Mike Cardamone Taking the Piss

Episode 241 Yerasimos: [00:00:00] To have him cut it out. Um, okay. We got Mike. Mike just came on right now. Look at him. He is like, got the books behind him so he, everyone can know how smart. He's, he's a fake, this is digital, you know, and then he's got the, the blue light glasses on so everyone know he is like a good Austin Bio hagger. Mike: See, this is gonna be, Mike (2): I gotta address this up front. I'm not gonna be able to take you serious as a podcast host. It's just not, it's not gonna work. Yerasimos: Uh, Fred, anyone knows, Mike and I literally just talk shit to each other all the time, every time we hang out. Which, which highlights how much we love Joel: each other on, I need to put on my matching pea colored glasses. There we go. Yerasimos: See? See? Did I wear mine too? So we get all 'em on, on blue blockers. Dude, Mike: we gotta tell the people to protect their eyes. Hold up. Joel: Oh wow. Uh, you look, you look much better in your photo than your life response. Yeah. You should keep that off the whole time, huh? Yeah, totally. The, Yerasimos: the, the problem is, the problem is these are, um. Your camera's. Your camera's off bro. Your camera's off. I know, I Mike: know. Yerasimos: But these are the ones that are, my [00:01:00] goodness. Come on. Yo, you look like you're Mike: welding something. Yerasimos: Yeah, I got these custom made bro. Back in the days before, uh, Matt Maka, like raw optics, his thing blew up. He was like living home and making these out of his basement. And so I got glasses from, um, from um, Warby Parker and I sent them to him and he made them, this is like, uh, maybe seven, eight years ago. Um, so you know, like when the real people were doing this kind of stuff, not everyone, you were ahead of the curve. I was ahead of the curve, bro. That's what they call me. You're osmos ahead of the curve ly in SSEs. Yeah. Yeah. Joel: I knew people were Yerasimos: calling you that. I've been hearing that whispers. Joel: Literally no one has ever called you that in their life. Yerasimos: This is great, dude. I'm gonna love this. This might be our best Joel: podcast ever. Mike Cardamon is a writer and creative director. He makes comedy content at Don't slap snooze.net and collaborates and other projects with people who are much smarter than he is. Mark has degrees in English, not your Omo. Mark has degrees in English advertising and media production, all of which he's misplaced the [00:02:00] diplomas for. Currently, mark is putting paragraphs in. Third persons make it seem like he's not the one writing at this bio. All right, guys. It's been, it's been great. It's been a great episode of Here for the Truth. Thank you so much. I think we covered all the bases. Mike (2): Let's pack it in. Joel: Yeah. What's going on, bro? Mike (2): How Joel: are Mike (2): you? I'm chilling, man. I'm chilling. I'm back. Back home after Confluence. It was nice seeing you fellas in the flesh. Nice in the Yerasimos: flesh. Mike (2): Okay. Yeah. No, no h no h Joel: Okay. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, so con, considering that bio said absolutely nothing about you, would you like, so that people know who you are, what you do, what do you mean? Usually? Usually we ask, talking about like, your hero's journey. Like what are your major rights or passages? What kind of led you down this path, whatever you wanna speak to. Speaking super. I like Yerasimos: How'd you end up here, bro? On a podcast with us? Okay. Let's start at the day you were born. Joel: Yeah. Mike (2): Yeah. Well, I was, I was conceived in, uh, a kayak [00:03:00] inside of an elevator, inside of a Dick's Sporting Goods. And, uh, no, uh, I don't know. Where do you want me to start for real? Yerasimos: Well, listen, like, like, like we, listen, we always, we always start off with first time guests. Like, you know, what's, you know, what's your personal hero's journey? And like, like Joel said, like the major moments of your life that guided you to who you are today and the work you do and, and your outlook on life. And, you know, I, I know that you worked in. In like the industry, you know, you, you worked on, um, in the industry, you know, as a director, nefarious. Yeah, yeah. Uh, and a creative person. I mean, you're still creative, but like using your skills for different reasons. But tell us a little bit about you, Mike. I literally know nothing about Mike: you, so Yeah, Mike (2): please. All right. Well, yeah, so that's kind of the start of my creative career, I guess. I was writing, uh, TV commercials and making campaigns, um, for all kinds of brands. Um, we had tons of clients, um, but you know, like [00:04:00] shitty food, beer, spirits, a bunch of stuff that, you know, I wasn't really imbibing in myself. Um, and I was, yeah, putting a lot of creative energy towards that. Um, and it just got really draining. And then, you know, we had the whole, uh, I don't know what if we're censored here, but the whole 2020 kind of thing. Um, we, we were censored off Yerasimos: YouTube, but I don't think we're censored off zoom so you can say things not yet. Um, so yeah. What's Joel: that? I'm just like, keep these off. Yerasimos: Yeah, I probably will too, but I just wanna have them on right now for a little bit. Mike (2): Yeah. Feels good. So yeah, I was writing commercials and doing that. I was in that world. I know your brother's in that world, your Osmo. Mm-hmm. Um, and yeah, it just got draining, kind of giving creative energy to those kinds of systems. 'cause it quickly, you know, especially over time. Became apparent to me what was actually happening, which is that, you know, they enlist creative people to kind of do their bidding, right? And it sounds ridiculous in the context of whatever, you know, a flying Bumblebee or honey nut Cheerios or whatever. But [00:05:00] that's, we're in this weird space where this kind of propaganda is disguised in, in ridiculous ways. And that, you know, that's what my energy was being geared towards. And I realized that it had an effect, you know, it had influence. Um, and so I kind of just dropped off and then started getting involved with, you know, friends of ours, people like Alec, people like Mike Winter, um, and just being like, look, this is, this is what I had going on. I love to, uh, put some creative energy towards the projects you guys are building as well. And then, uh, at the same time I started, uh, you know, writing this kind of weird comedy hybrid kind of thing that you guys saw at Confluence where it's kind of, um, half standup comedy and half kind of. I don't know, educational, for lack of a better word, you know, kind of half lecture, half standup. Um, Hey, hey, you did something at Confluence. Oh, you missed it, dude, listen actually, just for the best, which is funny 'cause like I, I, I put 'em on, I, I I made sure you couldn't get in, so that makes sense. I had you on a list, Yerasimos: dude. I actually went to your talk. I think I, [00:06:00] I watched the last like half hour, which is the only talk I saw. 'cause like, you know, I've been to like five music in Skies and this is my third Confluence. And I go there now just to hang out with people. So like, tell my friends I was, listen, I love you, but I'm not coming here to talk. But you, we've met, I haven't seen too much of your work. And I know it was comedy, and I love comedy. So like, dude, I roll down to spend some time here. You do your thing. And it was pretty awesome. And it's pretty hilarious because you're, you're talking about the things that we talk about, you know, from a, let's say a more serious, like, scientific standpoint of challenging, you know, the establishment and the status quo. And you use hu humor and in a lot of ways. Comedians are like the greatest truth tellers or they can be and they have been in some ways in the past. So, uh, 'cause I feel like you can present information in a way that can be digestible through humor. Do you agree with that assessment, Mike? Mike (2): Yeah, I do agree with that assessment. I mean, that was, that was intentional. I knew there was kind of, um, you know, it kind of, it, it opens people up even in terms [00:07:00] of their spirit, right? Like the ventilation of laughing opens you up to information that you might not be comfortable with receiving otherwise, or the ability to kind of transmute the fear around a lot of these things, whether it's vaccines or people freaking out about things being sprayed in the sky or, you know, what's going on with money and all of these things have a lot of fear around them, and if you can kind of make fun around them and explain the concepts it makes yeah, everything more digestible. Um, and so that was the, uh, the intention in terms of how I was approaching things, because like you said, there's a lot. It's a tool. Right. And it's very effective. And just to be honest, most of the time people are using it irresponsibly and which is fine. You know, like we were watching an Ali G show together. It's like, there's still stuff that is hilarious in and like on its own, but there's a lot of comedy that's just kind of about nothing. You know what I mean? Like, there's not really, you know, any ideas attached to them. So I intentionally have, you know, this is half education, half comedy and that kind of thing. And I knew [00:08:00] that was kind of a lane that no one's in. Yerasimos: Yeah. When was the first moment where you went like, like the rest was, seriously, it looks like an oddie or something right now. Yeah. I'm gonna take them off soon, but I feel like, I look like, uh, isn't Robert, Danny Jr. Always wears like the yellow g the orange glasses at all his like, uh, his events. But anyways, you were, you were, I haven't Eddie, Eddie, Eddie of those I, in a while. I haven't worn these in a while, you know? 'cause I just don't, I mean, I care, but not as much as maybe I do. So, so Mike, when did you start questioning? Quick. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Real quickly. When was the first, okay, now I look weird taking them off. Um, I don't wanna steal your thunder mic, but when was the first aha moment where you're like, kind of sitting in your bed, you know, alone, um, thinking about life, the questions of the universe, um, contemplating, you know, our deep friendship that started three years ago. Confluence. And you went Mike (2): Yeah. I had a vision of it. Prior to meeting you. Yerasimos: Yes, yes. No, but when did you have like, listen, I'm gonna use my skills and tools to do this kind of thing. Like what was the first thing that you did that was kind of connected to what you, [00:09:00] like you do now? Mike (2): Yeah. I kind of had the idea of a kind of show, or it was kind of presentation that would merge those two things that I was talking about. And then the first thing, um, that I had written was about the vaccines. It was about, um. All the ingredients in them, um, you know, the horse blood, the monkey kidney cells and all this thing. And then, uh, yeah, I had written a thing where it was like, you know, at this point I wouldn't be surprised if every vaccine had moose come in it and, you know, had just, was kind of going off on all of the ingredients and, and built this kind of, uh, uh, piece, this piece of writing. Um, so that was the first thing that, that snowballed. Everything from there was when, you know, it was in the heat of, you know, 2020, everyone's freaking out about a vax. And it was just like, I'm reading about these things anyway. I'm interested in learning about them anyway. And then that's just kind of the way I was thinking about it. Like, make it funny, make the concepts more digestible, as you mentioned before and, yeah. Yeah. Right. When did, when did this, Joel: this, this Instagram riddle's gonna go off, do vaccines, can say Yeah, equip Mike (2): that. Yerasimos: Do vaccines. Can Joel: say, [00:10:00] Yerasimos: when did you, um. Like, obviously you decided to leave your industry, but when did you start like waking up more to a lot of the things that you were writing about? Was it 2020 that really got you to look into stuff or did you look into vaccines earlier? Did nine, 11, like for a lot of people myself, like a couple years after nine 11 was my initial like WTF moment and you know, the wheel started turning and I started going down all the rab, the proverbial rabbit holes. So like what was it for you? Not, not everyone's 53 years old, bro, so it was a nine 11 for us. Okay. Yeah, dude, I wasn't, I looking, I'm not looking to that and I don't put p in my face and I still look pretty good. Mike (2): Well, that's where you're messing up. This is where we'll get into that. Don't worry. No, what was the question? When, when did you start questioning questioning, when did you start questioning conventional paradigms? I had, I kind of had waves of it. So like I remember being in high school, um, like in the computer lab in high school going on David Ike's site and like getting into stuff early on and that was kind of like the moon stuff and like, you know, kind of that kind of, that kind of [00:11:00] stuff. Um. You know, the, the lizards, you know, the basics, the what. So I kind of, I was