November 20, 2025 • 22 mins
It started with a kid in West Virginia, a copy of Alpha Sapphire, and a feeling that he didn’t quite fit anywhere, until shiny hunting and streaming gave him a home.
Swampfactor shares his Pokémon story from discovering Mudkip in Alpha Sapphire to turning late night shiny hunting into a lifeline. He talks about the 10,999 encounter Roggenrola that taught him patience, the janky days of propping his phone on a box of Legos to stream, and how becoming a Twitch streamer gave him life-long friends. Along the way, we explore how simple games create real community, why world-record shiny marathons still feel unreal, and how his charity “Spiced Out Shiny Hunting” streams are helping kids eat this Thanksgiving.
If you’ve ever needed a reminder that your hobbies, your people, and your nostalgia can keep you going, this one’s for you. Listen now, follow for more Pokémon podcast stories, and remember: your next Pokémon adventure might start with one small “why not?”
🎧 Love Pokémon and Twitch? This playlist is for you.
Stream the Live Streamers playlist today!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SwampFactor (00:00):
My name is SwampFactor and this is my
Pokemon story.
David Hernandez (00:43):
Welcome to As The Pokeball Turns where every
voice, every journey, and everymemory brings us closer to the
world of Pokemon.
I'm David Hernandez and I'mjoined by Swamp Factor here, who
had to break into his own houseto come to this interview.
The cops behind him breakingdown doors, going through traps
that he set into his own house,and he's here to break this
(01:03):
episode like an Earthquake Swampfactor.
Welcome to Taz.
The hook of ball turns.
SwampFactor (01:09):
Phenomenal entrance.
Thank you very much for havingme.
David Hernandez (01:12):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
And for those who know, he kindof had to break into his own
house to do this interview.
So if we happen to hear him getarrested while doing this, we
know why.
SwampFactor (01:21):
Yeah, thankfully.
I think I'm good.
David Hernandez (01:23):
all jokes aside, let's have a little bit
of a fun question before we diveinto this interview.
Okay.
You know, you're here to shareyour experience with Pokemon.
You had shared some veryinteresting tidbits about.
doing charity stuff, youstreaming on Twitch and we'll
dive into all that later.
But I just wanna start on theeasy question, a fun one.
Okay.
SwampFactor (01:38):
All
David Hernandez (01:38):
So if you could choose a Pokemon to be the
mascot for a fast foodrestaurant, which one would you
pick and what would you call theplace?
SwampFactor (01:47):
Oh, now that's a good one.
if I had to pick, it's better ofa Hear me Out.
But I would pick Bound Suite andI would call it.
What would, what would be thename?
Hmm.
I think we'll go somethingsimple.
Call it,
David Hernandez (02:04):
Juice.
SwampFactor (02:04):
Juice Bar.
David Hernandez (02:05):
Aloha Juice bar.
I gotta ask.
So.
SwampFactor (02:07):
Kind of go for a, a Jamba Juice
David Hernandez (02:09):
I was wondering why did you chose Bounsweet.
So you're kind of seeing it as afast food place for a Jamba
Juice kind of thing.
SwampFactor (02:15):
Yes.
Because like having that.
Would be a little different.
'cause I don't really have thataround So I think having
something like that would justbe kind of
David Hernandez (02:27):
Well, now, of course you're here to talk about
your Pokemon experience.
I want to ask, so where did yourPokemon journey start?
What was your first experiencewith the franchise?
SwampFactor (02:35):
Oh.
So I think we all know at leastsomebody who in elementary
school had The Pokemon cards andyou know, people would, you
know, play those at like recessor whatever.
A fun fact about me.
actually hated Pokemon at first,
David Hernandez (02:53):
This sounds,
SwampFactor (02:54):
is kind of
David Hernandez (02:54):
this sounds familiar.
Continue.
Yeah.
SwampFactor (02:56):
Yeah.
but this was, I think I was like10 years old.
And then about a year later, I,watched The Pokeball anime, the
episode Ash Challenging Grant.
In Sewage City Gym.
I don't know what it was, butthat episode immediately made me
love, like Pokemon saw, likePikachu Froakie, because it's a
(03:22):
frog who doesn't like frogs.
And then I got a gif thatEaster, and it was a copy of
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire.
And that's when everythingbegan.
David Hernandez (03:32):
Nice, so.
I mean, obviously one of thequestions I wanna ask is what
made you wanna hate Pokemon?
But it sounds like that episodekind of changed your viewpoint
on it.
Is that kind of fair to say?
SwampFactor (03:43):
Yeah.
I just thought it was reallyoverrated at the time, and then
my viewpoint changed and I'mlike, okay, see why people love
this so much.
David Hernandez (03:53):
Just from that one episode in the anime when he
Ash faced the The Gym LeaderGrant.
Yep.
SwampFactor (03:57):
Yep.
David Hernandez (03:58):
Wow.
Do you remember anythingparticular about that episode
that sticks out to you?
SwampFactor (04:02):
it was Froakie versus Tyrunt, something about
that battle just made me loveit.
David Hernandez (04:09):
And at that point, that's when you got
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire.
What was it like to play thegames compared to watching the
anime?
SwampFactor (04:15):
My mind was blown because I am very easily
entertained by things I like.
Just if something can beentertaining, I will
David Hernandez (04:26):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (04:26):
or I will watch it or whatever.
And just having.
a little tiny little Mudkip totravel the world with in the
Hoen region.
Something about it just made mefall in love with it even more
every single day.
