August 9, 2023 • 30 mins
The streets of New York City have become a playground for SquidDaBeast, where Pokémon GO has helped him build lasting connections. From exploring iconic landmarks to hunting down Pokémon, he shares his thrilling adventures and how the game fuels his passion for exploration. Reflecting on his past GO Fest experience in Seattle and the excitement of GO Fest coming to NYC, SquidDaBeast discusses his journey into Twitch streaming and how his “calamari crew” supports his creative growth.
Sources
Opening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay
SquidDaBeast Song: "What's Up Danger" by Blackway & Black Caviar
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https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRt
Your next Pokemon adventure begins here!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
David Hernandez (00:00):
My name is David Hernandez, and you're
(00:01):
listening to As the PokeballTurns.
(00:44):
Welcome to As the PokeballTurns, where the stories are
real and people still play thisgame.
GO Fest is an annual celebrationfor Pokemon GO.
For 2023, GO Fest arrives inLondon, Osaka, and where my
guest in this episode is from,New York City.
New York City is arguably one ofthe most iconic cities within
America, if not the entireworld.
(01:06):
In fact, in one of the firstdebuted trailers for Pokemon Go,
a scene where thousands ofPokemon trainers running to
Battle Mewtwo took place inTimes Square.
Now with GO Fest finally comingto the Big Apple, we've come
full circle with Mewtwo beingreplaced by the anticipated Mega
Rayquaza in Pokemon GO, ashundreds, if not thousands, of
Pokemon trainers will bevisiting New York City for GO
(01:27):
Fest 2023.
In this episode, my guest shareshis personal experience playing
Pokemon GO in New York City, andoffers a few tips for people
planning to visit for GO Fest.
From New York, here is hisorigin story into the world of
Pokemon GO.
This is SquidDaBeast! today, I'mjoined by Squid the Beast.
(02:06):
Squid, welcome to the show.
SquidDaBeast (02:08):
Thank you for having me.
What's good, everybody?
David Hernandez (02:10):
Definitely, man.
And before we do dive intoanything, I wanted to give you a
big congratulations on gettingto 1, 000 Twitch followers.
I know that's not easy.
I know that was a bit of a grindand a long journey.
It must have felt incredibledoing it.
SquidDaBeast (02:23):
Yes, sir.
It definitely did.
Thank you for the congrats.
And it was definitely a bigmilestone I wanted to hit
halfway through the year.
So I'm glad I was able to hit itright before the year was
halfway over.
David Hernandez (02:33):
You know, what's interesting though, is
that you actually hated yourname initially, right?
SquidDaBeast (02:36):
Yes, I did.
I couldn't stand my name, but Iwent with it and I figured, all
right, how can I make this intoan advantage and that is how I
came up with the nameSquidDaBeast.
David Hernandez (02:45):
What was it about it that you didn't like
initially cause originally itcame in, early schooling, right?
SquidDaBeast (02:50):
Yes, sophomore year of high school.
And it was just.
Everybody called me Squidward,and I didn't watch Spongebob
back then, and I still don't.
I just didn't like it, and Ithought it was kinda, eh,
because I think the characteris...
He's alright, but he's just moreof a, character that's just...
I hate everything, and I hateeverybody, and I'm like, I'm not
like that, I'm just a quietperson.
And then they just startedcalling me Squid afterwards, And
then I was like, alright, if I'mstuck with this name for the
(03:11):
rest of my life, cause I stillknow my high school friends to
this day, it's been 13 years andwe've known each other this
long.
So I was like, all right, howcan I benefit?
And then one day at a party,they saw I was dating a twin and
they're like, yo, squid, you abeast now.
And I'm like, hold up, that namesounds kind of dope.
I'm gonna roll with that." Andthere we go.
David Hernandez (03:27):
Well, I'll say that you've come a long way for
somebody who initially hated hisname.
It's a very incredible journey,and I'm sure you sometimes like
to exquidently use a punsometimes too, right?
SquidDaBeast (03:38):
Oh yes, definitely.
I love puns.
David Hernandez (03:41):
Do you have a good one right now?
SquidDaBeast (03:41):
Actually, I do.
I write them down.
I have a whole section in myDiscord just for dad jokes.
And I keep things there just incase anybody's like, Hey, you
got a joke for me?
I'm like, yeah, I got you.
why can't sailors play cards?
David Hernandez (03:55):
Why?
SquidDaBeast (03:56):
Cause they were standing on a deck.
David Hernandez (03:58):
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Well anyway, so, what was yourearly experience with pokemon?
SquidDaBeast (04:02):
my early experience was way back when the
game first came out.
I remember I was going to buyit, because I saw it on
commercial on TV back then, andI'm like, yo, this looks kinda
dope.
I went to buy blue version, butthey were sold out in my area.
I was like, all right, let me goyellow because yellow looks
okay.
It's a little cute mouse on it.
Now I got teased on playingPokemon, but my area was like
(04:24):
limited to kids.
So it wasn't much.
So when I went in to buy blueversion and it was sold out, I
was like, wait, it's sold out.
There's not many people, kidsaround here.
Am I getting bullied by the samepeople that's playing this game
in secrecy?
I thought that was strange, butme and my old next door
neighbor, was my best friend,R.I.P.
his birthday just passed a weekago actually.
(04:44):
but we used to just play.
I'll go to his house, come overand play, he would come into my
house and go over and play andjust spend all night playing
Pokemon, talking about Pokemonand stuff.
So it's very, very, very goodmemories.
David Hernandez (04:54):
My condolences.
Was it recent or is it somethingthat's been a while?
SquidDaBeast (04:58):
it is been about two years now, but Oh, okay.
It still hurts, you know.
David Hernandez (05:01):
Oh, I hear you, man.
how would you two guys, playPokemon?
would y'all just like battleeach other trade, or,
SquidDaBeast (05:07):
we did battle each other.
We traded.
I had yellow and blue, he hadred, and then we just like,
okay, I want to trade this, andsee what happens, and if you
need a mon, you can borrow it,and I actually gave him one of
my favorite mons, my Alakazam.
well, Kadabra at the time.
He gave me his Haunter.
We didn't know it evolvedthrough trading back then, so we
traded it, and we're like, yo,it changed, we're like, wait,
(05:28):
what, yours too, and then we'relike, Okay, let's trade it back
and we'll see what the heck thisis about and then it's like oh,
it's an evolution So we justkept trading mines to see what
would evolve and what didn't.
Machoke was one of them I can'tremember another one.
There's one more that evolvesthrough trading I can't remember
who it is at the top of my head.
But yeah, so we just Talk likethat and then battle
David Hernandez (05:49):
that must have been a very fun surprise to find
out how both of y'all's Pokemonjust happened to Be the ones who
evolved by trading and y'allboth get different Pokemon.
That's kind of fun.
SquidDaBeast (05:58):
Yeah, it's just Haunter was one of his favorites
and Kadabra is one of mine, So Iwas like, you know what?
I'll put my game my money yourgame and then Got a party of
each other in each other's gameand then like wait, it's
different All right, let's tradeit back and then we'll do
another mine that we like Soyeah,
David Hernandez (06:13):
so did you stick with Pokemon throughout?
I know you said earlier, you'rebullied a little bit through
schooling because of it.
And, I went through the samething.
Did you stick with Pokemonthroughout or did you kind of
tamper off as well?
SquidDaBeast (06:23):
Oh yeah, definitely.
I stuck throughout.
I played every game.
Every game that came out, I waslike, all right, I got to have
it.
Let me try it.
See if I like it.
Still the same thing.
Cool.
New Pokemon.
Cool.
The anime.
Watched that.
Everything Pokemon, I was stillthrough.
David Hernandez (06:36):
What was your favorite generation?
SquidDaBeast (06:37):
Oh, Gen 5.
Easy.
Still is my favorite generation.
David Hernandez (06:40):
I believe that's black, white, black and
white too, right?
SquidDaBeast (06:43):
Yeah.
I have a sealed copy of blackand white too from a friend in
Australia, he gave me last yearat Go Fest.
David Hernandez (06:48):
Oh, wow.
Really?
SquidDaBeast (06:50):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (06:50):
Those are worth a lot now, because they're very
hard, those games are prettyhard to find now.
SquidDaBeast (06:54):
Exactly, that's why when he's like, yeah, you
can have them, I'm like, heain't gonna give me them, show
up, here you go.
Wait, you actually giving methese?
Yeah.
Do you know how much these areworth?
No?
I told him, he was like, youknow what, screw it, I already
said I'm gonna give it to you,here you go.
David Hernandez (07:08):
That's a good friend.
SquidDaBeast (07:10):
I'm mad, I'm not mad.
Okay, thank you.
David Hernandez (07:13):
Did you like, get some kind of cover to
protect them, or you just keepthem in the plastic?
SquidDaBeast (07:17):
Oh, no, they still in the plastic.
David Hernandez (07:18):
Wow.
Okay.
hold on to those as long aspossible.
You might be able to retire withthose eventually.
SquidDaBeast (07:22):
Yeah, I said that the second he gave me, I'm like,
when I came home and stream thatnight, I was like, I'm never
opening these unless Iabsolutely 100% have no other
choice and I need to.