kind of into that in, in, in high school. Um, and then, uh, you know, put it away, kind of went, went to, you know, I did stand up, regular stand up for a little bit in New York and then got into the, oh wow, okay. Uh, script writing for the commercials and stuff, and that took over, like beyond full time. Um, and so, yeah, kind of, Yerasimos: were you living at that, were you in New York or la or were you in another market? I. Mike (2): So I was in New York doing standup for a little while, and then, uh, I was in California for once I went, uh, the advertising route. Um, so I was in San Francisco and then that's where we would kind of write stuff and then we'd fly down to LA and, and film it like with people like your brother, and then go back up and edit it in, in San Francisco. Um, so that was kind of, did that for like seven, eight years. Joel (2): Oh. Mike (2): Um, but yeah, put that, put that kind of stuff away for a little while, and then once [00:12:00] 2020 happened, it was like, all right, it's kind of, you know, it's entering our lives whether we, you know what I mean? Like based on lockdowns and all that kind of stuff, quote unquote. Yerasimos: So you set a, so did you set a strong boundary of like, you were still working in industry and then they wanted you to take the vaccine? Or were you already like, I'm kind of over this as my profession or what I wanna do in the world? And it was kind of the easy way to just say no. Like, what was that process of like, you know, you're working in. Quote unquote, like, you know, mainstream world doing this thing. And then there were these, you know, mandates or rules that you can't show up on set unless you get tested and Yeah. That whole thing, you know what I mean? Mike (2): Yeah. So, yeah, initially, um, everything went remote so no one was telling me to take anything necessarily. And then, like, just by the nature of that, like it, it started like a lot of stuff, like the scripts we were writing were animation, for example, so that we didn't have to go shoot something and it can be done remote and work around [00:13:00] that kind of stuff. Um, 'cause yeah, that was crazy. But then by the time people were supposed to go back to the office and have to go back to set and do all the things, I had already decided to leave. Um, so I didn't face any kind of, um. I don't know overt pressure necessarily in that respect. Um, but once I was thinking about these things and doing all this kind of research, it became apparent that I couldn't, I had to just leave. Like it wasn't in alignment anymore. Like, because like at that time, I remember like all the commercials were, like, for example, I remember, I forget what airline it was, but there was a airline who ran a big campaign about like wearing masks and everyone was dancing down the aisles and doing this thing. And like, remember the Colbert show had like dancing vaccines and shit. And it was like, so it's like, all right, I really can't participate and be in alignment with it, just, it's not gonna work. Um, so at, yeah, I had to pull the parachute. Yerasimos: You were ahead of the curve, bro. Mike (2): That's what we were saying. People also called me that Mike, ahead of the curve. Cardamon. They call me Mikey Curves. Mikey [00:14:00] Curves. Joel: Hilarious. Oh, I love, um, what, what, what is the hardest thing that you've ever overcome in your life? Oh, dang man. Dang. That's Mike: a tough question. You hate me. You just slapped me across the face that slap bro. Yerasimos: Listen bro, we don slap dude. We can, we can make jokes and talk Mike: shit and we get mad deep. That's how we roll over here, here for sure. I respect it. I guess, um, I guess I'm still Mike (2): in progress of doing it. It would be kind of just facing past traumas, taking some responsibility for needing to move forward with reprogramming the things that you were programmed with and, you know, kind of, um, yeah, it's still an ongoing process, but being able to face things that need to be faced, so, so I can move forward and be a better man. Uh, pause. We'll keep Mike: working on that, bro. We got long ways Mike (2): to go. Mike: Thanks for, Mike (2): thanks Mike: for being, I thought that was a decent answer, but All right. Thanks. Thanks for being super fucking vague. Don't that, Joel: don't clip Mike: that one. Cut that out. Thanks. Being Joel: super fucking vague, bro. Mike: Cut that out. Like, like I have some dramas that I need. Did you [00:15:00] read that? Joel: Did Mike: you read that answer off a Hallmark card or something? Or? I thought we were here to Mike (2): have a good time. You guys are trying to dig up some, some trauma on me. Yeah, bro. Yerasimos: Dude, unless you cry on camera, like this isn't a success successful interview. Mike (2): Yes. I mean, I might cry depending on how long I still have to continue to look at your face. We'll see how much, what do we got? Uh, yeah, so people Yerasimos: are thinking, I love this episode. I'd be like, Ugh, some bros, some dudes doing, dude, things you really, really Joel: messing about. Yerasimos: Yeah. Joel: It's, it's okay, bro. You, you're Yerasimos: still approved of your SMOs. It's okay. I know. Fuck. Hope so. Please like me, everyone, please keep listening to hear for the truth. Um, when did you start drinking your own Joel: piss? Mike: I started drinking. That's a great question. I started drinking my own piss about five years ago. You're like one of the, like the main Yerasimos: people I think in our Mike (2): little, in our world that like talk about it. Right. I don't know. I guess I don't know how it happened. It's weird because like, it's one of those things that like people, I [00:16:00] don't know, it's so triggering, for lack of a better word, that like people obsess over it. So it's like, I don't know, it's like hard to, like, once I discuss it, it's like, I don't know, people are obsessed with it even though they're not doing it and they're weirded out by it. It's like they're more obsessed with it than I am and I'm drinking it all day. Yeah, because it's, it's a fascinating thing. I mean it's Joel: very, it's quite taboo. Uh, well what, what's interesting is all the conversations that happen about Mike when Mike isn't there and someone's like, who's Mike? And then someone's like the piss guy and everyone knows who Mike is. All Yeah. It's crazy. Like, I dunno how it became the piss guy. I call, I call you Mike. Mike (2): I'm more than the piss guy. Yerasimos: Yeah. Mike (2): I, in part I'm the piss guy. Yerasimos: Yeah, it's true. You're like, I think of you as p mike. Not ahead of the curve, Mike. So see that's tough. I. I think Mikey, Mikey. P like Mikey P Mikey P Mikey p Mikey p Cardamon. That's like a nice little thing 'cause it seems like it's like your middle initial and Mikey, Mikey is your thing. Yeah. Mike (2): Maybe I'll get it changed on my, my government birth certificate docs. Yerasimos: No, but for real, like, obviously like all jokes aside, like what drew you [00:17:00] to it? You know, you know, what does your P taste like? You know, Mike (2): it's good. Um, what, what drew me to a friend of mine? Who wasn't even doing it was just kind of entertaining the idea of doing it, put me onto it. And then, I mean, like everyone else, I thought it was crazy. I mean, I was making fun of him for it. I was like, yo, come on man. And then, uh, yeah, the more I looked into it, the more it kind of made intuitive sense and a more kind of literal sense. Like there's actually a lot of research that people can look up. There's, there's tons of books and, you know, it was never considered a waste product for the entire history in earth here. Like, it's only been considered a waste for like, similar to like the germ theory kind of stuff, like the last a hundred years or so. Um, so there's just so much documented information about it that it's kind of hard to avoid, um, if you, if you genuinely look into it and kind of are, are willing to put aside your biases and the programming around it. Because there, it's deep, you know, we're programmed into thinking about it as a waste and all this kind of stuff.[00:18:00] Um, what are the ingredients in, in urine? Like Yerasimos: what's in, what's in your, it's primarily water, right? Mike (2): Yeah. It's about 95% water. Um, and then the rest of it, the next main component is giver. I mean, it's all different. These are kind of generalizations, but about 3% urea, which is where the term urine comes from. Um, so that's kind of the main component beyond water, what is, and then the rest of it. What is URE is, um, what's that? What is urea? I mean, it's a compound. Um, but it's used, I mean, even it's used medically for all sorts of purposes. Um, like it has, for example, what they call mucolytic action, which means it's, it's, it pulls mucus. Um, so it's a great cleanser, so it's like a solvent. Um, and yeah, it's used in all sorts of kind of pharmaceuticals and medications already. They, they kind of isolate it, but it's kind of naturally occurring in living things. Um, okay. So 3% and then the rest of it, 95 is 98. Okay. Yeah. And then the rest of it is, um, a long list of so-called [00:19:00] vitamins and minerals and hormones and stem cells. Um. Nothing exists in the urine. That isn't already in the blood. Um, so it's a, it's a blood product instead of a waste product if we want to frame it that way. Yerasimos: So I should just like, identify as a vampire and start drinking people's blood. Is it the same thing? Mike (2): Well, if you wanna start getting into others, that's, you know, that's, that's pretty intimate. That's some, uh, you gotta, you gotta consider what's going on because like, we, like for example, at Confluence with someone like Veda Austin who's presenting on how water is able to hold and store information, right? Um, that's part of the urine and it's actually information that's been generated by your body. So it's, you know, not quote unquote outside or foreign information as you would get from other types of water, whether that's tap water or spring water or whatever. This is water that the structures in it have been made for you to communicate with. Um, which is very interesting. Yerasimos: Yeah, it's interesting when I first heard about it, I mean, I first heard about a while ago, [00:20:00] but, um. I would say maybe last year was the first time I kind of wanted to look more into it. And like, I was surprised, like when someone had said it had stem cells and I went on like, like I went on the internet and it was like, yeah, your P has stem cells in it. Which, yeah, it's like mainstream stressing about stem cells. Oh, we need to inject stem cells, we gotta do this stem cells and Mike (2): that. Like you already have something that Yerasimos: has it. Mike (2): Yeah. I mean, people are spending tens of thousands of dollars on stem cell injections and who, I don't know where those stem cells are coming from. I, but so, so what, these are Joel: your own, I mean, what, what other profound shifts that you've noticed in your life since committing to your urine? I mean, it's, especially, that Mike (2): sounds funny. Committing to your, committing to your urine, that's like Yerasimos: you're marrying Mike (2): your Yerasimos: urine. Mike (2): I'm committed to the, committed to the urine. That's not helping my image as, as fucking P boy or whatever you call it. No, Mikey p Cardamon. Um, well in, since it's been five years at this point, like in retrospect, so much has changed. I mean, you know, when I look back five years ago. [00:21:00] Everything, because it's also fractal, right? So for me, a lot of it has been a cleansing process on a kind of physical level. I've gotten a lot of weird shit outta my bowels, literally. Um, so it's a very, it's been a very cleansing kind of process, kind of cleaning out the temple. And then that, you know, as, as you guys probably discussed on other episodes, like all that stuff is attached to emotional things or traumas that you had in the past that I, uh, cleverly skirted around to avoid talking about earlier, or, you know, that ladders up to spiritual things, right? It's all kind of connected. So in retrospect, after having doing it for, for years now, um, it's hard to pinpoint one thing. It's been a complete holistic kind of upgrade of the way I think the, how clearly, I think the way I relate to people, the way I love myself. You know, it's a long list. I mean, you kind of have to love yourself to drink your own bee. It Yerasimos: does help a lot. It does help a lot on some level. Unless, unless you like, maybe you approach it from a, a different angle and like you like kind of. Anyways, that's a whole nother [00:22:00] conversation. Yeah, but Mike (2): well, it's, it's interesting that you say that because like for example, when I talk to like. Osmos, you and I come from generally the same area. I still talk to my friends on, on the East coast who I grew up with, who we just, we have a good rapport, we chop it up, we laugh, we have fun, but they're not into all this stuff that we talk about. Joel (2): Yeah, yeah. And, Mike (2): but we talk about it and we, we have fun with it, but I get cool perspectives from them, which is, I forget