May 2, 2025 • 41 mins
From teaching in Australia to casting on the global Pokémon Unite stage, Kelosaurus shares how Pokémon helped her rediscover her identity, embrace her gamer roots, and find unexpected connection from Tokyo arcades to Twitch streams. We talk first games, emotional Worlds debuts, and how trading tokens with a kid who didn’t speak her language became one of her most meaningful Pokémon moments. Whether she’s battling with Sylveon or balancing life as a creator, her story is full of warmth, growth, and real-world power-ups.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kelosaurus (00:00):
My name is Kelosaurus and this is my
Pokemon story.
David Hernandez (00:42):
Welcome to As the Pokemon Ball Turns, where we
interview people's experience ofPokemon.
My name is David Hernandez.
I'm joined by Kelosaurus, anative from Oz, here to share
her Pokemon story and how shekind of grew up as a creator, as
well as becoming almost a casterwith Pokemon Unite.
Kelosaurus, welcome to thepodcast.
Kelosaurus (01:01):
Hello.
Thank you so much for having mehere, David.
David Hernandez (01:05):
Absolutely, and thank you for taking the time
outta your day.
It's always a fun time, like Iwas telling you before on the
podcast, to have somebody fromOz And I kind of wanna start
with that.
Like what is it like toexperience Pokemon over there
for those who maybe have neverbeen to Australia?
Kelosaurus (01:17):
like it's probably the same as anywhere else except
we're in a wacky time zone, soit makes it so difficult to
actually I.
with all those friend that areoverseas.
but the limited thing here, nowwe do have the online Pokemon
Center, but in terms of gettingPokemon merch.
That's usually pretty difficult.
I usually get a, a little bit offomo or get a little bit jealous
(01:40):
of seeing all the, all the coolstuff, that my overseas friends
are able to get.
David Hernandez (01:45):
I mean, they should just put a Pokemon Center
in Oz.
I don't know why they don't.
I feel like that'd just be avery good location to do it.
Kelosaurus (01:51):
Oh, 100%.
I think I'd be there every dayjust window shopping really.
I think it's just being in thatatmosphere surrounded by
plushies and, being able to goto my first Pokemon center in,
in Japan was so amazing.
just the way they decorated aswell, having all the statues and
everything like that.
I mean, online, yeah, we can getthe things, but I, I think it's
(02:11):
a different experience actually.
there in person.
David Hernandez (02:15):
You know, you mentioned briefly how you went
to Japan.
That was your first time evergoing to worlds.
Can you give us insight to likewhat it was like to step into
not only the homeland, but alsojust your first worlds
experience?
Kelosaurus (02:26):
it was surreal.
I mean, I still can't believethat it ended up happening.
not only, yeah, was it my firstworld, my first in-person
casting event.
Japan's always been a placethat's been on my bucket list.
So I think to be able to havethe opportunity to actually go,
and just experience everythingthat I love.
Was amazing.
It was actually really funnythough.
(02:47):
I ended up getting sooverwhelmed within the first
five minutes after popping oncamera that as soon as I hopped
off I started crying.
I made a mistake, so I wascrying about that, but I think
it was just all of the emotionsjust.
got to me at once where it wasjust like, wow, I'm actually
here.
This is real.
I'm not dreaming.
So, sometimes you just gottahave a good cry to, you know,
(03:08):
when you can't exactlyunderstand those emotions.
David Hernandez (03:11):
It sounds like you're just appreciating that
time period because I canimagine you like being so
anxious building up to themoment like, oh my gosh, I'm a
couple days from Pokemon Worldsin Japan, and then when you're
finally there, it's beyond whatyou could have imagined.
Kelosaurus (03:24):
100%.
I think it's also the openingshows they always do such a good
job with the opening shows andbeing able to watch that and
especially because we were up onthe caster booths, like above
the crowd and everything.
Just seeing, I think it's justbeing in an atmosphere where
everybody's there.
Because they all love the samething.
(03:45):
And it's like, even though youdon't actually know these
people, I don't know, there'skind of that connection and you
can just, feel that I'm, I'm,I'm quite a sappy person, so I
know that probably soundsridiculous, but it's just like,
I think admiring that afar.
I don't, I don't know.
It was, yeah.
David Hernandez (04:01):
Well, Heracross is our first name, so we love
sappy stories like that.
So you're in the right company.
I wanted to ask, so you know,you said you went as a cast rep,
I believe it was for PokemonUnite.
You know, obviously you werethere for a lot of work side
things.
What kind of tourist attractionsdid you get a chance to go see
and what were the ones that kindof stick out to you the most?
Kelosaurus (04:17):
Ooh.
We did end up going into AkiHarra, so doing a lot of,
shopping there or just windowshopping, having a look, at some
of the retro game shops andeverything, a few TCG shops.
I absolutely love going to thearcades there.
We ended up going to an arcadeand they have
David Hernandez (04:35):
Ooh.
Kelosaurus (04:36):
which gives you.
Tokens.
Like you have to try and catchthe Pokemon, but when you
actually catch it, it prints outa, a plastic token, which was
actually pretty cool.
While we can't, I can't use itover here in Australia.
And there was a kid, Sittingnext to me, which was quite,
quite cute because he was reallyexcited and he ended up offering
me one of his tokens and weended up doing a trade.
(04:59):
And I thought that was actuallyjust so adorable because even
though we don't speak the samelanguage, it was just, trying to
try to work out, okay, this kidwants to, wants to gimme this,
wants to trade.
And it was, it was just reallycute.
It was just like a really cuteexperience.
David Hernandez (05:14):
It's like how both, both the same language,
even though y'all two different
Kelosaurus (05:17):
Yeah,
David Hernandez (05:18):
countries apart.
Kelosaurus (05:18):
much.
Pretty much.
And I think it was just theexcitement as well.
I ended up having a Mariaride-on show up on my screen, so
when he
David Hernandez (05:25):
Oh.
Kelosaurus (05:26):
he absolutely lost it because he's just like, he
wanted, he wanted that Pokemon,but it didn't end up showing up
on his one.
But him also just trying to helpme.
I'm like, what buttons to pressand stuff like that.
I think it was just really cutelike.
for my background, I used to bea teacher, so working with kids
a lot and everything, I thinkit's kind of the roles being
switched around where, okay,yeah, I used to teach kids, but
(05:49):
I think it's also just somethingspecial when the kids get to
actually teach you somethingthat's special to them.
And once again, another one ofthose sappy things that when
you, when you look at it, it'sjust really special.
David Hernandez (06:01):
did you show off like your Pokemon fandom as
a teacher?
Like did your students know thatyou were like really into
Pokemon
Kelosaurus (06:06):
Yeah, I used to, do my nails, so sometimes I had
these.
that I'd get and I'd havePokemon on them.
So a lot of the kids would,would end up noticing my nails
and being like, I really likeyour nails.
And trying to, if they didn'tactually know the Pokemon, like
me telling them what the nameswere and stuff like that.
So I think that was always agood icebreaker.
(06:28):
But even when kids would bringin, say.
A Pokemon book or something,I'd, go up to them and then just
have, have a chat and just ask'em, you know, what's your
favorite Pokemon?
And I think it's just havingthat connection there.
So it wasn't something that Ihid, or anything.
I mean, in the end, that's whatit's all about, is trying to
build that rapport and try tofind that, connection of, hey,
you know, we might be differentages, but there's still.
(06:50):
Those similarities between youand I think it's just such a
good icebreaker.
Pokemon is just such a goodicebreaker with kids really
because
David Hernandez (06:58):
really can go wrong with it.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (07:00):
I mean you give us the opportunity and we'll yap
for days.
You give a kid opportunitythey'll yap for days, you know?
David Hernandez (07:06):
Okay, well now you got expectations.
You gotta make this episode go acouple days in a row.
Okay.
So,
Kelosaurus (07:10):
I think everybody needs sleep.
David Hernandez (07:11):
no, that's when we use sleep talk.
Okay, that's we're Pokemon fanshands.
Kelosaurus (07:14):
We all dream about Pokemon, right?
David Hernandez (07:16):
But I want to touch on this point before we
continue.
It reminds me just how differentit is the generation now growing
up with Pokemon compared to whenI grew up, and maybe you as well
to where, you know, when we'regrowing up through Pokemon Mania
or we're into Pokemon, a lot ofour teachers weren't into it.
They didn't understand itbecause, you know, it's just a
certain age group that touchedon it.
But now the fans today get tohave teachers like yourself or
(07:38):
other people in professions who.
Can kind of relate to it and itkind of builds a better gap
between generations, I think,compared to maybe from when I
was a young kid.
Kelosaurus (07:47):
Oh, 100%.
I mean, this is pretty much whatwe grew up with when we were in
primary school.
I know here in Australia, Like aTV show hosting thing called
Cheese tv.
So
David Hernandez (07:58):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (07:59):
every morning 7:00 AM you whip on the TV cheese
TV's playing and you know, youwatch, usually it was what card?
Captive Sail Moon, dragon BallZ.
one of them was also Pokemon.
So pretty much you'd wake upearly just to watch tv.
you'd eat your breakfast, getready while.
Watching, watching Pokemon andeverything like that, and, you
(08:21):
know, you'd expect to be atschool on time.
most of the time I wasn't schoolon time because I wanted to go
play handball with my friendsbefore school.
But that's, that's the wholething.
It's just growing up with, withPokemon and all of those TV
shows, whereas, yeah, when I wasa kid, well, teachers didn't
exactly have that.
They would've had a differentroutine.
(08:41):
So think it's definitely.
going into that more that, thattechnology era, I feel like.
So we were at that beginning of,that and then, you know, it's
kind of just continued and whilesome, obviously dropped off and
moved on and that's just all inthe past, think it's nice to
find a lot of others that havecontinued to still love Pokemon
(09:06):
for what it is and Recognizingthat there's absolutely no shame
loving something that's inquotation marks supposed to be
for kids,
David Hernandez (09:16):
So you mentioned shames that did, were
you like shamed, like being aPokemon fan at one point?
Kelosaurus (09:20):
I think.
I think when you reach that highschool phase, I know for me, I
wasn't somebody that continuedthrough.
yes, I've always kind of lovedthose things, but more.
Being teased, or I guess it'smore, you don't wanna just seem
like, I, I know it sounds bad,but this weirdo that, that likes
kitty things.
And I think that's, you know,unfortunately that's the way
(09:40):
that, some high schoolexperiences go.
So instead finding other, Thingsto love that your friends also
like.
I know I've always been one toenjoy games and everything, but
I guess the group of friendsthat I had, lot of them weren't
really gamers, so that'ssomething that I kind of just
enjoyed on my own.
(10:00):
I was lucky in that sense of mydad was.
a big gamer himself.