That's the only reason these areleaving my possession.
David Hernandez (07:36):
What was it about Gen 5 that you enjoyed
compared to all the othergenerations?
What stood out about it?
SquidDaBeast (07:41):
So much.
The Pokémon, the cover.
I was like, okay, black andwhite, white's my favorite
color.
So I was like, okay, I gottaplay white version.
And I saw the black dragon onwhite version.
I'm like, you know what?
Now I gotta get the other onebecause I want the white dragon.
it's the biggest Pokédex in anygame by itself.
Most of the mons that I love arefrom that generation, the story
I love, the characters I love.
I just love everything about thegen.
(08:02):
My favorite Pokemon is from thatgeneration too, even though we
still have the shiny out.
David Hernandez (08:06):
Which one is it?
SquidDaBeast (08:06):
Victini.
David Hernandez (08:07):
Ooh, that's a nice one.
It's one of the few ones thatare shiny locked, like you said.
So how does it feel not to beable to get the shiny version
legally, I guess?
SquidDaBeast (08:15):
It pains me.
I had one from way back when inthe Gen 6 days when everybody
was just wonder trading everyPokemon shiny.
And I'm like, this is illegalbecause we don't have a shiny
Victini, but I have one righthere.
Am I getting rid of it?
Nope.
Not until we get one.
Not until that comes out and Ican hunt it and I get it.
I am not getting rid of thisillegal one.
I know it's illegal, but I don'tcare.
David Hernandez (08:37):
I mean, I can't blame you because there's no
other way to get it outside ofthose illegal means.
Now what's curious though, Is itgonna come out in Pokemon Go
first, or is it gonna come outthrough the main series?
SquidDaBeast (08:46):
I feel like we're gonna get it in Go first, the
Shiny, because every year wehave, Kanto Tour, Hoenn Tour,
Johto Tour.
Sinnoh Tour is next year, andthe year after that is nine
times out of ten, Unova.
I don't care where it is.
I don't care how broke I am.
I'm going to that Unova Tour.
I don't care, because I want myVictini first.
I do not care.
I will go broke to go there andget me my Shiny Victini.
David Hernandez (09:08):
Wow, that's some dedication.
say you were doing a playthroughof either black or white you
take your pick.
What six would you choose?
SquidDaBeast (09:15):
Oh, that's easy.
Oshawott obviously Darmanitan OrChandelure, whichever one I feel
I need for my team.
Rufflet or Braviary.
I need me a grass type So itwould probably be Levanny,
because I love Levanny.
Excadrill and Electross.
David Hernandez (09:31):
So moving forward, so you played through
all the games and you know,eventually Pokemon Go comes out
in 2016.
Did you first start playing dayone or did you play later on?
SquidDaBeast (09:40):
Day one.
I was sitting in my friend'sroom.
I forgot what we were doing, Ithink we were watching Dragon
Ball Super at the time?
We were watching some anime.
And then my friend was like, Yo,Pokemon Go just came out.
I was like, what?
Alright.
Download.
Pick my starter, Squirtle.
Alright, cool.
And we was like, alright, sowhat team are y'all picking?
Mystic, instantly.
Two of my other friends, Mystic.
my cousin, Instinct.
(10:00):
My other friend's I don't know,I might pick Mystic.
My friend that also pickedMystic, who was eating at the
time, he's like, I'll give you aSpiritomb if you go Mystic.
I'm like, Okay.
My cousin was like, wait, what?
I thought he was pickingInstinct.
Nah, man, he offered meSpiritomb.
What do you got to offer?
Nothing.
I'm going Mystic.
David Hernandez (10:19):
What was it about Mystic that made you
instantly want to choose it?
SquidDaBeast (10:22):
Blue's like my second favorite color.
Articuno's my favorite bird.
I was just like, eh, why not?
There was a team harmony forLugia.
I wouldn't went there.
David Hernandez (10:31):
Unfortunately, I always felt like they could
have two more teams, you know,add Team Hoho and Team Lugia.
I think that could...
We could have five teams ofPokemon go.
SquidDaBeast (10:39):
That would shake things up crazy.
David Hernandez (10:41):
Would you switch?
SquidDaBeast (10:42):
Mmm...
Maybe.
Maybe.
I, I, I, I'm on the fence.
I'm like a 60 40.
No, I wouldn't switch.
David Hernandez (10:50):
Okay, but you would think about it though?
SquidDaBeast (10:52):
Yes, I would think about it.
So, not a definite no, but it'sa maybe.
David Hernandez (10:57):
So Pokemon Go comes out, like, where did you
and I guess your friends or yourbrothers, where did you, where
would y'all go to play PokemonGo?
What was it like?
SquidDaBeast (11:05):
It's so funny because, uh, I just got out the
shelter, I was in the shelter,so I couldn't do much, like,
first week, first month, andthen I moved somewhere close to
where I am now, and then myfriend was like nearby, so he's
yo, squid, you wanna skatearound?
Cause he skates, my other friendskates I skates and you're like,
all right, let's just skatearound, catch Pokemon late at
night, take gyms and whatever.
(11:26):
So we just go around Brooklyn,go to a park, get spawns, take
gyms.
We even did that in the cold afew times, except we walk and
then we just use the beef pattywith cheese as a hand warmer
because our hands were cold.
So we just bought beef pattywith cheese, keep it not cold
and then just put our hands onit to make our hands not cold.
The same with a cup of coffee.
David Hernandez (11:44):
So y'all would use coffee and burgers to keep
warm when Pokemon Go was out?
I guess it gets pretty coldthere.
SquidDaBeast (11:50):
Yeah, in the winter time, yeah.
When we would take gyms.
Fortunately, I'm the only onethat still plays of my friend
group.
Well, I'm the hardcore player ofthe friend group.
My other friend, my cousin stillplays somewhat, but I play more
than him.
David Hernandez (12:02):
Did everybody kinda tailor off Pokemon Go or
just left the game?
SquidDaBeast (12:05):
Yeah, they just tailored off.
David Hernandez (12:07):
You said shelter.
Were you like in a homelessshelter?
SquidDaBeast (12:10):
yeah, I've been there.
three times.
The first time I was come homefrom school and I was filling a
parade and some issues happenedwith the landlord.
So we had to go into a shelterand we got out, we got to
another place, which is theplace where I was when Pokemon
Go first came out, then thelandlord left again.
And then we had to go back inthe shelter and then got out
(12:31):
again and then landlord leftagain.
So it's just like, Oh my God,can the landlord just stay in
one place?
But where I am now, I've beenhere for like almost three
years.
So we Gucci and this is myaunt's building.
So
David Hernandez (12:43):
it sounds like you feel more secure compared to
like your past couple of places.
SquidDaBeast (12:47):
Yes.
This one, I know the person thatowns the building.
So I'm like, okay, ain't nothingcrazy happening.
David Hernandez (12:52):
That's good, man.
I know the shelters are no fun.
That's for sure.
So during that initial time ofPokemon go, How would you play
the game?
SquidDaBeast (12:59):
usually on my day off, I would just walk around,
take gems, go to the local park,put an Incense on, sit there for
a little bit, walk around andthen go back home.
And the summertime and thewinter time, I would just be
like, all right, let me just dothe things I can do.
If I'm going somewhere, I'llplay along the way, but if I'm
at home and it's 10 degreesoutside, I'm not going out.
David Hernandez (13:18):
So what's your favorite, thing to do with
Pokemon?
Like, are you a shiny hunter?
Are you a battler?
SquidDaBeast (13:22):
I used to be a battler, but, I fell off of
Scarlet and Violet.
I haven't battled in Scarlet andViolet at all.
Sword and Shield I used to.
I do it from time to time, but Ijust don't have the time to make
mons anymore like I used to, sonow I'm just a shiny hunter.
David Hernandez (13:36):
So before Scarlet and Vi would you like
get into the EVs and the IVs ofPokemon like the team building
like how deep did you?
Would you get into competitivebattling?
SquidDaBeast (13:45):
Yes IVs, EVs, team building.
Although I didn't use legends Idon't like using legendaries in
Wi Fi and VGCs.
That's just me.
I feel like they too much So Ijust alright, what can I use in
substitution for a legendary andI go from there.
David Hernandez (13:58):
what's one Pokemon game that you could
always go back to like what'syour favorite Pokemon game out
of all of them?
SquidDaBeast (14:04):
Tough choice.
I got three choices.
All right, boom, three choices.
Number one, Gale of Darknessbecause the music in that game
is crazy and the story is dope.
Number two, Underrated game.
I need to find this so I canhave this in my collection,
pokemon Conquest.
We need a second one becausePokemon Conquest was a great and
phenomenal game, if you have notplayed it, you can look up a
(14:25):
YouTube playthrough of it.
that game is amazing and if weget an upgraded game of the
current generation now with Gen9, Oh my God, that game would
sell so quick and so easybecause that game was amazing.
David Hernandez (14:39):
Real quick, what was Pokemon Conquest about
for those who may not know?
SquidDaBeast (14:42):
It was a tactical RPG game.