that for most people, they're completely disgusted by their urine. And it's, you know, it comes out brown and stinky and it's disgusting and they don't want to interact with it. But it's a reflection of what they have going on in their body and what their habits are. Because once you start engaging with it, and for example, you eat something and then you drink that, you afterwards and you're like, oh, that was not good for me in any way, shape or form. Um, and you have this kind of feedback mechanism where you start to, um, engage more with your health in a way you haven't before in a really clear, direct communication with it. It's not, you know, taking a medication that's been [00:23:00] prescribed to you and yada yada. It's this kind of intuitive. Getting to know yourself, medicine. Um, and through that process you do, um, you know, your thoughts change, you, everything opens up and you start engaging in a different way, or at least I did. I'll just speak for myself. Okay. Um, so it is about a self-love process is the point I was getting at. Yeah, Yerasimos: yeah, no, for sure man. Um, so I obviously we made a joke that you were vague about like the trauma stuff, but like, you now Okay. Versus like pre P mike, like Yeah. Um, I'm making a joke, but also serious, you know, like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like what's different, like, what's different in you? I know you said you can't pinpoint, but like if you were to self-assess, you know, like Mike EP before p um, was, you know, what were the things that you were navigating and dealing with, like from a psycho, psycho-emotional standpoint, and even in your life, maybe even a relational standpoint to, you know, this, this kind of journey you've gone through, through engaging in [00:24:00] something that like the majority of the population. Maybe due to education may do, maybe due to just like personal preferences, like, Ugh, I don't want any of that. You know, like, what's, what's different? Mike (2): Yeah. Um, I mean, my heart was completely closed off. I wasn't in tune with myself. And even in terms of the, the kind of self-love thing I didn't like myself, um, at all. Um, and that was reflected in all sorts of internal negative self-talk, which is still there sometimes, but I have a much different relationship with it now. And then that relationship with yourself, I think opens you up to being able to relate to other people. My, my literal relationships with other people now are much different. For example, I'm, uh, friends with awful people like you now. Um, but for example here, all right, here's a concrete example. I was in a relationship prior to doing this, um, and as I became more of myself, it was very clear that we were going in different directions and I could no longer stay in that relationship. So as the [00:25:00] relationship with myself has changed, all of my external relationships have changed. Mm-hmm. Um, so yeah. Yerasimos: Yeah, that's how it goes. Um. What, um, with, with be, uh, obviously you doing this practice, but even all the other stuff that you're doing and posting about online. I know you have your friends that like are your homies for back in the days, but don't share your views or your values. But when you put yourself on social media, there's still people that maybe aren't in your homies, but people you've connected with because you went to like third grade with them or they're like a third cousin or whatever. Like, what has been, has it just been kind of like people who observe but don't say anything or people slipping into your dms or people commenting on your posts thinking you're insane and crazy. And who are you as a, as a director or creative person to be talking about Doctor science Allopathy stuff? Mike (2): Yeah. I mean. It is a range. I mean, my, my, for example, my sister is an allopathic doctor, so obviously we're not, you know, we're not talking the same language a lot of the time. It's cool. We're still, you know, she didn't [00:26:00] un invite me to Thanksgiving or anything like that. Like, we still have a, a good rapport. Um, but yeah, we don't agree on anything. So it's a mix. It's, I, I like to keep things cordial, you know, I'm not here to argue with anyone. Um, but more and more people are coming around to the things we're talking about. Man. It's, it's interesting, like my parents are kind of, I don't know, they're, they're, they're semi open to it. Um, obviously they tend to side with my sister on, you know, in things of the medical. They defer to her for sure. But essentially, like for example, like, uh, you know, I told them I was down at Confluence doing a stage talk. Um, and, uh, they were interested. They're like, cool, like, send me, send us some clips. We'd love to see 'em. Sent them some clips. Haven't heard back. So it must have been the word bro. I think it was the word queef. It might have been, I don't know how it went over, but I think the, like, especially now that like. People are tapping in and people wanna hear this stuff and people get a lot of value from it. And it's starting to be reflected back. Like initially early on, people thought I lost my mind. Um, especially I had mentioned [00:27:00] I was in a relationship, she was like, yo, come on, what's, uh, what's going on here? But like, now, I didnt wanna be on me, are you? Yerasimos: How did it be on me, Mike? Joel: How did the conversation go when you told your mom you're now drinking glasses full of your own urine? Um, Mike (2): I think, well, I, I got into it 'cause it was during holidays at Christmas with my sister and I, I tried to sneak it in 'cause she has a dog and the dog has like really inflamed paws and stuff. And I was like, I'd probably just dunk that in some urine. She was like, what? And then so I kind of sn, I kind of snuck it in there. I like to kind of meet people where they're at, you know what I mean? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Um, my mom had actually heard of someone. She had a friend, she has some kind of like, Latina friend whose grandmother practices urine therapy because it was like in their lineage still. So sometimes you get like these little things where people are still holding onto it or like, for example, it's like kind of mainstream if you're a gardener, like, and have a green thumb that, you know, urine, um, can help plant plants grow. So it's like even some, I see. Yerasimos: I pee on my trees all the time. Mike (2): There you go. Do you though. Yerasimos: [00:28:00] Yeah, definitely. Joel: He also like, like dumps on his trees already. Now there. Yerasimos: No, I don't take dumps by trees. Uh, that's a waste product, Joel. Yeah. Urine is not a waste product, right? That's right. How, how Joel: much self-love would be required to take a spoonful of your own pickle butter? Yerasimos: No, I don't think that's self love. That might be like self-hatred, you know, like Yeah, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not down with that. Good. Yeah. Yeah. So, Mike: so we, so fecal matter is definitely a waste product. I'm pretty Mike (2): sure I reserved the right to change my mind in a couple years, but for right now, I'm pretty sure it is. Yeah. Okay. Good. Mike? Yerasimos: Mikey, Mikey Poo cardamon. Mike (2): Nah, let's not even put it out there. I can't afford it. I can't afford it. Yerasimos: Um, no man. But yeah, I get it. Paying on trees, like what is that? Why is it the good to pee on trees is like, I mean obviously it's 95% water, but is it also those other ingredients that support it or is it like It's the Mike (2): love man. It's the love. Okay. It's the energetics. I think they also say it's the nitrogen specifically. Yeah, that's what I was wondering if it was a good night thing. Yeah. Yeah. But, um, oh, but yeah, [00:29:00] but the point I was getting at before with people, like, I feel like more and more people are starting to come around and I think like a lot of them, like, it's kind of like, for example, with my parents, like cognitive dissonance to be like, wait, there's a crowd cheering for this guy right now. Like, he's, we thought he was saying insane things for the last three years, and now like, there's, there's clapping and applause. He is like, so it's, I don't know. At some point people have to, and people are need healing, man. So, you know, people, we gotta, we gotta clean this place up. So people are generally running outta options. They keep engaging with the allopathic system and hitting a wall or figuring it out. That it's a, a pyramid scheme and every time you go there, you gotta engage more and more. And people are sick of it. They want actual healing. So we're talking about these things and at some point they gotta take it seriously. Yerasimos: Yeah. What was the feedback after Confluence? Man? Because it was, you know, a very unique thing. I mean, it's, it's one of a kind I've never come across. You do, which is again, talking about all these things that we post about and Right. Joel: You, you, you were literally on stage and someone comes up to me and they go, do you know where the comedian, do you know where the comedian's speaking [00:30:00] right there? Really? Like, oh, that's the comedian. Because it was that, it was, yeah, it was like a presentation vibe at that point. Like they, maybe they'll expect like a straight stand set, you know? Mike (2): Yeah. I think some pe I don't know if people knew what to expect, but I don't know what to call it. You know? I don't know how to Yeah. But it is the Yerasimos: kind of hybrid, 'cause you're sitting there in your chair and you have like, you know, like, you know, whatever your computer and then the thing behind you and you're engaging and Yeah. It's, I mean, I liked it, man. So anyways, um, what Mike (2): was the feedback? The feedback's been great. I mean, I know some people, we, I had a few walkouts, to your point, Joel, but, um, by and large it's been really, really, really nice. And actually I've been really grateful for it because, um, it's good to, to get that feedback. Um, yeah. You know, like people, I, I mean, it's, it's also strange because as you said, I'm up there talking about queefs and then like I come home and I have messages of people like that, you know, you really gave a gift to us, man. I'm like, sure. You know? Yerasimos: Yeah. But like, [00:31:00] with all the shit that goes on in the world, like humor is so important. It's something I talk about all the time. I make it a big part of my life. You know, we wanna talk about health, real healing, people that are so rigid and so restrictive and so compressed and like, not laughing, not enjoying the lightness of life and being silly and playful and you know, like, so like I feel like more people just need more laughter in their life, you know? Yes. I get it. Like. With the work that you do, it can be controversial and you know, are you really a good comedian? Unless people are walking outta your show once in a while? I don't know. I don't think so. I feel like you need to push some buttons, but like, come on man, like we're in this. Whoa, my mic just fell. We're in this world of all this serious stuff and let's, like, it doesn't always have to be so serious. That's why I love these events, especially these subjects. Yeah. And that's why I also love the, the confluence and like, even some of the friendships, like, even like our friendship, man, it's like we can get deep. I know we can get deep and yet, like we choose very often to [00:32:00] just have fun and laugh and talk smack to each other. And like, um, it's like just we need more balance from like the serious and deep and, and even just like, oh, trauma. So many things have happened to me. And like, where's the balance? Where's the lightness? Where's the play? You know, that's just, just as I think healing, if not more so than I. Staying in that fucking heaviness of life and all that stuff, you know? And there are phases in life of course, but, so I'm appreciative, man, of the work that you do and, and what you put out there. Mike (2): Yeah, I completely agree. And I think that that's something Confluence did well in terms of having that balance. And I got that feedback as well. 'cause there's no, there's no real good reason why I should be on the same billing as Gerald Pollock. You know what I mean? Like, it really doesn't, it doesn't make much sense. So, but to have those two experiences for people to, to have and, and choose from. Joel (2): Yeah. Yerasimos: Well, it makes, it, it doesn't make sense if you're looking at it from a very, like, limited worldview as [00:33:00] opposed to a holistic worldview to go, Hey, you're an educated person, you've done your share of research to, um, look into these subjects. And then you have someone who's led maybe a little bit more academic and who goes deep into like certain subjects. And it's like, it is like that balance. It is like the, the standing in the tension of opposites and understanding. There's a time and a place. To explore and laugh and be silly and get deep with the stuff that you do and, you know, geek out on fucking water. Mike (2): Yeah. And that's something I intentionally do in, in, in the work. Like, I have a work cited, like there's quotes and citations on things. So it's like, we're having fun, we're transmuting these subjects. We're, you know, doing all those things. We're moving things around. But, you know, I, I, I put the, I put the homework in, I put the homework in. These are, these are actual subjects that we need to be talking about. Mm-hmm. Joel: Speaking of Veda Austin, uh, straight out to Veda, an incredible episode with Veda, if anyone wants to check that out. Have you like ever explored any of Vedas [00:34:00] techniques with urine, like freezing urine, et cetera, looking for images, symbols. Mike (2): I haven't personally, um, done her technique, but there's this woman, um, named Fiona Gardner, um, in the uk and she's actually, you guys know the Bisson's, right? Did you have them on? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Oh Yerasimos: yeah, we did, yeah, a while back. Mike (2): Yeah. So she does the microscope work for the bisson's for their blood. Um, and kind of like her quote unquote side project, but it's a huge project is looking at urine under the microscope using the same technique techniques that she does with the bagels stones, which is really cool. Um, and she's seeing some really, really, really amazing things with the structures, with the urine. Like people have their own, um, unique, like crosses in their urine, um, which is very interesting. Um, especially 'cause some people like to call it like, holy, make that comparison, like it's holy water or like water designed by you with divine intelligence. And then to be seeing crosses in them is, is super interesting and they're not like. Accidental crosses. They're like ornate, like they [00:35:00] have like geometric patterns to them. Like they're like beautiful, like almost like tar, like looking crosses. Um, and so there's a lot of that and there's a lot of, she's also found that, um, like she's tested urine or looked at urine, um, from people who don't consume their urine and versus people who do consume their urine or interact with their urine and practice urine therapy. And she's found that the urine from the people who engage with their, with their water is much more innately structured. It has geometric kind of beautiful designs to it. And then the people who aren't engaging with their urine, the water is much more kind of chaotic, for lack of a better word. Or, you know, the, the structures aren't, aren't as nice, aren't as as aligned. Um, and so yeah, there's, there's a lot of interesting work going on, um, with, with the structures of the, of the urine. Cool. Yerasimos: Mm-hmm. What do you recommend, because I think, again, obviously there's taboo around this, there's conditioning around this, but the main thing that gets people is the smell. You know what I mean? So it's like, like I, for fun, like had fun, fun once I [00:36:00] tried like, through, through my nostrils, like putting it in a spray bottle and spraying it up my nose once, and I reached out to you. I was like, dude, like it, that the, the smell is kind of there like for like a day or two, you know? Well, 'cause you probably, I tried it. I'm experiment with shit. I'm not like, so closed off. And then you had told me like, dude, just go on a watermelon fast for like a week or something. Well, it Mike (2): doesn't have to be that extreme, but the point was that you. If you, for example, you could just chug a little bit of distilled water and it'll be much lighter and less smelling the next, the next round, so to speak. Um, it's, it's largely dependent on what you're eating. Um, so it'll have a, a much kind of, whatever you wanna call that. It'll have more of that smell when you're eating a lot of cooked foods, especially a lot of processed foods when you're eating a lot of meat, when you're eating a lot of mixtures, when, um, you're eating just dense, for lack of a better word. Um. Your urine will be more dense. Um, and so just if so, you can be mindful of that and you can try to kind of, for example, e eat a watermelon [00:37:00] and then the next round is gonna have, it's gonna be sweeter and smelling like watermelon. It's a very much reflection of what you have going on in and around your body. Um, and kind of an interesting kind of offshoot of that train of thought is that, um, diet is kind of the primary thing for most people just because they're, we're eating a lot and all that kind of stuff. But also I've been deep into urine fasts where I noticed the change or the smell. Or the, the taste or the smell would change, um, based on having negative thoughts, for example. So there's a lot going into it. A lot of times it's the diet is the overwhelming thing just based on our lifestyles, but you know, your thoughts structure it and, and, and change it and your mood and all this kind of stuff. Emotional stuff. Spiritual stuff. So, um, yeah. So ba basically what you were smelling was your thoughts, Joel: bro. Yeah. You, you got stinky, Yerasimos: stinky, pissed thoughts. I, I surprised. Yeah. My god. No, I was, um, I mean, I eat a lot of meat. That's my next question for you. Um, like what's your [00:38:00] diet consist? Well, Joel: it, it seems to go hand in hand, doesn't it? Like urine therapy and kind of arianism or veganism from the conversations I've had previously. Mike (2): Do you eat meat? Yeah. Uh, sometimes. Very rarely. Um, like significantly. 99% less than I used to. Um, I mean, I grew up on a, you know, standard American diet, diner, diner food, um. Yeah. Um, but yeah, to, to Joel's point, like the more I've kind of engaged with this, just kind of the way I look at it changes, you know, um, I, I don't look at, I try not to look at it as like, I need this thing, you know, I don't need anything, so why am I consuming it? Um, and most of the time I don't have a good reason. Sometimes it's because I want to ground, ground in and, you know, engage with people. Like if we're hanging out, you know, I'll have a meal. Um, but, um, because especially when you start engaging with the urine and doing a lot of fasting, you realize that you kind of eat for reasons that have nothing to do with hunger. Um, whether that's emotional suppression or you have [00:39:00] some kind of like, you know, I've had things where it's like, I have a craving for this food and then I realize it's attached to this memory from childhood where I was sad and I ate this thing, and now like I have this weird unconscious association with it. Um, so you kind of start to learn that, that we, we. We eat for a variety of reasons that we're not necessarily conscious of. Um, and then, so a lot of times that's led to me just eating less or, you know, being, thinking differently about the way, um, I'm eating and how, and how, kind of quote dense it is and that kind of thing. Yerasimos: Yeah, it's interesting 'cause again, so much of this is based on values, you know, some people value like food and like the sensuality of food and like, you know, I'm, I'm, um, a foodie in a lot of ways. So I enjoy that aspect of life. Now. I'm eating healthy, but like, it's hard for me to be like, man, I'm not, I, like, I want, I like eating the things that I enjoy eating, you know, based on whatever, based on my upbringing or whatever. And so, like, you know, to be like, oh, I'm gonna loop my pee and [00:40:00] then eat some fruit occasionally and whatever. Like, it doesn't, like maybe if I was unhealthy and I had some crazy health issues or didn't love my life or who I was and the things I was doing, maybe I'd be more open to it. And I'm not saying I'm not because I've tried it, but it's like. It's like, you know, it's a life, it's a lifestyle man. It's a full on lifestyle where you're just like, this is, this is what I choose. Like, I might not enjoy like the home cooked food from someone. Or maybe you do. 'cause you said you, you, if you're with friends, you, you do eat food. But, um, but even, even like as a, as a Joel: generator, you know, it's like, and you lit up by like the chicken or the glass of piss. Yerasimos: Yeah. Yeah. Um, and, and it's up to each person to decide that, because a lot of people come to this stuff, you know, whether it's drinking, you know, urine therapy or, or some other, you know, health protocol because they've had health issues, they've had issues and they've like, other things haven't worked. And so they try something and it works. And then that becomes like the thing. So did you have [00:41:00] health issues? Was it just curiosity where you're like, yeah, people are drinking to pee. I read about it, I'm gonna do it. Or was it like, I'm suffering, there's some things that, other things I'm, other things I'm trying haven't worked and now I'm gonna try this and then it did work and so you're like, I'm rolling with it. Mike (2): Um, I didn't have anything like chronic that I was trying to heal. I was more kind of intrigued by the idea and then especially at that time, it was also like, there was something interesting to me about being able to quote unquote, like self sustain or like, just the idea that you needed much less to, to survive. Um, like, especially like during that time, like I said, this was early 2020, so it was like people were prepping and like, you know, pitching, you know, those vats of shitty powder Oh yeah. Or whatever. And it like, so it was just interesting to me like, wait, you mean that I could literally just drink pee and then like, I have no fear about any of this other stuff that's going on in the world right now. So that was kind of part of it. Um, but I, I also wanna make a couple points about what you were talking about where it's like, [00:42:00] um. People will kind of always ask me that all the time, like, don't you like the taste of food? And it's like, yeah, of course. I fucking like the taste of food. Like, I grew up just like everyone else. You'd think like, I've never had fucking guacamole. Like, it tastes delicious. I get it. But it's like, also like the more I kind of just experimented with the kind of cleansing and fasting, like I just felt so good. And then once I returned to eating certain things that I ate in the past, it was kind of like, yeah, this is awesome for 15 minutes or whatever. But like, I feel better without it in the long run. So there was a kind of a, a, a reframing in that way. And then to your point also though, your osmos, 'cause I think this is a really big point, um, because you know, especially when we, if we start talking about Arianism and all this stuff, like people really freak out and, uh, there's still a beauty. And, and to the point of we're. Putting intention into things and structuring things, and there's the waters of the food we eat and the intention of a homecooked meal. All of that [00:43:00] matters. So like what you're talking about is like, if someone's putting a lot of love and intention into what you're consuming, that's gonna do a lot less, quote unquote, damage to, to your vessel than than whatever else. You know? I mean, someone who's strict and dogmatic about a diet and carrying that energy, right? Like that fucking guy, like Brian Johnson or whatever, who's Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He's like, he's like, looks like a zombie almost. Um, so that's super important to what you're saying, and I do value that. It's just for me, like having been on both sides, like I kind of just feel better, the kind of lighter I'm staying, and then every once in a while I'll enjoy some density, but I don't want to make that, um, Yerasimos: yeah, Mike (2): my, my like routine or habit, you know? Yerasimos: Well, well, you're doing, you're saying something that I, I really appreciate and you're giving the argument that I've given for years around coffee. Because so many people have never experienced life off of coffee or caffeine. And that when you do experience both sides of the coin, you have a much [00:44:00] different perspective. So it's like, people would come up to me and say certain things. I'm like, well, have you been off coffee for six months? For three months for a year? Uh, they'd be like, no. And I'd be like, well, then shut the fuck up. You don't know. You don't, you don't, you don't have perspective, you know? And it's like, I didn't drink coffee for, or coffee for 11 years. And then last year, my birthday, Joel was visiting and we had a gathering at our home. And then you helped him slip? Mike: Dude. Yerasimos: No, he didn't help me slip, but I, I wasn't, I wasn't even drinking coffee at the time. No, no, no. He didn't help me slip. I'm just using it for perspective because he was there. Okay. Okay. And we had one of our large gatherings at our home, and then the next day we went to, like, we went to get some food and, and air one. It was Alyssa. It was Alyssa. We went and then I, and then I went, no, she didn't tell me to get coffee. Alyssa wanted a latte Joel: at Air One, and then you were like, oh, maybe Yerasimos: I'll get one. Oh. I was like, I'll get one. So I had a latte for the first time and like on like three hours of sleep. Then I ended up drinking coffee a lot for like a couple months, and then I went off of it, and then maybe now I'll have one like every six months. You know, again, this is like in the last year, you know? So anyways, I bring this up because [00:45:00] you have perspective, you know what I mean? And so I honor you for being like, I know what my life is like when I'm indulging more eating food and when I'm not, and it can work for you. And again, like health is so individual as well. It's not like, I mean, I think there's foundational principles, but even like from a human design standpoint, there are different digestion types or different things that people can do that might support them better. So I think for, even with what you do, for some people, like drinking pee is like, bam, I'm, I'm like, I'm, I'm on it. I'm, I feel more spiritually lit up, et cetera. And for other people, it may not have the same exact, um. Impact. It may have a positive impact. We may not have the same exact, where they're like, listen, I'm saying no to food peace. You know what I mean? I'm not saying you say no to food, but like that Confluence, you pretty much weren't eating much, right? Mike (2): No, I had, uh, some coconuts, but other than that, yeah, other than that I was, which is, Yerasimos: which is listen as somewhat observing, like man, [00:46:00] as a testament. 