Chazingdra Chats (A Pokémon Podcast)

19 Gabby Snyder - Pokémon Video Game & Pokémon GO Caster

#6Pokemon1LifeStory
With the 2024 Pokémon World Championships taking place the week of this episode's release, let's get to know one of the Video Game casters: Gabby Snyder! Did you know Gabby's grandfather was a famous musician? Or that she met her fiancé at her very first competitive Pokémon event? That as a child she wrote to Pokémon asking them to bring an event to Boston - and they did? Trust me, this barely scratches the surface of the fascinating tales Gabby has to share - get in here and discover her life story! As well, of course, as her hand-picked Dream Team of 6 Pokémon that have been there for her along the way... Come hang out & have a laugh with Gabby & me: let us #MakeYourDayMerry!
Want to get to know Gabby even better - and find out why she ends the episode with "It's about to get real degenerate in here"?! Then head to my Patreon (linked below) for her Rapidash Round: 15 minutes or so of bonus quickfire questions she hasn't prepared for - Gabby might not have done her Bidoof Shiny hunt yet in Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, but what Generation IV Shiny hunt HAS she completed? If you're playing Pokémon Red with Charizard on the box, can you really choose a First Partner Pokémon other than Charmander - really? What's Gabby's favourite movie - and how many times did she see it at the cinema (brace yourselves for that one...)? These and many more lie in store - let the merriment continue! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
Make sure to keep up with Gabby's latest - you can find all her socials, her Twitch and more at https://simplygabby.tv/
And my name's Charlie Merriman - Merri by name, merry by nature - a pleasure to meet you! I'm a host & commentator for the Pokémon Video Game Championships Series and a content creator. You can find me as @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok - I stream Pokémon games, vlog events I cast, make comedy skits and loads more! Come join in the merriment!
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 & review and drop a comment - it really helps! You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon that Gabby is talking about and generally share in the smiles! Leave a comment over there too as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Gabby'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
And why not join the friendly Merrifolk! Become a member of my Discord community Chazingdra's Chocolate Factory here - if you enjoy anything & everything the Pokémon video games have to offer then it's the place for you. 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!
03:11 Gabby finding her people at her very first Pokémon event
11:18 Gabby's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
14:39 Music runs in the family
19:46 Gabby's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
22:21 Gabby meeting her fiancé & her first live cast
35:32 Gabby's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
39:53 Building a Pokémon website in the Internet's early days
47:27 Gabby's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
50:28 Travelling and a globe-hopping quest
59:24 Gabby's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
1:02:10 Eva Snyder
1:07:01 Gabby's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
1:09:05 Gabby's Complete Dream Team & Partner Pokémon
1:10:52 If Gabby were a Pokémon, what would she be?
1:11:37 Community questions for Gabby - including her approach to learning how to cast new games and her proudest competitive achievement
1:20:25 What's next for Gabby?
1:22:45 What advice would Gabby give her younger self?
1:24:15 Gabby's Rapidash Round teaser
1:25:13 Get involved & see you next time! Including reveal of next week's guest...
Notes:
- If you're unfamiliar with the term 'hax' that Gabby uses e.g. around 28:00 - essentially bad luck. Like many games, in competitive Pokémon moves can miss, there's a small chance of a more powerful critical hit, certain moves can have a secondary effect etc.
- The 'Simple' Ability: any stat boosts & drops are doubled, e.g. Swords Dance would raise the Attack stat by 4 stages rather than 2, an opponent's Screech would also lower Defense by 4 stages rather than 2, etc.
- The changes for the 2025 season relevant to what Gabby talks about in the 'What's next' segment are that going forwards local Video Game tournaments need to be hosted as part of a card shop league, rather than Pokémon Professors hosting them separately up to now.   
Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.

