Sky King's Mental Playground

Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPRIDLEYIn this episode, I sit down with Austin comedian Michael Ridley to talk about what it really means to bet on yourself in a culture that feels like it’s collapsing into content and chaos. We get into everything — modern warfare as entertainment, prediction markets vs. AI, gambling ads and moral tradeoffs in podcasting, corporate influence behind the scenes, and why so many young men feel stuck between nihilism and virality but at its core, this conversation is about asking better questions and choosing long-term growth over short-term clout. Michael opens up about his journey from addiction and instability to building a life anchored in comedy, marriage, and radical self-belief, and we unpack what it took to move to Austin with no guarantees, grind through multiple jobs while chasing stage time, get banned and level up anyway, and listen to “the whispers” that intuitive pull toward who you’re meant to become. This one is about loyalty, resilience, faith, and playing the 20-year game in art and in life.Follow Michael:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridleysweatyX: https://x.com/ridleysweatyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelRidleyComedy00:00 Introduction04:27 Nothing Better Than a Free Civic07:10 Why There Are No Original Movies Right Now12:21 What Happened to Movie Boobs?14:20 Being Nihilistic Is Gay22:55 Don’t Even Think About Selling Weed26:13 Temu Twitter27:24 Raised by Hot Pockets and Cartoon Network29:56 The DMZ of Mental Disability32:01 Making Yourself Useful in Jail35:22 Michael’s Superpowers42:33 Healing People with Beyblades46:24 Skank Walking to Six Flags50:16 The Last Time Michael Was in a Tatami Room56:02 Clockwork Orange Out of Context58:54 How “They” Control the Housing Market01:04:46 The January 6th No One Talks About01:08:20 The Government Has Microwave Guns01:17:15 MJ, Kanye, and Industry Power Plays01:26:00 Conclusion

Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPGODSEYIn this episode, Erick Godsey joins me for a deep dive into visionary art, psychosis, and the collective unconscious. From Neuromancer to late-80s Japanese anime, from Neon Genesis Evangelion to Annihilation, we unpack how art sometimes predicts technological transformation before society can consciously name it. We also get into what Erick calls “The Shimmer” a mythic frame for understanding the psychological field created by the internet and AI. We talk about algorithmic polarization, attention hijacking, AI agents replicating human identity, and whether we’re living through the beginning of a renaissance or a cognitive collapse. This conversation is about myth, madness, technology, and whether we can consciously navigate the flood instead of being consumed by it.Follow Erick:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erickgodsey/X: https://x.com/ErickGodseyWebsite: https://www.erickgodsey.com/00:00 Introduction00:19 Visionary Art and 90s Anime01:52 Surrealism and Cultural Breakdowns04:38 How Tech Is Shaping Us12:44 Phones, Attention, and Community15:54 Why Horror Actually Matters21:14 “The Shimmer” and Tech Nightmares35:29 Building Something New42:57 Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast

Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPJAMESIn this episode, Abel James joins us for a deep and unfiltered conversation about recovery, resilience, and staying human in an increasingly automated world. Abel opens up about surviving a brutal car accident, navigating long-term physical and neurological recovery, and what it forced him to relearn about health, patience, and adaptive capacity. We explore why modern systems often fail people when they’re most vulnerable and how community, preparation, and personal responsibility can make the difference between breaking down and rebuilding stronger. We also discuss music as a healing practice, why art must come from effort not automation, and how subtraction may be the key to a better future. This is a grounded, thoughtful exploration of survival, meaning, and building a life that’s resilient to chaos.Follow Abel:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abeljams/X: https://x.com/AbelJamesWebsite: https://app.abeljames.com/00:00 Introduction02:10 The Car Accident and Near-Death Moment06:15 Recovery Reality and Trusting the Body10:05 Fear of Hospitals and Modern Medicine14:20 Community Showing Up When It Matters18:45 Why the Internet Feels Broken23:30 AI Slop vs Real Human Thought28:40 Attention Hijacking and Algorithm Incentives34:10 Music as Therapy and Regulation45:20 Movement Balance and Relearning the Body49:01 Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast

Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPTELANDERIn this episode, Zack Telander joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about art, music, discipline, and staying human in an algorithmic world. Zack breaks down what it really takes to build a creative career without selling out from playing empty rooms to opening for packed theaters1 and why impostor syndrome never fully disappears, even when you’re doing everything right. Along the way, Zack performs original songs live, breaks down his songwriting process, talks fatherhood, discipline, and why art must be fought for not optimized.Follow Zack:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zack_telander/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@zacktelander00:00 Introduction00:44 The Reality of Being a Musician02:21 Passion vs. Paying the Bills04:27 How the Music Industry Actually Works06:38 Fame, Attention, and Staying Real09:40 Social Media’s Grip on Creativity17:24 AI, Algorithms, and What’s Coming Next30:52 Connecting With Fans31:51 Juggling Content and Music32:19 Building Real Fans, Not Just Views35:35 How the Songs Come Together51:37 Music Theory (Without the Boring Parts)57:10 Art, Emotion, and the Audience01:05:03 The Myth of “Going All In”01:10:07 Why Effort Shows in Art01:12:01 Consistency Beats Motivation01:16:02 Sponsors, Money, and Staying Honest01:27:10 How Algorithms Shape Behavior01:30:57 Conclusion

Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPWETWhat starts as a chaotic crossover episode quickly turns into a surprisingly honest exploration of art, ambition, friendship, and identity. In this episode, the WET crew and Sky sit down to make predictions for 2026, but the conversation spirals into something deeper: what it really means to create, to be seen, and to keep going when you feel misunderstood. Along the way, they touch on AI psychosis, sobriety, manifestation, comedy scenes in Austin vs. New York, money, ego, and why modern life feels increasingly surreal. The group wrestles with big questions and confronts the tension between chasing success and staying true to yourself. It’s raw, funny, uncomfortable, and unexpectedly sincere a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful conversations happen when everything goes off the rails.Follow WET Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wet.podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wet.podcastJustin:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinessenmacher/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustinEssenmacher/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@openmicjustinMarkus:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardvonmarkus/Phillip:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillipgarciacomedy/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@phillipgarciacomedy/00:00 Introduction00:10 Betting, Sobriety, and Dumb Ideas01:21 Embarrassing Stories03:02 Culture Talk and the Texas Heat17:45 AI, Tech, and Future Predictions32:50 History, Doctrine, and Modern Warfare38:06 U.S. Military and Economic Power43:31 Personal Stories and Sobriety Bets51:20 Tequila Tasting 01:01:05 Confidence in Comedy01:08:17 Emotional Moments and Friendship01:09:07 Listen to the Full Podcast in Supercast

Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPCAROLLMusic isn’t just something we listen to, it’s how we process heartbreak, find meaning, and understand ourselves. In this episode, Dawson joins me for a conversation about art, identity, and what it actually means to create something that lasts in an age built for consumption. We talk about why some artists hit us on a visceral level while others don’t, the strange line between authenticity and performance, and how taste is formed through pain, obsession, and repetition. Dawson also shares his journey through music school, leaving Berklee, and finding his own voice as an independent artist and why chasing validation often pulls creatives away from the work that truly matters.Follow Dawson:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawsoncarroll/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DawsoncarrollmusicTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dawson_carroll00:00 Introduction01:20 Music Preferences03:29 Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan09:13 Bon Iver's Influence and Unique Style15:26 Artistic Struggles35:48 Hemingway and the Romanticization of Hardship40:08 The Cathartic Power of Articulation40:54 Music Videos and Creativity42:02 Dawson Performing a Song Live46:46 Journey Through Music Education49:26 Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast

Listen to the full podcast: https://bit.ly/SKMPMAXFIELDIn this episode, I sat down with renowned muralist and designer Bradford Maxfield (Bradlio1). This conversation goes far beyond art, it’s a deep dive into the psychology of creativity, the dark history of the Mexican border wars, and the dystopian reality of the modern "attention economy." Bradford opens up about growing up in El Paso next to Juarez during the height of the cartel violence, how breaking his ankle changed his life path from skater to artist, and his wild theory that Banksy created Mr. Brainwash as the ultimate prank on the art world. We also discuss the "Edo Punk" universe, the death of graffiti etiquette, and the "Golden Ticket" visualization technique that can unlock elite performance.Follow Bradford:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradlio1/X: https://x.com/estudiobradlio00:00 Introduction00:22 The Creative Process of Artists06:17 Life in El Paso and Juarez10:33 The Art Scene and Cultural Influences23:48 Skateboarding and Graffiti Culture32:45 The Power of Trust and Creative Energy37:43 Exploring Art and Propaganda41:37 The Influence of Shepard Fairey44:03 Creating Art from Personal Experiences55:58 The Floating World and Dystopian Future01:02:28 The Grind Set and Edo Punk01:05:16 Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast

Listen to the full podcast here: https://bit.ly/SKMPGRIFFINIn this episode, Chris Griffin joins me to talk about his recent experience with cancel culture, the cost of honesty, and why so many creators from Australia and the UK are fleeing to America in search of real freedom. We explore the emotional toll of being publicly attacked, losing hundreds of thousands in sponsorships, and what it means to rebuild with integrity rather than compliance. Chris also opens up about how censorship and fear have shaped modern masculinity, why comfort is killing purpose, and how self-awareness and reflection can make you truly unstoppable. This is a conversation about standing tall in chaos, finding peace through resilience, and learning to speak your truth — even when the world tells you not to.Follow Chris:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@morechrisgriffin00:00 Introduction00:10 The Struggles of Australian Creators02:30 Facing Cancellation: A Personal Account06:09 The Impact of Losing Sponsors08:19 Redefining Success and Independence16:12 The Value of Motherhood and Feminism22:38 The Future of Media and Society38:49 Questioning Life's Actions and Outcomes39:17 The Impact of Christianity and Belief Systems40:17 Personal Journey with Religion and Beliefs43:18 Respect and Boundaries in Different Religions4615: Listen to the Full Episode in Supercast