Chazingdra Chats (A Pokémon Podcast)

13 Ben Kyriakou - Pokémon Video Game Caster & 2x National Champion

As a child, Ben Kyriakou couldn't work out how to leave the house you start in in Pokémon Red/Blue. Somewhat miraculously after this rocky start, he went on to become one of the UK's best competitors at the video game, securing two National Champion titles, two Top 4 finishes at International Championships & seven invitations to the World Championships - and then became a caster, like me, which is how we became firm friends! Discover Ben's journey here: the people, the experiences - and of course the 6 Pokémon - that made him. Come hang out & have a laugh with Ben and me - let us brighten your day!
In his own words Ben is 'not good at the Internet', but nonetheless you can keep up with what he does share on X @tapu_kyriakou!
https://x.com/tapu_kyriakou 
I am @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok:
https://www.youtube.com/@Chazingdra
https://twitter.com/Chazingdra
https://www.instagram.com/chazingdra/
https://www.tiktok.com/@chazingdra
And you can follow the podcast itself on X too @ChazingdraChats:
https://twitter.com/ChazingdraChats
If you enjoyed, do give the show a rating and review - it really helps :) You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon that Ben is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Ben's shared with us - and what your own Dream Team would be... Any feedback you have and any suggestions for guests, from competitive to casual Pokémon players and beyond, feel free to get in touch - chazingdra@gmail.com
Consider joining my Patreon to hear Ben's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of quickfire bonus questions he hasn't prepared for... Let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
You can also become a part of my Discord community here - it would be a pleasure to welcome you :) https://discord.com/invite/f2ssjED4ke
(N.B. Music for the show coming soon!)
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Welcome!
04:03 Ben's Sister
12:56 Ben's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
16:24 Discovering Pokémon
23:27 Ben's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
29:33 Call of Competitive
39:49 Ben's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
44:25 Ben's Job
58:46 Ben's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
1:05:59 Medina House and The Pandemic
1:18:40 Ben's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
1:22:15 Casting
1:31:57 Ben's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
1:36:01 Ben's Complete Dream Team and Partner Pokémon
1:38:31 If Ben were a Pokémon, what would he be?
1:43:12 Community Questions for Ben
1:53:13 What's next for Ben?
1:55:01 What advice would Ben give his younger self?
1:56:50 Ben's Rapidash Round Teaser
1:58:48 Farewell! + My guest next week...
Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International. 

12 AbsolBlogsPokemon - Pokémon Content Creator, Streamer & Shiny Hunter

"It's the journey, not the destination." This is an emerging mantra of Matt Brandl aka AbsolBlogsPokemon from this episode of the show, someone whose Pokémon YouTube channel suddenly blew up on New Year's Day 2019, who is one of the most prolific & dedicated Shiny hunters out there and who showcases the jaw-dropping amount there is to explore in the Pokémon video games. A scroll through his aforementioned channel is a journey in itself: with videos spanning the past 14 years his audience has watched him grow up - and he has countless fascinating experiences to share. Discover some of them here, as Matt shares his life story and, of course, his hand-picked 6 Dream Team Pokémon that have been there for him along the way. It's impossible not to be uplifted by Matt's infectious enthusiasm - come hang out with us and let him brighten your day!
Make sure to check out Matt's brilliant YouTube channel @AbsolBlogsPokemon and streams @Absoltastic, and keep up with his latest news on X @TheAbsol!
https://www.youtube.com/@AbsolBlogsPokemon
https://www.twitch.tv/absoltastic
https://x.com/TheAbsol
I am @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok:
https://www.youtube.com/@Chazingdra
https://twitter.com/Chazingdra
https://www.instagram.com/chazingdra/
https://www.tiktok.com/@chazingdra
And you can follow the podcast itself on X too @ChazingdraChats:
https://twitter.com/ChazingdraChats
If you enjoyed, do give the show a rating and review - it really helps :) You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon that Matt is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Matt's shared with us - and what your own Dream Team would be... Any feedback you have and any suggestions for guests, from competitive to casual Pokémon players and beyond, feel free to get in touch - chazingdra@gmail.com
Consider joining my Patreon to hear Matt's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of quickfire bonus questions he hasn't prepared for... Let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
You can also become a part of my Discord community here - it would be a pleasure to welcome you :) https://discord.com/invite/f2ssjED4ke
(N.B. Music for the show coming soon!)
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
03:47 September 25th 1998 + Matt's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
10:13 "This show I love has cards and a video game?!" + Matt's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
16:44 Crazy Luck + Matt's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
23:41 Not a Battler? Not a Problem + Matt's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
32:47 January 1st 2019 + Matt's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
47:35 The Sky's The Limit + Matt's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
55:05 Matt's Complete Dream Team + Partner Pokémon
56:20 If Matt were a Pokémon, what would he be?
58:40 Community Questions for Matt
1:04:05 What's Next for Matt?
1:07:09 What Advice would Matt give his Younger Self?
1:08:20 Matt's Rapidash Round Teaser
1:09:08 Outro inc. Next Week's Guest
All images of Pokémon (c) Pokémon. Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International. 