So our first console being, aSeger, growing up with playing
wonderboy and stuff like that.
So we were lucky that wasactually excited to get us a
Nintendo 64, for example, whenthe PlayStation two came out, he
was excited and he even playedthat getting to watch him, him
(10:22):
play games or him getting towatch us play games and
everything.
But I think.
of the friends, their, theirfamilies weren't exactly like
that, so it's something that wekind of just hid because it was
just like, oh, okay, this isn'texactly considered cool amongst,
amongst the girls andeverything.
So I know even just in primaryschool, a lot of the times I
(10:44):
would have.
Male friends and, and hang outwith them because that was the
thing that they were interestedin.
But then as high school comes,it's like, oh, okay, maybe,
maybe I need to find more, more,more female friends.
And it's just like trying toreally just discover fit in,
but.
Sometimes that's such a struggleand like, you know, if I, if I,
(11:04):
if I could go back in the pastand change things, I'd just be
like, you know, stick to who youare.
It doesn't really matter becauseeven then I'm not even friends
with those people now.
and
David Hernandez (11:14):
if you were, they'd be jealous right now.
Of course.
Kelosaurus (11:17):
Yeah.
And not only, you know, still,still friends.
I mean, thanks to my partner aswell with, a lot of those guy
friends.
So it's, it's kind of crazy how,you know, some things end up
turning out, but it is what itis and I think while it's a,
journey of, discovering what itreally.
Means to be yourself.
And I think coming into theonline space like Twitch has
(11:37):
actually really helped me,discover, you know, who I really
am and that there's just shamein, in hiding that.
And just to be proud and to, tolove what you love because
everybody's got differentinterests and there's absolutely
nothing wrong with that.
David Hernandez (11:51):
you and your dad would play games, you know,
specifically y'all started withSega.
Kelosaurus (11:54):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (11:54):
what was his thoughts about Pokemon when it
came out?
And would y'all even playPokemon together at times?
Kelosaurus (12:00):
we never really played Pokemon together.
I mean, he was, always fine withit and everything.
I know.
we got this really cool printer.
Well, I thought it was reallycool, but it, printed on
t-shirts.
So you get like this specializedpaper.
David Hernandez (12:14):
Yo.
That's cool.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (12:16):
would, he, I remember there was a shirt that
he made for me.
My sister ended up getting aBritney Spears shirt printed and
I had a Pokemon shirt printedfor me.
So, you know, yeah, he wasalways, really supportive of
that.
I'm pretty sure he probablyenjoyed it.
I never really asked to behonest, but
David Hernandez (12:32):
Now, you know, you talked about how you know
you grew up playing Pokemon.
What was your first experience?
What got you started with thefranchise?
Kelosaurus (12:40):
Funny story actually, we ended up getting,
our first Game boy when we gotour first computer.
So our local computer shop had adeal at that time where if you
pay an extra dollar, you wouldget a game boy color.
So it was the Pikachu one, theyellow one with the, the blue
background.
so we paid the extra dollar.
We ended up getting, a dollarGame, boy, I was gonna say free,
(13:01):
but it's not free, but a DollarGame Boy, which was actually
pretty exciting.
So
David Hernandez (13:05):
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (13:06):
that's your, pretty much your first handheld
console.
but.
I had siblings, so I did have toshare.
So while I did have some timeplaying it and everything like
that, when my sister moved out,she's the one that ended up
taking it and she said shedoesn't know what she did with
it.
So that's a bit disappointing,but it is what it is.
But I remember, I rememberhaving that and we'd usually.
(13:30):
Argue over whose turn it is.
So I think it, we, we did therule of, okay, if you die in
this game or, or you lose, thenyou have to pass it over to the
next person.
And kind of sharing it that way.
But most of the time, I guess Ijust, I was a lot younger, so I
didn't really have the skills,so I wouldn't have as much game
time as she would
David Hernandez (13:49):
Sounds like there's a little of a
manipulation trick, like we knowshe's gonna die.
Lot.
So let's just make that rule andshe won't know any better.
Kelosaurus (13:56):
yeah, pretty much.
So a lot of the time I wouldjust be the person that would be
sitting there watching, theother person play games and
yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm okay withthat, but I got forced, forced
into that role.
David Hernandez (14:08):
It reminds me of, I can't remember where I got
this from.
I think it was probably a sceneor something to where there's
two brothers and the mom'ssaying like, you gotta play
games for your brother.
So he has his brother hold thecontroller, but it's not plugged
in and the brother thinks he'splaying and it's really just
him.
That's kind of what it remindedme of a little bit.
Kelosaurus (14:24):
I feel like that's where true frustration begins
because you're trying to goleft, but then the character's
going right and it's like,what's going on?
David Hernandez (14:30):
Well, let me ask you like, what was your
first Pokemon game?
Kelosaurus (14:33):
it would've been Pokemon One Yellow.
So we ended up
David Hernandez (14:35):
Ooh, you did Pikachu and the Yell.
I love it.
Kelosaurus (14:37):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So as I said once again, like interms of memories and, and
really remembering it, I don'treally remember playing the game
a lot, more being on thewatching side.
So that
David Hernandez (14:48):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (14:48):
the first game I remember as well.
Heart Gold, soul Silver cameout, they had a little giveaway
prize thing where You could wina cover, for your game boy.
So we ended up, getting somechips and, and winning and
having that sent in the mail andreceiving like this, cover that
had luie on it.
I'm just like, yo, this isreally cool.
(15:09):
I don't actually think we endedup using it for our Game Boy.
I ended up using it for, otherthings because it was just like
this little pocket handbag thingand I'm like, this is, this is
really cute.
So after that, I didn't end upplaying gen three or Gen four.
the Game Boy was the last.
Handheld that we ended upgetting.
but then after that, it wasn'tuntil I was in college actually
(15:32):
when, Pokemon Black and Whitecame out.
So thankfully, my partner, thatI'm with, he's very much very
big into games as well.
So I think he's helped me a lotin terms of that journey and.
having the DS back then, it wasa, one of the cyan blue ones I
remember.
I ended up getting Pokemon blackand white.
So getting back into thefranchise through that, and then
(15:54):
pretty much playing everygeneration till I didn't end up
playing Sword and Shield.
Please don't hate me, everybody.
I never ended up playing Swordand Shield, but, every, every,
every other single one since,since black and white.
David Hernandez (16:06):
I mean, that's not bad.
I mean, you still engaged withPokemon.
You still loved it just becauseyou missed one game.
I mean, I didn't play SwordShield until I think almost
Scarlet Bobby came out.
So I'm really late.
Kelosaurus (16:15):
I have it there.
My partner ended up buying itfor me, and it's there.
It's just, I haven't really hadthe chance to play it.
So it's definitely on the listof games to play.
It's just, well, you end up justplaying all your, your other
games first, so, and then it's anew game comes out, oh, okay, I
have to play this.
But instead of playing that one,it's a never ending cycle
really.
David Hernandez (16:35):
It is, and that's just how Pokemon gets us.
We just keep going over and overand over and it's just like,
yeah, I cannot stop playing.
I always tell myself I'm gonnafinish gen three and I still
have not finished Gen three.
Kelosaurus (16:43):
Oh, yeah, finding the time, especially as adults.
Ah, the struggle.
David Hernandez (16:48):
I know, right?
It's so much easier.
Just when we were now, itactually wasn't so much easier
when we were kids.
I wish I had the money.
Well, I don't even have themoney right now.
I wish I had like some kind ofperfect world where I had the
money and then the time of whenI was young.
So somewhere in there is somekind of imagination where I'm
like, right there.
Kelosaurus (17:01):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (17:01):
I,
Kelosaurus (17:01):
the time.
But the thing is that it's thetime you might have the, the,
the money.
It's the time that you just,that's the one that's hard to
get.
David Hernandez (17:09):
so what's your favorite Pokemon?
Kelosaurus (17:10):
So my favorite Sylveon, Sylveon, I guess
playing X and Y.
it's a fairy type.
absolutely adore all the fairytypes now.
But I think it's the friendshipside of things, so being able to
evolve your Eevee throughfriendship.
also the aesthetic of Sylveon onis really cute, but I remember
(17:33):
feeding pokey puffs to it andeverything like that.
trying to give its friendshiplevel up, playing games and
everything.
So I think, I think overall it,it's the aesthetic, but it's
also just that connection that.
Sylveon brings as well,
David Hernandez (17:48):
You can also go wrong with the shiny too.
It's got that cotton blue, shinyas well.
It's, yeah,
Kelosaurus (17:53):
Top
David Hernandez (17:53):
top tier, easy, easy.
Kelosaurus (17:56):
aren't that great.
Sylveon's definitely one of thebetter Shinies.
David Hernandez (17:59):
actually, is there even a bad shiny
Eevee-lution?
I think they're all pretty goodfor the most part.
Kelosaurus (18:05):
To be fair, I'm not really a
David Hernandez (18:06):
Oh,
Kelosaurus (18:07):
of the green from
David Hernandez (18:08):
ion,
Kelosaurus (18:09):
Yeah, no Espon like,
David Hernandez (18:11):
oh
Kelosaurus (18:12):
I know some would say,
David Hernandez (18:13):
yeah.
Kelosaurus (18:13):
okay, but I don't know, the green is just too
bright for me.
And even then I think, you know,say flay on, it's more like the
dulled, the dulled colors.
Like I like having the, theinverse.
So I think that's why Sylveonand Umbrian are probably the two
best shinies.
Also
David Hernandez (18:32):
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (18:32):
blue, like blue shies are great.
David Hernandez (18:35):
And that's what I always imagined ion being, I
think.
'cause I agree.
I don't care for the shiny greenreally.
I really wish it was more, it'sjust too.
I don't know either.
I'm either burnt out a greenshinies or I just don't care for
the purple, the greenstransition.
Kelosaurus (18:46):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (18:47):
I just don't care for it as much.
It doesn't make it, it seemslike it's a different Pokemon
almost.
Kelosaurus (18:51):
Yeah, and even then the potential was lost with
leafy on.
They should have
David Hernandez (18:55):
Oh my gosh.
Kelosaurus (18:57):
so it's
David Hernandez (18:57):
I,
Kelosaurus (18:58):
the green and then turns to, to autumn or fall, I
guess you would call it.
Over there
David Hernandez (19:03):
oh, look.
Look what they did to my boy.
Ion had so much potential, butno, they have to make it green.
There's a different shade ofgreen.
Kelosaurus (19:09):
It isn't even
David Hernandez (19:10):
Oh,
Kelosaurus (19:10):
green,
David Hernandez (19:12):
You mentioned how, you found, more acceptance
of your gamer side thanks to theTwitch community.