'cause I don't, I don't look at you and go, man, Mike looks tired all the time. Mike could barely like, uh, keep up from a conversation standpoint or even a wittiness standpoint. Like, you don't seem tired, you don't seem emaciated, you know, you look healthy. So like Joel: a little, a little yellow, a little yellowy in the skin, but Yerasimos: yeah, a little yellowy around the eyes right now. Um, oh wait, those are your glasses. But, um, yeah, but like, so it's just interesting man. 'cause like, you know, it's, it's full on. We're probably not getting as much sleep. Confluence, you know, you're whatever, sleeping a tent often, or camping or, and talking a lot and using a lot of energy, and yet you still come across as being vital. So that's a data point, you know what I mean? So like there's something to say about that. Mike (2): Yeah. And I, those, to your point, I kept having experiences where, for example, I was cleaning out and fasting a little bit and then went back to the food and got punched in the face by it and be like, oh, I felt like shit now. [00:47:00] So I have to let me assess that information. Right. And have to, and the same kind of thing where you're talking about where it's like, yeah, I'm seeing him, he is not eating much, he is going on stage. We're chopping it up is, but so then. You just have to now take in the information. If we're being unbiased, maybe we derive energy from other sources that aren't necessarily food, which I think is true, and I don't think it is. It's even that controversial, you know what I mean? Like when we're chopping it up and hanging out and having a good time, we're not thinking about eating food. Like we're energized by the dynamics of that. Well, the, the Yerasimos: mat, the material is downstream from something else, right? Like even from a health standpoint, you know, my, my views on health and even being into German new medicine, Dr. Hamer's work and et cetera. Like, there's things going on that are impacting you and impacting how your body adapts, et cetera, beyond just, oh, I eat healthy all the time, you know, and, and that's, I'm gonna live, you know, like people eat healthy all the time and get cancer and heart disease and whatever the case may be. So there's something [00:48:00] beyond that. And so Joel: is, does this vary between men and women? Because like, there's so many conversations and studies, like fasting isn't ideal for women, isn't ideal for their cycle, is my deal for a number of things, like et cetera. Mike (2): Yeah. So I mean, maybe we'll get women yelling at me because I'm a male and I can't speak from experience, but I, I'm pretty sure the urine is an excellent hack for this kind of thing because you're engaging with that hormone therapy and it's balancing you back out. It's kind of giving you homeostasis by default, like you're almost filling in whatever deficiencies and everything's kind of leveling out when you're drinking the urine, especially kind of looping it. Um, so I think that is, 'cause I have heard those concerns from women in terms of fasting and especially in regards to hormones. And I think that engaging with the urine while you're doing other things is, uh, and extraordinary assistance. What is, what is looping? 'cause Joel: just for those that don't understand the term, which you've raised a couple times. Mike (2): Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I didn't make it up. It's kind of like whatever [00:49:00] popular in in those circles, it just means you are, um, for all intents and purposes, everything you're putting out in terms of your urine, you're putting back in and you're just creating this loop. Yerasimos: Um, okay, let me ask you this. So from like a intelligence of the body standpoint, if the urine is so valuable, why isn't it holding onto it? Mike (2): Um, well, you can think of it like in a similar way where we, this is, no, not framing it as a waste product, but maybe framing it as an excess product for, so for example, um, and also a pressure system in terms of the water, right? Like you almost, it's, we have too much water in here right now. Let's release some, release some of the pressure. And also given that there's information and all these different components of quote unquote nutrition, for lack of a better word. Maybe it's an excess channel where we can use this again later. We ha we're good right now. We're gonna spill some of it out. Let's reuse it in various ways later. Um, [00:50:00] so it's not getting rid of it because it's wasteful, but maybe it's getting rid of it because there's an intelligence that knows we're gonna be reusing this. Yerasimos: Interesting. Or your tree needs it. So give it to your tree or your tree Mike (2): needs it. Yeah. Yeah. It can be used. It can be used. Yerasimos: Are you working on a book right now? What is the Oh, you go, Joel: you can go. Yeah. What, what is the esoteric significance of urine? Like, is there like the history, mythology, like ancient, whatever it might be that speaks into this? Mike (2): Yeah. I mean, pretty much every culture, uh, was engaging with it. I mean, kind, maybe the most popular in the kind of urine circles would be, um, the Shavan b Culpa text, um, which is an ancient Sanskrit text. Um, and it, it, it's very explicit in, in all the things that it can be used for and healed. Um, but literally, you know, Rome, ancient China, [00:51:00] um. Renaissance period, quote unquote, middle Ages. Um, even as there's books from England in the 18 hundreds, even scientific medical journals, you know, referencing this pretty recently. Um, so it's really spanning across time. Um, the Greek, the Greeks did. The Greeks do, the Greeks did. Dude, Hippocrates, Hippocrates recommended urine for specifically tuberculosis and gonorrhea. And so, which is interesting because people love quoting Hippocrates, right? Like, let medicine be your food and let food be our medicine. And he's have you thought, Joel (2): go, go, go. He's Mike (2): often cited, but people are neglecting his lesser known quotes. Paraphrasing being drink piss if you have the clap. Yeah. People don't know that Hippocrates was saying that Yerasimos: you could also kind of mix up his quote or like take his quote and say, let urine be your food and urine be thy medicine. Right. There Mike (2): you go. Because I don't even know if that's a direct quote anyway. Isn't that like [00:52:00] paraphrase from some texts? Who knows? A lot Yerasimos: of Mike (2): things are attributed Yerasimos: to people and Mike (2): maybe just Yeah, loosely based on the Yerasimos: work and not an exact quote. I mean Mike (2): Yeah. Who knows? So allegedly, yeah. The Greeks were also, uh, getting into it. And, Joel: um, so can we explore a bit deeper? Like, like what is the extent that you are using urine in, in your practice? Like, I know people that like age, like canisters and bathe in it, you know, it is like, are we, are we at that level? Where, where are we at? Yeah. But Yerasimos: do you like put pyramids over your, like aged urine, um, and then dance around it? And then I do sometimes put 'em Joel: in, in crystalline. VAEs and stuff. I've, I've heard, I've, I've, I've heard stories of people like snorting, like mason jars Mike (2): worth. Yeah. Yeah. I drink through my nose. I drink, drink through my nose. Um, I also have like a spray thing. Like I was telling your osmos about that 'cause we were talking about nasal stuff. Mm-hmm. So yeah, I've snorted up there. I put it in my eyes, my ears. I put it on my [00:53:00] ass. I wash my hair with it. I rub it on my face. You name It was, I was gonna say Joel: there's a particular very unique curve to the quiff currently experienced on, on the, yeah. This is all urine. This is no products. Yerasimos: Wait, so, so you, so is it like you, you're in enemas when you say you put it up your ass, like, does it be more specific as opposed to you're just like, like trying to open up your butthole and pour some urine in there. You know what I mean? Like Yeah. Mike (2): It's urine. MOUs. You're in MOUs for sure. Yerasimos: Gotcha. What, you're writing Mike (2): a book on this right? Yeah, so I'm working on a couple of things. I'm working on one that's called, you are full of snot, which is like branded under the don't slap snooze stuff. So it's kind of like a collection of jokes about bowel cleansing specifically. So there's um, sections in that about, um, like fruit fasting and, um, enemas and also a little bit on urine. And then separately, uh, Amanda Volmer and I are working on something that's urine specific, um, that, uh, yeah, Yerasimos: we had her on, uh, whenever, [00:54:00] that was last year I think. And we, we kind of went into this subject a little bit. Uh, we're going a little bit more deep into it now with you, which is cool. Um, what, um, what do you find is challenging with, obviously like, you know, you, you live a life that's a little bit more, um. I would say unusual. I mean, I'm just being honest. It's unusual like this. No, I don't take offense. I like it. People eat food like, 'cause I'm being serious now, as opposed to like talking shit. 'cause then I'd be like, you're, I Mike (2): know it's fine. That's just what I meant. I can't take you serious as a podcast, so it's because I'm expecting, I'm just waiting for it to come back around. You Yerasimos: have more of an unusual life and daily protocols and so how does that impact like your like desire for relationship and dating? Like I'm assuming you would wanna find someone who's also a Shibu practitioner or practitioner's kind of weird, but like someone who, you know, this is part of their habits because it'd be kind of, I would think someone who's not into it would be maybe repulsed. Mike (2): Yeah, I mean, it's not mandatory or anything, but it certainly makes life easier, [00:55:00] far and away. Um, yeah, like I have explicit experience with this. I mean, I started doing it when I was in a relationship and she was none too pleased. I mean, she was, she was really fucking repulsed by it. So it became a problem, honestly. So yeah, I'm, that's why, that's part of the reason why I'm very upfront about it now is because, you know, like you said, I have a pretty weird life and I have to lead with that ahead of time. 'cause like, like to, to the point before where we still have friends, you know, from back home and that kind of stuff. Like, I joke around with them about like, what am I gonna have a, a Tinder bio that says, you know, I drink piss sleep on the floor and don't own a TV like that eliminates 99.9%. I was literally gonna Joel: ask you, what is your Aya? Mike (2): Yeah, exactly. So I can't be going on Tinder and do it. So I don't know. I'm just kind of living. Well, it'd be interesting if you actually were Yerasimos: that true, like truthful, be like, this is not a joke. This is me. And then someone might be like. Mike (2): And then you get swipe right, Joel (2): you know. Mike (2): Well the thing about it is, is because I'm upfront about it and then, you know, we hang out with the kind of people we hang out. Like the resonance is starting to [00:56:00] come into my field where people are attracted in that, that are like the resonance matches. You know what I mean? It's a frequency thing. That's why the last relationship had to end. 