11 Nick Livezey (AlphaFeeb) - Pokémon GO Caster

The enjoyment Nick Livezey aka AlphaFeeb gets from Pokémon GO has always stemmed from helping others to enjoy the game, be it organising online communities when the game launched or as a commentator now. Hear how his love of RuneScape was a stepping stone towards GO, learn about the fascinating scientific projects he undertook at grad school - and, of course, discover his hand-picked 6 Pokémon for his Dream Team! Come hang out with Nick & me and let us brighten your day!
Stay up to date with Nick's news on X @AlphaFeeb: https://x.com/AlphaFeeb 
I am @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok:
https://www.youtube.com/@Chazingdra
https://twitter.com/Chazingdra
https://www.instagram.com/chazingdra/
https://www.tiktok.com/@chazingdra
And you can follow the podcast itself on X too @ChazingdraChats:
https://twitter.com/ChazingdraChats
If you enjoyed, do give the show a rating and review - it really helps :) You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon that Nick is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Nick's shared with us - and what your own Dream Team would be... Any feedback you have and any suggestions for guests, from competitive to casual Pokémon players and beyond, feel free to get in touch - chazingdra@gmail.com
Consider joining my Patreon to hear Nick's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of quickfire bonus questions he hasn't prepared for... Let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
You can also become a part of my Discord community here - it would be a pleasure to welcome you :) https://discord.gg/43P3F49s
(N.B. Music for the show coming soon!)
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
02:56 Nick's Childhood and Introduction to Pokémon
07:37 Nick's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
10:38 Nick's Discovery of Other Games inc. RuneScape
18:45 Nick's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
22:11 Nick & Diving In to Chemistry at Grad School
32:13 Nick's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
33:52 Nick & the Early Years of GO
44:33 Nick's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
47:29 Nick & the Pandemic: GO Battle League and Streaming
58:33 Nick's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
1:03:47 Nick & Casting
1:08:00 Nick's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
1:10:46 Nick's Partner Pokémon
1:12:14 If Nick were a Pokémon, what would he be?
1:15:02 Community Questions for Nick
1:18:43 What's Next for Nick?
1:19:27 What Advice would Nick give his Younger Self?
1:21:19 Nick's Rapidash Round Teaser
1:21:53 Outro
All images of Pokémon (c) Pokémon. Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.