Let's talk about that side realquick.
So what made you wanna startstreaming on Twitch?
And I guess how did that kind ofprogress to you becoming more
accepting of the gamer side thatyou kind of rejected for a
while?
Kelosaurus (19:27):
I think like a lot of people, it was during the
pandemic, so.
Trying to just find connectionwith others really.
I didn't really have many IRLfriends, but, I actually had no
idea that something like thatexisted.
I'm very much, I.
I think you could probably say Iwas a hermit crab before, Twitch
(19:49):
and everything, so I wasn'treally versed in terms of the
online world.
So, I started playing animalcrossing and I wanted to find,
the different colored items andeverything to complete the
collection because you only endup getting a.
A set color depending on whatisland you have.
So my partner's actually the onethat said, oh, hey, check,
(20:10):
Twitch out.
So my first online community wasactually animal crossing.
and then from there, you justend up meeting other people and
everything.
So Pokemon was actually not myfirst game, funnily enough.
I am somebody that actually alsoreally enjoys horror, horror
games.
David Hernandez (20:27):
You like to be a little scared of here and
there.
I get you.
Kelosaurus (20:29):
I love the adrenaline, the jump scares.
I love that.
so.
I ended up finding a group offriends who, who also of enjoyed
that.
Like we were never really goodat the games, but I think it was
more for the thrill of it.
So there was one day where we,we just liked, you know, making
clips and, and everything from,from our gameplay.
(20:50):
but one of my friends who wasstreaming at the time wasn't
able to stream that day.
So she's like, oh, hey, whydon't you just stream it in that
way?
It's just there as kind of arecord.
so not really.
Expecting anything from actuallygetting into the streaming side.
It was more just, oh hey, it'sjust so we can have a video so
then we can go back and watch itand laugh.
(21:10):
And actually having people comeinto the chat and I'm like,
wait, I've never experiencedthis before.
This is actually kind of fun.
And it kind of just progressedfrom there.
So finding other games that Iactually wanted to play with
people, and everything likethat.
And then starting to develop mykick.
So it's kind of a weird story inthat sense of, I have so many
(21:34):
different loves in terms of justgames and everything.
you know, horror is so differentfrom, from animal crossing and,
and Pokemon, but I love it all,but I think it's finding that,
other people that also enjoythat as well.
and just being able to just yaplike you've just given me, you
know, it's my, for me to, tojust yap like, hey, I made
(21:56):
everybody just like sharing,sharing stories and also
listening to, to other people'sstories and finding that
connection.
So that's I mean, it all beganreally.
David Hernandez (22:53):
One thing I wanna touch on, so, you know,
you started your twitch journey.
You were streaming on Twitchjust for fun, animal crossing.
How did Pokemon Unite kind oftie into it?
When did you start playing thatgame?
Kelosaurus (23:02):
Oh, day one.
Um,
David Hernandez (23:03):
one.
Okay.
So you were really into it rightaway.
Kelosaurus (23:06):
yeah, once again,
David Hernandez (23:06):
I.
Kelosaurus (23:07):
like, Hey, there's this new Pokemon game coming
out.
I think you should check it out.
So, ended up.
Downloading it when it, when itwas first released.
And we both played it togetherand everything.
And after that he stoppedplaying.
But I ended up getting hookedand, started streaming that.
And I think it was pretty muchwhile I had been streaming here
and there in terms of likehorror games and, and animal
(23:27):
crossing and stuff, I PokemonUnite, just, hit different, just
finding a lot of successstreaming that game kind of
helped me stick it a lot.
also I just enjoyed playing itlike I was actually hooked.
do not ask me how many hours ofbreak of on night I have please.
David Hernandez (23:46):
It's okay.
It's the same.
Kelosaurus (23:47):
many,
David Hernandez (23:48):
It's the same question with Pokemon Go.
We don't look at our receipts,so I'm not gonna ask you to look
at yours.
Kelosaurus (23:52):
No.
I think it was, yeah, prettymuch just playing it from day
one, finding success and, andjust being absolutely addicted
with the gameplay.
I mean, 10 minute games, hey,and it, that's the thing, I
never played a mobile before ormobile style game before.
So
David Hernandez (24:10):
Really.
Okay.
Kelosaurus (24:12):
and it's like, I think it's also just, you know,
you actually get to control yourPokemon, Which was really
exciting thing from it.
Yes.
Like there are other gameswhere, where you can do that,
but, no, I, I had never actuallyplayed Mystery Dungeon and I
guess Scarlet and Violet endedup coming out afterwards.
But even then the, theSynchronization's a bit, a lot
different to what Pokemon Unitewas.
(24:33):
you can't actually use yourattacks and whatnot.
But there was just somethingabout it that.
Just captivated me and prettymuch just being hooked ever
since day one release.
David Hernandez (24:44):
So you gonna forgive my ignorance, I've not
played Pokemon Unite much, butwhat Pokemon do you like to use
whenever you go into the game?
Kelosaurus (24:49):
Oh, see, for me, I pretty much play anything and
everything.
I'm somebody that really likesto learn.
And master a lot of the Pokemon.
There are definitely somePokemon there that I am unable
to master.
For example, Zorark, Zorark isjust beyond my skills, so I
definitely admire anybody thatplays Zorark whenever I see it
(25:11):
in competitive or absolutely getannihilated by a Zorark myself
pulling off those combos.
I just, I cannot.
it out.
So in terms of my favoritePokemon.
I would say my main role interms of when you look at the
results supporters.
(25:32):
Supporters are usually the onesthat have the most playtime on
them.
Bliss is my only gold badge thatI currently have on Pokemon
Unite.
Otherwise, I have a lot of ofblue badges.
So El Goss, Reon, which Isuppose is a defender, but still
that supportive type of role.
Sylveon.
While it's very different tothat role, that's my second most
(25:53):
played Pokemon.
So that's currently on bluebadge.
Need to work on getting goldbadge for, for Sylvie on there,
but it's just not really meta atthe moment.
So it kind of struggles a fairbit.
David Hernandez (26:04):
What would it take for Sylveon to be back at
the meta, I guess?
Kelosaurus (26:07):
Give it buffs of some sort.
Just
David Hernandez (26:09):
it some attention.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (26:11):
It's kind of that middle, that middle ground
really.
So, but I don't know, I, I ambiased.
I think it needs a little bit ofsomething, especially'cause
we're not just not seeing it inthe competitive scene being
selected much.
David Hernandez (26:25):
when it comes to just the competitive side of
Pokemon Unite, Do you get achance to participate at all
with your schedule at all, or doyou kind of have to just observe
and do casting.
Kelosaurus (26:33):
for me, I, well, no, I don't, I don't participate in
the UCS,
David Hernandez (26:38):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (26:39):
but for fun events, I'm totally down.
Like there's a few that I've.
in and entered in.
So, while it's more on the, thecasting side.
I do enjoy actually playingcompetitively and everything
like that, before casting that,that was where I began.
I started as a, as a competitoron a team.
(27:00):
So I think going back to, tothose roots, but then realizing
that is pretty stressful.
I wouldn't be able to do that onthe daily, really have to admire
them, the amount ofdetermination and everything,
and it's just The mentalstrength to have when things
don't exactly go their way.
but even then, it's just like,there's so many skills that come
(27:21):
into it.
I think, I think one of theimportant skills is
communication with, withteammates and actually, you
know, kind of not.
frustrated or, you know, gettingfrustrated at them.
I think it's something that endsup, breaking a lot of, a lot of
teams up is that thatcommunication of how do you
actually communicate effectivelyof, well, letting your teammate
(27:42):
know, hey, that wasn't exactly agreat play there, but also being
able to bounce back from thatand not kind of make.
other feel horrible.
Really.
I know I really struggled atthat department of, oh, I know
I've messed up here andeverything.
And it's just that, that whole,you know, blame and it's just
like, ah, I just feel, don'tfeel good enough.
(28:04):
So,
David Hernandez (28:04):
See, I would struggle with the other.
I would just blame everybodyelse besides me.
So.
Kelosaurus (28:08):
fair enough.
Fair enough.
No, I won't blame anybody elsebut myself, so, oh gosh.
I, I've taken, taken that onboth, both of those weights.
That's, that's less reallyheavy, you know?
David Hernandez (28:21):
That would be, uh, you would not laugh.
That's why I stay away from it.
'cause I know my, I know mycompetitive side.
I know who I am when I getreally into things I need, I
don't need that kind of, dramain my life anymore.
I'm too, too, too past my primeat that point.
Kelosaurus (28:35):
So I think, the casting side is definitely a lot
more relaxed in that department.
still being able to enjoy thegame from afar, but then not
having to go through.
waves, um, that, thatcompetitors have to go through.
But for fun, like, hey, I mean,even then for fun, sometimes it
can get really, really sweaty.
Like I was doing some fivestacks with some friends and you
(28:58):
know, there were some momentswhere it was just like, Hey, you
are inching here.
You've gotta back up.
And they end up getting knockedout and it's like, what are you
doing?
But after that you just, youjust laugh and, and you carry on
kind of thing because it's not.
It's not the World Cup, it's notthe end of the world.
Don't worry about it.
But
David Hernandez (29:14):
It is the end of the world in that moment, but
then later on you realize.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I wanted to ask, because youknow, you talked about how
originally you were a teacher,now you're, I guess you're a
full-time con creator now as acaster, was it difficult to make
that transition or were you kindof worried making that jump
because it's kind of a,different line of work?
Kelosaurus (29:31):
I guess in terms of that, I started off, when I
first came out of uni, I startedoff as a casual teacher, so more
on the relaxed, my own scheduletype of basis, accepting work
whenever I wanted to, but
David Hernandez (29:45):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (29:46):
came with its own struggles in terms of, not
actually getting the work.
I was lucky enough that after,COVID had, settled down a bit,
One of the roles that I ended upgetting asked to at a school
that I used to teach at, a fairbit was a support covid support
teacher.
Pretty much so, because a lot ofthe kids, working from home and
(30:07):
everything, it's, there were alot of gaps in their knowledge.
So pretty much my.
Job was to go in and identifythese gaps and fill in those
gaps and that way they could, Icould help them catch up.
So that ended up, I ended uppicking that up as a full-time
gig and during that time was,let's just say, not a very great
time mentally for me.
(30:28):
So while I was grateful toobviously have a full-time job,
have that stability andeverything like that, in terms
of work life balance, I.
just wasn't there.
so I think that was one of thebiggest struggles that I had is,
okay, I go to work.
you do your work, you come home,you do more work.
(30:48):
And I found myself not beingable to enjoy games or not
really having the time to, toplay games or anything like that
because I was just so focused onjob.
And after that year was done, Iended up going back to casual
work.
