Guest: Pokemon Legend Michael Pramawat

Guest: Pokemon Legend Michael Pramawat

Interested in the personal battles against addiction? This episode takes an unexpected detour by focusing on competitive Pokémon – and yet, the mindset talk will still appeal to anyone who enjoys structure, discipline and honest self‑assessment. Corey and Jared sit down with seven‑time regional champion Michael Pramawat, a long‑time force in the Pokémon trading card game.

Michael walks through his journey from clueless kid with a 20/20/20 deck split to one of the most decorated players in the United States, sharing how the game stayed fun even as the stakes and prize money grew.

You’ll hear him break down “golden ages” of the game, what made certain formats enjoyable or miserable, and why the Sword & Shield era “was probably one of the worst designed eras Pokémon has ever produced.” He explains, in clear and relaxed language, how huge tournament attendance has changed the feel of events – more prize support and visibility, but fewer of those small‑room, everyone‑knows‑everyone moments.

Yet he insists, “the everyday player is the lifeblood of the game,” a reminder that elite competition is built on casual participation. For strategy fans, Michael talks through his NAIC Dragapult/Charizard run, why he still rates the list, and how time limits and tight play in day two can turn tiny missteps into huge results. He also shares candid views on tournament structures, round length, and why best‑of‑three in 50 minutes “is kind of nonsense”.

Beyond the cards, there’s useful perspective on handling pressure and opinion: Michael keeps a strong voice online but frames everything as opinion, not absolute truth, and stays open to changing his mind as new information appears. That kind of grounded confidence will resonate with anyone trying to balance passion, competitiveness and humility—whether at the card table or in life. What parts of your own routine could use that mix of honesty and flexibility?