'cause we were on different frequencies and the resonance wasn't there anymore. But now I think I'm starting to draw in people, uh, like you two idiots who are more aligned and able to have these conversations. And that applies to romantic relationships. Like, you know, Joel: well Ima imagine like you withheld it like full, you know, when on dates, seduced, et cetera, mood in together. And then she just like walks in the bathroom and like, sees you like pissing in a cup. And it's like, you, like, Yerasimos: you like you already got intimate, like you bonded, you know, sexual intercourse. Like, she's like, Mike, I just want you to know I love you. And then you're like, I love you too. Then it's like, but yeah, you finish. It's like, oh, I need Joel: go pee babe. But like, she just happens to stumble in the bathroom and like, you just like, what are you doing using the toilet? Mike: That's whack. Mike (2): No, I mean, it would never happen anymore. I would never be in a position where that would happen without, yeah. Yeah. [00:57:00] Um, which is cool. And what's really kind of crazy is that like the more kind of open I am about it. Like, for example, going on Alex podcast and we were talking about it, there's like women in the comments who are like, think it's attractive. So it's really kind of bizarre. Like, I wish someone told me like in middle school that all I had to do is start drinking piss and talking about shit in my pants on public podcasts. And I would be more attractive. Yerasimos: Wait, you shit your pants Mike (2): sometimes. Yerasimos: Oh, it's a waste product though. Mike (2): That's a waste product. I don't save, I don't save the pants. Yeah. Well, I mean, oh no, I'm not gonna say it. Yerasimos: Um, yeah. Uh, Joel: yeah. No, I'm saying I love people. I just love you, man. Yerasimos: I mean, I, I just like, I was gonna say like, Joel: golden showers aren't a new phenomenon. Like, not like Yerasimos: No, no, it's Mike (2): not, you know, um, I won't, I don't even think about it sexually like that. Really. No, it's not. Because I think people assume that also, like, people think it's like a kink 'cause they're fucking addicted to porn. Um, but that's not how my mind, those are separate. [00:58:00] Those are separate Yerasimos: things because I feel like a lot of the, like the sexual component of it is, is not like the health stem cell. Right, right, right. What if it's more of like stem stem cells? It's more, I think it's more about like, it's like a power dynamic and like being, wanting to be demeaned and wanting maybe, Mike (2): I don't know. I'm not in that world, but Yerasimos: I'm Mike (2): just Yeah. I get what you're saying. Some of my Yerasimos: observations and, um, psychological analysis. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not from personal experience, I'm sure. Yeah. No, Joel: anyways. Continue. What were you saying, Joel? But I was gonna say, uh, yeah, so like, um. Is there anything other than P that defines you? I guess not, I guess comedy. That's Mike (2): what comedy, I guess that's we learned today about Comedy Man. I'm very two dimensional comedy and p it's a, those are two big components. Yerasimos: Yeah. Joel: What that makes you really unique. You know, before we were chatting about, you know, energy and being energized in like different kind of ways and, and different means. Like what, what is [00:59:00] energy from your perspective? Mike (2): Whew, that's a good question. God, I mean, whatever that kind of source is for people, um, for me it's God. Um, but that's reflected in all, all sorts of things. You know, when we get into these kinds of conversations of like, maybe we're getting energy from other food, maybe we're getting it from music, maybe we're getting it from frequency, maybe we're getting it from the sun. And obviously God is in all of these things. Um, it's, you know, it's a tough question to answer, but I just feel like, um, breath is a huge component of it. Um, you know, that, that, that kind of is God, right? Like the. What they say about Yahweh in Hebrew, where it's just the YHWH, which is just a inhale and an exhale, a breath. So, you know, God breathed life into us. Um, and then that gets into things where we're talking about eliminating dense food and clearing out your bowels, and now you have more space to breathe and expand and what that does in terms of what frequencies you're bringing in. And, uh, yeah, I don't know. It's kind of a rant now can you, you, can you, like, have you, have Joel: you had like in speaking in that [01:00:00] essence, like have you had like any psychedelic like experiences through urine? Mike (2): Yeah, for sure. There, it gets, it, it gets, it gets kind of trippy, especially like deep into, into fast. Um, I've told this story before, so I'll kind of top line it, but I was like about, um, about three weeks into a urine fast and I had to go to a wedding and that, which I was just a plus one at. Um. And so I went to this wedding and it was just very apparent that PI and the rest of the entire wedding were not on the same frequency. I was very deep into, into this urine fast, and, and to the, to your point, it was, it was getting kind of trippy where like things were, I. I mean, I, I think you guys have done psychedelics where you just kind of weird stuff. It's just weird. You know what I mean? That feeling of kind of that surreal feeling. Um, and so I was at this wedding and, uh, like I was like getting kind of like visions of people being cadavers. Like they were kind of just dead and walking around and like filled with [01:01:00] shit and stinking like, like all, every single woman had perfume on. And when deep into a fast like that, your, your si your senses are very heightened. Like I could smell every, I could smell like a dog and I could hear everything. So it was just this kind of big, kind of like trip. I had at this wedding where like I was seeing people as these kind of like half living beings that were just doused with perfume. And it was like when someone dies and, and then like a funeral home, like just puts makeup on them and like kind of paints their face and it just, you're looking at 'em. It's like something's weird about it. Like you just feel it. I was just feeling that like times 200 people. Wow. Um, and, and I had this kind of weird trip at this wedding, to your point. Um, dude, thanks for Yerasimos: sharing that. It's fascinating. Um, no, it is because I wanna share a personal story that's somewhat related, but first I wanna say, did the person who had you as their plus one, did they know that you were in the middle of a urine fast and that like you'd be there plus S one and [01:02:00] just be kind of chilling there, having a psychedelic experience while she got drunk with the rest of the 199 people. Mike (2): Well, to the point of, uh, you know, relationships having to end, um, it was, that was, oh, it was that, oh, it was the part that was an issue plus one to Yerasimos: your ex and not just like a random plus one of some person was like, Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah. At the wedding. Mike (2): So, you know, she, she was upset that I wasn't able to, um, fit in, let's say. Yerasimos: Yeah. You know, so about 15 years ago I went to a wedding, um, and I wasn't drinking. So I, I came to a wedding and it was a lot of old, like, college friends and friends of friends, some people I hadn't seen for a while. And it was so interesting, like, just being there and like, just seeing like the, the beginning part where no one's drunk yet. Yeah. And people are like, just quiet in their own little worlds and, and then like, maybe not, maybe they knew you from five years ago or 10 years ago, whatever. But then like, it's too early in the, in the wedding and, you know, and then I just observed as the only sober person there, just like people getting [01:03:00] more. More drunk and like, I had a similar experience, maybe not like a year induced, like more psychedelic, but enough of just like observing people then, like these people that were like ignoring me in the beginning. Like, oh, see what, Joel: but we can't hear you, you, we the mic cut out when you go that high. Yerasimos: Oh, I'm saying like, like, oh my God, like, I haven't seen you in forever. Like, when are we gonna hang out? Oh my God, we had so much fun. Remember like fucking in college and blah, blah, blah. You know? And so, you know, it was very interesting to observe that and then to reflect back, like I'm, that I was, that I, I, I, I'm seeing how I am at these parties or these weddings, and you're like, it's even more of like this, like, ugh. You know? It's just, it's just reaffirmed. My desire now. I think after that I had, I, at that time I was probably like maybe a [01:04:00] year off or six, six months off, and then I started drinking a little bit here and there again. And it wasn't until like 11 years ago that I just was like, I don't really like this stuff. But still, even then that, that played into this, what's the point of even drinking? You know? And like it didn't serve me at all. Like, not the best. Yeah, it just, it felt very low frequency, low vibration. Like I don't think people drink and then like the most conscious, aware, healthy aspects of them come out, you know? So it feels very like, yeah, it's like, it's like, like what you said with the urine, like everyone looked at these cadavers and it's almost like people feel like these like hedonist fucking demons. Like, like, Joel: well, yeah, I don't, I dunno if you've seen in shadows, but me as of, but you know, that kind of animation comes to mind for sure. Yerasimos: I mean, yeah, his, his animation, his, his work is so good. Check it out if you, if you haven't yet, um, uh, two short films that have kind of gone. Viral. Um, I think one was the first one 2017. And then the other one was [01:05:00] 2023. It's um, kingdom was one of 'em was being kind of passed around. People were passed around. That was lost year. That was lost year last year. And then, um, the other one, which was, why am I forgetting in shadows? Yeah, check it out. You'll dig it, I think. Mike (2): Yeah. Yeah. I'll check it out. But yeah, that's exactly right, man. You know, the mirrors kind of become very intense and it's good to have that, that feedback like you're saying to, to reconsider things. Um, and yeah, but I also want to make the point, um, to Joel's question. 'cause I gave a quote unquote negative example, although it's not negative because we have these kinds of insights from them. But, um, the, the kind of overall kind of, for lack of a better word. Halluc hallucinogenic effect is very positive, like the kind of sense of joy and, um, because there are trace amounts of DMT in the urine, I don't know, you know, it's not like you're tripping all the time, but if you do it consistently over time, I think you're kind of, I I have experienced a, a very exponential increase in joy To [01:06:00] the point of the question earlier, looking back five years ago, I was not as consistently joyful as I am now. Mm-hmm. Um, so that, that part of it is, is very positive. Just to kind of balance it out. What's the, what's the 1 Joel: 0 1 of getting started here? Like how would, what would Mike's guide, basic Guide for dummies to getting started with urine therapy? Like, would it be like a glass in the morning, like just piss in the cup person in the morning, testing that out? Like, what would it be? Yerasimos: Dude, people want, he wants people to buy his book, bro. Come on. It's coming out. You know, he's like pre-order now on Amazon. No, Mike (2): no. Amazon. Yeah, I know, I know. We do it by hand. I set you up for that. I knew you were gonna say no, Amazon. Um, I, I mean, I would try to approach people where they're at, for example, like to the point of me talking to friends from back home, you know, maybe one dude has crazy athletes' foot that he can't get rid of, and so he's open to the idea of soaking his feet in your, I'm also like a li a listener. A listener right now is interested where, where, where do they get started? I mean, just start with a, start with a couple drops under the [01:07:00] tongue, because that's kind of getting into this idea of like even the urine having a, a homeopathic effect where you're getting that information and you're just opening up the door to this line of communication that is this kind of. Unique intuitive medicine that's coming from you. So whatever people are comfortable with don't have a bad experience. Joel (2): Mm-hmm. Mike (2): So just, just go at whatever rate feels comfortable to you. And that's another point is because people tend to ask for a protocol, even in these kinds of, you know, alternative health spaces, where we still have these vestiges of like the programming of, I'm used to having a doctor gimme this prescription that says, I take two of these pills two times a day, seven days a week. And they want this kind of protocol and this, you have to throw that out of the window with this. You have to be open to having an intuitive relationship with it. And it's not gonna go out of pace you're uncomfortable with. So you're going to just go out whatever pace is comfortable, if whether that's putting a couple drops onto your tongue, whether that's, um. Putting a splash of it [01:08:00] in some juice so that it doesn't taste as crazy right away. Your osmos, and then so now you can engage with it because it's kind of masked in a way, but you're still getting that information. Um, so whatever feels right, whatever feels right. I'm a guy who I'm like, you guys have mentioned I'm doing wild stuff over here. So I started chugging it right away and doing wild stuff. But that's not for everyone. That's just what I, I'm set up that way for whatever reason. So do whatever's comfortable and the, because of the nature of the medicine that it's coming from you and has information in it. Based on all these things we're finding out you're gonna go at your own pace