David Hernandez (04:39):
What were some of your favorite parts about
playing Alpha Sapphire?
SwampFactor (04:44):
Discovering the vast, selection of Pokemon,
going through the story.
Randomly stumbling across,Legendaries, not knowing exactly
what I was doing, but just goinginto that with like no knowledge
of what I was doing.
But at the same time, picking upthings as I went.
Just felt there's no feelingbeating that.
David Hernandez (05:05):
It sounds like you enjoy the idea of just
getting dropped into a world andjust having fun with it in your
own different ways.
SwampFactor (05:13):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (05:14):
I can kind of relate.
I think that's what hits a lotof Pokemon fans, especially from
the video game aspect, becauseyou know, a lot of people can
criticize The Pokeball games arevery bare bones.
But that's kind of what makesthem so appealing is that
they're so bare bones that theycan be your own journey.
You can kind of mold them intowhat you want it to be in a way.
SwampFactor (05:29):
Mm-hmm.
David Hernandez (05:30):
Do you remember some of the first Pokemon you
chose, obviously Mudkip was oneof your first ones, but what
other Pokemon would you, leantowards?
SwampFactor (05:36):
I actually have my final team, you compare
11-year-old Mees team standardsto
David Hernandez (05:44):
Right.
Yeah.
SwampFactor (05:45):
my final team was
David Hernandez (05:46):
mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (05:47):
because reasons Ludicolo.
And I still love that dancingpineapple to this day.
I had a Swalot, an electrode,the cosplay, Pikachu, because
it's Pikachu and Latias, becauseFlying Dragon legendary that
could take me anywhere and itjust looked cool and I had, and
(06:08):
it could mega, so why not?
David Hernandez (06:09):
Right.
That was also a fun part wasjust seeing it fly around and
you kind of got to fly todifferent areas.
So like actually the move fly,it actually, you got to fly
there directly.
I kind of wish they brought thatback in a way.
SwampFactor (06:20):
Yeah.
And the the flute where youcould call and you could just
fly around, on Latias.
'cause that's how you've found afew things.
David Hernandez (06:27):
Mm-hmm.
well, I think that's alsosomething else because you know,
you got both the underwater,which is dive, you had both the
land, which is, you know, thebasic, but then you got to
explore the sky.
You got to kind of experienceall three layers of Pokemon
world.
If so, you will,
SwampFactor (06:41):
Yep.
And that's kind of what draws meback to ORAS is just that
feeling of you can just goanywhere and have fun with it.
David Hernandez (06:49):
I wanted to know, so you clearly have some
tie to Mudkip or the Swampertline.
What is it about that Pokemon?
Is it your favorite?
Is it just something that youenjoy about it?
SwampFactor (06:59):
It is my absolute favorite.
this is the first Pokemon that Iever had, and I have always
loved it.
I even have, I'm holding aMudkip plush right now.
If that tells anything how muchI care about this Pokemon?
David Hernandez (07:16):
What'd you think of a mega swamper?
Because I think that's when itmade his debut as well.
SwampFactor (07:19):
yes.
Well, it is my mascot because Imean, buff mud fish, that looks
like it could absolutely justone hit KOU.
That's just cool.
cool.
Again, I am easily impressed.
So you give me buff mud fishthat can absolutely beat you
(07:43):
hell and
David Hernandez (07:44):
right.
SwampFactor (07:44):
Absolutely.
David Hernandez (07:46):
I feel like one punch from a a mega Mudkip would
probably knock me through acouple.
Or a Mega Swampert wouldprobably knock me through like a
couple buildings almost.
SwampFactor (07:54):
Yes, and that's why I love it.
He's adorable and I love him.
Hey you.
Yes, you with the ears.
Don't go anywhere.
We'll be right back.
Love hearing real stories fromreal trainers.
Help As The Pokeball turnsbecome the best Pokemon
interview podcast like no oneever was.
By joining our Patreon, you'renot just supporting the show.
(08:17):
You're helping more fans sharetheir journeys with the world.
As a thank you, you'll getaccustomed Pokemon Wristband
each month themed after afeatured Pokemon Hand on over to
patreon.com/ As The PokeballTurns and join our community
today.
David Hernandez (08:31):
Well, after you know, ORAS,'cause that was your
first game.
Where did your Pokemon journeybegin after that?
Did you play more of the games?
Did you go back into the anime?
SwampFactor (08:39):
I watched the anime and I also, started, picking up
some more of the games.
I believe the next one I playedwas either X or it was Sun.
both.
David Hernandez (08:51):
Did you have a preference on either one between
those two?
SwampFactor (08:53):
You both have, a lot of meaning to me.
'cause Sun, I played the livingdaylights out of
David Hernandez (09:00):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (09:01):
I, that was the first game I got the shining jar
in
David Hernandez (09:04):
Oh, wow.
SwampFactor (09:05):
it was just so, it was so much fun.
That's really the game I starteddoing content creation with as
David Hernandez (09:12):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (09:13):
And it brings a lot of early memories back.
My Ex is really good too.
But cause I've played Gen sixand seven
David Hernandez (09:23):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (09:24):
I just really enjoyed, I enjoyed the
experience overall.
David Hernandez (09:29):
Well, let's, dive more into Pokemon Sun
because you said that was yourfirst game.
You ever got this shiny charm.
What made you even want to getthe shiny charm?
And were you interested in shinyPokemon as heavily you are now?
Or like, what was that kind oflike?
