Episodes

He lost his best friend but every time he taps a PokéStop, it’s like they’re walking together again.

We meet Shiny King, the Pokémon GO Community Ambassador in London, Ontario, Canada, whose journey from nostalgic fan to local leader is rooted in love, loss, and legacy. From rediscovering Pokémon through his child to honoring a best friend lost too soon, Shiny King shares how Pokémon GO helped him rebuild connection, purpose, and community after everything felt silent. You’ll hear how one man t...

What if everything you loved about Pokémon was taken away, not once, but again and again? And yet...you kept coming back.

The creator behind the Unova Region Champion Black Facebook page shares a powerful journey of resilience, rediscovery, and rebuilding. From having Pokémon taken away by family, to stolen cards, lost consoles, and a shattered childhood, Sharpie found his way back through grit, community, and the comforting chaos of a Sunflora solo run. You'll hear how a stolen Game Boy, a gra...

She thought her Pokémon days were over…until a Cleffa figurine and a Facebook page brought it all back, and this time, she wasn’t alone.

The creator of Cleffa Doing Stuff shares how a lost childhood collection, a supportive partner, and a tiny fairy Pokémon helped her rediscover joy through the Pokemon TCG, social media storytelling, and the magic of everyday moments. From pink sleeves to plush-filled memories, it’s a journey that proves there’s no wrong way to be a fan and no dream too small t...

What if the Pokémon that never got picked...ended up choosing you? For Oshagod, the bond with Oshawott wasn’t just about a favorite, it became a reflection of his perseverance, personality, and purpose. We dive into his journey from a quiet childhood admiration to becoming a Twitch streamer who shares stories, shines light on autism, and reclaims confidence after losing his job during the pandemic. Through shiny hunting, in-game empathy, and lifelong connection to the anime, Oshagod reveals ...

What if your first Pokémon game wasn’t from the '90s…but your art still lived there? For SageDeoxys, a sprite animator inspired by Johto-era pixel art, limitations weren’t barriers, they were invitations. In this episode, we explore how one fan turned a childhood love of the anime and Pokémon cards into a creative journey that bridges generations. From discovering the Gen II aesthetic through ROM hacks to crafting a sprite-based dream Pokédex, SageDeoxys shares how nostalgia, friendship, and...

What do Pokémon, cancer recovery, and heavy metal have in common? For PokeCello, the answer is everything.

In this heartfelt episode, musician and cancer survivor PokeCello shares how Pokémon Legends: Arceus became a lifeline during recovery and how remixing classic Pokémon music with a cello became a love letter to the community that carried them through. From childhood playground memories to emotional moments with Team Star, this story weaves nostalgia, resilience, and creativity into somethi...

We dive deep with Kuroblitz, creator of the YouTube channel known for “the lore hub of everything Pokémon-related.” What started as a curiosity about Pokémon lore became a calling for building videos that analyze Pokédex entries, region design, and mythological connections with respect to canon and Pokemon lore.

Kuroblitz shares his process for turning ideas into narrative-driven videos, how he balances storytelling with research, and why he believes the soul of the franchise lies in its myster...

It started with one card but became a daily ritual, a time capsule, and a community of people healing, laughing, and remembering how it felt to chase something just for the joy of it.

ShadowlessRed shares how a 500+ day journey to pull a Crown Zenith Deoxys VMAX turned into something far more meaningful. What began as a single Pokémon card chase grew into a tradition that helped viewers through heart attacks, breakups, and burnout. From nostalgic memories of playing Pokémon Crystal with a white...

What if your childhood hobby could become your future? For Cameron and Noah, two high school friends turned business partners, that “what if” became Johto Jems, a heartfelt blend of Pokémon nostalgia, late-night ambition, and vending table hustle.

In this episode, we follow the duo’s journey from a 3AM business plan to their very first card show. They share what it means to grow a brand from scratch, why Pokemon X and Y will always be their favorite era, and how meaningful moments like giving a...

What if your childhood passion became your adult legacy? For Adellion, Pokémon didn’t fade, it leveled up with him.

In this powerful episode, we hear how one of Pokémon GO’s most respected community leaders went from organizing local raids to casting on the global stage for Play Pokémon. From washed-up Charizard Pokemon cards to launching the Devon Corporation, Adellion’s story is a masterclass in passion, leadership, and legacy. Whether it’s grassroots PvP, commentary, or building communities ...

From Pokémon Red to rediscovering the franchise through Pokémon Platinum, KojinAtojin’s journey is one of nostalgia, neurodiversity, and creative expression. After growing up with Pokémon during the height of its Gen 1 craze, his relationship with the franchise took a new turn, first through performance and cosplay, then through rekindled friendships in Pokémon GO.

KojinAtojin shares how mental health, autism, and ADHD shaped his early experience with gaming and how Pokémon provided comfort, cu...

Juddigon shares his unlikely journey from wine sommelier to full-time shiny hunting Twitch streamer. Known for his high-energy reactions and deeply heartfelt content, Juddigon reflects on reconnecting with Pokémon during college, grieving the loss of his father and friend, and building a community that offers comfort, laughter, and belonging.

He opens up about the impact of growing up in the Philippines during the height and fall of the Pokémon craze, navigating childhood without his father, an...

