections on education, life paths, and why sometimes dropping out, figuring it out, and building crocodile-skin accent walls might just be the most honest way forward

In this episode of Matters Not, Chris sits down with Damien, better known online as OnlyFits, a 16-year-old content creator who’s rapidly rising in the world of Roblox streaming through NFL Universe Football. Damien breaks down how a game many dismiss as “just Roblox” has turned into a legitimate business—earning him over $18,000, a top-10 player ranking out of tens of thousands, and a growing audience of more than 10,000 followers on TikTok.Damien shares how streaming, smart in-game trading, and understanding digital item value allowed him to sell rare virtual assets for real money—including a single emote that sold for $850. He talks candidly about content creation at a young age, handling burnout, ignoring negativity, and learning patience and consistency while building a loyal community.The conversation also dives into the NFL’s involvement in the game, the competitive ecosystem behind Roblox football, collaborating with other creators, and Damien’s role as a moderator helping combat cheating within the game. Looking ahead, Damien outlines plans to expand to YouTube and Twitch, including a unique trading-challenge series designed to turn a worthless starter item into one of the most valuable items in the game.This episode is a fascinating look at how gaming, content creation, and entrepreneurship intersect—and proof that the future of digital careers is already here.

In this episode of Matters Not, Chris is joined by his friend Adam, a longtime software developer with deep Appalachian roots, for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation that moves from nostalgia and career burnout to paranormal investigation and the limits of technology. Adam reflects on growing up in a small town, breaking generational cycles through education, and how decades in programming slowly stripped the creativity from a once-beloved career.The discussion takes a sharp turn into Adam’s years as a paranormal investigator, where he shares firsthand experiences from ghost hunts across Ohio, West Virginia, and beyond—detailing unexplained audio captures, doors slamming on command, eerie personal encounters, and the discipline of debunking evidence to preserve credibility. Along the way, the episode explores skepticism versus belief, the commercialization of the paranormal, and why science and patience matter more than theatrics.The conversation closes by drifting into modern anxieties around AI, automation, and whether technology—much like the supernatural—has begun to outpace our understanding and control. Equal parts thoughtful, unsettling, and darkly funny, this episode is a deep dive into curiosity, fear, and what it means to chase truth in an uncertain world.

In this episode of Matters Not, Chris and Buck sit down with Alec, owner and founder of Hill Tree Roastery, for an in-depth conversation that explores far more than coffee alone. What begins as a discussion about specialty roasting quickly unfolds into a thoughtful dialogue on community, creativity, resilience, and purpose.Alec shares his personal journey—from serving in Afghanistan and navigating post-military life, to working in healthcare, experimenting with art, and ultimately finding his calling in coffee. He explains how Hill Tree Roastery was built on the principles of third-wave coffee culture, sustainability, and education, with a strong emphasis on honoring farmers, understanding origins, and creating meaningful connections through a shared craft.The conversation dives into the science and artistry behind coffee roasting, flavor pairing, and brewing methods, while also touching on larger themes such as self-competition, growth through curiosity, and building something bigger than oneself. Alec discusses the challenges of sourcing ethically grown coffee, the realities of small business ownership, and his vision for strengthening Appalachian coffee culture through education, collaboration, and community investment.Throughout the episode, Chris and Buck balance technical insight with humor and candid reflection, making this a grounded, engaging conversation about passion-driven work, lifelong learning, and the quiet impact of doing things the right way—even when it’s harder.

In this unfiltered, laugh-heavy, unexpectedly heartfelt episode of Matters Not, Chris and Buck return after a short break—this time with a special guest: Buck’s son, Carter. The guys recap Thanksgiving, discussing each other’s family traditions, and dig into the chaos of Buck’s legendary Christmas-tree-cutting ritual.Things quickly spiral into a full breakdown of the newest Stranger Things season, where nothing is off-limits. From character choices and weird writing to the uncanny valley of adults playing kids, the trio calls it exactly how they see it.The conversation shifts as Buck opens up about major personal growth and a huge step in his relationship—moving toward living with his girlfriend... yes, you read that correctly. Chris and Carter weigh in with support, jokes, and the kind of honest back-and-forth that makes the show feel like a front-porch hangout.The episode wraps with streaming talk, tech hurdles, creating content, and Buck’s dive into voice-over and podcast editing. It’s real, it’s ridiculous, and it’s everything you expect from Matters Not—a mix of humor, honesty, pop-culture breakdowns, and a surprising amount of heart.

In this laid-back, brutally honest episode of Matters Not, Chris and Maegen recap their Thanksgiving trip back to Sheffield Lake, Ohio — a weekend full of family, food, nostalgia, and one hell of a hoarder-house cleanup.The episode opens with the couple finally getting time to record after a chaotic holiday schedule. From the snowy arrival at Chris’ mom’s place to navigating turkey timing and reminiscing about past holidays without Gigi, the two set the stage for a heartfelt but hilarious walkthrough of their long weekend.Things take a turn on Black Friday when the family gathers at Chris’ late grandmother’s house to begin the massive task of clearing out decades’ worth of “perfectly good” items she refused to throw away. With a giant dumpster in the driveway and a whole basement to tackle, Chris, Maegen, and the cousins uncover everything from stacks of radar detectors to taped-over cassettes — including a recorded phone call of his grandfather grilling a clerk about CCW laws.Maegen goes full detective mode hunting down grandpa’s handguns (successfully finding two), while Chris reflects on the family’s trademark mix of autism-level organization, lovable chaos, and pure Appalachian-and-Cleveland cultural mashup. The two share stories about family dynamics, sentimental finds, unexpected cash envelopes, and the strangely comforting process of saying goodbye to a loved one through the things they left behind.The episode wraps up with food talk, future trip plans, and the couple’s usual banter about the differences between their hometown cultures, complete with debates about hollows vs. hollers, toboggans vs. winter hats, and why Cleveland food will always hit different.It’s funny, messy, real, emotional in spite of Maegen’s hatred of “feelings,” and packed with the kind of storytelling that makes Matters Not feel like sitting on the couch with two friends who tell it exactly how it is.

In this laid-back, brutally honest episode of Matters Not, Chris and Buck kick things off porch-side, watching the first snow of the season and trading stories about work, weather, and the extremes of hot and cold life on the job. But what starts as a conversation about thermostats and torquing bolts turns into one of their most introspective and vulnerable episodes yet.The two dive deep into relationships, self-sabotage, and personal growth — unpacking what it means to be “okay” with yourself and when it’s the right time to take love seriously again. Chris opens up about finding stability and balance with his relationship, reflecting on how his 40s brought peace after years of chaos. Buck, in turn, shares his realizations about being ready to let someone in and how self-work must come before partnership.They explore everything from emotional scars and accountability to the fear of jinxing good fortune — how overthinking, old wounds, and bad habits can quietly sabotage progress. By the end, the duo is reflecting on their evolution as men, laughing over “word salads,” and debating whether getting a pedicure is “gay or not gay” (Buck says only if there’s a dick involved).Through laughter, vulnerability, and their signature unfiltered banter, Manifesting Little Bugs in a Word Salad perfectly captures what Matters Not does best — real talk, raw honesty, and two guys growing up without losing their sense of humor.