SwampFactor (09:40):
Well, We have the wonderful world of YouTube and I
saw so many shiny reactioncompilations, from a lot of
great people, blo, Pokemon, ADrive, you know, all, all those
lovely folks.
And I kind of was like, huh, Iwant to do that too.
And so I was like, I'll completethe polka deck and get the Shiny
(10:03):
Charm.
I can, and that's kind of whatstarted, this whole thing is now
evolved into whatever this is.
David Hernandez (10:12):
so you just wanted to get it just to say you
could get it, but then it turnedinto you being, I guess, more
interested in trying to get theshiny versions of Pokemon at
that point.
SwampFactor (10:22):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (10:23):
Wow.
Do you remember the first shinyPokemon that you ever tried to,
actually hunt?
SwampFactor (10:27):
yes.
So I have two answers to this.
I have the first one that I
David Hernandez (10:32):
Okay.
SwampFactor (10:33):
and I have the first one that I actually went
outta my way to hunt
David Hernandez (10:36):
Hey, let's do both.
SwampFactor (10:37):
So the first shiny Pokemon I got whenever the three
DS, internet was still here withus.
I did a lot of wonder trades andso I was just grinding out the
Dex in alpha sapphire and I wasjust catching a bunch of
Poochyena, Zigzagoon, Wurmple,and I look and I'm like, that's
(10:58):
a purple Wurmple.
So I got a full lodge, shinyWurmple, my first ever, shiny
mainland game.
But the first one I went outtamy way to hunt was I was doing
two hunts at once.
I was Masuda hunting, Rowlet inSun.
And then I also went for SOSCaterpie.
(11:20):
Which I got in like 20 os calls.
David Hernandez (11:23):
so you basically, you kind think almost
got the bug types almost exceptfor T
SwampFactor (11:27):
Yeah, I, I, I like Shiny Rowlet, it is board, and I
looked the.
David Hernandez (11:31):
What was it about the Shiny hunting that
appealed to you, you think?
SwampFactor (11:35):
Eh, I wanted to really test my patience, and
that has actually helped a lotlater in
David Hernandez (11:41):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (11:41):
So like shiny hunting me the patience to do
things that I need to do in myday to day life, Which sounds
weird, but when you.
Or constantly doing somethingand over and over, but it has an
end result that you wanted andyou got, because you waited
(12:04):
long, it just makes the payoffso good.
David Hernandez (12:08):
I guess, could you give us an example of how
the, how that kind of connectswith each other?
Because you said shining huntinggave you patience.
I guess how did that translateto you being patient?
In what way?
If that makes sense.
SwampFactor (12:19):
one of the biggest things I've learned in my life
is you can do everything right,but things take time.
And a perfect example of thisis.
I was Shang rock and roll andsword, and fans of my channel
know hunt full.
That was a shining charm hunt inPokemon sword.
10,999 was the number it took.
(12:41):
but that hunt alongside manyothers made me feel like.
I can do everything right.
It just takes time.
Whenever the time is there, thepayoff is amazing.
David Hernandez (12:54):
I think I see where you're coming from.
'cause basically it kind of goesto show that you don't always
see the effort right awaybecause you know you've gone
through 10,998 checks, right?
And you could have,
SwampFactor (13:05):
99,
David Hernandez (13:05):
well no I'm saying 10,000 before you got
your, your shiny, right?
That was on 10 99.
So you went through 10,998checks before you got your
finding shiny.
It could have been so easily togive up on things and like you
said, you're doing things rightand it's so important to come to
some, sometimes.
You kinda have to believe in themethods that you're following,
even when you don't see theresults right away.
And I think that's so importantbecause sometimes it's easier
(13:27):
just to give up when we don'tthink that it's not getting the
payoff that we think we shouldget.
SwampFactor (13:32):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (13:32):
What was the experience like when you got the
shiny Roggenrola?
I was very excited.
SwampFactor (13:37):
excited for it.
It is, I think, my loudest,shiny reaction to date because
it took seven phases, multiplehour streams, a pie to the face.
David Hernandez (13:51):
Apply to the face
SwampFactor (13:52):
through a lot for that one shiny, and I would do
it all over again.
David Hernandez (13:56):
You mentioned how you know you're streaming on
Twitch, you know you're going toan audience.
what led you to start,streaming?
What, like, what motivated youto do that?
SwampFactor (14:03):
A lot of things I do in my life, including
streaming and making videos isjust because why not?
David Hernandez (14:12):
Like why not just try it, see what happens,
kind of thing.
SwampFactor (14:15):
Exactly, and if it's something I like, I'll
continue to do it.
If I don't like it, then Iwon't.
I used to stream on YouTubestream in quotation marks.
It was just me talking to mywebcam because I didn't have a
capture card and I'd sometimesshow off the, the monitor I was
using, but.
(14:36):
Because I was also using mylaptop, but that's about it
until I got a capture card.
David Hernandez (14:41):
Mm.
So what made you wanna returnonce, I guess, to Twitch?
SwampFactor (14:46):
so I started streaming on Twitch, August of
2020.
So five years.
David Hernandez (14:52):
mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (14:53):
And I was like, you know, it was COVID.
I didn't start high school untilthat September.
And I was just like, I'm justgoing to prop my phone on a box
of Legos and shiny huntMagnemite and see what happens.
David Hernandez (15:12):
So you put your phone on the Legos and that's
how you streamed that firsttime.
SwampFactor (15:17):
Yes, and I did that for a solid, I think two months.
David Hernandez (15:21):
Oh, wow.
SwampFactor (15:22):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (15:23):
I mean, something must have appealed to
you just to go through that kindof effort.