10 Rahul Reddy - 7x World Championships Competitor in the Pokémon Trading Card Game

Rahul Reddy has a long history with the Pokémon TCG. Hear all about his experiences - from how his strict parents warmed to the idea of him playing Pokémon, via an enthusiastic professor who allowed him to take his Senior Year exams early so he could compete in EUIC 2019, all the way up to the present and making sure he stops and smells the roses along his competitive Pokémon journey. All this as well, of course, as Rahul's 6 hand-picked Pokémon for his Dream Team await you!
*Shiny Pokémon: Each Pokémon has a Shiny version, an incredibly rare differently-coloured variant that sparkles when encountered (1/8192 chance to find a Shiny in Generation II-V Pokémon games, 1/4096 in Generation VI onwards). They are not otherwise different from regular Pokémon, no more powerful etc, but of course they are highly prized for their rarity.
*Umbreon & Espeon are further evolutions of Eevee introduced in Generation II. If levelled up with high friendship at night, Eevee evolves into Umbreon, if during the day, Eevee evolves into Espeon. 
Rahul is @RahulReddy on YouTube & @thefleeee on X:
https://www.youtube.com/@RahulReddy
https://x.com/thefleeee
I am @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok:
https://www.youtube.com/@Chazingdra
https://twitter.com/Chazingdra
https://www.instagram.com/chazingdra/
https://www.tiktok.com/@chazingdra
And you can follow the podcast itself on X too @ChazingdraChats:
https://twitter.com/ChazingdraChats
If you enjoyed, do give the episode a rating and review - it really helps :) You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon Rahul is talking about! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know what your own Dream Team would be... Any feedback you have and any suggestions for guests, from competitive to casual Pokémon players and beyond, feel free to get in touch - chazingdra@gmail.com
Consider joining my Patreon to hear Rahul's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of quickfire bonus questions he hasn't prepared for...  https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
You can also become a part of my Discord community here - it would be a pleasure to welcome you :) https://discord.gg/43P3F49s
(N.B. Music for the show coming soon!)
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
03:53 Rahul's Early Childhood
10:52 Rahul's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
12:47 Rahul & Rediscovering Pokémon at Middle School
20:27 Rahul's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
23:39 The Beginning of Rahul's Competitive Pokémon Journey
34:30 Rahul's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
36:37 Rahul & Chasing his First Worlds Invitation
44:14 Rahul's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
46:02 Rahul & Balancing Pokémon with College and Work
52:58 Rahul's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
54:56 Rahul's Experiences of the Pandemic & Since
1:02:50 Rahul's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
1:03:28 Rahul's Partner Pokémon
1:04:26 If Rahul were a Pokémon, what would he be?
1:06:00 Questions from the Community for Rahul
1:09:48 What's Next for Rahul?
1:11:23 What Advice would Rahul give to his Younger Self?
1:12:26 Outro 
All images of Pokémon (c) Pokémon. Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.  

9 Kwikpanik - Pokémon Video Game Competitor & Shiny Hunter

One of the aims of Chazingdra Chats is to showcase the breadth of what Pokémon has to offer - something Kwikpanik aka Kyle Wilkinson does so well by himself. Pokémon has always been there for Kyle, helping 24-hour car journeys seem to pass more swiftly, as a solace when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and enabling friendships to be made throughout life. It's no wonder that over the years he has built up an extensive knowledge of competitive Pokémon as well as developed a passion for the less intense pursuit of Shiny hunting,* allowing him to engage with the game he loves so much on multiple levels. Come hang out with us in this bumper episode and discover Kyle's life story as well as his 6 carefully selected Pokémon for his Dream Team - laughter, inspiration, pearls of wisdom & nostalgia await. Let Kyle & I brighten your day!
*Shiny Pokémon: Each Pokémon has a Shiny version, an incredibly rare differently-coloured variant that sparkles when encountered (1/8192 chance to find a Shiny in Generation II - V Pokémon games, 1/4096 in Generation VI onwards). They are not otherwise different from regular Pokémon, no more powerful etc, but of course they are highly prized for their rarity. The Shiny Charm is a reward in later Pokémon games that slightly increases the chance of finding Shinies; this can also stack with various other aids.
Make sure to tune in to Kyle's fantastic streams on Twitch and keep up with his news on X! @Kwikpanik
https://www.twitch.tv/kwikpanik
https://x.com/Kwikpanik
I am @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok:
https://www.youtube.com/@Chazingdra
https://twitter.com/Chazingdra
https://www.instagram.com/chazingdra/
https://www.tiktok.com/@chazingdra
And you can follow the podcast itself on X too @ChazingdraChats:
https://twitter.com/ChazingdraChats
If you enjoyed, do give the episode a rating and review - it really helps :) You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon & Shiny variants that Kyle is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Kyle's shared with us - and what your own Dream Team would be... Any feedback you have and any suggestions for guests, from competitive to casual Pokémon players and beyond, feel free to get in touch - chazingdra@gmail.com
Consider joining my Patreon to hear Kyle's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of quickfire bonus questions he hasn't prepared for... Let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
You can also become a part of my Discord community here - it would be a pleasure to welcome you :) https://discord.gg/43P3F49s
(N.B. Music for the show coming soon!)
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
03:53 Kyle's Introduction to Gaming
14:10 Kyle's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
18:48 Kyle's Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosis
28:42 Kyle's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
35:38 Kyle's High School & First Tournament Experiences
46:58 Kyle's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
55:48 Kyle at University & his Introduction to the Pokémon Championships Circuit
1:06:51 Kyle's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
1:09:36 Kyle's Discovery of Shiny Hunting & Break from Competing
1:18:42 Kyle's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
1:25:57 Kyle Now inc. Return to Competing
1:41:48 Kyle's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
1:44:34 Kyle's Partner Pokémon
1:47:03 If Kyle were a Pokémon, what would he be?
1:49:14 Questions from the Community for Kyle
2:01:26 What's Next for Kyle?
2:01:50 What Advice would Kyle give his Younger Self?
2:05:00 Outro
All images of Pokémon (c) Pokémon. Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.