So back to that.
Flexibility and I preferred thata lot more, but I think it was
more, I guess personal thingsjust made me lose my love and my
(31:11):
passion for it.
teaching is a really hard gig,for sure, especially as a casual
teacher.
So I think just taking a stepback from that and then delving
more into something that bringsme.
More joy, more happiness, and alittle bit more balance to my
life, which was the casting andthe content creation stuff.
So I think, while that wassomething that I've done in my
(31:32):
past and I explored it, I thinkit's also okay to just that we
don't have to be locked into onesingular path moving forward.
David Hernandez (31:42):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (31:43):
you know, I mean, that's the thing you end up
seeing.
Like people of all ages go touni and, and change career paths
and everything like that.
So I think it was more, youknow, to not beat myself up, of
forcing myself into a, a jobthat I was no longer feeling it
anymore.
and it was, it was, Good that Iended up finding, finding the
(32:05):
success that I have in terms ofcontent creation and casting.
But even then, it's a struggletrying to figure out how to take
that a step further really.
David Hernandez (32:14):
it just sounds like you kind of lost your way a
little bit.
'cause you know, as you said,when you go to uni or college,
however you wanna call it, youget kind of.
Focused in like the, the majoryou chose is what you're gonna
be doing for the rest of yourlife.
And I think a lot of people,especially maybe our age,
struggle with that idea becauseyou know, like you said, life
has different paths and there'sa lot more variety than there
(32:36):
was say, our generation before.
And just from sounds like you,it sounds like you found more of
a puzzle piece connection beingboth a caster and a content
creator and the work-lifebalance, it allowed you kind of
maybe.
Touch a side of you that maybewould've been ignored had you
stuck with the teaching side.
Kelosaurus (32:52):
Yeah, I think a lot of the skills that I developed
as a teacher helped me in doingwith doing this as well.
so funnily enough, even thenbefore, before I started casting
and, and content creation, I'vealways been more on the shyer
(33:12):
side of, of things a a littlebit more reserved.
you know, confidence.
Confidence is, is, um.
Do you call it a resource that'ssometimes hard to come by within
yourself?
Um, so it's like, you know, as ateacher, well really you need a
lot of confidence, so it's morefake it until you make it.
David Hernandez (33:31):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (33:32):
is kind of what I've done with this, but I think it's
actually.
Recognizing, Hey, you're notfaking it, girl.
Like it's actually there.
You just, gotta trust and, andbelieve in yourself kind of
thing.
So
David Hernandez (33:44):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (33:45):
of being in front of a bunch of people, while yes
kids are kids and, and you know,adults are adults.
I mean, hey, at poker modeevents, there's a lot of kids
there too, you know?
But I think it's also.
One of the biggest things isyes, being able to talk in front
of people and, and gaining thatconfidence.
But I think it's also one of thebiggest things as a teacher is
(34:06):
building those connections.
And I think as a content creatorand as a caster, that's another
skill in itself of, You need tobuild those connections in order
to actually be entertaining and,and for people to, you know,
actually be engaged with, withwhat you're doing.
So a lot of, a lot of thoseskills have definitely carried
over from that.
(34:27):
So I don't see it as a completewaste of time, me doing that,
teaching and, and all thatprevious stuff because.
You know, I'm, I'm stillcarrying on with that stuff and
still building and, and learningon it.
David Hernandez (34:40):
what is it like whenever people come up to you
and they actually recognize whoyou are?
What goes through your mind
Kelosaurus (34:46):
and I get a little bit giddy little gi It's like my
mind, you know me?
No
David Hernandez (34:51):
a little bit.
Kelosaurus (34:52):
Just a little bit.
I dunno.
It's, once again, it's just oneof those surreal things like,
wait, this is actuallyhappening.
Hello?
David Hernandez (35:01):
Like, you actually know who I am.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (35:03):
what I, I'm just some, you know, don't know.
Some weirder it puts, itdefinitely puts
David Hernandez (35:11):
Now then you aren't a weirdo.
Come on.
Kelosaurus (35:13):
no, I'm not.
But it definitely puts a smileon your face.
It
David Hernandez (35:16):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (35:17):
smile on your face.
I mean, even thinking about it,I have a smile on my face.
David Hernandez (35:20):
Right.
I can't blame you.
Yeah,
Kelosaurus (35:23):
I don't know.
It's kind of that, it gives youthat boost really, you know,
just that internal, internalboost of, oh, that's really
cool.
I, I don't, I don't really knowhow to, how to explain, explain
that feeling.
David Hernandez (35:37):
I mean, it sounds like you know, you're
getting validated for your workand then also all.
You know, the hours spent behindto going from a teacher to
becoming a caster and being acontent creator.
It's kind of cool to just seepeople actually know who you are
and I don't know, kinda look upto you.
It see, you know, it's, you'realmost sort of like a role model
in the Pokemon community in away.
I.
Kelosaurus (35:57):
Yeah, which is weird.
Like I just find that so weird.
'cause I don't see myself asthat.
I just see myself as somebodythat's, I don't know, just here.
I, I wouldn't I'm anythingdifferent, so it's just like,
yeah, I might, I might getrecognized, but it's also.
I have my idols in the space aswell.
So it's, you know, when I seesomebody that I've followed or,
(36:20):
or something and it's like,whoa, it's that person and that
that, you know,
David Hernandez (36:24):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (36:25):
girl comes out and it's like, wow, you know, I
follow them and like enjoy theircontent.
So it's just like, I guess it'sthe both ways really.
It's.
being in that person's shoes of,oh, hey, you know, this is
Keller.
You know, I've watched andenjoyed their stuff, but then
also being in their shoes and,and seeing somebody else that,
(36:45):
you know, I've idolized and,just enjoyed watching.
So I think it just, it, it goes,it goes both ways.
So,
David Hernandez (36:54):
So we started about your experience with
Japan, but you also got a chanceto go to Hawaii.
How was it different going toHawaii compared to Japan, and
did you get a chance to doanything differently?
Kelosaurus (37:05):
Ooh.
I mean, besides differentcountry for sure.
David Hernandez (37:09):
Of course, yeah.
Kelosaurus (37:10):
Um,
David Hernandez (37:11):
It's just an ocean in a away, I mean.
Kelosaurus (37:13):
I'm not gonna lie, Hawaii was a bit of a blur
David Hernandez (37:17):
Oh, okay.
Kelosaurus (37:19):
Yeah.
I guess during that time therewas just a lot of, lot of things
happening, say behind thescenes.
David Hernandez (37:28):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (37:28):
I think, Hawaii, while, I'll go back and I watch
it and I'm like, wait, I didthat, like.
I don't, I don't actually reallyremember, remember a lot of it.
a lot of the time it was morejust going through the motions.
I think so, it's more just a bitof a blur and, and, you know, I,
(37:49):
I know that I still enjoyed itgoing back through, videos or,
or photos and everything.
But in terms of doing thingsdifferently.
I don't know.
Hawaii hasn't really, wasn'treally in terms of like personal
side wasn't really somewherethat, wasn't on my bucket list
kind of thing.
So I think there wasn't reallythat, that connection of, oh,
yay, I'm in Hawaii, kind ofthing.
(38:09):
Like it's
David Hernandez (38:10):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (38:11):
place.
Absolutely stunning.
but in terms of actually beingat the venue, it felt a lot more
overwhelming, It felt like therewas a lot more people in Hawaii
than there were Japan, I don'tknow.
It could have also just beenvenue wise, but yeah, it seemed
a lot more crowded and a lotmore overwhelming, so I think it
(38:34):
was more just.
Remembering how to breathe, kindof going through those crowds
and not kind of being, I, I, Iwould, I would say I was
probably a little bit moreoverstimulated in Hawaii
actually.
David Hernandez (38:47):
I was gonna say, Hawaii just needs to step,
its game up because youliterally cannot match Japan.
So that's it.
Just Hawaii just was nothingcompared to Japan.
That's really all it was downto.
Kelosaurus (38:56):
no, I mean, it, it was, it don't, don't get me
wrong, like, as I said, it wasstill a really special
experience and all that stuff,
David Hernandez (39:02):
yeah.
Kelosaurus (39:03):
it was more just, because I was just feeling a
little bit more overwhelmed andoverstimulated, even though I
had already done it before.
I think it was just a little,different in that, in that
regard.
So, it's Japan,
David Hernandez (39:15):
it's Japan.
That's what I'm saying.
Japan, the home of Pokemon.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (39:18):
Herman Pokemon.
So I mean, even going out intothe streets and seeing Pokemon,
I mean, you didn't really havethat in Hawaii.
It kind of felt like twodifferent worlds.
You'd have the conventioncenter, which was all decked out
and.
As soon as you step out of that,it's just like Pokemon Worlds is
here.
Wouldn't even know, literallywouldn't even know.
But in Japan, as soon as you getinto the airport, they had signs
(39:40):
and everything like that.
I remember, yeah, just walkingdown that hallway and seeing
Pokemon Worlds and everything,up on their little television
signs and it's like, oh my gosh,we are here for Pokemon.
But they had none of that atHawaii.
They didn't have any decorationsor anything like that.
So it was more just thisenclosed.
Space that yeah.
(40:00):
Okay.
We are here for Pokemon Worldswhen you are there, but outside
of it, it's just you're inHawaii, so.
David Hernandez (40:09):
Well, Kelosaurus, I wanna finish on
this last question, and it's afun one.
I want you to give me your dreamPokemon team?
Kelosaurus (40:16):
you've really put me on the spot here.
I'm just gonna say all myfavorite Pokemon.
I feel like that's probably theeasiest here.
David Hernandez (40:22):
There we go.
That's it.
Kelosaurus (40:23):
on, Sylveon on is definitely there.
I'd say that would be mypartner.
Pokemon, Totodile would also bethere.
Azumarill a, another one of my,my loves.
Amaura.
I like Amaura.
I, I do love auroras, but, Iguess being the, the blue
dinosaur.
Is also on there.
And one of my faves, Piplupbecause Piplup are cutie.
(40:44):
And I'm going to say the lastone is always the tricky one
because there's always so manythat that's the flexible one.
So today, I'm feeling.
Gonna tie it off with Lapras,because Lapras is
David Hernandez (41:00):
Oh,
Kelosaurus (41:00):
just one of those original loves.
David Hernandez (41:02):
I, I can do a.
Kelosaurus (41:03):
way to travel around.
David Hernandez (41:06):
Are you the original or GM Max
Kelosaurus (41:08):
original.
Original,
David Hernandez (41:09):
Original.
Kelosaurus (41:09):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (41:11):
Harriss.
Thank you for coming.
As the pickle ball turns, beforeyou go, people want to connect
with you.