Style like, Fire Emblem.
If you played Fire Emblem, Pathof Radiance, or Path of Dawn, I
believe, it's like a turn basedRPG that has a map, and you have
to move your Pokemon, one space,or attack one space.
And the storytelling was amazingand I think at the time, it just
went up to Generation 5, so...
(15:02):
Can only imagine how crazy thestory would be with Gen 6 mons,
Megas, and Dynamaxes, andPaldean mons, and Forms.
Going to be crazy.
So that's very underrated gameand number one, a story that
always made me cry.
I don't care how old I got.
And I saw that story that I sheda tear.
Pokemon Explorers of Time andDarkness because that story just
(15:26):
hit, it hit different...
David Hernandez (15:28):
hit your feels pretty much?
SquidDaBeast (15:29):
Yes, it did.
I literally cried when Ifinished that game.
I was like, all right, I can't,I can't be sitting here crying,
but yo this story is kindacrazy.
David Hernandez (15:37):
So I know obviously New York is pretty
populated, but what is it liketo play in your area?
Like where do people go to play?
SquidDaBeast (15:43):
Manhattan.
That is the city where TimeSquare and Bryant park is.
Always crowded, always lured up,you can get into a raid
anywhere, no matter what time isleft on it, you'll be able to
get into a raid perfectly fine,which is why I think GoFest,
when Mega Rayquaza come out,that is going to be insane, I
don't even want to think aboutall the Rayquazas that are going
to be on all those Gyms.
(16:04):
Ugh, all those stops that aregoing to be lured up, oh my
goodness, if you're coming toNew York, for GoFest, I
recommend, please bring LuckyEggs, cause there are so many
stops, there's so many raids todo.
You will get so much experiencejust walking around the city.
No matter what time of day,you'll get so much experience
David Hernandez (16:20):
since we're on that topic.
So do you have any tips forPokemon go players going into
New York?
Like what would you suggest theygo play?
What do you suggest they do?
SquidDaBeast (16:28):
All right.
So there are numerous optionsand routes.
I recommend if you like the parkto the person that likes to
sightsee, I would recommendstarting at either West 4th
Street or Central Park and thenwalk your way towards that
direction.
So if you start at West 4th,walk to Central Park because
that is a nice walk.
You'll see Bryant Park, you'llpass by Times Square, you'll
pass by the Nintendo Store, andso many other things.
(16:48):
And Central Park is massive, soyou will find something to do
there no matter what time.
same way if you're going CentralPark to West 4th, except west
fourth is just more of a allright.
I can relax, there's a lot ofseats, There's a lot of stores
to go in a lot of places to eatand stuff.
So clear out your bag spaceYou're going to need it.
Clear out your items or maximizeyour items if you can because
(17:10):
again, you're going to need it.
Make sure you have a cooling fanfor your phone portable charger
and just make sure that Ifyou're playing with a friend
always helps.
If you have somebody that,coming to New York, I recommend
y'all stick together.
New York is not always fine anddandy, but if you have somebody
with you, you're fine.
David Hernandez (17:25):
you must've been pretty excited when you
found out officially that it wasNew York city, right?
SquidDaBeast (17:29):
Oh yeah, it's definitely because, one of my
friends is a sponsor creator andthe night before it got
announced, he kept saying orangeor blue skies.
Cause I'm like.
He knows something.
I feel like they about toannounce GoFest, but I didn't
want to say nothing because Iwas streaming.
I was just sitting here lookingat him every time he said I'm
like, he knows something.
And then the next morning I wasgoing out for a vlog and then it
got announced as I was startingmy vlog.
(17:49):
I was like, I knew it.
And I was hype.
I was literally on the trainlike, yooo! I couldn't say it
because train.
Right.
I was just sitting there likequietly like, yo! That was
crazy.
David Hernandez (18:01):
it feels poetic because I always felt like
eventually we would get New Yorkbecause You think about the
first trailers of Pokemon Go,right?
I believe it was Mewtwo in TimesSquare, right?
SquidDaBeast (18:10):
That was indeed Times Square.
David Hernandez (18:12):
And I always felt like New York was, like,
destined to eventually host aGoFest.
I'm glad it's finally happeningnow.
I kinda was hoping for Seattleinstead.
I thought like maybe Nianticwould save it for a fifth or a
ten year, you know, one of themeven numbers, if so, you will.
SquidDaBeast (18:25):
Yeah, a lot of people thought that, me
included, but I'm like, I'm notcomplaining.
I ain't gotta spend nothing thisyear.
I can come home and go to sleepand go back out.
David Hernandez (18:33):
Oh, you're actually going to go to sleep
with GoFest coming to New YorkCity?
I thought y'all don't sleep overthere.
SquidDaBeast (18:37):
Ha ha ha.
I mean, when everything isclosed and everybody's like, all
right, we got our play datetomorrow, we need energy.
I'm gonna be asleep, but not formuch.
I'm probably be asleep for likethree to four hours each night,
David Hernandez (18:49):
we can just get some cups of coffee or some
energy drinks.
SquidDaBeast (18:51):
Yes.
actually I don't really drinkcoffee like that, but maybe an
energy drink or two or threeMonday I'm gonna pass out.
David Hernandez (18:57):
Have you had a chance to go by where Gophers is
supposed to be at?
SquidDaBeast (19:01):
Yes, I did.
I did do a video on that.
I literally walked from 125thStreet on the bridge to the
Randall's Island.
David Hernandez (19:08):
What'd you see so far?
Can you share any details?
SquidDaBeast (19:10):
it was a 20 minute walk.
there's like a little baby fieldwhen you first get to the island
and then there's a massivebaseball field.
Well, it's like a massivebaseball field and then like
four other small baseballfields, plus the like closed.
convention center that Icouldn't go into, but I think it
said it is a miniature golfcourse in there.
There's snacks and vendors outin there and bathrooms and all
(19:33):
of that.
So I feel like it's going to belike that cafe we had in Seattle
where it was just like a bunchof food stores and the inside
with a couple of bathrooms andthe second floor and a miniature
golf course.
David Hernandez (19:43):
So you mentioned Seattle, so I assume
you went to GoFest Seattle.
Was that your first ever GoFestthat you attended?
SquidDaBeast (19:49):
Yes, it was.
And I very regret not going to2019 GoFest.
David Hernandez (19:53):
What was it like for you to go to Seattle?
SquidDaBeast (19:55):
it was a journey and a half.
It was my first time flyinganywhere by myself for Pokemon
Go.
I was nervous.
Then when I got there, I waslike, all right, I get to meet
people.
I haven't met before and I'mhanging out with people I've met
in Philly Safari Zone.
This is cool.
And then, all right, Seattle,new place.
This is one of the places I'venever thought I would say, Hey,
let me go to Seattle.
(20:16):
But Pokemon Go has made me wantto go to Seattle, so I
appreciate the game for that.
the weather wasn't bad out thereeither.
So it's actually better than NewYork.
It was hot, but it wasn't ashumid as it is in New York.
David Hernandez (20:27):
Let me segue real quick.
So you said you regretted notgoing to 2019.
Why do you regret not going?
SquidDaBeast (20:33):
Cause I feel like I missed out on seeing and
meeting so many people.
That's mainly the thing aboutPokemon Go for me, just meeting
people and going places, and inChicago I've never been, so, me
going to Chicago would have beengreat, and all the people that I
know now, I would have been meta long time ago, in Chicago, for
2019 GoFest.
David Hernandez (20:51):
What stopped you from going?
SquidDaBeast (20:53):
Money.
David Hernandez (20:53):
Ah, that's important.
SquidDaBeast (20:54):
Money.
And I think I was still in theshelter when that happened.
I think I was just about to getout of the shelter as that
happened.
David Hernandez (21:00):
Ah, so you're still trying to get back on your
feet basically.
SquidDaBeast (21:03):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (21:03):
Well, the good thing is you did get the chance
to go to Seattle.
So what was it like, what didyou get a chance to do while you
were there?
SquidDaBeast (21:10):
so me and a couple of friends, we went to Trainer
Tips after party, which wasgreat.
we had some good food, we justwalked around the city, took in
the sites, hang around for abit.
I went to another little meetupwhich was also dope, by
FleeceKing, actually.
And I also went to see theMuseum of Flight, which was also
a very good experience.
(21:31):
that was, it was like, allright.
I want to go to every go fest asI can.
If I can go to an event, I wantto go.
That was me with Philly SafariZone, and I'm glad I went.
I was like, alright, let me goto GoFest.
David Hernandez (21:41):
If somebody was on the fence about going to a
GoFest, what would you tellthem?
SquidDaBeast (21:45):
first I would ask them, are they invested into
this game?
Like, would you rather beinvested for the game, or are
you invested to the people?
Because if you're invested tothe people, going to GoFest is
100% no brainer.
Go ahead and go.
If you're in it for the game.
Yeah, that's cool and all, butwe got global right there.
And if you don't really careabout meeting people, I guess
you don't really need to go.
But if you want to see a newplace and see new people, put
(22:07):
names to faces, go to GoFest.
David Hernandez (22:09):
You've mentioned the people a couple
times.
what is it about the people thatis so important for you?