I know it's just Legos, but it'skind of a weird setup to be
honest.
SwampFactor (15:29):
Well, I had some friends that I met through,
gotta give a, a shout out tothis man.
red Revenge nine nine.
He helped introduce me to a lotof people that I still consider
some of my best friends today.
And because of them, they helpme want to do streaming again,
(15:50):
and actually stream games andnot just, you know.
Me
David Hernandez (15:54):
Right.
SwampFactor (15:55):
and then it just kind of snowballed into today
David Hernandez (15:59):
How important have those friendships been for
you as far as streaming evenPokemon, in a way?
SwampFactor (16:04):
I'm gonna be a hundred percent honest.
I have, I, I wanna preface thiswith saying I have never never
contemplated ending my own life,guarantee.
you if it was not for thosepeople, I probably would not be
here today.
David Hernandez (16:18):
Wow.
They're that important to you.
SwampFactor (16:20):
Yes, because it's people that actually cared about
me you know, through my bestdays.
And Whatever, I was, whenever Iwas just like awful.
David Hernandez (16:32):
when you just had your shitty days or shitty
phases.
Yeah.
SwampFactor (16:36):
And you know, the fact is like I'm just a random
kid from West Virginia.
Ain't nobody knows what's goingon here, but the fact that you
know that these people couldyou?
Yeah, me, it was like I woulddie for them.
David Hernandez (16:49):
I mean, I think it's important to have those
people in your life who aregonna stand by your side, who's
seen seeing you both at yourbest, in your worst, because
it's easier for people to saywhen you're at your best, it's a
whole different thing when theysee you at your worse and you
have nothing left to give,
SwampFactor (17:03):
Yep.
David Hernandez (17:03):
those are the people you want to make sure
that.
They know how much they mean toyou in a way
SwampFactor (17:10):
Absolutely.
that's kind of why I'm gratefulfor Pokemon is it's given me
that friendship with peoplethat.
I am forever thankful for it.
David Hernandez (17:20):
In what ways?
Just through the shiny huntingor the Twitch community or in
other ways.
SwampFactor (17:24):
I've kind of dabbled in all realms of Pokemon
and content integrations as awhole of, I've done
playthroughs, I've done shinyhunting, I've done soul links.
I've done, and I've done, I'veeven done some competitive.
But kind of seeing that wholeround through YouTube, twitch,
all these different parts of thecommunities, just, it makes me
feel good.
David Hernandez (17:45):
It sounds like it makes you feel included as
well.
SwampFactor (17:48):
Yes.
'cause that's something I, Ididn't entirely struggle with
that, but of, of people didn'thave my same interests.
So finding people that did helpsa lot.
David Hernandez (18:02):
what type of events or stuff have you done
with other, people on Twitchwith Pokemon?
SwampFactor (18:08):
Ooh, there's a really good list.
I've done charity events with,my folks over at Team Yell,
which team I'm part of.
We've done charity eventstogether.
We've done collaborative eventstogether, the Shining Race
tournaments, also this was aboutthree years ago, the 1 51 Shiny
Challenge ran by Naomi and Nerdout.
Where we broke, I think it wasthree Guinness World
David Hernandez (18:31):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (18:32):
which were the broken later on, but still
having the ability to be withpeople and break world records
is insane.
David Hernandez (18:43):
What was that experience like for you when you
at the time broke the worldrecord?
SwampFactor (18:46):
Then a whole 24 hour span was amazing of getting
to meet new
David Hernandez (18:52):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (18:53):
shiny hunting for anything in everything.
I got the Shellder and it's inthe, the video that, is on nerd
ass channel.
I got the shelter and I'm veryhappy with that.
Because that orange clam is abeautiful, shiny, but also I
needed an redemption for thenightmare.
(19:13):
It caused me 4,000 casts.
And, I can say that, I've beenin the Guinness Book World
Records Than, than once becauseof that.
And I think just having that aslike.
Being in the book is crazy
David Hernandez (19:32):
mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (19:32):
Being in it multiple times is a whole other
thing, and doing it with otherpeople just makes it even
sweeter.
David Hernandez (19:39):
It made you feel like you were a part of
something bigger than yourself.
SwampFactor (19:43):
Yes,
David Hernandez (19:44):
Well, swamp factor, that's gonna be an
interview.
before you go, if people want tocheck out your content, if they
wanna connect with you.
Where can it go?
By all means, please plug away.
SwampFactor (19:53):
So, on I do have a YouTube, youtube.com/wan factor.
I upload every Monday at noonEast Eastern time.
we also have a short uploadedevery Thursday.
We also have V Channel SwampFactor vds.
We have a new VD uploaded everyWednesday at three o'clock
(20:17):
Eastern.
I stream on Twitch, right now.
I tend to stream Monday,Wednesday, Friday, Saturday.
That's my usual days.
you can follow me on Twitter, atSwamp Factor.
I have an Instagram.
Just look up swamp after you'llfind me there.
on November 23rd, I will bestreaming on Twitch.
(20:39):
A featured event on the channel.
We do this twice a year.
It's called spiced out shinyHunting where Shiny hunt,
Pokemon, eat a bunch of spicyfood we raise money for charity.
the charity that we will beraising money for Children.
children with, I generally don'tlike talking about politics, but
sometimes you just got to witheverything that's been going on
(21:03):
in the United States, kids maynot able to eat, and that's
something that they should notbe worrying about.
So we're gonna raise money sothat we kids can have some food
on their table for Thanksgiving.