that's comfortable. Just be, just open the door, however it makes sense to you. Yerasimos: Mm-hmm. Some people say to just let like your urine run for a bit and then take it after, but do you not agree with that? You know, like, what do you mean run like, like, like pee for a bit before you then like fill up like a jar or something. Let the initial whatever, whatever they say, Joel: you know, the initial waters. Mike (2): Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know you're referencing, I don't know if that's a myth or not, but that is like, [01:09:00] I don't know, common lore in the urine therapy community, they call it like the middle catch, where it's like they say you're supposed to let the first bit out and then catch the middle, the clean catch they call it, and then let some out at the end. I don't do it and I haven't noticed any difference. Um, I think the kind of theory behind it is that like, I don't know, you're letting out some of the stagnation that was in the front of it or something. But even to me, that has a little bit of like the germ theory kind of thoughts to it, where it's like, I don't know, there's some bacteria in the beginning and then let that out. And now this is the clean part and this is the dirty part. So that is said, you know, that is a thing that people recommend and practice. I, I, I don't pay any attention to it. Um, and uh, so I'm, I'm not sure if it's a myth or not. Yerasimos: Okay. Real quickly, 'cause Joel brought it up before, like the esoteric. More ancient elements of it. So beyond the physical, in your research, what has come up like from these ancient cultures that have [01:10:00] partaken in urine therapy like that has been kind of interesting to you? Mike (2): Um, I mean, I guess the most interesting part is kind of just the breath. Of the use for it, um, like, you know, pretty much any disease. Um, and then like for example, in Rome, they were using it for laundry. Like it was just a, the, the, the expansiveness of what the substance can be used for is quite impressive, um, you know, throughout history. Um, and then there are also kind of more esoteric components to it, which I'm not super well versed in, but I can at least, you know, throw some breadcrumbs out for people to follow, which is like this idea of it being gold and like a kind of alchemy perspective. Um, and there are people who like, think the sediment on the bottom when you age it is, is monoatomic gold and this kind of thing. And there's also the whole idea of the philosopher's stone. Like I've heard people talk about how the philosopher's stone was actually, um, made of urine. Um, and so there is a lot of kind of like alchemical, [01:11:00] esoteric kind of vibe, uh, information floating around there. I'm not super well versed in it. Um, but I think there's, you know, it does make a lot of intuitive sense to me. Yerasimos: You're writing a book and you're not super well, well versed in it. What the fuck? Well, Mike (2): I don't want, I can't in good conscious Come on here and be talking like, Joel: I'm an alchemist. I get, I get it. I get it. Uh, what is like the book on neurotherapy that people, Mike (2): I feel like there's like a solid, like top three I would say. Um, Martha Christie's book, um, John Armstrong's book, which is called The Water of Life, um, that kind of has like the most testimonials probably. Um, uh, Martha Christie's book is called, um, your Own Perfect Medicine, I think. Um, and then there's another one by this Dutch guy, I forget his name offhand. Of course. He's a Dutch Joel (2): guy. Mike (2): Yeah. But there, there's kind of, it's like the, I think it's called The Golden Fountains of Life. Yeah, it is The Golden Fountain. That's right. The Golden Fountain. That's right. That's actually a really good one because it's kind of, [01:12:00] um, a good overview. It's kind of general about, uh, a bunch of stuff. The history, the different uses, the, that's a good kind of like. All, you know, not specific. A general one. Yerasimos: All right. We're done with the, the fuck off our podcast. Mike (2): I know. It's been, what do we got here, man? No, I'm ready to go, dude. Yerasimos: Yeah, we're at like 67, 70 minutes, man. It's nice. It's nice. We'll keep going. I was just messing with you. Um, there's something else I wanted to ask you. I'm forgetting right now. Maybe I just wanna sit in silence with you. Mike (2): Yeah, let's, let's just feel the energy. Let's integrate what we Yerasimos: Just fill it in our balls. Yes, yes. Fill in our balls, you know, that are gonna be filled up with, I don't even know if they are filled up with urine. I don't. No, I don't think they are. Think we lied Mike (2): to about that too? Yerasimos: Yeah. Yeah. Um, yeah, no, there's something else I wanted to say. Cue cue, Joel: cue the jeopardy music Mike (2): right out. Yeah, this is good. And this is good. For the [01:13:00] audio listeners. Just be with yourselves for a while. Yerasimos: Yeah, be with yourselves, so, so, okay. You can drink it, like, just say like, you're in the shower and you're just peeing and you can like pee on your, I can pee in my own Mike (2): mouth. Is if that's what you're getting at. Yeah. In the shower. I do sometimes pee in my own mouth. I Yerasimos: mean, like you could legit, Mike (2): yeah, like an ape. Yerasimos: Oh wow. So, so you, so you can shower, like you know, you're showering and maybe you put some on you and then you like what, rub your face or put it in your hair, like, or do you have like a different, more specific protocol where you like save it and then you age it for a while and then they aged urine. You like snort up your nose or you bathe with it? I know some people, um, are really into it. Like, you have a friend here in la, Eric Asano, who's really into, um, urine therapy and stuff like that. And so Mike (2): yeah, I mean it's all of it. It depends. There's also kinds of schools of thought where like the age, um. Can be like for more chronic things. And then the fresh can be for like more immediate things, right? Like to the point of this [01:14:00] kind of still being in the main mainstream consciousness. Like people know that if you get stung by a jellyfish, you can pee on it right away. Mm-hmm. So like, so there's schools of thought that like for something acute or for something that just happened immediately, the fresh is more beneficial. So for, like I put fresh on Burns, for example, um, because the kind of thought is that that information's ready to go and then the aged is more kind of deep work. Um, and that's kind of a generalization. I mean, I think there's probably both in each, but, um, so that you can approach it like that. So, but chance the question, I'm doing all of it. I'm saving some, I'm using fresh for all sorts of things. I'm using age for all sorts of things. Yerasimos: If you're in partnership, can you drink your partner's urine? Mike (2): For sure. Yeah. And there's in, if you want to get fucking esoteric guys, there's all sorts of, uh, kind of information about, you know, spiritual protections, working with your partner's, uh, waters and stuff. Um, so yeah, you can, that's an intimate thing to engage with someone else's water and consciousness and, and blood. Um, [01:15:00] so yeah, you can step into that for sure. But I would be very cautious with it. You know, I wouldn't be meeting someone at a bar and doing golden showers. That's not what it's about. That's not the energy. That's not the energy. Um, I, I would be comfortable doing it with when I'm in, you know, a Joel (2): love committed Mike (2): communion. Yeah. With someone. Yeah. That I'm, that I am tapped in with. Sophie, you listening to this go well, I'm talking to you Yerasimos: next Confluence, bro. We can share 10. It's 11, 11 right now in California, guys. Mike (2): Oh my God. Oh man. Angels, oh Yerasimos: my god. Angels Mike (2): one 11 for me, so it's still pretty good. God bless Yerasimos: 1211 for Joel. He is not important. We are. Yikes. I got that two in there, dude. Jesus. Um, you should not drink your urine, bro. It's Mike (2): not Yerasimos: a no, Mike (2): no, no. Get the next one. Mike: Wait for three. Three, three. Yerasimos: Yeah. Um, what are you, what are you excited? Mike: Good. Yerasimos: I was just gonna get a little per, like, what [01:16:00] are you excited about with life right now? Like, what's going on for you? Like, what are you, you know, fulfilled by? Mike (2): I mean, I'm, I'm, I'm really excited about life right now, man. I feel like I'm kind of turning a corner a little bit. Like a lot of this, a lot of this was difficult, you know, being able to give up on the job, give up on throwing away a lot of that start, take, take big risks, get rid of the relationship, get rid of the house. All the things. Take big risks. And now I'm, I'm kind of just starting to see. Corner turn like that, you know, that, that, that, um, stage talk at Confluence was a big deal for me to have hundreds of people enjoying what I'm doing because it's been kind of a grind to not get a lot of feedback to risk a lot of money and all that kind of stuff. Um, so I feel like I'm just getting going and I'm, I'm feeling really grateful and good. Yeah. Joel (2): I love it. What, what, what does the Mike (2): evolution of don't slap s news look like? What's, what's that vision? Well, I want to keep building out this show, for lack of a better word, um, keep upping the production value. [01:17:00] Um, for me, like for the most part, I consider myself a writer. And that's what, um, I. I enjoy the most. So I'm very like, in terms of what you guys saw, you know, it was very intentional with the setups and the structures and the, and the weaving together. And so I love doing that, that that's kind of where I get joy from. Um, so the more I can focus on just creating interesting material that I know other people aren't creating, um, just keep expanding it, man. Hopefully, hopefully bigger audiences. Um, just for the simple fact that it's, it's a real joy to get the feedback that people are laughing, that people are thinking differently. Um, so yeah, that's, that's kind of the reward of it. Just more, more. Yerasimos: Yeah. Man, I can't wait for you to open up for Louis CK next time, bro. Yeah. Joel: Well I don't know if that's gonna happen, but, well, you, you know, he opened up for me at Confluence. That's why I missed his set. Who did? That's true. I was before you. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. That's why everyone was so depressed when I started performing. Yeah. You really had to bring the energy back. Yerasimos: Um, oh, I was gonna ask the question. [01:18:00] Oh, um, that's, I wanted ask this earlier actually, but you did bring it up. Like, I got mad respect for you because, you know, the industry that you were in and being a director, you know, like you, you're getting compensated pretty, pretty well. And so to say no to that and to go on your era's journey in a, in a, in a, a very completely different capacity and to deal with all the stuff that comes up from, like, challenging your beliefs and, and kind of leaving that aspect of your identity behind, like, man, it's, it's, most people don't do it. It's, like I say often, man, there's a reason why there's like not a lot of whistleblowers because people don't have the psycho-emotional fortitude to navigate the, that levels of inconvenience. Um, and very often pain that comes when they kind of just go, okay, what I've been doing for the last 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 years of my life and what my identity is built around, I don't identify with that anymore and I can't keep doing it. And especially when you start, like calling things out. So man, kudos to you for, you know. Um, kind of saying no to a, [01:19:00] a very, very lucrative, um, path because you were still somewhat early in your path as a director, but like, you know, it's, it's a very financially rewarding, um, path if you continued on with that. So, um, you know, much respect, man, for honoring that the inner, that deeper inner calling and not going against your personal convictions and who you believe you, you are as a person. So, uh, I wanna highlight that man. 