If they wanna check out yourstreams or if they wanna watch
your content, where can they go?
By all means, please plug away.
Kelosaurus (41:20):
So over on Twitch, you can find me under
Callisaurus.
However, on all other socials itshould be under Callisaurus,
TTV.
My name is Kelosaurus and this is my
Pokemon story.
David Hernandez (00:42):
Welcome to As the Pokemon Ball Turns, where we
interview people's experience ofPokemon.
My name is David Hernandez.
I'm joined by Kelosaurus, anative from Oz, here to share
her Pokemon story and how shekind of grew up as a creator, as
well as becoming almost a casterwith Pokemon Unite.
Kelosaurus, welcome to thepodcast.
Kelosaurus (01:01):
Hello.
Thank you so much for having mehere, David.
David Hernandez (01:05):
Absolutely, and thank you for taking the time
outta your day.
It's always a fun time, like Iwas telling you before on the
podcast, to have somebody fromOz And I kind of wanna start
with that.
Like what is it like toexperience Pokemon over there
for those who maybe have neverbeen to Australia?
Kelosaurus (01:17):
like it's probably the same as anywhere else except
we're in a wacky time zone, soit makes it so difficult to
actually I.
with all those friend that areoverseas.
but the limited thing here, nowwe do have the online Pokemon
Center, but in terms of gettingPokemon merch.
That's usually pretty difficult.
I usually get a, a little bit offomo or get a little bit jealous
(01:40):
of seeing all the, all the coolstuff, that my overseas friends
are able to get.
David Hernandez (01:45):
I mean, they should just put a Pokemon Center
in Oz.
I don't know why they don't.
I feel like that'd just be avery good location to do it.
Kelosaurus (01:51):
Oh, 100%.
I think I'd be there every dayjust window shopping really.
I think it's just being in thatatmosphere surrounded by
plushies and, being able to goto my first Pokemon center in,
in Japan was so amazing.
just the way they decorated aswell, having all the statues and
everything like that.
I mean, online, yeah, we can getthe things, but I, I think it's
(02:11):
a different experience actually.
there in person.
David Hernandez (02:15):
You know, you mentioned briefly how you went
to Japan.
That was your first time evergoing to worlds.
Can you give us insight to likewhat it was like to step into
not only the homeland, but alsojust your first worlds
experience?
Kelosaurus (02:26):
it was surreal.
I mean, I still can't believethat it ended up happening.
not only, yeah, was it my firstworld, my first in-person
casting event.
Japan's always been a placethat's been on my bucket list.
So I think to be able to havethe opportunity to actually go,
and just experience everythingthat I love.
Was amazing.
It was actually really funnythough.
(02:47):
I ended up getting sooverwhelmed within the first
five minutes after popping oncamera that as soon as I hopped
off I started crying.
I made a mistake, so I wascrying about that, but I think
it was just all of the emotionsjust.
got to me at once where it wasjust like, wow, I'm actually
here.
This is real.
I'm not dreaming.
So, sometimes you just gottahave a good cry to, you know,
(03:08):
when you can't exactlyunderstand those emotions.
David Hernandez (03:11):
It sounds like you're just appreciating that
time period because I canimagine you like being so
anxious building up to themoment like, oh my gosh, I'm a
couple days from Pokemon Worldsin Japan, and then when you're
finally there, it's beyond whatyou could have imagined.
Kelosaurus (03:24):
100%.
I think it's also the openingshows they always do such a good
job with the opening shows andbeing able to watch that and
especially because we were up onthe caster booths, like above
the crowd and everything.
Just seeing, I think it's justbeing in an atmosphere where
everybody's there.
Because they all love the samething.
(03:45):
And it's like, even though youdon't actually know these
people, I don't know, there'skind of that connection and you
can just, feel that I'm, I'm,I'm quite a sappy person, so I
know that probably soundsridiculous, but it's just like,
I think admiring that afar.
I don't, I don't know.
It was, yeah.
David Hernandez (04:01):
Well, Heracross is our first name, so we love
sappy stories like that.
So you're in the right company.
I wanted to ask, so you know,you said you went as a cast rep,
I believe it was for PokemonUnite.
You know, obviously you werethere for a lot of work side
things.
What kind of tourist attractionsdid you get a chance to go see
and what were the ones that kindof stick out to you the most?
Kelosaurus (04:17):
Ooh.
We did end up going into AkiHarra, so doing a lot of,
shopping there or just windowshopping, having a look, at some
of the retro game shops andeverything, a few TCG shops.
I absolutely love going to thearcades there.
We ended up going to an arcadeand they have
David Hernandez (04:35):
Ooh.
Kelosaurus (04:36):
which gives you.
Tokens.
Like you have to try and catchthe Pokemon, but when you
actually catch it, it prints outa, a plastic token, which was
actually pretty cool.
While we can't, I can't use itover here in Australia.
And there was a kid, Sittingnext to me, which was quite,
quite cute because he was reallyexcited and he ended up offering
me one of his tokens and weended up doing a trade.
(04:59):
And I thought that was actuallyjust so adorable because even
though we don't speak the samelanguage, it was just, trying to
try to work out, okay, this kidwants to, wants to gimme this,
wants to trade.
And it was, it was just reallycute.
It was just like a really cuteexperience.
David Hernandez (05:14):
It's like how both, both the same language,
even though y'all two different
Kelosaurus (05:17):
Yeah,
David Hernandez (05:18):
countries apart.
Kelosaurus (05:18):
much.
Pretty much.
And I think it was just theexcitement as well.
I ended up having a Mariaride-on show up on my screen, so
when he
David Hernandez (05:25):
Oh.
Kelosaurus (05:26):
he absolutely lost it because he's just like, he
wanted, he wanted that Pokemon,but it didn't end up showing up
on his one.
But him also just trying to helpme.
I'm like, what buttons to pressand stuff like that.
I think it was just really cutelike.
for my background, I used to bea teacher, so working with kids
a lot and everything, I thinkit's kind of the roles being
switched around where, okay,yeah, I used to teach kids, but
(05:49):
I think it's also just somethingspecial when the kids get to
actually teach you somethingthat's special to them.
And once again, another one ofthose sappy things that when
you, when you look at it, it'sjust really special.
David Hernandez (06:01):
did you show off like your Pokemon fandom as
a teacher?
Like did your students know thatyou were like really into
Pokemon
Kelosaurus (06:06):
Yeah, I used to, do my nails, so sometimes I had
these.
that I'd get and I'd havePokemon on them.
So a lot of the kids would,would end up noticing my nails
and being like, I really likeyour nails.
And trying to, if they didn'tactually know the Pokemon, like
me telling them what the nameswere and stuff like that.
So I think that was always agood icebreaker.
(06:28):
But even when kids would bringin, say.
A Pokemon book or something,I'd, go up to them and then just
have, have a chat and just ask'em, you know, what's your
favorite Pokemon?
And I think it's just havingthat connection there.
So it wasn't something that Ihid, or anything.
I mean, in the end, that's whatit's all about, is trying to
build that rapport and try tofind that, connection of, hey,
you know, we might be differentages, but there's still.
(06:50):
Those similarities between youand I think it's just such a
good icebreaker.
Pokemon is just such a goodicebreaker with kids really
because
David Hernandez (06:58):
really can go wrong with it.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (07:00):
I mean you give us the opportunity and we'll yap
for days.
You give a kid opportunitythey'll yap for days, you know?
David Hernandez (07:06):
Okay, well now you got expectations.
You gotta make this episode go acouple days in a row.
Okay.
So,
Kelosaurus (07:10):
I think everybody needs sleep.
David Hernandez (07:11):
no, that's when we use sleep talk.
Okay, that's we're Pokemon fanshands.
Kelosaurus (07:14):
We all dream about Pokemon, right?
David Hernandez (07:16):
But I want to touch on this point before we
continue.
It reminds me just how differentit is the generation now growing
up with Pokemon compared to whenI grew up, and maybe you as well
to where, you know, when we'regrowing up through Pokemon Mania
or we're into Pokemon, a lot ofour teachers weren't into it.
They didn't understand itbecause, you know, it's just a
certain age group that touchedon it.
But now the fans today get tohave teachers like yourself or
(07:38):
other people in professions who.
Can kind of relate to it and itkind of builds a better gap
between generations, I think,compared to maybe from when I
was a young kid.
Kelosaurus (07:47):
Oh, 100%.
I mean, this is pretty much whatwe grew up with when we were in
primary school.
I know here in Australia, Like aTV show hosting thing called
Cheese tv.
So
David Hernandez (07:58):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (07:59):
every morning 7:00 AM you whip on the TV cheese
TV's playing and you know, youwatch, usually it was what card?
Captive Sail Moon, dragon BallZ.
one of them was also Pokemon.
So pretty much you'd wake upearly just to watch tv.
you'd eat your breakfast, getready while.
Watching, watching Pokemon andeverything like that, and, you
(08:21):
know, you'd expect to be atschool on time.
most of the time I wasn't schoolon time because I wanted to go
play handball with my friendsbefore school.
But that's, that's the wholething.
It's just growing up with, withPokemon and all of those TV
shows, whereas, yeah, when I wasa kid, well, teachers didn't
exactly have that.
They would've had a differentroutine.
(08:41):
So think it's definitely.
going into that more that, thattechnology era, I feel like.
So we were at that beginning of,that and then, you know, it's
kind of just continued and whilesome, obviously dropped off and
moved on and that's just all inthe past, think it's nice to
find a lot of others that havecontinued to still love Pokemon
(09:06):
for what it is and Recognizingthat there's absolutely no shame
loving something that's inquotation marks supposed to be
for kids,
David Hernandez (09:16):
So you mentioned shames that did, were
you like shamed, like being aPokemon fan at one point?
Kelosaurus (09:20):
I think.
I think when you reach that highschool phase, I know for me, I
wasn't somebody that continuedthrough.
yes, I've always kind of lovedthose things, but more.
Being teased, or I guess it'smore, you don't wanna just seem
like, I, I know it sounds bad,but this weirdo that, that likes
kitty things.
And I think that's, you know,unfortunately that's the way
(09:40):
that, some high schoolexperiences go.
So instead finding other, Thingsto love that your friends also
like.
I know I've always been one toenjoy games and everything, but
I guess the group of friendsthat I had, lot of them weren't
really gamers, so that'ssomething that I kind of just
enjoyed on my own.
(10:00):
I was lucky in that sense of mydad was.
a big gamer himself.
So our first console being, aSeger, growing up with playing
wonderboy and stuff like that.
So we were lucky that wasactually excited to get us a
Nintendo 64, for example, whenthe PlayStation two came out, he
was excited and he even playedthat getting to watch him, him
(10:22):
play games or him getting towatch us play games and
everything.