8 Amy Wosley - Pokémon Trading Card Game Caster & Streamer

In her own words, Amy Wosley aka Pumpkaamy is 'living the dream she never knew could be'. Her life story is a lesson in just being yourself - good things will follow, and Amy is thriving as an artist, board game café manager, content creator and caster. Hear how she got to this point, from her first Pokémon game - Crystal - to enabling others to find near-instant success competing in the Trading Card Game via accidentally becoming a Twitch-partnered streamer - and, of course, discover the 6 Pokémon on Amy's Dream Team that have been there for her along the way. Come hang out with Amy & me and let us brighten your day!
#ChazingdraChats #6Pokémon1LifeStory
 
Keep up with Amy's news, art and streams on her X, Instagram & Twitch - @Pumpkaamy:
https://x.com/Pumpkaamy
https://www.instagram.com/pumpkaamy/
https://www.twitch.tv/pumpkaamy
 
I am @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/@Chazingdra
https://twitter.com/Chazingdra
https://www.instagram.com/chazingdra/
https://www.tiktok.com/@chazingdra
And you can follow the podcast on X too @ChazingdraChats: https://twitter.com/ChazingdraChats 
 
If you enjoyed, do give the episode a rating and review - it really helps :) You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon Amy is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Amy's shared with us - and what your own Dream Team would be... Any feedback you have and any suggestions for guests, from competitive to casual Pokémon players and beyond, feel free to get in touch - chazingdra@gmail.com
Consider joining my Patreon to hear Amy's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of quickfire bonus questions she hasn't prepared for... Let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
You can also become a part of my Discord community here - it would be a pleasure to welcome you :) https://discord.gg/43P3F49s
 
*Shiny Pokémon: Each Pokémon has a Shiny version, an incredibly rare differently-coloured variant that sparkles when encountered (1/8192 chance to find a Shiny in Generation II - V Pokémon games, 1/4096 in Generation VI onwards). They are not otherwise different from regular Pokémon, no more powerful etc, but of course they are highly prized for their rarity.
 
(N.B. Music for the show coming soon!)
 
TIMESTAMPS: 
00:00 Intro
02:00 Amy's Introduction to Pokémon as a Child
07:38 Amy's 1st Pokémon
09:44 Amy's Resolution in her Passion
14:41 Amy's 2nd Pokémon
19:58 Amy & Discovering Herself at University
29:53 Amy's 3rd Pokémon
32:09 Amy & Setting Up her own TCG League
40:15 Amy's 4th Pokémon
42:56 Amy & the Pandemic
50:06 Amy's 5th Pokémon
52:58 Amy & 'Living the dream she never knew could be'
57:44 Amy's 6th Pokémon
1:00:45 Amy's Partner Pokémon
1:02:08 If Amy were a Pokémon, what would she be?
1:03:12 Community Questions for Amy
1:13:24 What's next for Amy?
1:14:20 What advice would Amy give to her younger self?
1:15:04 Outro
 
All images of Pokémon (c) Pokémon. Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.