And any monetary actions,whether direct or anything
towards the channel, every centwill be going to the charity.
(21:27):
So if you can show up, on Twitchor Steve slash One Factor, if
you are not able to donate,perfectly fine.
Just show up, hang out, have agood time.
spread the word, let's feed somekids for this Thanksgiving.
David Hernandez (21:42):
Thanks for listening to As The Pokeball
Turns, if this story resonatedwith you, share the podcast with
the fellow trainer.
Don't forget to follow us.
For more voices, more journeys,and more memories.
I'm David Hernandez, andremember, your next Pokemon
adventure begins here.
My name is SwampFactor and this is my
Pokemon story.
David Hernandez (00:43):
Welcome to As The Pokeball Turns where every
voice, every journey, and everymemory brings us closer to the
world of Pokemon.
I'm David Hernandez and I'mjoined by Swamp Factor here, who
had to break into his own houseto come to this interview.
The cops behind him breakingdown doors, going through traps
that he set into his own house,and he's here to break this
(01:03):
episode like an Earthquake Swampfactor.
Welcome to Taz.
The hook of ball turns.
SwampFactor (01:09):
Phenomenal entrance.
Thank you very much for havingme.
David Hernandez (01:12):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
And for those who know, he kindof had to break into his own
house to do this interview.
So if we happen to hear him getarrested while doing this, we
know why.
SwampFactor (01:21):
Yeah, thankfully.
I think I'm good.
David Hernandez (01:23):
all jokes aside, let's have a little bit
of a fun question before we diveinto this interview.
Okay.
You know, you're here to shareyour experience with Pokemon.
You had shared some veryinteresting tidbits about.
doing charity stuff, youstreaming on Twitch and we'll
dive into all that later.
But I just wanna start on theeasy question, a fun one.
Okay.
SwampFactor (01:38):
All
David Hernandez (01:38):
So if you could choose a Pokemon to be the
mascot for a fast foodrestaurant, which one would you
pick and what would you call theplace?
SwampFactor (01:47):
Oh, now that's a good one.
if I had to pick, it's better ofa Hear me Out.
But I would pick Bound Suite andI would call it.
What would, what would be thename?
Hmm.
I think we'll go somethingsimple.
Call it,
David Hernandez (02:04):
Juice.
SwampFactor (02:04):
Juice Bar.
David Hernandez (02:05):
Aloha Juice bar.
I gotta ask.
So.
SwampFactor (02:07):
Kind of go for a, a Jamba Juice
David Hernandez (02:09):
I was wondering why did you chose Bounsweet.
So you're kind of seeing it as afast food place for a Jamba
Juice kind of thing.
SwampFactor (02:15):
Yes.
Because like having that.
Would be a little different.
'cause I don't really have thataround So I think having
something like that would justbe kind of
David Hernandez (02:27):
Well, now, of course you're here to talk about
your Pokemon experience.
I want to ask, so where did yourPokemon journey start?
What was your first experiencewith the franchise?
SwampFactor (02:35):
Oh.
So I think we all know at leastsomebody who in elementary
school had The Pokemon cards andyou know, people would, you
know, play those at like recessor whatever.
A fun fact about me.
actually hated Pokemon at first,
David Hernandez (02:53):
This sounds,
SwampFactor (02:54):
is kind of
David Hernandez (02:54):
this sounds familiar.
Continue.
Yeah.
SwampFactor (02:56):
Yeah.
but this was, I think I was like10 years old.
And then about a year later, I,watched The Pokeball anime, the
episode Ash Challenging Grant.
In Sewage City Gym.
I don't know what it was, butthat episode immediately made me
love, like Pokemon saw, likePikachu Froakie, because it's a
(03:22):
frog who doesn't like frogs.
And then I got a gif thatEaster, and it was a copy of
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire.
And that's when everythingbegan.
David Hernandez (03:32):
Nice, so.
I mean, obviously one of thequestions I wanna ask is what
made you wanna hate Pokemon?
But it sounds like that episodekind of changed your viewpoint
on it.
Is that kind of fair to say?
SwampFactor (03:43):
Yeah.
I just thought it was reallyoverrated at the time, and then
my viewpoint changed and I'mlike, okay, see why people love
this so much.
David Hernandez (03:53):
Just from that one episode in the anime when he
Ash faced the The Gym LeaderGrant.
Yep.
SwampFactor (03:57):
Yep.
David Hernandez (03:58):
Wow.
Do you remember anythingparticular about that episode
that sticks out to you?
SwampFactor (04:02):
it was Froakie versus Tyrunt, something about
that battle just made me loveit.
David Hernandez (04:09):
And at that point, that's when you got
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire.
What was it like to play thegames compared to watching the
anime?
SwampFactor (04:15):
My mind was blown because I am very easily
entertained by things I like.
Just if something can beentertaining, I will
David Hernandez (04:26):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (04:26):
or I will watch it or whatever.
And just having.
a little tiny little Mudkip totravel the world with in the
Hoen region.
Something about it just made mefall in love with it even more
every single day.
David Hernandez (04:39):
What were some of your favorite parts about
playing Alpha Sapphire?
SwampFactor (04:44):
Discovering the vast, selection of Pokemon,
going through the story.
Randomly stumbling across,Legendaries, not knowing exactly
what I was doing, but just goinginto that with like no knowledge
of what I was doing.
But at the same time, picking upthings as I went.
Just felt there's no feelingbeating that.
David Hernandez (05:05):
It sounds like you enjoy the idea of just
getting dropped into a world andjust having fun with it in your
own different ways.