But I think.
of the friends, their, theirfamilies weren't exactly like
that, so it's something that wekind of just hid because it was
just like, oh, okay, this isn'texactly considered cool amongst,
amongst the girls andeverything.
So I know even just in primaryschool, a lot of the times I
(10:44):
would have.
Male friends and, and hang outwith them because that was the
thing that they were interestedin.
But then as high school comes,it's like, oh, okay, maybe,
maybe I need to find more, more,more female friends.
And it's just like trying toreally just discover fit in,
but.
Sometimes that's such a struggleand like, you know, if I, if I,
(11:04):
if I could go back in the pastand change things, I'd just be
like, you know, stick to who youare.
It doesn't really matter becauseeven then I'm not even friends
with those people now.
and
David Hernandez (11:14):
if you were, they'd be jealous right now.
Of course.
Kelosaurus (11:17):
Yeah.
And not only, you know, still,still friends.
I mean, thanks to my partner aswell with, a lot of those guy
friends.
So it's, it's kind of crazy how,you know, some things end up
turning out, but it is what itis and I think while it's a,
journey of, discovering what itreally.
Means to be yourself.
And I think coming into theonline space like Twitch has
(11:37):
actually really helped me,discover, you know, who I really
am and that there's just shamein, in hiding that.
And just to be proud and to, tolove what you love because
everybody's got differentinterests and there's absolutely
nothing wrong with that.
David Hernandez (11:51):
you and your dad would play games, you know,
specifically y'all started withSega.
Kelosaurus (11:54):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (11:54):
what was his thoughts about Pokemon when it
came out?
And would y'all even playPokemon together at times?
Kelosaurus (12:00):
we never really played Pokemon together.
I mean, he was, always fine withit and everything.
I know.
we got this really cool printer.
Well, I thought it was reallycool, but it, printed on
t-shirts.
So you get like this specializedpaper.
David Hernandez (12:14):
Yo.
That's cool.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (12:16):
would, he, I remember there was a shirt that
he made for me.
My sister ended up getting aBritney Spears shirt printed and
I had a Pokemon shirt printedfor me.
So, you know, yeah, he wasalways, really supportive of
that.
I'm pretty sure he probablyenjoyed it.
I never really asked to behonest, but
David Hernandez (12:32):
Now, you know, you talked about how you know
you grew up playing Pokemon.
What was your first experience?
What got you started with thefranchise?
Kelosaurus (12:40):
Funny story actually, we ended up getting,
our first Game boy when we gotour first computer.
So our local computer shop had adeal at that time where if you
pay an extra dollar, you wouldget a game boy color.
So it was the Pikachu one, theyellow one with the, the blue
background.
so we paid the extra dollar.
We ended up getting, a dollarGame, boy, I was gonna say free,
(13:01):
but it's not free, but a DollarGame Boy, which was actually
pretty exciting.
So
David Hernandez (13:05):
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (13:06):
that's your, pretty much your first handheld
console.
but.
I had siblings, so I did have toshare.
So while I did have some timeplaying it and everything like
that, when my sister moved out,she's the one that ended up
taking it and she said shedoesn't know what she did with
it.
So that's a bit disappointing,but it is what it is.
But I remember, I rememberhaving that and we'd usually.
(13:30):
Argue over whose turn it is.
So I think it, we, we did therule of, okay, if you die in
this game or, or you lose, thenyou have to pass it over to the
next person.
And kind of sharing it that way.
But most of the time, I guess Ijust, I was a lot younger, so I
didn't really have the skills,so I wouldn't have as much game
time as she would
David Hernandez (13:49):
Sounds like there's a little of a
manipulation trick, like we knowshe's gonna die.
Lot.
So let's just make that rule andshe won't know any better.
Kelosaurus (13:56):
yeah, pretty much.
So a lot of the time I wouldjust be the person that would be
sitting there watching, theother person play games and
yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm okay withthat, but I got forced, forced
into that role.
David Hernandez (14:08):
It reminds me of, I can't remember where I got
this from.
I think it was probably a sceneor something to where there's
two brothers and the mom'ssaying like, you gotta play
games for your brother.
So he has his brother hold thecontroller, but it's not plugged
in and the brother thinks he'splaying and it's really just
him.
That's kind of what it remindedme of a little bit.
Kelosaurus (14:24):
I feel like that's where true frustration begins
because you're trying to goleft, but then the character's
going right and it's like,what's going on?
David Hernandez (14:30):
Well, let me ask you like, what was your
first Pokemon game?
Kelosaurus (14:33):
it would've been Pokemon One Yellow.
So we ended up
David Hernandez (14:35):
Ooh, you did Pikachu and the Yell.
I love it.
Kelosaurus (14:37):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So as I said once again, like interms of memories and, and
really remembering it, I don'treally remember playing the game
a lot, more being on thewatching side.
So that
David Hernandez (14:48):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (14:48):
the first game I remember as well.
Heart Gold, soul Silver cameout, they had a little giveaway
prize thing where You could wina cover, for your game boy.
So we ended up, getting somechips and, and winning and
having that sent in the mail andreceiving like this, cover that
had luie on it.
I'm just like, yo, this isreally cool.
(15:09):
I don't actually think we endedup using it for our Game Boy.
I ended up using it for, otherthings because it was just like
this little pocket handbag thingand I'm like, this is, this is
really cute.
So after that, I didn't end upplaying gen three or Gen four.
the Game Boy was the last.
Handheld that we ended upgetting.
but then after that, it wasn'tuntil I was in college actually
(15:32):
when, Pokemon Black and Whitecame out.
So thankfully, my partner, thatI'm with, he's very much very
big into games as well.
So I think he's helped me a lotin terms of that journey and.
having the DS back then, it wasa, one of the cyan blue ones I
remember.
I ended up getting Pokemon blackand white.
So getting back into thefranchise through that, and then
(15:54):
pretty much playing everygeneration till I didn't end up
playing Sword and Shield.
Please don't hate me, everybody.
I never ended up playing Swordand Shield, but, every, every,
every other single one since,since black and white.
David Hernandez (16:06):
I mean, that's not bad.
I mean, you still engaged withPokemon.
You still loved it just becauseyou missed one game.
I mean, I didn't play SwordShield until I think almost
Scarlet Bobby came out.
So I'm really late.
Kelosaurus (16:15):
I have it there.
My partner ended up buying itfor me, and it's there.
It's just, I haven't really hadthe chance to play it.
So it's definitely on the listof games to play.
It's just, well, you end up justplaying all your, your other
games first, so, and then it's anew game comes out, oh, okay, I
have to play this.
But instead of playing that one,it's a never ending cycle
really.
David Hernandez (16:35):
It is, and that's just how Pokemon gets us.
We just keep going over and overand over and it's just like,
yeah, I cannot stop playing.
I always tell myself I'm gonnafinish gen three and I still
have not finished Gen three.
Kelosaurus (16:43):
Oh, yeah, finding the time, especially as adults.
Ah, the struggle.
David Hernandez (16:48):
I know, right?
It's so much easier.
Just when we were now, itactually wasn't so much easier
when we were kids.
I wish I had the money.
Well, I don't even have themoney right now.
I wish I had like some kind ofperfect world where I had the
money and then the time of whenI was young.
So somewhere in there is somekind of imagination where I'm
like, right there.
Kelosaurus (17:01):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (17:01):
I,
Kelosaurus (17:01):
the time.
But the thing is that it's thetime you might have the, the,
the money.
It's the time that you just,that's the one that's hard to
get.
David Hernandez (17:09):
so what's your favorite Pokemon?
Kelosaurus (17:10):
So my favorite Sylveon, Sylveon, I guess
playing X and Y.
it's a fairy type.
absolutely adore all the fairytypes now.
But I think it's the friendshipside of things, so being able to
evolve your Eevee throughfriendship.
also the aesthetic of Sylveon onis really cute, but I remember
(17:33):
feeding pokey puffs to it andeverything like that.
trying to give its friendshiplevel up, playing games and
everything.
So I think, I think overall it,it's the aesthetic, but it's
also just that connection that.
Sylveon brings as well,
David Hernandez (17:48):
You can also go wrong with the shiny too.
It's got that cotton blue, shinyas well.
It's, yeah,
Kelosaurus (17:53):
Top
David Hernandez (17:53):
top tier, easy, easy.
Kelosaurus (17:56):
aren't that great.
Sylveon's definitely one of thebetter Shinies.
David Hernandez (17:59):
actually, is there even a bad shiny
Eevee-lution?
I think they're all pretty goodfor the most part.
Kelosaurus (18:05):
To be fair, I'm not really a
David Hernandez (18:06):
Oh,
Kelosaurus (18:07):
of the green from
David Hernandez (18:08):
ion,
Kelosaurus (18:09):
Yeah, no Espon like,
David Hernandez (18:11):
oh
Kelosaurus (18:12):
I know some would say,
David Hernandez (18:13):
yeah.
Kelosaurus (18:13):
okay, but I don't know, the green is just too
bright for me.
And even then I think, you know,say flay on, it's more like the
dulled, the dulled colors.
Like I like having the, theinverse.
So I think that's why Sylveonand Umbrian are probably the two
best shinies.
Also
David Hernandez (18:32):
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (18:32):
blue, like blue shies are great.
David Hernandez (18:35):
And that's what I always imagined ion being, I
think.
'cause I agree.
I don't care for the shiny greenreally.
I really wish it was more, it'sjust too.
I don't know either.
I'm either burnt out a greenshinies or I just don't care for
the purple, the greenstransition.
Kelosaurus (18:46):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (18:47):
I just don't care for it as much.
It doesn't make it, it seemslike it's a different Pokemon
almost.
Kelosaurus (18:51):
Yeah, and even then the potential was lost with
leafy on.
They should have
David Hernandez (18:55):
Oh my gosh.
Kelosaurus (18:57):
so it's
David Hernandez (18:57):
I,
Kelosaurus (18:58):
the green and then turns to, to autumn or fall, I
guess you would call it.
Over there
David Hernandez (19:03):
oh, look.
Look what they did to my boy.
Ion had so much potential, butno, they have to make it green.
There's a different shade ofgreen.
Kelosaurus (19:09):
It isn't even
David Hernandez (19:10):
Oh,
Kelosaurus (19:10):
green,
David Hernandez (19:12):
You mentioned how, you found, more acceptance
of your gamer side thanks to theTwitch community.
Let's talk about that side realquick.
So what made you wanna startstreaming on Twitch?
And I guess how did that kind ofprogress to you becoming more
accepting of the gamer side thatyou kind of rejected for a
while?
Kelosaurus (19:27):
I think like a lot of people, it was during the
pandemic, so.
Trying to just find connectionwith others really.