SquidDaBeast (22:14):
Meeting new people has always been one of my
favorite things about the world,period.
So just going to somewhere like,all right, I want to go
somewhere I've never been.
Who knows what I'll meet, whoI'll meet.
I might meet somebody that'slike me, that loves Pokemon,
loves video games, period andyou know, we can vibe, we can
talk, network, stream together,you know.
So meeting people is always abonus for me.
David Hernandez (22:35):
And do you have any particular places that you
would like to visit?
SquidDaBeast (22:39):
Oh yeah, there's definitely one, of course, Japan
because I always want to go toJapan, especially as a Pokemon
fan.
Italy always been a place I'veever wanted to go to ever since
I was a kid.
I want to go to Vegas again,because I've been there once
after I graduated high school,but I was still 17, so I want to
go there now when I'm older.
David Hernandez (22:55):
You couldn't do the fun stuff?
SquidDaBeast (22:57):
Not really, no.
Then I was kind of like, eh,still a little kid, so I didn't
know what was going on.
Right.
I was just there so I want to goto the UK because I heard it's
great out there and Australiabecause a lot of people want me
to come to Australia.
David Hernandez (23:09):
So earlier you talked about you got a chance to
go to Philly for Safari Zone,right?
SquidDaBeast (23:13):
Yeah.
That was my first in personPokemon Go event.
It was great.
That's why I met, Lando Alfa,True Inferno, Jesse and Rachel,
Cowboy Hat Caterpie, TrainerClub.
I wore my Spider Man suit outthere and it was crazy.
David Hernandez (23:27):
For those who may not know, like, what's the
difference between, say, aSafari Zone and a GO Fest, in
your opinion?
SquidDaBeast (23:32):
Safari Zone is more of a...
Limited one spot thing it'sstill a community aspect, but
not as much as a Go Fest wouldbe.
Go Fest can have thousands andthousands of people, whereas a
Safari zone is like 2000, 3000maybe.
Go Fest is like not limited tojust one spot limit to the whole
city and the spawns are probablynine times outta 10.
(23:53):
So much better.
David Hernandez (23:55):
I've always wanted to go to Philly.
I just wanna try PhillyCheesesteak to be honest.
SquidDaBeast (23:58):
I did that this year.
It was awesome.
David Hernandez (24:00):
They live up to the hype.
SquidDaBeast (24:01):
Yes, it did.
then I was like, that justtastes like a chopped cheese to
me, which is a New Yorkspecialty, which is a Philly
cheesesteak hamburger.
I already have people like, allright, show me the best place to
get the chopped cheese, allright.
Show me the best place to get abacon, egg, and cheese.
I got you.
And pizza.
David Hernandez (24:17):
So, one thing about Pokemon is eventually you
started into content creation,right?
What made you want to do that?
SquidDaBeast (24:22):
it was like a very spur of the moment thing.
Me and my cousins and ourfriends were like, Yo, we have
the technology to make YouTubeand stuff way back then.
Why don't we do it?
I'm like, yeah, you're right.
We should do it.
he started uploading, streamingand then when I first started
streaming, I was so, I didn'tknow what the heck I was doing.
And then he walked me through itand it was just like, all right,
(24:43):
got to try it out.
I'll help you.
If you need help, you got this.
And if not now, sound fees,discard your own wings.
And this was like when Iactually started streaming
seriously cause when I firststarted, I was streaming like
once a month, once a week, causeI was like, eh, it's probably
not going to be for me becauseI'm camera shy.
I don't like being on camera.
I hate my voice.
So I have to hear my voice onstream a lot.
Same with videos.
So yeah, and then I didn't havea name at the time when we
(25:06):
started so we started is like2012 I ain't get my names with
the beast until like 2013.
once I got the name I was like,alright, Time for me to get out
my shell and be on camera.
I know I already hate being oncamera.
I'm camera shy.
I don't like my voice butstreaming has helped me grow out
of that shell.
So every time I stream I'm like,alright time to get on camera
now.
Back then, I was like, ugh, Igotta get a camera, but I still
(25:27):
hate my voice, but that's howit's gonna be, apparently.
my cousin helped me a lot, gotme started, and to the point
where he didn't have themotivation to stream, and I was
like, I still do.
It's more to the point where Ipassed him now, and my friends
were like, dang, the student hasto pass the master, huh?
I was like, no, it's just that Ikept going when he couldn't, or
didn't want to.
now we here today.
David Hernandez (25:48):
What is it about streaming that keeps you
motivated?
What keeps you coming back toit?
SquidDaBeast (25:53):
I'm going to sound like a broken record player like
this, but people I see in chatjust make my day.
Like I can't have the, I havethe worst days sometimes.
And then I'm like, all right,I'm not even gonna put my camera
on.
And then I stream.
Oh, I see the first five minutesof my stream.
Where's squid at?
Where your camera at?
All right, I'll put the cameraon.
Oh, look at that.
Look at that handsome guy rightthere.
(26:14):
I'm like, all right, thank you.
So they just cheer me up.
streaming is honestly great formy mental health, which I did
not like being on camera at all.
But now it's like, all right,for y'all, I got y'all because
y'all helped me out and I'mgonna help y'all By providing
great content for y'all or asbest as content as I can.
David Hernandez (26:32):
Special shout out to the calamari crew because
as you can See you keepSquidDaBeast going.
Is that right?
SquidDaBeast (26:37):
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I appreciate y'all.
David Hernandez (26:40):
Well, very cool, Squid.
So you've been a wonderfulguest.
but I have one last questionbefore we close this taco show.
you've obviously lived a verydifficult life.
I'd be foolish not to sayotherwise.
but throughout the entire time,you've always loved Pokemon.
What is it about Pokemon thatkeeps you coming back?
SquidDaBeast (26:57):
story, like I've watched the anime, the anime has
always been good to me.
I loved every season of theanime.
I loved every movie.
I have seven of them still inthis day.
It's my collection.
I have a bunch of YouTubersthat, signed my first movie DVD.
So I'm gonna bring that with meto GoFest this year.
So if you're coming on down toNew York and you would love to
sign my movie with a bunch ofother creators, you are more
(27:18):
than welcome to.
I'm getting a lot of signaturethis year.
I guess I still have my memoriesas a kid.
So the memories are looked onfor Pokemon songs from back then
when the show was airing.
So I just love everything aboutPokemon and just always keeps
coming to me back.
I don't know what it is, but Ijust feel like it's one thing I
can always resort to.
Lot of good memories
David Hernandez (27:39):
and memories to come because GoFest is not too
far away And if you want tocheck out squid the beast
because you're going to beentering his home turf He'll be
in new york city.
Are you going to be doing likesome kind of meetup?
Are you going to be goingsomewhere for people to come
meet with you and hang out?
SquidDaBeast (27:51):
So the first one to meet up, yes, actually I
already have a bunch of peopleThat's all right squid we're
gonna get behind you when you'regonna do a vlog and we're gonna
sing your intro behind you andi'm like Y'all don't have to,
y'all know that, right?
We know, but we doing it anyway,I'm like.
So you're just gonna hear abunch of people behind me
singing What's Up Danger andCan't Stop Me Now, cause that's
my intro song for YouTube.
(28:12):
we're thinking about doingkaraoke, I already, I got roped
into doing it, so I'm like,great.
But at the same time, Saturday,I'm gonna be in my Spider Man
costume at GoFest.
So, yeah.
If you see a white Spider Man,Future Foundation Spider Man
walking around, that is me, socome say hi.
I wear glasses and I will bewearing a mask on, so my glasses
would not be on and I am blindas a bat, so if you see me, say
(28:34):
hello, because if you walk pastme, I'm not going to see
anything.
You got to come up to me like,hello, squid the beast.
Can I get a picture?
Or I'm this person because if mymask is off fine, cause I'll
probably have my glasses on, butif I don't, and my mask is on, I
will not know what's going on.
I'm just letting you know thatright now.
So if you see me in a whiteSpider Man suit, please come say
hello.
There's been a rumor thatthey're gonna get me on stage at
(28:55):
Go Fest, so.
Oh yeah.
And I'm like, why?
David Hernandez (28:59):
are we gonna hear you sing the Pokemon theme
song for karaoke or you havelike list of songs lined up?
SquidDaBeast (29:03):
Maybe I don't want to do it, but they said I gotta
sing something.
So maybe but anyway.
Yeah, we'll see.
So you're coming to go Fest.
You see us Spider-Man FutureFoundation.
Please come say hello.
I love meeting the people.
So just tell me your name andget a picture or whatever.
Come say hello.
David Hernandez (29:20):
Well, thank you for coming on the show.
Before we do go, if people wantto check out your content, where
can they go?
By all means, please plug away.
SquidDaBeast (29:27):
Well, thank you for having me.
Number one.
And number two, you can find meon all social media at squid the
beast, S Q U I D D A B A S T.
Twitch, YouTube, Twitter,Instagram, and anywhere else,
SquidDaBeast.
David Hernandez (29:40):
Go Fest is coming up Hopefully we'll see
you there.