SwampFactor (05:13):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (05:14):
I can kind of relate.
I think that's what hits a lotof Pokemon fans, especially from
the video game aspect, becauseyou know, a lot of people can
criticize The Pokeball games arevery bare bones.
But that's kind of what makesthem so appealing is that
they're so bare bones that theycan be your own journey.
You can kind of mold them intowhat you want it to be in a way.
SwampFactor (05:29):
Mm-hmm.
David Hernandez (05:30):
Do you remember some of the first Pokemon you
chose, obviously Mudkip was oneof your first ones, but what
other Pokemon would you, leantowards?
SwampFactor (05:36):
I actually have my final team, you compare
11-year-old Mees team standardsto
David Hernandez (05:44):
Right.
Yeah.
SwampFactor (05:45):
my final team was
David Hernandez (05:46):
mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (05:47):
because reasons Ludicolo.
And I still love that dancingpineapple to this day.
I had a Swalot, an electrode,the cosplay, Pikachu, because
it's Pikachu and Latias, becauseFlying Dragon legendary that
could take me anywhere and itjust looked cool and I had, and
(06:08):
it could mega, so why not?
David Hernandez (06:09):
Right.
That was also a fun part wasjust seeing it fly around and
you kind of got to fly todifferent areas.
So like actually the move fly,it actually, you got to fly
there directly.
I kind of wish they brought thatback in a way.
SwampFactor (06:20):
Yeah.
And the the flute where youcould call and you could just
fly around, on Latias.
'cause that's how you've found afew things.
David Hernandez (06:27):
Mm-hmm.
well, I think that's alsosomething else because you know,
you got both the underwater,which is dive, you had both the
land, which is, you know, thebasic, but then you got to
explore the sky.
You got to kind of experienceall three layers of Pokemon
world.
If so, you will,
SwampFactor (06:41):
Yep.
And that's kind of what draws meback to ORAS is just that
feeling of you can just goanywhere and have fun with it.
David Hernandez (06:49):
I wanted to know, so you clearly have some
tie to Mudkip or the Swampertline.
What is it about that Pokemon?
Is it your favorite?
Is it just something that youenjoy about it?
SwampFactor (06:59):
It is my absolute favorite.
this is the first Pokemon that Iever had, and I have always
loved it.
I even have, I'm holding aMudkip plush right now.
If that tells anything how muchI care about this Pokemon?
David Hernandez (07:16):
What'd you think of a mega swamper?
Because I think that's when itmade his debut as well.
SwampFactor (07:19):
yes.
Well, it is my mascot because Imean, buff mud fish, that looks
like it could absolutely justone hit KOU.
That's just cool.
cool.
Again, I am easily impressed.
So you give me buff mud fishthat can absolutely beat you
(07:43):
hell and
David Hernandez (07:44):
right.
SwampFactor (07:44):
Absolutely.
David Hernandez (07:46):
I feel like one punch from a a mega Mudkip would
probably knock me through acouple.
Or a Mega Swampert wouldprobably knock me through like a
couple buildings almost.
SwampFactor (07:54):
Yes, and that's why I love it.
He's adorable and I love him.
Hey you.
Yes, you with the ears.
Don't go anywhere.
We'll be right back.
Love hearing real stories fromreal trainers.
Help As The Pokeball turnsbecome the best Pokemon
interview podcast like no oneever was.
By joining our Patreon, you'renot just supporting the show.
(08:17):
You're helping more fans sharetheir journeys with the world.
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David Hernandez (08:31):
Well, after you know, ORAS,'cause that was your
first game.
Where did your Pokemon journeybegin after that?
Did you play more of the games?
Did you go back into the anime?
SwampFactor (08:39):
I watched the anime and I also, started, picking up
some more of the games.
I believe the next one I playedwas either X or it was Sun.
both.
David Hernandez (08:51):
Did you have a preference on either one between
those two?
SwampFactor (08:53):
You both have, a lot of meaning to me.
'cause Sun, I played the livingdaylights out of
David Hernandez (09:00):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (09:01):
I, that was the first game I got the shining jar
in
David Hernandez (09:04):
Oh, wow.
SwampFactor (09:05):
it was just so, it was so much fun.
That's really the game I starteddoing content creation with as
David Hernandez (09:12):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (09:13):
And it brings a lot of early memories back.
My Ex is really good too.
But cause I've played Gen sixand seven
David Hernandez (09:23):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (09:24):
I just really enjoyed, I enjoyed the
experience overall.
David Hernandez (09:29):
Well, let's, dive more into Pokemon Sun
because you said that was yourfirst game.
You ever got this shiny charm.
What made you even want to getthe shiny charm?
And were you interested in shinyPokemon as heavily you are now?
Or like, what was that kind oflike?
SwampFactor (09:40):
Well, We have the wonderful world of YouTube and I
saw so many shiny reactioncompilations, from a lot of
great people, blo, Pokemon, ADrive, you know, all, all those
lovely folks.
And I kind of was like, huh, Iwant to do that too.
And so I was like, I'll completethe polka deck and get the Shiny
(10:03):
Charm.
I can, and that's kind of whatstarted, this whole thing is now
evolved into whatever this is.
David Hernandez (10:12):
so you just wanted to get it just to say you
could get it, but then it turnedinto you being, I guess, more
interested in trying to get theshiny versions of Pokemon at
that point.
SwampFactor (10:22):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (10:23):
Wow.
Do you remember the first shinyPokemon that you ever tried to,
actually hunt?