7 Justin Tang - 2x Pokémon Video Game Regional Champion

Justin Tang's story is one for the history books, winning the first Regional Championship he ever attended - and winning another just a month later. He's already achieved what so many competitors dream of, and then some - and he's also just a fun guy to hang out with! Come relax with Justin & me and learn from the insight of this prodigious talent, hear his journey from childhood right up to the present, and, of course, discover the 6 Pokémon he would choose for his Dream Team...
#ChazingdraChats #6Pokémon1LifeStory
There wasn't time to ask Justin the usual 'What advice would you give to your younger self?' question in the episode, but here's the answer he's given me since: 'Always try your best and don't take things for granted.' Words that chime so well with Justin's story. 
Keep up to date with Justin's news on X @unironicpanda https://x.com/unironicpanda
I am @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/@Chazingdra
https://twitter.com/Chazingdra
https://www.instagram.com/chazingdra/
https://www.tiktok.com/@chazingdra
And you can follow the podcast on X too @ChazingdraChats: https://twitter.com/ChazingdraChats 
If you enjoyed, do give the episode a rating and review - it really helps :) You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon Justin is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Justin's shared with us - and what your own Dream Team would be... Any feedback you have and any suggestions for guests, from competitive to casual Pokémon players and beyond, feel free to get in touch - chazingdra@gmail.com
Consider joining my Patreon to hear Justin's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of quickfire bonus questions he hasn't prepared for, including a deeper dive into what Pokémon he thinks he would be... Let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
You can also become a part of my Discord community here - it would be a pleasure to welcome you :) https://discord.gg/43P3F49s
(N.B. Music for the show coming soon!)
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
01:35 Justin's Very First Pokémon Game
07:32 Justin's 1st Pokémon
09:38 Justin & the Pandemic
16:05 Justin's 2nd Pokémon
17:32 Justin & Winning his First Ever Regional
25:15 Justin's 3rd Pokémon
27:13 Justin's Second Regional Win
37:35 Justin's 4th Pokémon
39:44 Justin & The End of his First Competitive Season
49:11 Justin's 5th Pokémon
51:20 Justin & Now - Second Competitive Season
01:01:47 Justin's 6th Pokémon
01:03:53 Justin's Partner Pokémon
01:05:03 If Justin were a Pokémon, what would he be?
01:06:33 Community Questions for Justin
01:12:53 What's Next for Justin?
01:14:07 Outro
(See above for Justin's answer to the usual 'What advice would you give to your younger self?' question!) 
All images of Pokémon (c) Pokémon. Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.

6 Spragels - Pokémon UNITE Content Creator & Caster

#Yeehaw! Content Cowboy & comedian Spragels is here on Chazingdra Chats to bring the belly laughs & brighten your day! 🌞 From his Wild West-esque childhood neighbourhood where kids would relentlessly challenge each other to Pokémon battles on Red & Blue, all the way up to earning his spurs as one of the biggest Pokémon UNITE content creators and a caster, via improv comedy - and, of course, the 6 Pokémon he would choose for his Dream Team... Come hang out with Jake Sprague and me!
I defy you not to 'lol'.
Check out Jake's incredibly popular Pokémon UNITE content: https://www.youtube.com/@spragels
I am @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/@Chazingdra
https://twitter.com/Chazingdra
https://www.instagram.com/chazingdra/
https://www.tiktok.com/@chazingdra
And you can follow the podcast on X too @ChazingdraChats: https://twitter.com/ChazingdraChats 
If you enjoyed, do give the episode a rating and review - it really helps :) You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon Jake is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Jake's shared with us - and what your own Dream Team would be... Any feedback you have and any suggestions for guests, from competitive to casual Pokémon players and beyond, feel free to get in touch - chazingdra@gmail.com
Consider joining my Patreon to hear Jake's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of quickfire bonus questions he hasn't prepared for... Let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
You can also become a part of my Discord community here - it would be a pleasure to welcome you :) https://discord.gg/43P3F49s
(N.B. Music for the show coming soon!)
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
02:23 Jake & Pokémon at Middle School
07:16 Jake's 1st Pokémon
13:13 Jake & Poker
14:56 Jake's 2nd Pokémon
18:34 Jake & Comedy
29:42 Jake's 3rd Pokémon
32:15 Jake & The Birth of his Daughter
37:51 Jake's 4th Pokémon
39:52 Jake & Creating UNITE Content
50:06 Jake's 5th Pokémon
53:28 Jake Now
1:01:21 Jake's 6th Pokémon
1:03:32 Jake's Partner Pokémon
1:04:47 If Jake were a Pokémon, what would he be?
1:06:43 Community Questions for Jake
1:14:19 What's Next for Jake?
1:15:54 What advice would Jake give his younger self?
1:18:18 Outro
All images of Pokémon (c) Pokémon. Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.