I'll make sure to include linksto everything they have to set
in the description of today'sepisode.
Thank you for listening to Asthe Pokéball Turns.
If you want to support the show,consider becoming a patron by
either clicking the link in thedescription or going to
patreon.com/asthepokéballturns.
Now here's a sneak peek for thenext episode of As the Pokéball
(30:01):
Turns.
My name is David Hernandez, and you're
(00:01):
listening to As the PokeballTurns.
(00:44):
Welcome to As the PokeballTurns, where the stories are
real and people still play thisgame.
GO Fest is an annual celebrationfor Pokemon GO.
For 2023, GO Fest arrives inLondon, Osaka, and where my
guest in this episode is from,New York City.
New York City is arguably one ofthe most iconic cities within
America, if not the entireworld.
(01:06):
In fact, in one of the firstdebuted trailers for Pokemon Go,
a scene where thousands ofPokemon trainers running to
Battle Mewtwo took place inTimes Square.
Now with GO Fest finally comingto the Big Apple, we've come
full circle with Mewtwo beingreplaced by the anticipated Mega
Rayquaza in Pokemon GO, ashundreds, if not thousands, of
Pokemon trainers will bevisiting New York City for GO
(01:27):
Fest 2023.
In this episode, my guest shareshis personal experience playing
Pokemon GO in New York City, andoffers a few tips for people
planning to visit for GO Fest.
From New York, here is hisorigin story into the world of
Pokemon GO.
This is SquidDaBeast! today, I'mjoined by Squid the Beast.
(02:06):
Squid, welcome to the show.
SquidDaBeast (02:08):
Thank you for having me.
What's good, everybody?
David Hernandez (02:10):
Definitely, man.
And before we do dive intoanything, I wanted to give you a
big congratulations on gettingto 1, 000 Twitch followers.
I know that's not easy.
I know that was a bit of a grindand a long journey.
It must have felt incredibledoing it.
SquidDaBeast (02:23):
Yes, sir.
It definitely did.
Thank you for the congrats.
And it was definitely a bigmilestone I wanted to hit
halfway through the year.
So I'm glad I was able to hit itright before the year was
halfway over.
David Hernandez (02:33):
You know, what's interesting though, is
that you actually hated yourname initially, right?
SquidDaBeast (02:36):
Yes, I did.
I couldn't stand my name, but Iwent with it and I figured, all
right, how can I make this intoan advantage and that is how I
came up with the nameSquidDaBeast.
David Hernandez (02:45):
What was it about it that you didn't like
initially cause originally itcame in, early schooling, right?
SquidDaBeast (02:50):
Yes, sophomore year of high school.
And it was just.
Everybody called me Squidward,and I didn't watch Spongebob
back then, and I still don't.
I just didn't like it, and Ithought it was kinda, eh,
because I think the characteris...
He's alright, but he's just moreof a, character that's just...
I hate everything, and I hateeverybody, and I'm like, I'm not
like that, I'm just a quietperson.
And then they just startedcalling me Squid afterwards, And
then I was like, alright, if I'mstuck with this name for the
(03:11):
rest of my life, cause I stillknow my high school friends to
this day, it's been 13 years andwe've known each other this
long.
So I was like, all right, howcan I benefit?
And then one day at a party,they saw I was dating a twin and
they're like, yo, squid, you abeast now.
And I'm like, hold up, that namesounds kind of dope.
I'm gonna roll with that." Andthere we go.
David Hernandez (03:27):
Well, I'll say that you've come a long way for
somebody who initially hated hisname.
It's a very incredible journey,and I'm sure you sometimes like
to exquidently use a punsometimes too, right?
SquidDaBeast (03:38):
Oh yes, definitely.
I love puns.
David Hernandez (03:41):
Do you have a good one right now?
SquidDaBeast (03:41):
Actually, I do.
I write them down.
I have a whole section in myDiscord just for dad jokes.
And I keep things there just incase anybody's like, Hey, you
got a joke for me?
I'm like, yeah, I got you.
why can't sailors play cards?
David Hernandez (03:55):
Why?
SquidDaBeast (03:56):
Cause they were standing on a deck.
David Hernandez (03:58):
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Well anyway, so, what was yourearly experience with pokemon?
SquidDaBeast (04:02):
my early experience was way back when the
game first came out.
I remember I was going to buyit, because I saw it on
commercial on TV back then, andI'm like, yo, this looks kinda
dope.
I went to buy blue version, butthey were sold out in my area.
I was like, all right, let me goyellow because yellow looks
okay.
It's a little cute mouse on it.
Now I got teased on playingPokemon, but my area was like
(04:24):
limited to kids.
So it wasn't much.
So when I went in to buy blueversion and it was sold out, I
was like, wait, it's sold out.
There's not many people, kidsaround here.
Am I getting bullied by the samepeople that's playing this game
in secrecy?
I thought that was strange, butme and my old next door
neighbor, was my best friend,R.I.P.
his birthday just passed a weekago actually.
(04:44):
but we used to just play.
I'll go to his house, come overand play, he would come into my
house and go over and play andjust spend all night playing
Pokemon, talking about Pokemonand stuff.
So it's very, very, very goodmemories.
David Hernandez (04:54):
My condolences.
Was it recent or is it somethingthat's been a while?
SquidDaBeast (04:58):
it is been about two years now, but Oh, okay.
It still hurts, you know.
David Hernandez (05:01):
Oh, I hear you, man.
how would you two guys, playPokemon?
would y'all just like battleeach other trade, or,
SquidDaBeast (05:07):
we did battle each other.
We traded.
I had yellow and blue, he hadred, and then we just like,
okay, I want to trade this, andsee what happens, and if you
need a mon, you can borrow it,and I actually gave him one of
my favorite mons, my Alakazam.
well, Kadabra at the time.
He gave me his Haunter.
We didn't know it evolvedthrough trading back then, so we
traded it, and we're like, yo,it changed, we're like, wait,
(05:28):
what, yours too, and then we'relike, Okay, let's trade it back
and we'll see what the heck thisis about and then it's like oh,
it's an evolution So we justkept trading mines to see what
would evolve and what didn't.
Machoke was one of them I can'tremember another one.
There's one more that evolvesthrough trading I can't remember
who it is at the top of my head.
But yeah, so we just Talk likethat and then battle
David Hernandez (05:49):
that must have been a very fun surprise to find
out how both of y'all's Pokemonjust happened to Be the ones who
evolved by trading and y'allboth get different Pokemon.
That's kind of fun.
SquidDaBeast (05:58):
Yeah, it's just Haunter was one of his favorites
and Kadabra is one of mine, So Iwas like, you know what?
I'll put my game my money yourgame and then Got a party of
each other in each other's gameand then like wait, it's
different All right, let's tradeit back and then we'll do
another mine that we like Soyeah,
David Hernandez (06:13):
so did you stick with Pokemon throughout?
I know you said earlier, you'rebullied a little bit through
schooling because of it.
And, I went through the samething.
Did you stick with Pokemonthroughout or did you kind of
tamper off as well?
SquidDaBeast (06:23):
Oh yeah, definitely.
I stuck throughout.
I played every game.
Every game that came out, I waslike, all right, I got to have
it.
Let me try it.
See if I like it.
Still the same thing.
Cool.
New Pokemon.
Cool.
The anime.
Watched that.
Everything Pokemon, I was stillthrough.
David Hernandez (06:36):
What was your favorite generation?
SquidDaBeast (06:37):
Oh, Gen 5.
Easy.
Still is my favorite generation.
David Hernandez (06:40):
I believe that's black, white, black and
white too, right?
SquidDaBeast (06:43):
Yeah.
I have a sealed copy of blackand white too from a friend in
Australia, he gave me last yearat Go Fest.
David Hernandez (06:48):
Oh, wow.
Really?
SquidDaBeast (06:50):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (06:50):
Those are worth a lot now, because they're very
hard, those games are prettyhard to find now.
SquidDaBeast (06:54):
Exactly, that's why when he's like, yeah, you
can have them, I'm like, heain't gonna give me them, show
up, here you go.
Wait, you actually giving methese?
Yeah.
Do you know how much these areworth?
No?
I told him, he was like, youknow what, screw it, I already
said I'm gonna give it to you,here you go.
David Hernandez (07:08):
That's a good friend.
SquidDaBeast (07:10):
I'm mad, I'm not mad.
Okay, thank you.
David Hernandez (07:13):
Did you like, get some kind of cover to
protect them, or you just keepthem in the plastic?
SquidDaBeast (07:17):
Oh, no, they still in the plastic.
David Hernandez (07:18):
Wow.
Okay.
hold on to those as long aspossible.
You might be able to retire withthose eventually.
SquidDaBeast (07:22):
Yeah, I said that the second he gave me, I'm like,
when I came home and stream thatnight, I was like, I'm never
opening these unless Iabsolutely 100% have no other
choice and I need to.
That's the only reason these areleaving my possession.
David Hernandez (07:36):
What was it about Gen 5 that you enjoyed
compared to all the othergenerations?
What stood out about it?
SquidDaBeast (07:41):
So much.
The Pokémon, the cover.
