Welcome to The Apex Mindset Podcast!

In this episode, I sit down with Robert Mora, owner of Star Comics, a shop that's been part of the Lubbock community for 40+ years and a cornerstone of pop culture collecting in West Texas.

From growing up around comics to building a store that has adapted through decades of industry shifts, Robert shares the real story behind what it takes to survive—and thrive—in a world where trends, customers, and entire markets are constantly evolving. We dive into the business of comics and collectibles, from high-end statues and distributor challenges to the realities of used books, online sales, and why physical media continues to hold its ground.

We talk about the psychology of collecting, the different types of collectors, and how Robert's personal philosophy shaped Star Comics into something more than just a store—it's a living collection. This conversation also explores the bigger picture of pop culture—Image Comics as a creator-driven model, the rise of manga, the impact of corporate control on Marvel and DC, and what it really takes to create stories that last. From Absolute Batman to the future of comics in 2026, Robert breaks down the trends shaping the next generation of storytelling.

We also get into marketing, customer experience, and what it means to build a space—physical or digital—that people actually want to be part of.

From Lubbock-Con to Free Comic Book Day, this is a conversation about community, consistency, and staying relevant without losing your identity.

Chapters:

00:00 - The Statue Market Breakdown | Why High-End Collectibles Don't Always Make Sense

10:18 - McFarlane vs. Mattel | Corporate Buyouts & the Struggle for Control

12:30 - Sports Cards & Fantasy Football | The Hidden RPG World of Collecting

14:52 - Before the Comics | The Origin Story of Star Comics

17:56 - Used Comics vs. Digital | Why Physical Media Refuses to Die

20:32 - Growing Up in Comics | Star Wars Treasury Editions & Robert's Story

22:23 - The Psychology of Collecting | Why Everyone Collects Differently

24:48 - The Store Is the Collection | Robert's Unique Approach to Ownership

27:13 - More Than a Comic Shop | Lubbock-Con & Building Community

31:43 - The University Effect | New Faces, New Trends Every Year

33:59 - Back Issues, Newsstands & Direct Editions | The Evolution of Comic Buyers

35:29 - The Rise of Absolute Batman | Trends, Manga & the Future of Storytelling

38:38 - Inside Image Comics | Creator Power, Value & Market Demand

41:40 - What Makes a Story Last? | Building Perennial Pop Culture

48:10 - Marvel, DC & the IP Wars | Corporate Control & Zack Snyder vs. James Gunn

57:10 - The Next Era of Comics (2026) | Trends, Shifts & Robert's Picks

1:07:00 - Marketing That Actually Works | Consistency, Service & Showing Up

1:17:23 - Designing a Store That Feels Like Home | Environment Marketing

1:22:00 - The Digital Storefront | Translating Experience Into Online Design

1:28:15 - eCommerce Realities | Convenience, Branding & When to Fire Customers

Thanks For Watching!

Follow Star Comics:

Website: https://www.starcomicsonline.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starcomicsonline/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starcomics/

FOLLOW:

https://www.ethanpeal.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal

X - https://x.com/ethanApeal

#TheApexMindsetPodcast #comics #comicart #marvel #dccomics #marketing #digitalmarketing

Welcome to The Apex Mindset Podcast!

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and bass teacher, John Reid, a professor and performing professional musician whose journey through sound, stages, classrooms, and studios has shaped more players than most people will ever realize. From discovering Steppenwolf and choosing the low end, to navigating early bands, career pivots, and the realities of making a life in music, John shares the moments that defined him, playing bass as a left-hander in a right-handed world, and the musicians who influenced his path.

We talk groove vs. technique, why bass is more than "just rhythm," the truth behind the "failed guitarist" myth, and how music theory becomes a language, not a rulebook. John also reflects on teaching at South Plains College, what it really takes to pursue music as a career having lived the life himself, and why passion sometimes evolves into purpose.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

00:53 - The Beatles & the Spark That Started It All

02:00 - Left-Handed, Right-Handed: Playing Bass Backwards

04:10 - Why Bass? John's First Love

06:15 - The Gibson eb-0 & The "Mudbucker"

