In this episode of Don’t Feed the Animals, James takes a step back from heavy introspection and leans into something simpler. A list. Specifically, the things in life that sound great in theory but don’t always hold up in practice. From waking up early and hustle culture to turning passions into work, being low maintenance, staying constantly connected, running every day, and believing you’re supposed to have life all figured out, James reflects on how expectations shift once you’re actually living inside these ideas. The episode isn’t about having answers or cracking some universal code. It’s about honesty, adjustment, and showing up imperfectly while figuring things out in real time. A grounded, reflective solo conversation about intent over image, consistency over intensity, and choosing what actually works instead of what just sounds good.

James reconnects with his original co-host Chris Rojas for a relaxed conversation that blends old chemistry with who they are now. They talk about where life has taken them, how their perspectives have changed, and what it feels like to record together again after so much time away. The episode is simple, honest, and focused on catching up without pretending to be the people they were before.

In this episode, I talk about a hilarious girls’ night parody video that accidentally opened a much bigger conversation about hype culture, accountability, and how differently we see ourselves compared to how others see us. I introduce a fictional app called PerceptionSwap, a tool that pretends to boost your aesthetic but secretly forces honesty by showing you what you really look like through someone else’s eyes. It becomes a doorway into vanity, self-awareness, and why so many of us are living as characters instead of ourselves. It is funny, real, and a little uncomfortable in all the right ways.

James reflects on how a morning run sparked a realization about discernment—why so many people chase trends without intention, and how rare it is to choose things for real reasons. From Starbucks cup mania to everyday decision-making, this episode breaks down the difference between impulse and meaning. Quick, honest, and grounded, with Mac’s squeaks keeping things real.

I’ve been filling every in-between moment with noise—music, podcasts, clips—and I’m starting to wonder what that’s costing me. So I’m trying boredom on purpose: one silent commute, one headphone-free dog walk, and ten minutes in a chair with no goal—then seeing what the quiet says back. Along the way: 90s-kid imagination, why “relaxing” isn’t the same as rest, and how hot takes age when we finally sit with nothing.

On Halloween morning, James talks honestly about why the dark isn’t a mood but a tool. He makes the case that darkness resets the body, gives the mind contrast, and offers the heart a safe room to feel. With Brooklyn shop-run memories, a grounded Donnie Darko setup, a single line from The Crow, and a simple plan for Wicked Manors, he keeps it conversational and a little sarcastic while inviting listeners to mark the night with one small, real ritual.

James reflects on the fine line between movement and fulfillment. From early morning shifts to creative streaks, he examines the difference between being driven and being alive. This episode dives into the loops we fall into when we confuse progress for purpose, and the quiet clarity that comes from realigning with our “why.” Through honest introspection and grounded storytelling, James explores what it means to keep showing up with intention, to chase more than motion, and to let meaning guide the pace.

James and his brother Chris dive headfirst into the radioactive chaos of The Toxic Avenger — revisiting the 1984 cult classic before comparing it to the 2023 remake. The episode opens in the sleazy, sweat-soaked world of Tromaville, where gym rats, toxic waste, and unhinged villains collide in a symphony of bad taste and glorious gore.

Through sharp commentary and ridiculous trivia — from exploding melon heads to the film’s bizarre production stories — James guides listeners through each twisted moment of the original while Chris reacts, riffs, and debates whether the mayhem holds up today.

The brothers then fast-forward forty years to unpack the modern reimagining: a cleaner, star-studded version starring Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, and Kevin Bacon. Without giving away spoilers, they discuss how the new film updates the grime, humor, and heart of the original, balancing nostalgia with modern sensibilities.

Funny, fast-paced, and packed with behind-the-scenes nuggets, this episode celebrates everything that makes The Toxic Avenger timeless — proving that no matter the decade, there’s always room for a hero who smells like garbage.