I was like, okay, black andwhite, white's my favorite
color.
So I was like, okay, I gottaplay white version.
And I saw the black dragon onwhite version.
I'm like, you know what?
Now I gotta get the other onebecause I want the white dragon.
it's the biggest Pokédex in anygame by itself.
Most of the mons that I love arefrom that generation, the story
I love, the characters I love.
I just love everything about thegen.
(08:02):
My favorite Pokemon is from thatgeneration too, even though we
still have the shiny out.
David Hernandez (08:06):
Which one is it?
SquidDaBeast (08:06):
Victini.
David Hernandez (08:07):
Ooh, that's a nice one.
It's one of the few ones thatare shiny locked, like you said.
So how does it feel not to beable to get the shiny version
legally, I guess?
SquidDaBeast (08:15):
It pains me.
I had one from way back when inthe Gen 6 days when everybody
was just wonder trading everyPokemon shiny.
And I'm like, this is illegalbecause we don't have a shiny
Victini, but I have one righthere.
Am I getting rid of it?
Nope.
Not until we get one.
Not until that comes out and Ican hunt it and I get it.
I am not getting rid of thisillegal one.
I know it's illegal, but I don'tcare.
David Hernandez (08:37):
I mean, I can't blame you because there's no
other way to get it outside ofthose illegal means.
Now what's curious though, Is itgonna come out in Pokemon Go
first, or is it gonna come outthrough the main series?
SquidDaBeast (08:46):
I feel like we're gonna get it in Go first, the
Shiny, because every year wehave, Kanto Tour, Hoenn Tour,
Johto Tour.
Sinnoh Tour is next year, andthe year after that is nine
times out of ten, Unova.
I don't care where it is.
I don't care how broke I am.
I'm going to that Unova Tour.
I don't care, because I want myVictini first.
I do not care.
I will go broke to go there andget me my Shiny Victini.
David Hernandez (09:08):
Wow, that's some dedication.
say you were doing a playthroughof either black or white you
take your pick.
What six would you choose?
SquidDaBeast (09:15):
Oh, that's easy.
Oshawott obviously Darmanitan OrChandelure, whichever one I feel
I need for my team.
Rufflet or Braviary.
I need me a grass type So itwould probably be Levanny,
because I love Levanny.
Excadrill and Electross.
David Hernandez (09:31):
So moving forward, so you played through
all the games and you know,eventually Pokemon Go comes out
in 2016.
Did you first start playing dayone or did you play later on?
SquidDaBeast (09:40):
Day one.
I was sitting in my friend'sroom.
I forgot what we were doing, Ithink we were watching Dragon
Ball Super at the time?
We were watching some anime.
And then my friend was like, Yo,Pokemon Go just came out.
I was like, what?
Alright.
Download.
Pick my starter, Squirtle.
Alright, cool.
And we was like, alright, sowhat team are y'all picking?
Mystic, instantly.
Two of my other friends, Mystic.
my cousin, Instinct.
(10:00):
My other friend's I don't know,I might pick Mystic.
My friend that also pickedMystic, who was eating at the
time, he's like, I'll give you aSpiritomb if you go Mystic.
I'm like, Okay.
My cousin was like, wait, what?
I thought he was pickingInstinct.
Nah, man, he offered meSpiritomb.
What do you got to offer?
Nothing.
I'm going Mystic.
David Hernandez (10:19):
What was it about Mystic that made you
instantly want to choose it?
SquidDaBeast (10:22):
Blue's like my second favorite color.
Articuno's my favorite bird.
I was just like, eh, why not?
There was a team harmony forLugia.
I wouldn't went there.
David Hernandez (10:31):
Unfortunately, I always felt like they could
have two more teams, you know,add Team Hoho and Team Lugia.
I think that could...
We could have five teams ofPokemon go.
SquidDaBeast (10:39):
That would shake things up crazy.
David Hernandez (10:41):
Would you switch?
SquidDaBeast (10:42):
Mmm...
Maybe.
Maybe.
I, I, I, I'm on the fence.
I'm like a 60 40.
No, I wouldn't switch.
David Hernandez (10:50):
Okay, but you would think about it though?
SquidDaBeast (10:52):
Yes, I would think about it.
So, not a definite no, but it'sa maybe.
David Hernandez (10:57):
So Pokemon Go comes out, like, where did you
and I guess your friends or yourbrothers, where did you, where
would y'all go to play PokemonGo?
What was it like?
SquidDaBeast (11:05):
It's so funny because, uh, I just got out the
shelter, I was in the shelter,so I couldn't do much, like,
first week, first month, andthen I moved somewhere close to
where I am now, and then myfriend was like nearby, so he's
yo, squid, you wanna skatearound?
Cause he skates, my other friendskates I skates and you're like,
all right, let's just skatearound, catch Pokemon late at
night, take gyms and whatever.
(11:26):
So we just go around Brooklyn,go to a park, get spawns, take
gyms.
We even did that in the cold afew times, except we walk and
then we just use the beef pattywith cheese as a hand warmer
because our hands were cold.
So we just bought beef pattywith cheese, keep it not cold
and then just put our hands onit to make our hands not cold.
The same with a cup of coffee.
David Hernandez (11:44):
So y'all would use coffee and burgers to keep
warm when Pokemon Go was out?
I guess it gets pretty coldthere.
SquidDaBeast (11:50):
Yeah, in the winter time, yeah.
When we would take gyms.
Fortunately, I'm the only onethat still plays of my friend
group.
Well, I'm the hardcore player ofthe friend group.
My other friend, my cousin stillplays somewhat, but I play more
than him.
David Hernandez (12:02):
Did everybody kinda tailor off Pokemon Go or
just left the game?
SquidDaBeast (12:05):
Yeah, they just tailored off.
David Hernandez (12:07):
You said shelter.
Were you like in a homelessshelter?
SquidDaBeast (12:10):
yeah, I've been there.
three times.
The first time I was come homefrom school and I was filling a
parade and some issues happenedwith the landlord.
So we had to go into a shelterand we got out, we got to
another place, which is theplace where I was when Pokemon
Go first came out, then thelandlord left again.
And then we had to go back inthe shelter and then got out
(12:31):
again and then landlord leftagain.
So it's just like, Oh my God,can the landlord just stay in
one place?
But where I am now, I've beenhere for like almost three
years.
So we Gucci and this is myaunt's building.
So
David Hernandez (12:43):
it sounds like you feel more secure compared to
like your past couple of places.
SquidDaBeast (12:47):
Yes.
This one, I know the person thatowns the building.
So I'm like, okay, ain't nothingcrazy happening.
David Hernandez (12:52):
That's good, man.
I know the shelters are no fun.
That's for sure.
So during that initial time ofPokemon go, How would you play
the game?
SquidDaBeast (12:59):
usually on my day off, I would just walk around,
take gems, go to the local park,put an Incense on, sit there for
a little bit, walk around andthen go back home.
And the summertime and thewinter time, I would just be
like, all right, let me just dothe things I can do.
If I'm going somewhere, I'llplay along the way, but if I'm
at home and it's 10 degreesoutside, I'm not going out.
David Hernandez (13:18):
So what's your favorite, thing to do with
Pokemon?
Like, are you a shiny hunter?
Are you a battler?
SquidDaBeast (13:22):
I used to be a battler, but, I fell off of
Scarlet and Violet.
I haven't battled in Scarlet andViolet at all.
Sword and Shield I used to.
I do it from time to time, but Ijust don't have the time to make
mons anymore like I used to, sonow I'm just a shiny hunter.
David Hernandez (13:36):
So before Scarlet and Vi would you like
get into the EVs and the IVs ofPokemon like the team building
like how deep did you?
Would you get into competitivebattling?
SquidDaBeast (13:45):
Yes IVs, EVs, team building.
Although I didn't use legends Idon't like using legendaries in
Wi Fi and VGCs.
That's just me.
I feel like they too much So Ijust alright, what can I use in
substitution for a legendary andI go from there.
David Hernandez (13:58):
what's one Pokemon game that you could
always go back to like what'syour favorite Pokemon game out
of all of them?
SquidDaBeast (14:04):
Tough choice.
I got three choices.
All right, boom, three choices.
Number one, Gale of Darknessbecause the music in that game
is crazy and the story is dope.
Number two, Underrated game.
I need to find this so I canhave this in my collection,
pokemon Conquest.
We need a second one becausePokemon Conquest was a great and
phenomenal game, if you have notplayed it, you can look up a
(14:25):
YouTube playthrough of it.
that game is amazing and if weget an upgraded game of the
current generation now with Gen9, Oh my God, that game would
sell so quick and so easybecause that game was amazing.
David Hernandez (14:39):
Real quick, what was Pokemon Conquest about
for those who may not know?
SquidDaBeast (14:42):
It was a tactical RPG game.
Style like, Fire Emblem.
If you played Fire Emblem, Pathof Radiance, or Path of Dawn, I
believe, it's like a turn basedRPG that has a map, and you have
to move your Pokemon, one space,or attack one space.
And the storytelling was amazingand I think at the time, it just
went up to Generation 5, so...