5 MEweedle - Pokémon GO Competitor with Regional, International & World-Level Wins

In just two years, Maxwell Ember (in-game name MEweedle) went from discovering competitive Pokémon GO to winning the World Championships in the Senior Division. Hear Maxwell's extraordinary journey, from his dad introducing him to the game (that's right - not the other way around!) all the way up to also winning the 2024 Europe International Championships, via the events that didn't go so well, what he learned along the way, and the vital importance of the community. What about the 6 Pokémon Maxwell would choose for his Dream Team? It's all here in the fifth episode of Chazingdra Chats! Let Maxwell & I brighten your day! 🌞 
You can keep up with Maxwell's latest news by following him on X @MEweedle https://twitter.com/MEweedle
I am @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/@Chazingdra https://twitter.com/Chazingdra https://www.instagram.com/chazingdra/ https://www.tiktok.com/@chazingdra
And you can follow the podcast on X too @ChazingdraChats: https://twitter.com/ChazingdraChats 
If you enjoyed, do give the episode a rating and review - it really helps :) You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon Maxwell is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Maxwell's shared with us - and what your own Dream Team would be... Any feedback you have and any suggestions for guests, get in touch - aiming to expand beyond the competitive Pokémon community too! chazingdra@gmail.com
Consider joining my Patreon to hear Maxwell's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of quickfire bonus questions he hasn't prepared for... Let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
You can also become a part of my Discord community here - it would be a pleasure to welcome you :) https://discord.gg/43P3F49s
(N.B. Music for the show coming soon!)
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:03 Maxwell's Introduction to Pokémon GO
06:12 Maxwell's 1st Pokémon
09:26 Maxwell & Reaching No. 1 on GO Battle League Leaderboard
13:19 Maxwell's 2nd Pokémon
15:10 Maxwell's First Worlds (2022)
19:40 Maxwell's 3rd Pokémon
24:57 Maxwell & The 2023 Stuttgart Regional Championships + 4th Pokémon
33:08 Maxwell & Worlds 2023
37:18 Maxwell's 5th Pokémon
40:03 Maxwell & EUIC 2024
49:02 Maxwell's 6th Pokémon
51:04 Maxwell's Partner Pokémon
51:54 If Maxwell Were A Pokémon, What Would He Be?
54:16 Community Questions for Maxwell
1:02:30 What's Next for Maxwell?
1:03:35 What Advice Would Maxwell Give His Younger Self?
1:04:19 Outro inc. Reveal of Next Week's Guest
All images of Pokémon (c) Pokémon. Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.

4 Simon Van der Borght - Pokémon Video Game Competitor & Tournament Organiser

My guest this week is the wonderful Simon Van der Borght, and he's guaranteed to leave you with a smile! Simon is a figurehead of the competitive Pokémon world: though principally a Video Game player, he has also accrued Championship Points for the Trading Card Game and GO, as well as being a tournament judge and even organiser, making the Belgian scene go from strength to strength. Keen to give back to the community that has given him so much, discover Simon's inspiring life story as well as the 6 Pokémon on his Dream Team. It's an episode full of joie de vivre, laughter and heart - enjoy!
You can keep up with everything Simon is up to by following him on X - @Shmonstah https://twitter.com/Shmonstah
I am @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/@Chazingdra https://twitter.com/Chazingdra https://www.instagram.com/chazingdra/ https://www.tiktok.com/@chazingdra
And you can follow the podcast on X too @ChazingdraChats: https://twitter.com/ChazingdraChats 
If you enjoyed, do give the episode a rating and review - it really helps :) You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon Simon is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Simon's shared with us - and what your own Dream Team would be... Any feedback you have and any suggestions for guests, get in touch - aiming to expand beyond the competitive Pokémon community too! chazingdra@gmail.com
Consider joining my Patreon to hear Simon's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of quickfire bonus questions he hasn't prepared for... Let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
You can also become a part of my Discord community here - it would be a pleasure to welcome you :) https://discord.gg/43P3F49s
(N.B. Music for the show coming soon!)
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:47 Simon's early childhood in the Congo
08:06 Simon's 1st Pokémon
10:15 Simon & Sporta Kampen
15:14 Simon's 2nd Pokémon
17:08 Simon & PokéPlay
26:07 Simon's 3rd Pokémon
28:57 Simon & Studying
36:07 Simon's 4th Pokémon
38:13 Simon & The First European International Championships
47:03 Simon's 5th Pokémon
48:53 Simon & Nurturing The Local Scene/Casting
1:02:36 Simon's 6th Pokémon
1:07:36 Simon's Partner Pokémon
1:09:31 If Simon Were A Pokémon, What Would He Be?
1:11:28 Questions From The Community For Simon
1:21:53 What's Next For Simon?
1:24:03 What Advice Would Simon Give To His Younger Self?
1:26:00 Outro
All images of Pokémon (c) Pokémon. Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.