SwampFactor (10:27):
yes.
So I have two answers to this.
I have the first one that I
David Hernandez (10:32):
Okay.
SwampFactor (10:33):
and I have the first one that I actually went
outta my way to hunt
David Hernandez (10:36):
Hey, let's do both.
SwampFactor (10:37):
So the first shiny Pokemon I got whenever the three
DS, internet was still here withus.
I did a lot of wonder trades andso I was just grinding out the
Dex in alpha sapphire and I wasjust catching a bunch of
Poochyena, Zigzagoon, Wurmple,and I look and I'm like, that's
(10:58):
a purple Wurmple.
So I got a full lodge, shinyWurmple, my first ever, shiny
mainland game.
But the first one I went outtamy way to hunt was I was doing
two hunts at once.
I was Masuda hunting, Rowlet inSun.
And then I also went for SOSCaterpie.
(11:20):
Which I got in like 20 os calls.
David Hernandez (11:23):
so you basically, you kind think almost
got the bug types almost exceptfor T
SwampFactor (11:27):
Yeah, I, I, I like Shiny Rowlet, it is board, and I
looked the.
David Hernandez (11:31):
What was it about the Shiny hunting that
appealed to you, you think?
SwampFactor (11:35):
Eh, I wanted to really test my patience, and
that has actually helped a lotlater in
David Hernandez (11:41):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (11:41):
So like shiny hunting me the patience to do
things that I need to do in myday to day life, Which sounds
weird, but when you.
Or constantly doing somethingand over and over, but it has an
end result that you wanted andyou got, because you waited
(12:04):
long, it just makes the payoffso good.
David Hernandez (12:08):
I guess, could you give us an example of how
the, how that kind of connectswith each other?
Because you said shining huntinggave you patience.
I guess how did that translateto you being patient?
In what way?
If that makes sense.
SwampFactor (12:19):
one of the biggest things I've learned in my life
is you can do everything right,but things take time.
And a perfect example of thisis.
I was Shang rock and roll andsword, and fans of my channel
know hunt full.
That was a shining charm hunt inPokemon sword.
10,999 was the number it took.
(12:41):
but that hunt alongside manyothers made me feel like.
I can do everything right.
It just takes time.
Whenever the time is there, thepayoff is amazing.
David Hernandez (12:54):
I think I see where you're coming from.
'cause basically it kind of goesto show that you don't always
see the effort right awaybecause you know you've gone
through 10,998 checks, right?
And you could have,
SwampFactor (13:05):
99,
David Hernandez (13:05):
well no I'm saying 10,000 before you got
your, your shiny, right?
That was on 10 99.
So you went through 10,998checks before you got your
finding shiny.
It could have been so easily togive up on things and like you
said, you're doing things rightand it's so important to come to
some, sometimes.
You kinda have to believe in themethods that you're following,
even when you don't see theresults right away.
And I think that's so importantbecause sometimes it's easier
(13:27):
just to give up when we don'tthink that it's not getting the
payoff that we think we shouldget.
SwampFactor (13:32):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (13:32):
What was the experience like when you got the
shiny Roggenrola?
I was very excited.
SwampFactor (13:37):
excited for it.
It is, I think, my loudest,shiny reaction to date because
it took seven phases, multiplehour streams, a pie to the face.
David Hernandez (13:51):
Apply to the face
SwampFactor (13:52):
through a lot for that one shiny, and I would do
it all over again.
David Hernandez (13:56):
You mentioned how you know you're streaming on
Twitch, you know you're going toan audience.
what led you to start,streaming?
What, like, what motivated youto do that?
SwampFactor (14:03):
A lot of things I do in my life, including
streaming and making videos isjust because why not?
David Hernandez (14:12):
Like why not just try it, see what happens,
kind of thing.
SwampFactor (14:15):
Exactly, and if it's something I like, I'll
continue to do it.
If I don't like it, then Iwon't.
I used to stream on YouTubestream in quotation marks.
It was just me talking to mywebcam because I didn't have a
capture card and I'd sometimesshow off the, the monitor I was
using, but.
(14:36):
Because I was also using mylaptop, but that's about it
until I got a capture card.
David Hernandez (14:41):
Mm.
So what made you wanna returnonce, I guess, to Twitch?
SwampFactor (14:46):
so I started streaming on Twitch, August of
2020.
So five years.
David Hernandez (14:52):
mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (14:53):
And I was like, you know, it was COVID.
I didn't start high school untilthat September.
And I was just like, I'm justgoing to prop my phone on a box
of Legos and shiny huntMagnemite and see what happens.
David Hernandez (15:12):
So you put your phone on the Legos and that's
how you streamed that firsttime.
SwampFactor (15:17):
Yes, and I did that for a solid, I think two months.
David Hernandez (15:21):
Oh, wow.
SwampFactor (15:22):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (15:23):
I mean, something must have appealed to
you just to go through that kindof effort.
I know it's just Legos, but it'skind of a weird setup to be
honest.
SwampFactor (15:29):
Well, I had some friends that I met through,
gotta give a, a shout out tothis man.
red Revenge nine nine.
He helped introduce me to a lotof people that I still consider
some of my best friends today.
And because of them, they helpme want to do streaming again,
(15:50):
and actually stream games andnot just, you know.
Me
David Hernandez (15:54):
Right.
SwampFactor (15:55):
and then it just kind of snowballed into today
David Hernandez (15:59):
How important have those friendships been for
you as far as streaming evenPokemon, in a way?