(15:02):
Can only imagine how crazy thestory would be with Gen 6 mons,
Megas, and Dynamaxes, andPaldean mons, and Forms.
Going to be crazy.
So that's very underrated gameand number one, a story that
always made me cry.
I don't care how old I got.
And I saw that story that I sheda tear.
Pokemon Explorers of Time andDarkness because that story just
(15:26):
hit, it hit different...
David Hernandez (15:28):
hit your feels pretty much?
SquidDaBeast (15:29):
Yes, it did.
I literally cried when Ifinished that game.
I was like, all right, I can't,I can't be sitting here crying,
but yo this story is kindacrazy.
David Hernandez (15:37):
So I know obviously New York is pretty
populated, but what is it liketo play in your area?
Like where do people go to play?
SquidDaBeast (15:43):
Manhattan.
That is the city where TimeSquare and Bryant park is.
Always crowded, always lured up,you can get into a raid
anywhere, no matter what time isleft on it, you'll be able to
get into a raid perfectly fine,which is why I think GoFest,
when Mega Rayquaza come out,that is going to be insane, I
don't even want to think aboutall the Rayquazas that are going
to be on all those Gyms.
(16:04):
Ugh, all those stops that aregoing to be lured up, oh my
goodness, if you're coming toNew York, for GoFest, I
recommend, please bring LuckyEggs, cause there are so many
stops, there's so many raids todo.
You will get so much experiencejust walking around the city.
No matter what time of day,you'll get so much experience
David Hernandez (16:20):
since we're on that topic.
So do you have any tips forPokemon go players going into
New York?
Like what would you suggest theygo play?
What do you suggest they do?
SquidDaBeast (16:28):
All right.
So there are numerous optionsand routes.
I recommend if you like the parkto the person that likes to
sightsee, I would recommendstarting at either West 4th
Street or Central Park and thenwalk your way towards that
direction.
So if you start at West 4th,walk to Central Park because
that is a nice walk.
You'll see Bryant Park, you'llpass by Times Square, you'll
pass by the Nintendo Store, andso many other things.
(16:48):
And Central Park is massive, soyou will find something to do
there no matter what time.
same way if you're going CentralPark to West 4th, except west
fourth is just more of a allright.
I can relax, there's a lot ofseats, There's a lot of stores
to go in a lot of places to eatand stuff.
So clear out your bag spaceYou're going to need it.
Clear out your items or maximizeyour items if you can because
(17:10):
again, you're going to need it.
Make sure you have a cooling fanfor your phone portable charger
and just make sure that Ifyou're playing with a friend
always helps.
If you have somebody that,coming to New York, I recommend
y'all stick together.
New York is not always fine anddandy, but if you have somebody
with you, you're fine.
David Hernandez (17:25):
you must've been pretty excited when you
found out officially that it wasNew York city, right?
SquidDaBeast (17:29):
Oh yeah, it's definitely because, one of my
friends is a sponsor creator andthe night before it got
announced, he kept saying orangeor blue skies.
Cause I'm like.
He knows something.
I feel like they about toannounce GoFest, but I didn't
want to say nothing because Iwas streaming.
I was just sitting here lookingat him every time he said I'm
like, he knows something.
And then the next morning I wasgoing out for a vlog and then it
got announced as I was startingmy vlog.
(17:49):
I was like, I knew it.
And I was hype.
I was literally on the trainlike, yooo! I couldn't say it
because train.
Right.
I was just sitting there likequietly like, yo! That was
crazy.
David Hernandez (18:01):
it feels poetic because I always felt like
eventually we would get New Yorkbecause You think about the
first trailers of Pokemon Go,right?
I believe it was Mewtwo in TimesSquare, right?
SquidDaBeast (18:10):
That was indeed Times Square.
David Hernandez (18:12):
And I always felt like New York was, like,
destined to eventually host aGoFest.
I'm glad it's finally happeningnow.
I kinda was hoping for Seattleinstead.
I thought like maybe Nianticwould save it for a fifth or a
ten year, you know, one of themeven numbers, if so, you will.
SquidDaBeast (18:25):
Yeah, a lot of people thought that, me
included, but I'm like, I'm notcomplaining.
I ain't gotta spend nothing thisyear.
I can come home and go to sleepand go back out.
David Hernandez (18:33):
Oh, you're actually going to go to sleep
with GoFest coming to New YorkCity?
I thought y'all don't sleep overthere.
SquidDaBeast (18:37):
Ha ha ha.
I mean, when everything isclosed and everybody's like, all
right, we got our play datetomorrow, we need energy.
I'm gonna be asleep, but not formuch.
I'm probably be asleep for likethree to four hours each night,
David Hernandez (18:49):
we can just get some cups of coffee or some
energy drinks.
SquidDaBeast (18:51):
Yes.
actually I don't really drinkcoffee like that, but maybe an
energy drink or two or threeMonday I'm gonna pass out.
David Hernandez (18:57):
Have you had a chance to go by where Gophers is
supposed to be at?
SquidDaBeast (19:01):
Yes, I did.
I did do a video on that.
I literally walked from 125thStreet on the bridge to the
Randall's Island.
David Hernandez (19:08):
What'd you see so far?
Can you share any details?
SquidDaBeast (19:10):
it was a 20 minute walk.
there's like a little baby fieldwhen you first get to the island
and then there's a massivebaseball field.
Well, it's like a massivebaseball field and then like
four other small baseballfields, plus the like closed.
convention center that Icouldn't go into, but I think it
said it is a miniature golfcourse in there.
There's snacks and vendors outin there and bathrooms and all
(19:33):
of that.
So I feel like it's going to belike that cafe we had in Seattle
where it was just like a bunchof food stores and the inside
with a couple of bathrooms andthe second floor and a miniature
golf course.
David Hernandez (19:43):
So you mentioned Seattle, so I assume
you went to GoFest Seattle.
Was that your first ever GoFestthat you attended?
SquidDaBeast (19:49):
Yes, it was.
And I very regret not going to2019 GoFest.
David Hernandez (19:53):
What was it like for you to go to Seattle?
SquidDaBeast (19:55):
it was a journey and a half.
It was my first time flyinganywhere by myself for Pokemon
Go.
I was nervous.
Then when I got there, I waslike, all right, I get to meet
people.
I haven't met before and I'mhanging out with people I've met
in Philly Safari Zone.
This is cool.
And then, all right, Seattle,new place.
This is one of the places I'venever thought I would say, Hey,
let me go to Seattle.
(20:16):
But Pokemon Go has made me wantto go to Seattle, so I
appreciate the game for that.
the weather wasn't bad out thereeither.
So it's actually better than NewYork.
It was hot, but it wasn't ashumid as it is in New York.
David Hernandez (20:27):
Let me segue real quick.
So you said you regretted notgoing to 2019.
Why do you regret not going?
SquidDaBeast (20:33):
Cause I feel like I missed out on seeing and
meeting so many people.
That's mainly the thing aboutPokemon Go for me, just meeting
people and going places, and inChicago I've never been, so, me
going to Chicago would have beengreat, and all the people that I
know now, I would have been meta long time ago, in Chicago, for
2019 GoFest.
David Hernandez (20:51):
What stopped you from going?
SquidDaBeast (20:53):
Money.
David Hernandez (20:53):
Ah, that's important.
SquidDaBeast (20:54):
Money.
And I think I was still in theshelter when that happened.
I think I was just about to getout of the shelter as that
happened.
David Hernandez (21:00):
Ah, so you're still trying to get back on your
feet basically.
SquidDaBeast (21:03):
Yeah.
David Hernandez (21:03):
Well, the good thing is you did get the chance
to go to Seattle.
So what was it like, what didyou get a chance to do while you
were there?
SquidDaBeast (21:10):
so me and a couple of friends, we went to Trainer
Tips after party, which wasgreat.
we had some good food, we justwalked around the city, took in
the sites, hang around for abit.
I went to another little meetupwhich was also dope, by
FleeceKing, actually.
And I also went to see theMuseum of Flight, which was also
a very good experience.
(21:31):
that was, it was like, allright.
I want to go to every go fest asI can.
If I can go to an event, I wantto go.
That was me with Philly SafariZone, and I'm glad I went.
I was like, alright, let me goto GoFest.
David Hernandez (21:41):
If somebody was on the fence about going to a
GoFest, what would you tellthem?
SquidDaBeast (21:45):
first I would ask them, are they invested into
this game?
Like, would you rather beinvested for the game, or are
you invested to the people?
Because if you're invested tothe people, going to GoFest is
100% no brainer.
Go ahead and go.
If you're in it for the game.
Yeah, that's cool and all, butwe got global right there.
And if you don't really careabout meeting people, I guess
you don't really need to go.
But if you want to see a newplace and see new people, put
(22:07):
names to faces, go to GoFest.
David Hernandez (22:09):
You've mentioned the people a couple
times.
what is it about the people thatis so important for you?
SquidDaBeast (22:14):
Meeting new people has always been one of my
favorite things about the world,period.
So just going to somewhere like,all right, I want to go
somewhere I've never been.
Who knows what I'll meet, whoI'll meet.
