My First Podcast Guest Experience: Insights and Reflections

Even though I spent 4 hours traveling to meet them, almost got scammed 200 pesos for motorcycle fare, and nearly got lost, this moment wandering in Manila taught me valuable lessons. It's hard to put into words, but people here seem rushed, it's noisy, polluted and crowded. People take advantage of others' ignorance, but they won't escape the rat race if they play that game.

In the podcast, I shared with them why I stopped content creation—my account was hacked, and I experienced burnout from sharing my stories through vlogs. We also discussed our content creation journeys, including Kuya Shane's insights.

After that...

We decided to meet at Hobby Stadium for a conversation. There, we started discussing various topics. Sir Stanley is a master of conversation; he kept it going for 2AM. He's a pro at keeping conversations lively. I admire his outspokenness. Mitch and I met first at Hobby Station; she hugged me immediately upon seeing me. She's genuine, open, and kind. I told her I don't eat late at night but ended up ordering food later at Master Kebab.

We started around 9 with Mitch and me; Sir Stan joined us later, and the conversation didn't stop. Afterward, we switched places."

During our conversation, Kuya Shane, who arrived last but was always present during Manila meetups, shared his unconventional ideas and mindset, which Sir Stan and Mitch found amusingly crazy. Kuya Shane should listen to his wife, they said.

Of course, I laughed along with them because Sir Stan combined it with humor. They're fun to be with. Sir Stan, who shared a lot with us about his life in the entertainment industry, said it's very rare for artists to have genuine friendships—most are fake. It's quite fascinating to hear these sides of stories, giving me a glimpse into the entertainment industry.

On the other hand, Mitch shared with me how to enter the film industry. She said that the bigger your network, the more opportunities you have. She suggested I could intern with a director I admire, but the problem is, I don't have one in the Philippines. She also added I could create user-generated content, do brand deal reviews, and profit from making videos for brands.

Sir Stanley added that joining competitions is a way to attract people. Not all winners succeed, but many are discovered and some are hired by agencies because they're cheaper to start with, as they begin their careers, which Mitch agreed with.

During our conversation, Kuya Shane had a very different mindset. He had these risky and explorative thoughts that Sir Stan and Mitch found crazy. But on our way home, he shared more of his thoughts, life experiences, and how he built his unhealthy work ethic.

He is motivational and thinks outside the box. He shared his plans and his 6-7 years of driving around Manila. He is open, thoughtful, and systematic. He gave me a free ride from QC to Pasay. They even pointed out where hook-up girls were located along our way.

Overall, my experience with them was very fun and enlightening. They gave me a different perspective on life, and the way they treated me—Mitch paid for my late dinner of hommus and pita—was very kind and diverse. They made me aspire to become better and to meet them again in person.