John Ballen

And so I think that the one definite specific thing is I never made that content because I literally believed I'm the special guy and like everybody better look at me as like Mr. Navy SEAL. I was very aware of the fact that I was a junior SEAL relative to the other people that had served. And like my experience was minimal compared to others.

And so I think that the one definite specific thing is I never made that content because I literally believed I'm the special guy and like everybody better look at me as like Mr. Navy SEAL. I was very aware of the fact that I was a junior SEAL relative to the other people that had served. And like my experience was minimal compared to others.

So I think that some people think that I actually somehow believe that I'm like I'm a superhero. And I didn't then and I don't now. I'd say now sort of –

So I think that some people think that I actually somehow believe that I'm like I'm a superhero. And I didn't then and I don't now. I'd say now sort of –

Mr. Ballin side of things there's like a practical thing which is the as the sort of Mr. Ballin thing has grown to where it is now to where it's like a it's a pretty recognizable thing in in the genre of the strange dark and mysterious um it's been really really challenging for me personally to balance my my life with my wife and my three kids who I adore and sort of like you

Mr. Ballin side of things there's like a practical thing which is the as the sort of Mr. Ballin thing has grown to where it is now to where it's like a it's a pretty recognizable thing in in the genre of the strange dark and mysterious um it's been really really challenging for me personally to balance my my life with my wife and my three kids who I adore and sort of like you

you know, responsibilities with content. I mean, we have a recording schedule. We have things that I sort of have pledged to do. And as you know, with content creation, there's not really an end. You just sort of keep doing it. I think that by no means am I saying, like, oh, this job is so hard. People better sympathize with me. Hardly. Like, I understand the privilege.

you know, responsibilities with content. I mean, we have a recording schedule. We have things that I sort of have pledged to do. And as you know, with content creation, there's not really an end. You just sort of keep doing it. I think that by no means am I saying, like, oh, this job is so hard. People better sympathize with me. Hardly. Like, I understand the privilege.

But at the same time, like I started making content and it was like an outpouring of content constantly. I was making five videos a week sometimes that are like 25 minutes each by myself, like shooting it, editing it, everything. It was like it would take me about 26 hours or so per video over seven days. So it's like I really wasn't sleeping. I became like a raging alcoholic.

But at the same time, like I started making content and it was like an outpouring of content constantly. I was making five videos a week sometimes that are like 25 minutes each by myself, like shooting it, editing it, everything. It was like it would take me about 26 hours or so per video over seven days. So it's like I really wasn't sleeping. I became like a raging alcoholic.

I became like horribly overweight because it was like everything got pushed aside to make videos. And then as I realized that like doing content at that fervorish rate was really taking a toll on my physical health, my mental health, and definitely my relationship with my wife and kids, I began to sort of make an exchange. It was like I'm going to do less content for more time with my family.

I became like horribly overweight because it was like everything got pushed aside to make videos. And then as I realized that like doing content at that fervorish rate was really taking a toll on my physical health, my mental health, and definitely my relationship with my wife and kids, I began to sort of make an exchange. It was like I'm going to do less content for more time with my family.

And loads of people got that. It isn't like the masses were like, dude, you're a jerk. But I think what's happened now, and it's sort of a product of success, is we've reached a point, not just me, but we have a team that's pretty sizable. We have an amazing studio. We have publishing division. We have this. We have that.

And loads of people got that. It isn't like the masses were like, dude, you're a jerk. But I think what's happened now, and it's sort of a product of success, is we've reached a point, not just me, but we have a team that's pretty sizable. We have an amazing studio. We have publishing division. We have this. We have that.

We've reached a point where I think people view me as this corporate guy out to get money, when in reality, You were talking before the show, you're like, it's weird people say you're so successful when I don't even know what I'm doing. I'm still very much the guy that randomly made a video that went viral on TikTok.

We've reached a point where I think people view me as this corporate guy out to get money, when in reality, You were talking before the show, you're like, it's weird people say you're so successful when I don't even know what I'm doing. I'm still very much the guy that randomly made a video that went viral on TikTok.

And so one of the harder things for me has been as the audience grows, which I'm happy for, it's like you really have to understand that there are people that...

And so one of the harder things for me has been as the audience grows, which I'm happy for, it's like you really have to understand that there are people that...

don't like me anymore like have taken an issue with me and it's always this idea that like i'm somehow like this money-grubbing like corporate guy that is only in it to make money when in reality like as you've probably seen with this interview dude my default is i love telling stories i love this genre always have and like i also i kind of like being my own boss to a degree so it's like it checks a lot of boxes for me do you ever worry that you've got your priorities wrong

don't like me anymore like have taken an issue with me and it's always this idea that like i'm somehow like this money-grubbing like corporate guy that is only in it to make money when in reality like as you've probably seen with this interview dude my default is i love telling stories i love this genre always have and like i also i kind of like being my own boss to a degree so it's like it checks a lot of boxes for me do you ever worry that you've got your priorities wrong