I might meet somebody that'slike me, that loves Pokemon,
loves video games, period andyou know, we can vibe, we can
talk, network, stream together,you know.
So meeting people is always abonus for me.
David Hernandez (22:35):
And do you have any particular places that you
would like to visit?
SquidDaBeast (22:39):
Oh yeah, there's definitely one, of course, Japan
because I always want to go toJapan, especially as a Pokemon
fan.
Italy always been a place I'veever wanted to go to ever since
I was a kid.
I want to go to Vegas again,because I've been there once
after I graduated high school,but I was still 17, so I want to
go there now when I'm older.
David Hernandez (22:55):
You couldn't do the fun stuff?
SquidDaBeast (22:57):
Not really, no.
Then I was kind of like, eh,still a little kid, so I didn't
know what was going on.
Right.
I was just there so I want to goto the UK because I heard it's
great out there and Australiabecause a lot of people want me
to come to Australia.
David Hernandez (23:09):
So earlier you talked about you got a chance to
go to Philly for Safari Zone,right?
SquidDaBeast (23:13):
Yeah.
That was my first in personPokemon Go event.
It was great.
That's why I met, Lando Alfa,True Inferno, Jesse and Rachel,
Cowboy Hat Caterpie, TrainerClub.
I wore my Spider Man suit outthere and it was crazy.
David Hernandez (23:27):
For those who may not know, like, what's the
difference between, say, aSafari Zone and a GO Fest, in
your opinion?
SquidDaBeast (23:32):
Safari Zone is more of a...
Limited one spot thing it'sstill a community aspect, but
not as much as a Go Fest wouldbe.
Go Fest can have thousands andthousands of people, whereas a
Safari zone is like 2000, 3000maybe.
Go Fest is like not limited tojust one spot limit to the whole
city and the spawns are probablynine times outta 10.
(23:53):
So much better.
David Hernandez (23:55):
I've always wanted to go to Philly.
I just wanna try PhillyCheesesteak to be honest.
SquidDaBeast (23:58):
I did that this year.
It was awesome.
David Hernandez (24:00):
They live up to the hype.
SquidDaBeast (24:01):
Yes, it did.
then I was like, that justtastes like a chopped cheese to
me, which is a New Yorkspecialty, which is a Philly
cheesesteak hamburger.
I already have people like, allright, show me the best place to
get the chopped cheese, allright.
Show me the best place to get abacon, egg, and cheese.
I got you.
And pizza.
David Hernandez (24:17):
So, one thing about Pokemon is eventually you
started into content creation,right?
What made you want to do that?
SquidDaBeast (24:22):
it was like a very spur of the moment thing.
Me and my cousins and ourfriends were like, Yo, we have
the technology to make YouTubeand stuff way back then.
Why don't we do it?
I'm like, yeah, you're right.
We should do it.
he started uploading, streamingand then when I first started
streaming, I was so, I didn'tknow what the heck I was doing.
And then he walked me through itand it was just like, all right,
(24:43):
got to try it out.
I'll help you.
If you need help, you got this.
And if not now, sound fees,discard your own wings.
And this was like when Iactually started streaming
seriously cause when I firststarted, I was streaming like
once a month, once a week, causeI was like, eh, it's probably
not going to be for me becauseI'm camera shy.
I don't like being on camera.
I hate my voice.
So I have to hear my voice onstream a lot.
Same with videos.
So yeah, and then I didn't havea name at the time when we
(25:06):
started so we started is like2012 I ain't get my names with
the beast until like 2013.
once I got the name I was like,alright, Time for me to get out
my shell and be on camera.
I know I already hate being oncamera.
I'm camera shy.
I don't like my voice butstreaming has helped me grow out
of that shell.
So every time I stream I'm like,alright time to get on camera
now.
Back then, I was like, ugh, Igotta get a camera, but I still
(25:27):
hate my voice, but that's howit's gonna be, apparently.
my cousin helped me a lot, gotme started, and to the point
where he didn't have themotivation to stream, and I was
like, I still do.
It's more to the point where Ipassed him now, and my friends
were like, dang, the student hasto pass the master, huh?
I was like, no, it's just that Ikept going when he couldn't, or
didn't want to.
now we here today.
David Hernandez (25:48):
What is it about streaming that keeps you
motivated?
What keeps you coming back toit?
SquidDaBeast (25:53):
I'm going to sound like a broken record player like
this, but people I see in chatjust make my day.
Like I can't have the, I havethe worst days sometimes.
And then I'm like, all right,I'm not even gonna put my camera
on.
And then I stream.
Oh, I see the first five minutesof my stream.
Where's squid at?
Where your camera at?
All right, I'll put the cameraon.
Oh, look at that.
Look at that handsome guy rightthere.
(26:14):
I'm like, all right, thank you.
So they just cheer me up.
streaming is honestly great formy mental health, which I did
not like being on camera at all.
But now it's like, all right,for y'all, I got y'all because
y'all helped me out and I'mgonna help y'all By providing
great content for y'all or asbest as content as I can.
David Hernandez (26:32):
Special shout out to the calamari crew because
as you can See you keepSquidDaBeast going.
Is that right?
SquidDaBeast (26:37):
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I appreciate y'all.
David Hernandez (26:40):
Well, very cool, Squid.
So you've been a wonderfulguest.
but I have one last questionbefore we close this taco show.
you've obviously lived a verydifficult life.
I'd be foolish not to sayotherwise.
but throughout the entire time,you've always loved Pokemon.
What is it about Pokemon thatkeeps you coming back?
SquidDaBeast (26:57):
story, like I've watched the anime, the anime has
always been good to me.
I loved every season of theanime.
I loved every movie.
I have seven of them still inthis day.
It's my collection.
I have a bunch of YouTubersthat, signed my first movie DVD.
So I'm gonna bring that with meto GoFest this year.
So if you're coming on down toNew York and you would love to
sign my movie with a bunch ofother creators, you are more
(27:18):
than welcome to.
I'm getting a lot of signaturethis year.
I guess I still have my memoriesas a kid.
So the memories are looked onfor Pokemon songs from back then
when the show was airing.
So I just love everything aboutPokemon and just always keeps
coming to me back.
I don't know what it is, but Ijust feel like it's one thing I
can always resort to.
Lot of good memories
David Hernandez (27:39):
and memories to come because GoFest is not too
far away And if you want tocheck out squid the beast
because you're going to beentering his home turf He'll be
in new york city.
Are you going to be doing likesome kind of meetup?
Are you going to be goingsomewhere for people to come
meet with you and hang out?
SquidDaBeast (27:51):
So the first one to meet up, yes, actually I
already have a bunch of peopleThat's all right squid we're
gonna get behind you when you'regonna do a vlog and we're gonna
sing your intro behind you andi'm like Y'all don't have to,
y'all know that, right?
We know, but we doing it anyway,I'm like.
So you're just gonna hear abunch of people behind me
singing What's Up Danger andCan't Stop Me Now, cause that's
my intro song for YouTube.
(28:12):
we're thinking about doingkaraoke, I already, I got roped
into doing it, so I'm like,great.
But at the same time, Saturday,I'm gonna be in my Spider Man
costume at GoFest.
So, yeah.
If you see a white Spider Man,Future Foundation Spider Man
walking around, that is me, socome say hi.
I wear glasses and I will bewearing a mask on, so my glasses
would not be on and I am blindas a bat, so if you see me, say
(28:34):
hello, because if you walk pastme, I'm not going to see
anything.
You got to come up to me like,hello, squid the beast.
Can I get a picture?
Or I'm this person because if mymask is off fine, cause I'll
probably have my glasses on, butif I don't, and my mask is on, I
will not know what's going on.
I'm just letting you know thatright now.
So if you see me in a whiteSpider Man suit, please come say
hello.
There's been a rumor thatthey're gonna get me on stage at
(28:55):
Go Fest, so.
Oh yeah.
And I'm like, why?
David Hernandez (28:59):
are we gonna hear you sing the Pokemon theme
song for karaoke or you havelike list of songs lined up?
SquidDaBeast (29:03):
Maybe I don't want to do it, but they said I gotta
sing something.
So maybe but anyway.
Yeah, we'll see.
So you're coming to go Fest.
You see us Spider-Man FutureFoundation.
Please come say hello.
I love meeting the people.
So just tell me your name andget a picture or whatever.
Come say hello.
David Hernandez (29:20):
Well, thank you for coming on the show.
Before we do go, if people wantto check out your content, where
can they go?
By all means, please plug away.
SquidDaBeast (29:27):
Well, thank you for having me.
Number one.
And number two, you can find meon all social media at squid the
beast, S Q U I D D A B A S T.
Twitch, YouTube, Twitter,Instagram, and anywhere else,
SquidDaBeast.
David Hernandez (29:40):
Go Fest is coming up Hopefully we'll see
you there.
I'll make sure to include linksto everything they have to set
in the description of today'sepisode.
Thank you for listening to Asthe Pokéball Turns.
If you want to support the show,consider becoming a patron by
either clicking the link in thedescription or going to
patreon.com/asthepokéballturns.
Now here's a sneak peek for thenext episode of As the Pokéball
(30:01):
Turns.
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