I didn't really have many IRLfriends, but, I actually had no
idea that something like thatexisted.
I'm very much, I.
I think you could probably say Iwas a hermit crab before, Twitch
(19:49):
and everything, so I wasn'treally versed in terms of the
online world.
So, I started playing animalcrossing and I wanted to find,
the different colored items andeverything to complete the
collection because you only endup getting a.
A set color depending on whatisland you have.
So my partner's actually the onethat said, oh, hey, check,
(20:10):
Twitch out.
So my first online community wasactually animal crossing.
and then from there, you justend up meeting other people and
everything.
So Pokemon was actually not myfirst game, funnily enough.
I am somebody that actually alsoreally enjoys horror, horror
games.
David Hernandez (20:27):
You like to be a little scared of here and
there.
I get you.
Kelosaurus (20:29):
I love the adrenaline, the jump scares.
I love that.
so.
I ended up finding a group offriends who, who also of enjoyed
that.
Like we were never really goodat the games, but I think it was
more for the thrill of it.
So there was one day where we,we just liked, you know, making
clips and, and everything from,from our gameplay.
(20:50):
but one of my friends who wasstreaming at the time wasn't
able to stream that day.
So she's like, oh, hey, whydon't you just stream it in that
way?
It's just there as kind of arecord.
so not really.
Expecting anything from actuallygetting into the streaming side.
It was more just, oh hey, it'sjust so we can have a video so
then we can go back and watch itand laugh.
(21:10):
And actually having people comeinto the chat and I'm like,
wait, I've never experiencedthis before.
This is actually kind of fun.
And it kind of just progressedfrom there.
So finding other games that Iactually wanted to play with
people, and everything likethat.
And then starting to develop mykick.
So it's kind of a weird story inthat sense of, I have so many
(21:34):
different loves in terms of justgames and everything.
you know, horror is so differentfrom, from animal crossing and,
and Pokemon, but I love it all,but I think it's finding that,
other people that also enjoythat as well.
and just being able to just yaplike you've just given me, you
know, it's my, for me to, tojust yap like, hey, I made
(21:56):
everybody just like sharing,sharing stories and also
listening to, to other people'sstories and finding that
connection.
So that's I mean, it all beganreally.
David Hernandez (22:53):
One thing I wanna touch on, so, you know,
you started your twitch journey.
You were streaming on Twitchjust for fun, animal crossing.
How did Pokemon Unite kind oftie into it?
When did you start playing thatgame?
Kelosaurus (23:02):
Oh, day one.
Um,
David Hernandez (23:03):
one.
Okay.
So you were really into it rightaway.
Kelosaurus (23:06):
yeah, once again,
David Hernandez (23:06):
I.
Kelosaurus (23:07):
like, Hey, there's this new Pokemon game coming
out.
I think you should check it out.
So, ended up.
Downloading it when it, when itwas first released.
And we both played it togetherand everything.
And after that he stoppedplaying.
But I ended up getting hookedand, started streaming that.
And I think it was pretty muchwhile I had been streaming here
and there in terms of likehorror games and, and animal
(23:27):
crossing and stuff, I PokemonUnite, just, hit different, just
finding a lot of successstreaming that game kind of
helped me stick it a lot.
also I just enjoyed playing itlike I was actually hooked.
do not ask me how many hours ofbreak of on night I have please.
David Hernandez (23:46):
It's okay.
It's the same.
Kelosaurus (23:47):
many,
David Hernandez (23:48):
It's the same question with Pokemon Go.
We don't look at our receipts,so I'm not gonna ask you to look
at yours.
Kelosaurus (23:52):
No.
I think it was, yeah, prettymuch just playing it from day
one, finding success and, andjust being absolutely addicted
with the gameplay.
I mean, 10 minute games, hey,and it, that's the thing, I
never played a mobile before ormobile style game before.
So
David Hernandez (24:10):
Really.
Okay.
Kelosaurus (24:12):
and it's like, I think it's also just, you know,
you actually get to control yourPokemon, Which was really
exciting thing from it.
Yes.
Like there are other gameswhere, where you can do that,
but, no, I, I had never actuallyplayed Mystery Dungeon and I
guess Scarlet and Violet endedup coming out afterwards.
But even then the, theSynchronization's a bit, a lot
different to what Pokemon Unitewas.
(24:33):
you can't actually use yourattacks and whatnot.
But there was just somethingabout it that.
Just captivated me and prettymuch just being hooked ever
since day one release.
David Hernandez (24:44):
So you gonna forgive my ignorance, I've not
played Pokemon Unite much, butwhat Pokemon do you like to use
whenever you go into the game?
Kelosaurus (24:49):
Oh, see, for me, I pretty much play anything and
everything.
I'm somebody that really likesto learn.
And master a lot of the Pokemon.
There are definitely somePokemon there that I am unable
to master.
For example, Zorark, Zorark isjust beyond my skills, so I
definitely admire anybody thatplays Zorark whenever I see it
(25:11):
in competitive or absolutely getannihilated by a Zorark myself
pulling off those combos.
I just, I cannot.
it out.
So in terms of my favoritePokemon.
I would say my main role interms of when you look at the
results supporters.
(25:32):
Supporters are usually the onesthat have the most playtime on
them.
Bliss is my only gold badge thatI currently have on Pokemon
Unite.
Otherwise, I have a lot of ofblue badges.
So El Goss, Reon, which Isuppose is a defender, but still
that supportive type of role.
Sylveon.
While it's very different tothat role, that's my second most
(25:53):
played Pokemon.
So that's currently on bluebadge.
Need to work on getting goldbadge for, for Sylvie on there,
but it's just not really meta atthe moment.
So it kind of struggles a fairbit.
David Hernandez (26:04):
What would it take for Sylveon to be back at
the meta, I guess?
Kelosaurus (26:07):
Give it buffs of some sort.
Just
David Hernandez (26:09):
it some attention.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (26:11):
It's kind of that middle, that middle ground
really.
So, but I don't know, I, I ambiased.
I think it needs a little bit ofsomething, especially'cause
we're not just not seeing it inthe competitive scene being
selected much.
David Hernandez (26:25):
when it comes to just the competitive side of
Pokemon Unite, Do you get achance to participate at all
with your schedule at all, or doyou kind of have to just observe
and do casting.
Kelosaurus (26:33):
for me, I, well, no, I don't, I don't participate in
the UCS,
David Hernandez (26:38):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (26:39):
but for fun events, I'm totally down.
Like there's a few that I've.
in and entered in.
So, while it's more on the, thecasting side.
I do enjoy actually playingcompetitively and everything
like that, before casting that,that was where I began.
I started as a, as a competitoron a team.
(27:00):
So I think going back to, tothose roots, but then realizing
that is pretty stressful.
I wouldn't be able to do that onthe daily, really have to admire
them, the amount ofdetermination and everything,
and it's just The mentalstrength to have when things
don't exactly go their way.
but even then, it's just like,there's so many skills that come
(27:21):
into it.
I think, I think one of theimportant skills is
communication with, withteammates and actually, you
know, kind of not.
frustrated or, you know, gettingfrustrated at them.
I think it's something that endsup, breaking a lot of, a lot of
teams up is that thatcommunication of how do you
actually communicate effectivelyof, well, letting your teammate
(27:42):
know, hey, that wasn't exactly agreat play there, but also being
able to bounce back from thatand not kind of make.
other feel horrible.
Really.
I know I really struggled atthat department of, oh, I know
I've messed up here andeverything.
And it's just that, that whole,you know, blame and it's just
like, ah, I just feel, don'tfeel good enough.
(28:04):
So,
David Hernandez (28:04):
See, I would struggle with the other.
I would just blame everybodyelse besides me.
So.
Kelosaurus (28:08):
fair enough.
Fair enough.
No, I won't blame anybody elsebut myself, so, oh gosh.
I, I've taken, taken that onboth, both of those weights.
That's, that's less reallyheavy, you know?
David Hernandez (28:21):
That would be, uh, you would not laugh.
That's why I stay away from it.
'cause I know my, I know mycompetitive side.
I know who I am when I getreally into things I need, I
don't need that kind of, dramain my life anymore.
I'm too, too, too past my primeat that point.
Kelosaurus (28:35):
So I think, the casting side is definitely a lot
more relaxed in that department.
still being able to enjoy thegame from afar, but then not
having to go through.
waves, um, that, thatcompetitors have to go through.
But for fun, like, hey, I mean,even then for fun, sometimes it
can get really, really sweaty.
Like I was doing some fivestacks with some friends and you
(28:58):
know, there were some momentswhere it was just like, Hey, you
are inching here.
You've gotta back up.
And they end up getting knockedout and it's like, what are you
doing?
But after that you just, youjust laugh and, and you carry on
kind of thing because it's not.
It's not the World Cup, it's notthe end of the world.
Don't worry about it.
But
David Hernandez (29:14):
It is the end of the world in that moment, but
then later on you realize.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I wanted to ask, because youknow, you talked about how
originally you were a teacher,now you're, I guess you're a
full-time con creator now as acaster, was it difficult to make
that transition or were you kindof worried making that jump
because it's kind of a,different line of work?
Kelosaurus (29:31):
I guess in terms of that, I started off, when I
first came out of uni, I startedoff as a casual teacher, so more
on the relaxed, my own scheduletype of basis, accepting work
whenever I wanted to, but
David Hernandez (29:45):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (29:46):
came with its own struggles in terms of, not
actually getting the work.
I was lucky enough that after,COVID had, settled down a bit,
One of the roles that I ended upgetting asked to at a school
that I used to teach at, a fairbit was a support covid support
teacher.
Pretty much so, because a lot ofthe kids, working from home and
(30:07):
everything, it's, there were alot of gaps in their knowledge.
So pretty much my.
Job was to go in and identifythese gaps and fill in those
gaps and that way they could, Icould help them catch up.
So that ended up, I ended uppicking that up as a full-time
gig and during that time was,let's just say, not a very great
time mentally for me.
(30:28):
So while I was grateful toobviously have a full-time job,
have that stability andeverything like that, in terms
of work life balance, I.
just wasn't there.
so I think that was one of thebiggest struggles that I had is,
okay, I go to work.
you do your work, you come home,you do more work.
(30:48):
And I found myself not beingable to enjoy games or not
really having the time to, toplay games or anything like that
because I was just so focused onjob.
And after that year was done, Iended up going back to casual
work.
So back to that.
Flexibility and I preferred thata lot more, but I think it was
more, I guess personal thingsjust made me lose my love and my
(31:11):
passion for it.
teaching is a really hard gig,for sure, especially as a casual
teacher.
So I think just taking a stepback from that and then delving
more into something that bringsme.