What happens when your first Pokémon game becomes your lifelong comfort franchise? As The Pokeball Turns welcomes dejamewmew, a cozy VTuber and Twitch streamer who built her brand around her love for Mew, pink aesthetics, and the emotional connection she felt with the Sinnoh region. Her Pokémon journey began with Pokémon Diamond on the Nintendo DS, and it’s been a space of nostalgia, discovery, and creativity ever since. From choosing Infernape and Lucario as childhood team staples to bonding...

What does it take to run one of the longest-standing Pokémon fan sites online? PokeJungle is a fan-driven Pokémon news site that began in 2003 and rose to popularity during the Generation 5 era. Starting with Neopets guilds to breaking major Pokémon game updates, PokeJungle shares how his blog evolved alongside the Pokémon community. PokeJungle dives into the emotional impact of Pokémon Crystal, what made Pokemon Diamond & Pearl fall flat, and why Pokemon Black & White stands out as a...

From level 80 Pidgeot solo runs to shiny-filled Twitch streams, this is the story of BunearyQueenAlexis starting with battling Brock with a hopeless Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow to building a full shiny living dex in Sword and Shield. You'll hear how Pokémon GO turned her into a shiny magnet, and the origin of her “Buneary Queen” title, her love-hate relationship with soft resets, and how Twitch streaming became her post-work therapy.

Whether you’re into shiny hunting, Nuzlockes, or nostalgic memo...

What happens when you try to beat Pokémon Yellow with minimum battles, no items, EXP grinding, or stat boosts?

In this episode of As the Pokéball Turns, the creator behind RBY Pokémon Challenges on YouTube shares his history with the Pokemon franchise and inspiration behind his brutally difficult Gen 1 solo runs and GameShark fueled experiments. Starting with Pokémon Blue to mastering minimum battle runs, RBY Pokemon Challenges shares how nostalgia, strategy, and personal perseverance shaped hi...

From teaching in Australia to casting on the global Pokémon Unite stage, Kelosaurus shares how Pokémon helped her rediscover her identity, embrace her gamer roots, and find unexpected connection from Tokyo arcades to Twitch streams. We talk first games, emotional Worlds debuts, and how trading tokens with a kid who didn’t speak her language became one of her most meaningful Pokémon moments. Whether she’s battling with Sylveon or balancing life as a creator, her story is full of warmth, growth, a...

When the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Pokémon GO could have easily been forgotten. Instead, it became something more. It became a lifeline of hope and community for Pokemon Trainers living in Ukraine.

In this episode of As The Pokeball Turns, we meet the Community Ambassadors of Pokémon GO Ukraine as they share how they rebuilt their shattered local communities, found moments of peace during wartime, and used Pokémon GO as a way to support each other through unimaginable challenges. Fr...

WizzlerPlays, creator of Nuzlocke & Load, and Twitch streamer, shares how a childhood love for Pokémon in Hoenn evolved into building one of Twitch’s biggest Nuzlocke tournaments. From Treecko nostalgia and favorite Dragon-types to tournament logistics, streaming breakthroughs, and community-building, this conversation dives deep into both his personal journey and the Nuzlocke format itself. We explore how Wizzler found purpose by helping first-time streamers, small creators, and curious fans fi...

Ricardo, founder of HTXPokeCollectors, shares how flea market toys, Pokémon Yellow, and post-pandemic creativity sparked his journey from nostalgic Trainer to small business owner. We talk about his mission to spotlight Pokemon plushies, Pokemon figures, and authentic Pokemon merch often overlooked in favor of the Pokemon TCG scene. From battling early challenges to navigating import tariffs, Ricardo opens up about the real-life hustle of building a Pokémon-centered brand rooted in passion, acce...

MamaTurbo shares the moving story of her son TheTrueTurbo, a passionate Pokémon fan, Shiny Hunter, and Twitch streamer who lived with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). From childhood memories to his transition into streaming during the pandemic, she reflects on TheTrueTurbo’s resilience, his love for gaming, and the incredible community that rallied around him. The conversation also explores the emotional weight of his passing and the legacy he left behind, not only as a creator, but as a source of...

Detective Mocha, a Shiny Hunter and Twitch streamer, shares how her Pokémon journey began with the Pokemon anime before transitioning into Pokemon Emerald and how it’s grown into a full-fledged passion for hunting Shiny Pokemon. DetectiveMocha opens up about hiding her love for Pokémon in school, stepping into the world of Twitch streaming, and learning to balance authenticity with community expectations. From nostalgic moments to modern-day gameplay challenges, her story is a thoughtful look at...

Bootlegflanders, a visually impaired Pokémon Trainer, shares how he’s navigated the Pokémon world with creativity, resilience, and heart. From his first battles in Pokemon LeafGreen and Pokémon Stadium to adapting to the challenges of modern games like Pokemon Sword and Shield, Bootlegflanders opens up about what the franchise means to him. He also dives into his passion for competitive battling and reflects on how important accessibility is for fans with disabilities. This is a powerful, inspir...

We sit down with DragonTamerTom, a Pokémon Trainer and Twitch streamer known for his passion for Dragon-type Pokémon and shiny hunting.

DragonTamerTom opens up about growing up fascinated by dragons, the evolution of his creative interests, and how Pokémon has remained a meaningful thread through it all. He shares heartfelt stories of friendship, especially the lasting influence of his late friend TheTrueTurbo, and reflects on the highs and lows of being a content creator.

Tune in to hear how ...