'cause it's, it's rare. Mike (2): Thank you, man. I appreciate that. And yeah, it was kind of just the perfect storm of like everything lined up where, 'cause like you said, I was still relatively early on, right? I was seven, eight years in or whatever, and people have been doing it 30, 40. Um, but I was fortunate enough to get into a situation where I kind of, for lack of a better term, was able to kind of climb the ladder quick. Um, where I realized like. Because they always are dangling something over your head, right? The Super Bowl commercial, or go work with these celebrities or whatever. And, and I kept, I was able [01:20:00] to check those off early. And then once I was at the quote unquote mountaintop, I was going, this mountain fucking sucks. Every mountain is a, is a lie, so I might as well pull the parachute Now, you know, I met the celebrities and you know, these people are not cool. So what's what's the point of any of it? And then the also the storm of, sure the pay is good, but I'm exhausted, man. It's, it's, this is draining me so I'm not happy. And then everything else lined up where I was able to start kind of engaging with these kinds of medicines that we're talking about that dissipated some of the fear where it was like, all right, let's just, let's see what happens. Um, I mean, I'm still figuring that out, but I guess we're going in the right direction. Yerasimos: Definitely going in the right direction, man. Because it's like, when you think about, when you say yes to yourself and you no longer betray yourself, like what comes of it? You know, it's like, like when you think about your life and the relationships that you have and the work that you're doing since you made the decision, man, like. The proof's in the fucking pudding. You know what I mean? You made a choice. You like yourself more, you have a greater community. You're being seen [01:21:00] and appreciated for your gifts in a, in a different way. And like you said, man, like you got to, you do your work in front of, you know, you know, however many hundreds of people and you know, where does it go from here? So, um, yeah, man, it's really, it is. Yeah. I'm just grateful that you're a friend. Um, I'm grateful to know you and I can't wait to make fun of you more and more in the future. Mike (2): Yeah, I was just gonna say, I thought we were about to kiss the screen dog. Yerasimos: No, Mike (2): I thank, thank you man. Thank you. I appreciate it. And I feel the same way about you. Yerasimos: Thanks bro. Mike (2): Should I, should I leave the podcast at this Joel: point in time? You might as well log off, bro. We log off, we have Zoom link. I'll just move myself to the waiting room for like five minutes. Mike (2): Yeah. Come back in Joel: 10. We'll Mike (2): be quick. Joel: Uh, bro. What are you thinking? Your response, what are you thinking here? Yerasimos: I don't know. The, it's only part of me that wants to like, well, no, they could just go watch your stuff. Um, on YouTube. I'm [01:22:00] not YouTube. Well, it's probably, you're probably on YouTube as well, right? Have you been deleted off of it? Like, we have like three years ago. Mike (2): Some of them have, a few of them have been deleted off YouTube and it's not, I'm not like super active on it. It it is on there and, but some are deleted. All of them are on my site. Joel: How did you first kind of venture into this world? Like was the initial connection through Alec, like whose content were you looking at? Like how did you, um, kind of find yourself at somewhere like, you know, confluence to begin with? Mike (2): Yeah, yeah. Uh, alpha Vedic for me. Mike Winter. Oh, Doug. Yeah. Um, 'cause I had, I was listening to their podcast and I had joined whatever, um, whatever calls they had going on. Um, and so I got to know Mike and then, uh, yeah, like I, I just gave him the perspective of like, I. That was probably at the time, I probably had just quit my job and I was like, you know, gave him just the context of like, I'm, uh, you know, I have, I was doing this thing, like I could probably help you in some [01:23:00] capacity, so let me know if you ever want any, uh, any help. And we started working on, uh, some of the summits together. And then I got looped in, uh, uh, with Alec. And then, uh, winner, Alec and I, and a bunch of other people started working on the end of Covid stuff together and helped them with the branding for that. Um, so I was kind of like figuring out how to use these skills I was using over here, give them to the people I'm seeing in this space that are, I'm engaging with our content anyway, so let me engage a little bit more. And then, yeah, we just all became friends and then, yeah. Then they saw the work I was doing. 'cause I was doing the videos at those times. Um, so I would send 'em to them. And uh, that was reassuring too because it's, it's crazy to me, like for example, with Alpha Vedic, um, you know, I sent, uh, I have shirts that say viruses don't cause diarrhea. Denny's does. Which is from one of the bits on, on, on the stage talk I did. And in one of the videos. Um, but it's crazy to me to see like [01:24:00] winner talking to Bear on their podcast and he is wearing my shirt and bear is talking about like the logical validity of the point I'm making by saying viruses, you making fun of Denny's, giving people diarrhea. So it's been really cool 'cause I got more of that feedback first from like then having an audience. It was more like people like Alec and Winter that are like, oh dude, this is, this is great. And it was like, all right, so if they think it's great, I just gotta keep going for a little while. Um, so that, so that was, that was good as well. Yerasimos: Yeah. You get those like moments while you're on the path where you get those like. Affirmations, you know? Yeah. Like, like, and it's like a lot of times you don't need it, but it's also nice, I mean, we're human beings, so to like put something out there and to get feedback, um, from peers and people we respect, it's like, okay, cool. Like, that's dope. Mike (2): Yeah. And, and I certainly had a ton of doubt. And like I said, I was in a relationship at the time and she's looking at me like, what the fuck do you mean you're pursuing the most niche comedy that literally no one in Earth wants right now? Like, yeah, I don't know. I don't have a good, it's not a good business move. That's, [01:25:00] we're on the same page about that. Yerasimos: Yeah. But that's the thing. It's like, because no one's doing it and you're doing it. Like, who knows in five years, in 10 years, like where things are gonna be, you know, what the zeitgeist is gonna be. And it's like, you know, Mikey p Cardamon, you know, like, I, I think, Joel: I think he should have listened to your Gilbert. Mike: So, I mean, those thoughts crept in, man. They were tough to, they were tough, but, Yerasimos: but it's natural. It's natural to do that. There's so much conditioning, parental, cultural, you know, and, and like the pressure sometimes to go along to get along and to get validation, but that's what separates, you know, a heroic individual versus someone who's not, who's comfortable with the status quo and who 20, 30, 40, 50 years from now may live with regret and may be like, I coulda, shoulda have. And, you know, so, and like it's, and again, it's like back to what I said before and about my arguments with coffee and then your thing around urine therapy. It's like you're on the other side, you've [01:26:00] experienced it, you've experienced what it's like to be the director and to work in the commercials and the celebrities. So like, you can do all this and then one day be like, you know what? I want to go back to that. I'm not saying you will, but you, because you, you have more awareness and you have. Experience with both sides of it, you know what I mean? And so for other people, they haven't, they're, they're still kind of walking that main street path. They know, they don't know what it would be like to answer that inner calling and to step into more of the unknown and the uncertainty, uh, and see what life is like. But like that's where the beauty, that's where the magic lies. That's what, that's pretty much the ethos of Joel and myself and here for the truth, you know, is becoming who you're born to be and walking that authentic path and living a heroic life and building the self-esteem necessary for you to be able to do all these things. And then to see the fruits of your labor and to be like, man, I went through some shit. My girlfriend, my family thinks I'm crazy. My friends kind of do too. And yet here I am. Loving myself more. And I have an amazing community of [01:27:00] peers and friends and, and, and people I look up to who respect me and honor me. And so all that other shit is noise, because again, what's the state of your life? How do you feel about yourself? That's the most important thing. Like, fuck the haters. They're always gonna be fucking out there hating. But at the end of the day, you look in the mirror and you go, man, this is cool. I like what I, I like what I do. You know what I mean? And like you just keep doing your thing and then you see the magic continuing to happen in your life. So it's just, that's only been my experience is just you answer the call, you make a choice. You do something maybe a little different than what most people have done before. And then you see your life unfold in pretty miraculous in beautiful ways. Not without challenges, but that's what it means to be human. Do you face the challenges of your life? And what do you do with that? Mike (2): I mean that was really eloquent and well said, man, I didn't think you had that in you. Yerasimos: Well, you know, sometimes once in a while it comes out. No, that Mike (2): was, I mean, exactly that. Seriously, that, that was [01:28:00] beautiful. Yerasimos: That's a clip, bro. We gotta throw that clip in. He had, he had had a Joel: couple hepatic doses of Pierce Rapid Razer run as well, guys. I Yerasimos: did, Joel: I did. Yerasimos: Well actually I did that, but that, that is a new way, I don't think I've heard of it that way. Like, just to get started, like just, just get the frequency, do a couple. 'cause that's like a nice entry point for people. Yeah, for sure. You know? Sure. It's not people, not people are, people aren't as hardcore as you where they're just gonna like, you know, chug their pee. So if you wanna go into it, and again, I am, I am not sitting here one way or the other saying, anyone listening to this should do it or not do it. You're an individual, decide for yourself. But if you know this person in front of us right now, Mike, who we're interviewing, you know, like if he's shared information with you that has piqued your curiosity, you know, there's many different entry points. So, um, I. I'm sure you could also send him a quick message on, uh, Instagram at don't slap snooze and maybe he'll, he'll, uh, respond back to you. I don't know. Mike: I might, I might, but that it's also like, I think there's just a, if you're cute and you'd like to drink your pee, you'll probably be more likely to respond back to you.[01:29:00] Hold on. I kind of, I got a point. There's Mike (2): a, there's a, there's an initial hurdle that in people's heads is more, it's a bigger deal than they think it is. 'cause I've had tons and tons of people come back and say, once the first sip is down, now they have no problem with it. And now they're, you know what I mean? So it's, it's really about taking the first step. Just get your foot in the door, whatever that is, whether it's a few drops or whatever it is. And again, now that you have the experience and you're on the other side. People are surprised constantly how easy it is to keep engaging. Yerasimos: Can I ask you another question? Like, for some people they prefer cold drinks versus warm drinks. And so like p obviously when it comes out is warm and so can you put it in the fridge and like just kind of, Mike (2): I mean you can, I wouldn't, but you can. Why wouldn't you? I guess I like warm drinks. It's the perfect temperature in my opinion. It's body temperature. Like your body loves the temperature of urine. It uses it right away. 'cause I think it is [01:30:00] harder to kind of assimilate like a super icy liquid, you know? Um, but if people like that, yeah, do whatever you gotta do, I guess. But I personally, I don't, but there's nothing, like I wouldn't, I don't know if I would freeze it because that might kind of, um, in the same way, um, like heating something to a super high temperature kind of denatures it in a way. Um, so I would stay away from extremes, but yeah. Okay. Yerasimos: Okay. Mike (2): Any final Yerasimos: messages for our audience? Mike: I don't think so. I think, I think we covered a lot. Yerasimos: Great. How many of those books behind you have you read? Are you in the library or is this your, this is digital dude. I could put my hand right through this. Oh, great Joel: bro, thank you so much for hanging out at the past 90 minutes, man. We definitely appreciate it. Uh, how can our audience, I guess, find you? Don't slap snooze.net is where the videos are and Instagram is, don't slap snooze as well. Mike (2): Yep. Those are probably the two best places. And then, yeah, [01:31:00] I got, uh, if people feel like supporting, I got some, a little bit of merch. I got the book on pre-order right now. That's currently being, uh, the design and type setting is, is getting finished right now and then it'll be print and shipped. Um, so you can pre-order that and, uh, yeah, enjoy the videos. At this point there's like probably an hour and a half of, of material that has, I. All sorts of stuff. All all the things, all the things that we talk about in this community that I'm sure relate to other episodes that you guys have had. Um, so yeah, if you like talking about these things and en enjoy comedy, that's kind of the fusion. Don't slap snoo.net. Yeah. Amazing man. Okay. That's your Yerasimos: website and then we, we'll have your website and then we'll have your Instagram page, um, under as well. Sounds good. Cool. Joel: Alright y'all, thanks for listening. Take care. Thanks fellas. Love you guys.