18 Doobsnax - Pokémon UNITE Caster

#6Pokemon1LifeStory
'What's good ya beaut. Those first two podcast eps rocked. Obviously if you ever need someone, give the ol' kid a shout.' Kirk Dubé aka Doobsnax sent me this message a few months ago - I did indeed give the ol' kid a shout! Bubbling over with enthusiasm, Kirk talks us through his fascinating life story from how he got his rugby nickname 'Magic' via his first taste of casting with the Pokémon Trading Card Game up to becoming the stellar Pokémon UNITE caster he is today - in Kirk's own words, 'truly a joy ride I don't take for granted'. And who are his hand-picked 6 Pokémon for his Dream Team, right there by his side on this joy ride? Come find out, kick back & have a laugh with Kirk & me - let us #MakeYourDayMerry!
Kirk also joined my Patreon as soon as he'd sent me the above message - as he says in the episode, "The bonus Rapidash Round has been one of my favourite segments, that's why after I watched the first Chazingdra Chats I was like I need to get into this Patreon. Keep this train going, we wanna have Chazingdra Chats with everybody!" So do consider subscribing there and join Kirk in listening to his own Rapidash Round(!): 15 minutes or so of bonus quickfire questions he hasn't prepared for - Would Kirk ever consider commentating sport? If there were space for a 7th Pokémon on his Dream Team, what would it be? And was he into MOBAs at all before UNITE came out? These and more lie in store - let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
Make sure you're keeping up with Kirk's latest on X @doobsnax: https://x.com/doobsnax?lang=en 
And my name's Charlie Merriman, a pleasure to meet you! I'm a host & commentator for the Pokémon Video Game Championships Series and a content creator. You can find me as @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok - I stream Pokémon games, vlog events I cast, make comedy skits and loads more! Come join in the merriment!
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 & review and drop a comment - it really helps! You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon that Kirk is talking about and generally share in the smiles! Leave a comment over there too as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Kirk'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
And why not join the friendly Merrifolk! Become a member of my Discord community Chazingdra's Chocolate Factory here - if you enjoy anything & everything the Pokémon video games have to offer then it's the place for you. 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!
01:46 A 'Magic' Sunday on Pokémon Red
12:22 Kirk's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
14:35 Getting Married & Getting into the Pokémon TCG
20:55 Kirk's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
25:13 'The passion I never knew I had'
30:19 Kirk's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
32:50 Olive
37:24 Kirk's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
38:15 A Good Night for UNITE
44:03 Kirk's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
45:17 UNITE's Might
49:43 Kirk's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
51:26 Kirk's Complete Dream Team & Partner Pokémon
52:58 If Kirk were a Pokémon, what would he be?
54:04 Kirk's Community Questions
58:04 What's next for Kirk?
58:47 What advice would Kirk give his younger self?
1:01:08 Kirk advertises his own Rapidash Round!
1:02:18 Get involved & see you next time! 
Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.