SwampFactor (16:04):
I'm gonna be a hundred percent honest.
I have, I, I wanna preface thiswith saying I have never never
contemplated ending my own life,guarantee.
you if it was not for thosepeople, I probably would not be
here today.
David Hernandez (16:18):
Wow.
They're that important to you.
SwampFactor (16:20):
Yes, because it's people that actually cared about
me you know, through my bestdays.
And Whatever, I was, whenever Iwas just like awful.
David Hernandez (16:32):
when you just had your shitty days or shitty
phases.
Yeah.
SwampFactor (16:36):
And you know, the fact is like I'm just a random
kid from West Virginia.
Ain't nobody knows what's goingon here, but the fact that you
know that these people couldyou?
Yeah, me, it was like I woulddie for them.
David Hernandez (16:49):
I mean, I think it's important to have those
people in your life who aregonna stand by your side, who's
seen seeing you both at yourbest, in your worst, because
it's easier for people to saywhen you're at your best, it's a
whole different thing when theysee you at your worse and you
have nothing left to give,
SwampFactor (17:03):
Yep.
David Hernandez (17:03):
those are the people you want to make sure
that.
They know how much they mean toyou in a way
SwampFactor (17:10):
Absolutely.
that's kind of why I'm gratefulfor Pokemon is it's given me
that friendship with peoplethat.
I am forever thankful for it.
David Hernandez (17:20):
In what ways?
Just through the shiny huntingor the Twitch community or in
other ways.
SwampFactor (17:24):
I've kind of dabbled in all realms of Pokemon
and content integrations as awhole of, I've done
playthroughs, I've done shinyhunting, I've done soul links.
I've done, and I've done, I'veeven done some competitive.
But kind of seeing that wholeround through YouTube, twitch,
all these different parts of thecommunities, just, it makes me
feel good.
David Hernandez (17:45):
It sounds like it makes you feel included as
well.
SwampFactor (17:48):
Yes.
'cause that's something I, Ididn't entirely struggle with
that, but of, of people didn'thave my same interests.
So finding people that did helpsa lot.
David Hernandez (18:02):
what type of events or stuff have you done
with other, people on Twitchwith Pokemon?
SwampFactor (18:08):
Ooh, there's a really good list.
I've done charity events with,my folks over at Team Yell,
which team I'm part of.
We've done charity eventstogether.
We've done collaborative eventstogether, the Shining Race
tournaments, also this was aboutthree years ago, the 1 51 Shiny
Challenge ran by Naomi and Nerdout.
Where we broke, I think it wasthree Guinness World
David Hernandez (18:31):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (18:32):
which were the broken later on, but still
having the ability to be withpeople and break world records
is insane.
David Hernandez (18:43):
What was that experience like for you when you
at the time broke the worldrecord?
SwampFactor (18:46):
Then a whole 24 hour span was amazing of getting
to meet new
David Hernandez (18:52):
Mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (18:53):
shiny hunting for anything in everything.
I got the Shellder and it's inthe, the video that, is on nerd
ass channel.
I got the shelter and I'm veryhappy with that.
Because that orange clam is abeautiful, shiny, but also I
needed an redemption for thenightmare.
(19:13):
It caused me 4,000 casts.
And, I can say that, I've beenin the Guinness Book World
Records Than, than once becauseof that.
And I think just having that aslike.
Being in the book is crazy
David Hernandez (19:32):
mm-hmm.
SwampFactor (19:32):
Being in it multiple times is a whole other
thing, and doing it with otherpeople just makes it even
sweeter.
David Hernandez (19:39):
It made you feel like you were a part of
something bigger than yourself.
SwampFactor (19:43):
Yes,
David Hernandez (19:44):
Well, swamp factor, that's gonna be an
interview.
before you go, if people want tocheck out your content, if they
wanna connect with you.
Where can it go?
By all means, please plug away.
SwampFactor (19:53):
So, on I do have a YouTube, youtube.com/wan factor.
I upload every Monday at noonEast Eastern time.
we also have a short uploadedevery Thursday.
We also have V Channel SwampFactor vds.
We have a new VD uploaded everyWednesday at three o'clock
(20:17):
Eastern.
I stream on Twitch, right now.
I tend to stream Monday,Wednesday, Friday, Saturday.
That's my usual days.
you can follow me on Twitter, atSwamp Factor.
I have an Instagram.
Just look up swamp after you'llfind me there.
on November 23rd, I will bestreaming on Twitch.
(20:39):
A featured event on the channel.
We do this twice a year.
It's called spiced out shinyHunting where Shiny hunt,
Pokemon, eat a bunch of spicyfood we raise money for charity.
the charity that we will beraising money for Children.
children with, I generally don'tlike talking about politics, but
sometimes you just got to witheverything that's been going on
(21:03):
in the United States, kids maynot able to eat, and that's
something that they should notbe worrying about.
So we're gonna raise money sothat we kids can have some food
on their table for Thanksgiving.
And any monetary actions,whether direct or anything
towards the channel, every centwill be going to the charity.
(21:27):
So if you can show up, on Twitchor Steve slash One Factor, if
you are not able to donate,perfectly fine.
Just show up, hang out, have agood time.
spread the word, let's feed somekids for this Thanksgiving.
David Hernandez (21:42):
Thanks for listening to As The Pokeball
Turns, if this story resonatedwith you, share the podcast with
the fellow trainer.
Don't forget to follow us.
For more voices, more journeys,and more memories.
I'm David Hernandez, andremember, your next Pokemon
adventure begins here.
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