A New Lens

BigDorkyKong is back for Part 2… allegedly. In this episode of A New Lens, the conversation keeps going with BigDorkyKong as we dive deeper into streaming, internet culture, comedy, life stories, and the kind of random tangents that only happen when two friends sit down and just start talking. This is the second half of our long-form conversation, and if Part 1 was the warm-up, Part 2 is where the...

In this episode of A New Lens , I sit down with my friend and Twitch streamer BigDorkyKong for what can only be described as an allegedly structured conversation. We talk about streaming, online communities, content, comedy, friendship, random stories, and whatever else we somehow ended up yapping about. This is one of those episodes where the conversation goes wherever it wants to go, and honestl...

Vietnam is not what you think. In this episode of A New Lens , Sam returns to talk about his trip through Vietnam and the side of travel that does not always show up in the usual tourist version. This conversation is about getting outside the standard travel guide experience, seeing a place more honestly, and finding the unexpected moments that make a trip memorable. We talk about Vietnam’s food,...

beep boop robots

I would write a real description, but it feels like it defeats the purpose

Everyone should work retail or hospitality at least once, but no one deserves to be treated badly while doing it. In this episode of A New Lens, I talk about why I think retail, hospitality, and customer service jobs can genuinely build character. They force you to communicate with different types of people, handle uncomfortable situations, develop patience, build soft skills, and get real-world r...

In this episode of A New Lens Book Club, we review Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and break down one of the book’s biggest ideas: success is not just about hard work. Gladwell argues that the people we call “outliers” are often shaped by hidden advantages, timing, culture, opportunity, family background, practice, and systems that help them rise. From the 10,000-hour rule to the role of luck and env...

One year of A New Lens. In this episode, I look back on the first year of making videos, building this channel, and figuring out what A New Lens has become. This was supposed to be a simple one-year review, but like most good conversations, it turned into something bigger. I talk about what changed, what I learned, how the channel has evolved, and the unexpected side quests that came with trying t...

What if success doesn’t make you happy? In this episode of A New Lens, we talk about the quiet fear that many people avoid: what happens when the thing you have been chasing no longer fulfills you? What if you spend your whole life trying to reach the finish line, only to get there and realize you still feel empty? This conversation explores ambition, purpose, burnout, identity, success, happiness...

Fire!!!

Stay Safe Out There

yayy!

Green is not a creative color...

Find your strength

We're so cooked

wake up...

Book Club Ep. 10: The Tao Te Ching Some books do not shout. They whisper, and somehow say more. In this episode, we dive into The Tao Te Ching, one of the most influential philosophical texts ever written, and unpack why its message still feels powerful today. From stillness and surrender to humility, balance, and inner strength, this book offers a different way of moving through life, one that fe...

Mixed signals are not a love language. In this video, we talk about a simple truth that too many people ignore: if they like you, you won’t be confused. Real interest brings clarity. It brings effort, consistency, and intention. If you are constantly guessing, second guessing, decoding texts, or wondering where you stand, that uncertainty may already be your answer. This conversation is for anyone...

In Book Club Ep. 9, we’re having an honest, free-flow conversation about How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie and what actually holds up today. We talk about the difference between being “nice” and being real, why criticism usually backfires, how to make people feel seen without being fake, and how the idea of “influence” can be used ethically (or turned into manipulation). If yo...

Too many people live as if they are an afterthought in their own life. In this episode, we talk about what it really means to treat yourself like someone important. Not in an arrogant way. Not in a fake self-love quote kind of way. But in a real, grounded way that changes how you carry yourself, what you tolerate, how you speak to yourself, and what you believe you deserve. This is a conversation...

In Book Club Ep. 8, I’m diving into Joe Dispenza and two of his most talked-about books: You Are the Placebo and Becoming Supernatural. We break down the big ideas in the books, what Dispenza is really claiming about the mind-body connection, and how belief, repetition, and meditation are framed as tools for change. I also share what resonated with me, what I’m still questioning, and how these con...

In this episode of A New Lens, we break down the difference between perspective vs perception and how that gap can shape relationships, self-worth, and the way people treat you. We talk about why some people give advice they don’t follow, how “good intentions” get misunderstood, and why genuinely good people often end up getting taken advantage of. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing the right t...

If depression has been making you disappear from people you care about, I want you to hear this clearly: you’re not broken, and you’re not alone. In this episode, I talk about how depression can shrink your world—how it affects your relationships, your energy, your work, and your sense of self. Not with shame. Not with “just be positive.” With honesty, compassion, and a reminder that needing help...

Sometimes the story hurting you is the one you repeat in your own mind. In this episode, we talk about the power of self-talk and the ways our internal narratives can shape the life we live. The beliefs you carry about yourself, your past, your worth, and your future can either free you or quietly keep you stuck. This is a conversation about limiting beliefs, identity, emotional healing, and learn...

happy new year!