17 Taran Birdee - Pokémon VGC Competitor & Perth Regional Champion 2023

#ChazingdraChats #6Pokémon1LifeStory
UK-based Pokémon Video Game Competitor Taran Birdee has been a force to be reckoned with especially since emerging from lockdown, with victory at the 2023 Perth Regional Championships and a slew of impressive results at the International level to his name - as well as all the Gold Symbols from Pokémon Emerald's Battle Frontier! Discover Taran's life story, from his undying competitive streak that got him where he is today, via taking the leap to attend live Pokémon tournaments and an encounter with a Shiny Wailmer... All this and, of course, the 6 Pokémon most special to him that he would choose for his Dream Team await you, with more besides - come hang out with Taran & me, and let us #MakeYourDayMerry!
Keep up with Taran's latest news on X @AuraRayquaza: https://x.com/AuraRayquaza
And my name's Charlie Merriman, a pleasure to meet you! I'm a host & commentator for the Pokémon Video Game Championships Series and a content creator. You can find me as @Chazingdra on YouTube, X, Instagram & TikTok - I stream Pokémon games, vlog events I cast, make comedy skits and loads more! Come join in the merriment!
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 & review and drop a comment - it really helps! You can also watch the episode on YouTube (link above), where you can see pictures of the Pokémon that Taran is talking about as well as the plushies he has of each of his Dream Team members - come share in the smiles! Leave a comment over there too as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Taran'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 Taran's Rapidash Round: 15 minutes or so of bonus quickfire questions he hasn't prepared for... Who's a player Taran looks up to? Most underrated item in VGC in his opinion? These and more lie in store - let the good times roll on! https://www.patreon.com/Chazingdra
And why not join the friendly Merrifolk! Become a member of my Discord community Chazingdra's Chocolate Factory here - if you enjoy anything & everything the Pokémon video games have to offer then it's the place for you. 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!
01:45 'The game I never stopped playing'
07:09 Taran's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
10:54 The battle loss that led to a competitive deep dive
18:36 Taran's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
22:17 Holding out for the right job
31:13 Taran's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
32:59 Lockdown
37:13 Taran's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
40:52 Hitting the ground running for the 2022 season
47:21 Taran's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
51:01 Perth 2023 & NAIC 2024
1:04:50 Taran's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
1:06:59 Taran's Complete Dream Team & Partner Pokémon
1:08:37 If Taran were a Pokémon, what would he be?
1:11:09 Community questions for Taran
1:19:50 What's next for Taran?
1:22:49 What advice would Taran give his younger self?
1:23:49 Taran's Rapidash Round Teaser
1:24:26 Get involved & see you next time! Inc. reveal of next week's guest...
*Shiny Pokémon: Each Pokémon has a Shiny version, an incredibly rare differently-coloured variant that sparkles when encountered. They are not otherwise different from regular Pokémon, but of course they are highly prized.
*As mentioned in passing by Taran, the 2024-25 season will have a slightly different tournament structure, and everyone with the same number of match points as the player in 8th position will advance to a top-cut bracket - further information can be found on the Pokémon website: https://www.pokemon.com/uk/pokemon-news/2025-pokemon-championship-series-update#adjusting-swiss-tournament-format-and-top-cut  
*Incidentally, 'za' mentioned in the second life story segment is a slang shortening for 'pizza'!
Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International. 

16 Connor Hayward - Graphics Operator for EU Pokémon Streams & Limitless Stream Coordinator

Connor Hayward has a wealth of experience behind the scenes of Trading Card Game streams, and I'm excited for everyone to hear this perspective for the first time on the show. From getting very good at speed-running Pokémon Red thanks to being unaware of the ability to save the game(!), via a chance encounter with Limitless TCG after the finals of a tournament, all the way up to operating the graphics on official EU Pokémon streams now, come and discover Connor Hayward's fascinating story - as well, of course, as the 6 Pokémon he would choose for his Dream Team! Hang out with us, have a laugh, and let us #MakeYourDayMerry!
You can keep up with Connor's news on X @LimitlessConnor: https://x.com/limitlessconnor
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 Connor is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Connor'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 Connor's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of bonus quickfire 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!
01:33 Origins with Pokémon
08:16 Connor's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
11:54 Pokémon Generation IV & Other TCGs
19:41 Connor's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
22:25 Moving to Munich
28:42 Connor's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
30:29 The Pandemic
38:04 Connor's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
40:43 Limitless Returns
46:22 Connor's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
48:43 Working on the Official Streams
53:26 Connor's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
55:42 Connor's Complete Dream Team & Partner Pokémon
57:01 If Connor were a Pokémon, what would he be?
58:30 Community Questions for Connor
1:03:30 What's next for Connor?
1:05:35 What advice would Connor give his younger self?
1:07:41 Connor's Rapidash Round Teaser
1:08:20 Get Involved & See You Next Time!
*Shiny Pokémon: Each Pokémon has a Shiny version, an incredibly rare differently-coloured variant that sparkles when encountered. They are not otherwise different from regular Pokémon, but of course they are highly prized for their rarity.
*Technician is an Ability that slightly boosts the power of weaker moves. Rough Skin is an Ability that deals a small amount of damage back to the attacker after the latter uses a move that makes contact.
Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International. 