07:17 - From Underage Prodigy to Sound Tech to Texas: A Career Pivot

16:20 - Finding His Lane at South Plains College

17:50 - Why Teaching Became the Real Calling

18:58 - Canadian Bands, Cold Winters & What-Ifs

19:53 - Early Days at SPC: Patience & Personalities

22:10 - First Bands, Gigs, First Lessons

23:45 - Jerry Serrano, Alma Quartet & Recording Solitude

38:38 - Genre Shapes Technique: Playing Across Styles

40:50 - Pick vs Fingers: Finding the Right Feel

45:25 - Groove vs Technique: Speaking the Language of Bass

50:27 - Are Bassists Just Failed Guitarists? (Let's Set That Straight)

54:23 - The Bass Player's Role: Locking in With the Band

58:03 - What John's Working On Now

1:03:46 - Current Influences & Live Playthroughs

1:10:00 - The Reality of a Music Career: Fitting Into the Nashville Mold

Thanks For Watching!

Follow John:

https://www.spccreativearts.com/home/john-reid/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/john.reid.7509/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/reidjohnfrederick/

FOLLOW:

https://www.ethanpeal.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal

X - https://x.com/ethanApeal

Purchase the Album "Solitude" Here! - https://almaquartet1.bandcamp.com/album/solitude

Listen to the Full Album - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ki9MQcU_xm_qKxdVaeqyX2TRLGF2kL3q8

Purchase Vinyl "Legends In Their Spare Time" Here! - https://www.discogs.com/release/2248142-Mackinaw-Legends-In-Their-Spare-Time?srsltid=AfmBOoqaIkOw4oKMjmg7JadGcmZF7dQW0pNGxdtEN2DlCkDqZLY06KDH

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7kYPLDW2Ew&list=RDd7kYPLDW2Ew&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rhup_Ikblo&list=RD4rhup_Ikblo&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvfTO-mErzM&list=RDXvfTO-mErzM&start_radio=1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_T.

#TheApexMindsetPodcast #bass #performingarts #musictheory #music

Welcome to the Apex Mindset Podcast!

In this Episode of The Roundtable, I sat down with Cody West, Director of Marketing at Wylie & Son, Inc. Owner & Broadcaster at West 11 Sports and ex-Radio DJ with over 20 years behind the mic ...

Radio shaped Cody's voice, discipline, and understanding of community. From owning a station to building West 11 Sports to navigating the rise of streaming and smartphones, this episode follows Cody's journey of adaptation and reinvention. We also explore the philosophy of advertising, the power of storytelling, and how those lessons carried directly into his transition into marketing leadership.

If you're interested in broadcasting, marketing, storytelling, or what it takes to evolve with changing technology while staying true to your purpose, this one is for you.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

01:11 - Growing Up in Andrews, TX: Life in the Permian Basin (1980s)

02:58 - Catching the Radio Bug: First Steps in Pecos, Texas

07:05 - The Power of AM & FM: Building Local Broadcasts

09:28 - Local Fame & Legendary Beginnings: When Radio Made Stars

10:55 - Radio's Golden Age: The Era That Shaped Everything

12:25 - Owning KTTZ-AM: Packing Up and Starting Over in Littlefield

17:34 - Behind the Mic: What Running a Radio Station Really Takes

19:59 - When Disaster Strikes: Tornado Scare & EBS

21:32 - Selling and Philosophy of Advertising

28:51 - Radio in the Modern Age: Smartphones, Streaming & Change

36:49 - West 11 Sports Is Born: Returning to Live Broadcasting

48:05 - The Grind Behind the Scenes: Family, Travel & Flexibility

50:15 - A Major Transition: West 11 Sports Closes & Wylie Begins

55:59 - Stepping Into Marketing: A New Role, A New Passion

58:25 - Crafting the Voice: What Makes a Great Radio Sound

1:01:48 - Rediscovering Purpose: From Broadcasting to Marketing

1:06:57 - Building a Story: What Makes Marketing Successful

1:07:41 - Taking Calculated Risks: Designing the Life You Want

1:10:02 - Reinvention: Lessons Learned & Looking Ahead

Thanks For Watching!

FOLLOW:

https://www.ethanpeal.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal

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Resources:

https://storybrand.com

https://wyliesprayers.com/

#TheApexMindsetPodcast #radio #marketing #wylieimplementandspraycenter #littlefieldtx #reinvention