More joy, more happiness, and alittle bit more balance to my
life, which was the casting andthe content creation stuff.
So I think, while that wassomething that I've done in my
(31:32):
past and I explored it, I thinkit's also okay to just that we
don't have to be locked into onesingular path moving forward.
David Hernandez (31:42):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (31:43):
you know, I mean, that's the thing you end up
seeing.
Like people of all ages go touni and, and change career paths
and everything like that.
So I think it was more, youknow, to not beat myself up, of
forcing myself into a, a jobthat I was no longer feeling it
anymore.
and it was, it was, Good that Iended up finding, finding the
(32:05):
success that I have in terms ofcontent creation and casting.
But even then, it's a struggletrying to figure out how to take
that a step further really.
David Hernandez (32:14):
it just sounds like you kind of lost your way a
little bit.
'cause you know, as you said,when you go to uni or college,
however you wanna call it, youget kind of.
Focused in like the, the majoryou chose is what you're gonna
be doing for the rest of yourlife.
And I think a lot of people,especially maybe our age,
struggle with that idea becauseyou know, like you said, life
has different paths and there'sa lot more variety than there
(32:36):
was say, our generation before.
And just from sounds like you,it sounds like you found more of
a puzzle piece connection beingboth a caster and a content
creator and the work-lifebalance, it allowed you kind of
maybe.
Touch a side of you that maybewould've been ignored had you
stuck with the teaching side.
Kelosaurus (32:52):
Yeah, I think a lot of the skills that I developed
as a teacher helped me in doingwith doing this as well.
so funnily enough, even thenbefore, before I started casting
and, and content creation, I'vealways been more on the shyer
(33:12):
side of, of things a a littlebit more reserved.
you know, confidence.
Confidence is, is, um.
Do you call it a resource that'ssometimes hard to come by within
yourself?
Um, so it's like, you know, as ateacher, well really you need a
lot of confidence, so it's morefake it until you make it.
David Hernandez (33:31):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (33:32):
is kind of what I've done with this, but I think it's
actually.
Recognizing, Hey, you're notfaking it, girl.
Like it's actually there.
You just, gotta trust and, andbelieve in yourself kind of
thing.
So
David Hernandez (33:44):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (33:45):
of being in front of a bunch of people, while yes
kids are kids and, and you know,adults are adults.
I mean, hey, at poker modeevents, there's a lot of kids
there too, you know?
But I think it's also.
One of the biggest things isyes, being able to talk in front
of people and, and gaining thatconfidence.
But I think it's also one of thebiggest things as a teacher is
(34:06):
building those connections.
And I think as a content creatorand as a caster, that's another
skill in itself of, You need tobuild those connections in order
to actually be entertaining and,and for people to, you know,
actually be engaged with, withwhat you're doing.
So a lot of, a lot of thoseskills have definitely carried
over from that.
(34:27):
So I don't see it as a completewaste of time, me doing that,
teaching and, and all thatprevious stuff because.
You know, I'm, I'm stillcarrying on with that stuff and
still building and, and learningon it.
David Hernandez (34:40):
what is it like whenever people come up to you
and they actually recognize whoyou are?
What goes through your mind
Kelosaurus (34:46):
and I get a little bit giddy little gi It's like my
mind, you know me?
No
David Hernandez (34:51):
a little bit.
Kelosaurus (34:52):
Just a little bit.
I dunno.
It's, once again, it's just oneof those surreal things like,
wait, this is actuallyhappening.
Hello?
David Hernandez (35:01):
Like, you actually know who I am.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (35:03):
what I, I'm just some, you know, don't know.
Some weirder it puts, itdefinitely puts
David Hernandez (35:11):
Now then you aren't a weirdo.
Come on.
Kelosaurus (35:13):
no, I'm not.
But it definitely puts a smileon your face.
It
David Hernandez (35:16):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (35:17):
smile on your face.
I mean, even thinking about it,I have a smile on my face.
David Hernandez (35:20):
Right.
I can't blame you.
Yeah,
Kelosaurus (35:23):
I don't know.
It's kind of that, it gives youthat boost really, you know,
just that internal, internalboost of, oh, that's really
cool.
I, I don't, I don't really knowhow to, how to explain, explain
that feeling.
David Hernandez (35:37):
I mean, it sounds like you know, you're
getting validated for your workand then also all.
You know, the hours spent behindto going from a teacher to
becoming a caster and being acontent creator.
It's kind of cool to just seepeople actually know who you are
and I don't know, kinda look upto you.
It see, you know, it's, you'realmost sort of like a role model
in the Pokemon community in away.
I.
Kelosaurus (35:57):
Yeah, which is weird.
Like I just find that so weird.
'cause I don't see myself asthat.
I just see myself as somebodythat's, I don't know, just here.
I, I wouldn't I'm anythingdifferent, so it's just like,
yeah, I might, I might getrecognized, but it's also.
I have my idols in the space aswell.
So it's, you know, when I seesomebody that I've followed or,
(36:20):
or something and it's like,whoa, it's that person and that
that, you know,
David Hernandez (36:24):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (36:25):
girl comes out and it's like, wow, you know, I
follow them and like enjoy theircontent.
So it's just like, I guess it'sthe both ways really.
It's.
being in that person's shoes of,oh, hey, you know, this is
Keller.
You know, I've watched andenjoyed their stuff, but then
also being in their shoes and,and seeing somebody else that,
(36:45):
you know, I've idolized and,just enjoyed watching.
So I think it just, it, it goes,it goes both ways.
So,
David Hernandez (36:54):
So we started about your experience with
Japan, but you also got a chanceto go to Hawaii.
How was it different going toHawaii compared to Japan, and
did you get a chance to doanything differently?
Kelosaurus (37:05):
Ooh.
I mean, besides differentcountry for sure.
David Hernandez (37:09):
Of course, yeah.
Kelosaurus (37:10):
Um,
David Hernandez (37:11):
It's just an ocean in a away, I mean.
Kelosaurus (37:13):
I'm not gonna lie, Hawaii was a bit of a blur
David Hernandez (37:17):
Oh, okay.
Kelosaurus (37:19):
Yeah.
I guess during that time therewas just a lot of, lot of things
happening, say behind thescenes.
David Hernandez (37:28):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (37:28):
I think, Hawaii, while, I'll go back and I watch
it and I'm like, wait, I didthat, like.
I don't, I don't actually reallyremember, remember a lot of it.
a lot of the time it was morejust going through the motions.
I think so, it's more just a bitof a blur and, and, you know, I,
(37:49):
I know that I still enjoyed itgoing back through, videos or,
or photos and everything.
But in terms of doing thingsdifferently.
I don't know.
Hawaii hasn't really, wasn'treally in terms of like personal
side wasn't really somewherethat, wasn't on my bucket list
kind of thing.
So I think there wasn't reallythat, that connection of, oh,
yay, I'm in Hawaii, kind ofthing.
(38:09):
Like it's
David Hernandez (38:10):
Mm-hmm.
Kelosaurus (38:11):
place.
Absolutely stunning.
but in terms of actually beingat the venue, it felt a lot more
overwhelming, It felt like therewas a lot more people in Hawaii
than there were Japan, I don'tknow.
It could have also just beenvenue wise, but yeah, it seemed
a lot more crowded and a lotmore overwhelming, so I think it
(38:34):
was more just.
Remembering how to breathe, kindof going through those crowds
and not kind of being, I, I, Iwould, I would say I was
probably a little bit moreoverstimulated in Hawaii
actually.
David Hernandez (38:47):
I was gonna say, Hawaii just needs to step,
its game up because youliterally cannot match Japan.
So that's it.
Just Hawaii just was nothingcompared to Japan.
That's really all it was downto.
Kelosaurus (38:56):
no, I mean, it, it was, it don't, don't get me
wrong, like, as I said, it wasstill a really special
experience and all that stuff,
David Hernandez (39:02):
yeah.
Kelosaurus (39:03):
it was more just, because I was just feeling a
little bit more overwhelmed andoverstimulated, even though I
had already done it before.
I think it was just a little,different in that, in that
regard.
So, it's Japan,
David Hernandez (39:15):
it's Japan.
That's what I'm saying.
Japan, the home of Pokemon.
Yeah.
Kelosaurus (39:18):
Herman Pokemon.
So I mean, even going out intothe streets and seeing Pokemon,
I mean, you didn't really havethat in Hawaii.
It kind of felt like twodifferent worlds.
You'd have the conventioncenter, which was all decked out
and.
As soon as you step out of that,it's just like Pokemon Worlds is
here.
Wouldn't even know, literallywouldn't even know.
But in Japan, as soon as you getinto the airport, they had signs
(39:40):
and everything like that.
I remember, yeah, just walkingdown that hallway and seeing
Pokemon Worlds and everything,up on their little television
signs and it's like, oh my gosh,we are here for Pokemon.
But they had none of that atHawaii.
They didn't have any decorationsor anything like that.
So it was more just thisenclosed.
Space that yeah.
(40:00):
Okay.
We are here for Pokemon Worldswhen you are there, but outside
of it, it's just you're inHawaii, so.
David Hernandez (40:09):
Well, Kelosaurus, I wanna finish on
this last question, and it's afun one.
I want you to give me your dreamPokemon team?
Kelosaurus (40:16):
you've really put me on the spot here.
I'm just gonna say all myfavorite Pokemon.
I feel like that's probably theeasiest here.
David Hernandez (40:22):
There we go.
That's it.
Kelosaurus (40:23):
on, Sylveon on is definitely there.
I'd say that would be mypartner.
Pokemon, Totodile would also bethere.
Azumarill a, another one of my,my loves.
Amaura.
I like Amaura.
I, I do love auroras, but, Iguess being the, the blue
dinosaur.
Is also on there.
And one of my faves, Piplupbecause Piplup are cutie.
(40:44):
And I'm going to say the lastone is always the tricky one
because there's always so manythat that's the flexible one.
So today, I'm feeling.
Gonna tie it off with Lapras,because Lapras is
David Hernandez (41:00):
Oh,
Kelosaurus (41:00):
just one of those original loves.
David Hernandez (41:02):
I, I can do a.
Kelosaurus (41:03):
way to travel around.
David Hernandez (41:06):
Are you the original or GM Max
Kelosaurus (41:08):
original.
Original,
David Hernandez (41:09):
Original.
Kelosaurus (41:09):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (41:11):
Harriss.
Thank you for coming.
As the pickle ball turns, beforeyou go, people want to connect
with you.
If they wanna check out yourstreams or if they wanna watch
your content, where can they go?
By all means, please plug away.
Kelosaurus (41:20):
So over on Twitch, you can find me under
Callisaurus.
However, on all other socials itshould be under Callisaurus,
TTV.
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