15 OutOfPoket - Pokémon GO NAIC Champion

Hear how OutOfPoket aka Aiden Hedderly, winner of the 2024 North America International Championships for Pokémon GO, got to where he is today, from sharing a phone with his mum when they discovered the game via figuring out how best to balance school & games all the way up to what was going through his head during that fateful NAIC - and, as always, discover the 6 Pokémon he would choose for his Dream Team. This cheeky champion is sure to charm you - come hang out with Aiden & me and let us #MakeYourDayMerry!
Keep up with Aiden's latest news on X @HotPoket777: https://x.com/hotpoket777
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 Aiden is talking about and share in the smiles! Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Aiden'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 Aiden's Rapidash Round - 15 minutes or so of bonus quickfire 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!
01:32 Childhood & Discovering Pokémon GO
07:57 Aiden's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
11:37 Other Games
15:54 Aiden's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
17:34 Grassroots Competitions
26:00 Aiden's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
27:47 Grassroots Judging
37:57 Aiden's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
40:13 Winning Peoria 2023
46:35 Aiden's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
48:14 Winning NAIC 2024
59:54 Aiden's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
1:02:45 Aiden's Complete Dream Team & Partner Pokémon
1:04:31 If Aiden were a Pokémon, what would he be?
1:05:56 Community Questions for Aiden
1:10:55 What's Next for Aiden?
1:13:11 What advice would Aiden give his younger self?
1:17:25 Aiden's Rapidash Round Teaser
1:17:50 Get Involved & See You Next Time!
Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.  

14 Freya Pearce - Pokémon Trading Card Game Caster & Competitor

It just so happened that the day I recorded with Freya, not only was it her & her husband's anniversary but she'd also been made a job offer! Freya Pearce is thriving as a Pokémon Trading Card Game Caster & Competitor - hear how she got here, from her childhood in Brazil all the way up to settling in Denmark, via reaching Top 16 of the World Championships twice, discovering the furry community, her transition, and - of course - her hand-picked 6 Dream Team Pokémon that have been there for her along the way. Freya's story is an eye-opening & heartwarming one, and her sunny personality is guaranteed to leave you with a smile - come hang out & let us #MakeYourDayMerry!
*Confused by what's going on at the start of the episode?! You can see the head of Freya's majestic Koraidon costume that she's wearing in the video version on my YouTube channel, where you'll also be able to see pictures of her Dream Team Pokémon, artwork & costumes for her fursonas, and images of cards she talks about: https://youtu.be/5iulvPjUWUE
Drop a comment over there as I'd love to know your thoughts on what Freya's shared with us - and what your own Pokémon Dream Team would be...
If you enjoyed listening, do give the show a rating and review - it really helps :) 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 Freya'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
Freya's Pokémon accounts are @XanatuVPR on X & Instagram, and her furry account is @ViperDerg on X:
https://x.com/xanatuvpr?lang=en
https://www.instagram.com/xanatuvpr/?hl=en
https://x.com/viperderg?lang=en-GB  
I am @Chazingdra on X, Instagram, TikTok & YouTube, where I also stream playing Pokémon and upload vlogs of competitive events I cast - come join in!
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
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!)
P.S. I realised in the edit that I had the microphone slightly too close to my mouth when recording this episode, so I apologise for any overblown audio! 
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome!
03:47 Growing Up in Brazil
09:43 Freya's 1st Dream Team Pokémon
12:26 Discovering Pokémon
17:37 Freya's 2nd Dream Team Pokémon
19:30 Other Interests
27:32 Freya's 3rd Dream Team Pokémon
33:04 Getting into the Pokémon Trading Card Game
43:28 Freya's 4th Dream Team Pokémon
46:49 Casting, Pandemic & Freya's Transition
57:42 Freya's 5th Dream Team Pokémon
1:00:59 Now
1:06:43 Freya's 6th Dream Team Pokémon
1:10:09 Freya's Complete Dream Team & Partner Pokémon
1:10:59 If Freya were a Pokémon, what would she be?
1:13:07 Community Questions for Freya
1:18:24 What's Next for Freya?
1:20:32 What Advice would Freya give her Younger Self?
1:22:01 Freya's Rapidash Round Teaser
1:22:36 See You Next Time! + My Guest Next Week...
Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International.

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.