As The Pokeball Turns

David Hernandez
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Video Games
  • Weekly

Every Trainer has a story. As The Pokéball Turns is a Pokémon podcast sharing real stories from Trainers around the world. From Pokémon communities to lifelong friendships, we explore how Pokémon shapes lives and builds connections across the games, the TCG, and beyond. Hear from creators, community leaders, and everyday Trainers as they share what makes Pokémon more than just a game. 🎧 New episodes every Wednesday Follow the podcast to hear more voices, more journeys, and more memories. One voice, one journey, one memory at a time. Your next Pokémon adventure begins here!

  1. 6d ago

    "Jolteon's Agility Through Every Chapter" ft. The Prancing Ponyta | TRAINER'S EYE #198 -

    They stole her Game Boy. They stole her Pokémon games. But they never managed to take away her love for Pokémon. In this episode of As The Pokéball Turns, The Prancing Ponyta, shares a Pokémon journey that began with an unexpected encounter with Jolteon during a difficult childhood. Growing up through her parents' divorce and experiencing bullying at school, The Prancing Ponyta found companionship, comfort, and friendship through Pokémon. Even when classmates stole her Game Boy and games, her love for the franchise endured. That passion eventually grew into decades of Pokémon TCG friendships, a shared hobby with her husband, and opportunities to travel internationally as a Pokémon UNITE judge. The Prancing Ponyta also opens up about losing her mother, stepping away from streaming, and navigating the emotional changes surrounding UNITE's departure from the World Championships. Through it all, Pokémon has remained connected to the people and memories that shaped her life because sometimes the greatest thing a game gives us isn't an adventure to escape into. It's a reason to keep connecting with the world around us. Listen now and discover the experiences behind Laura's Pokémon story. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit our website: www.asthepokeballturns.com Join Our Discord Community! https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRt Mailing Address P.O Box 117 Addison, TX, 75001 Your next Pokemon adventure begins here! Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company International.

    "Jolteon's Agility Through Every Chapter" ft. The Prancing Ponyta | TRAINER'S EYE #198 -

  2. Oct 21

    "Turtwig's Tackle Toward The Credits" ft. Mr Tadd | TRAINER'S EYE #197

    What if the Pokémon game that shaped your childhood inspired you to create one for somebody else? For Mr Tadd, that journey began with Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, where a mischievous little Turtwig became his first partner Pokémon and sparked a lifelong appreciation for video games. Mr Tadd reflects on his favorite Sinnoh memories, his fascination with Pokémon's storytelling, and how growing up with the franchise inspired him to study game design. He also shares his perspective on the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remakes, the mysterious character N from Pokémon Black and White, and why he continues returning to each new generation. But beyond playing Pokémon, Mr Tadd has a dream of seeing his name in the credits of a Pokémon game. Not for recognition, but for the possibility that something he creates could inspire another child the way Pokémon once inspired him. Sometimes the greatest adventure isn't the one we experience. It's the one we help someone else discover. Listen now and discover the dream behind his Pokémon story. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit our website: www.asthepokeballturns.com Join Our Discord Community! https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRt Mailing Address P.O Box 117 Addison, TX, 75001 Your next Pokemon adventure begins here! Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company International.

    "Turtwig's Tackle Toward The Credits" ft. Mr Tadd | TRAINER'S EYE #197

  3. Oct 14

    "When Luxray's Spark Found Me Again" ft. SelfMadeSandwhich | TRAINER'S EYE #196

    He started selling his childhood Pokémon cards to get through a difficult chapter of life. What he found instead was a community that helped him keep going. In this episode of As The Pokéball Turns, David Hernandez welcomes SelfMadeSandwhich, a lifelong Pokémon fan whose journey began with Pokémon Yellow and eventually grew into a love for Sinnoh, Luxray, and the Pokémon TCG. But when financial hardship and divorce brought unexpected challenges, he began selling childhood Pokémon cards to help provide for his daughter. What started as a difficult necessity eventually introduced him to a welcoming community of collectors who offered friendship, encouragement, and support. Through Paldean Fates, opening packs with friends, and attending the Pokémon World Championships, he rediscovered the joy of collecting and learned that meaningful connections matter more than expensive cards. Today, he's embracing collecting on his own terms, appreciating everything from valuable illustration rares to inexpensive Luxray cards sometimes the most valuable things Pokémon gives us aren't found inside booster packs. They're the people we meet along the way. Listen now and discover the friendships behind his Pokémon journey. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit our website: www.asthepokeballturns.com Join Our Discord Community! https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRt Mailing Address P.O Box 117 Addison, TX, 75001 Your next Pokemon adventure begins here! Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company International.

    "When Luxray's Spark Found Me Again" ft. SelfMadeSandwhich | TRAINER'S EYE #196

  4. Oct 7

    "Lucario UNITES His Aura By Close Combat" ft. SteelAgentKyle | TRAINER'S EYE #195

    Sometimes finding your voice begins by realizing you can't sound like somebody else. SteelAgentKyle shares a Pokémon journey stretching from Pokémon Blue and childhood battles to becoming a commentator and organizer within the Pokémon UNITE community. SteelAgentKyle reflects on why gaming has always been a way to connect with friends, how UNITE's team-based gameplay gave him something different from every other Pokémon experience, and the moment watching competitive UNITE convinced him to pursue casting himself. But becoming a commentator required practice, uncomfortable early attempts, and one important lesson: stop trying to become the people who inspired him and discover his own voice. He also discusses navigating setbacks within competitive UNITE and why, regardless of what happens on the official stage, his commitment remains with the grassroots community and Underdunk, the long-running tournament helping everyone from newcomers to experienced competitors find somewhere to play. Because sometimes reaching the biggest stage matters less than helping build the one people already have. Sources Opening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit our website: www.asthepokeballturns.com Join Our Discord Community! https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRt Mailing Address P.O Box 117 Addison, TX, 75001 Your next Pokemon adventure begins here! Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company International.

    "Lucario UNITES His Aura By Close Combat" ft. SteelAgentKyle | TRAINER'S EYE #195

  5. Sep 30

    "Sableye Shadow Sneak Into The Spotlight" ft. Lundberger | TRAINER'S EYE #194

    Lundberger missed Pokémon completely as a kid. Years later, she would help call its biggest battles on the world stage. In this episode of As The Pokéball Turns, Pokémon GO caster Amanda Lundberg shares the unlikely journey that began when she saw crowds gathering throughout Antwerp during the game's 2016 launch. With no previous Pokémon experience, Amanda had to learn everything from scratch from type matchups written on notepads to the strategies that eventually carried her into the early Pokémon GO PvP scene. What started with grassroots Silph Arena tournaments introduced her to friends, rivals, and a competitive community that pushed her to improve. Eventually, her background in video production moved her from behind the scenes to behind the microphone, where she grew from filling in on community broadcasts to casting regional competitions and the Pokémon World Championships. Amanda reflects on watching competitive Pokémon GO evolve, learning alongside its community, and why Sableye became the unlikely partner Pokémon that grew on her along the way. Listen now and discover how sometimes missing the beginning doesn't stop you from becoming part of the story. Sources Opening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit our website: www.asthepokeballturns.com Join Our Discord Community! https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRt Mailing Address P.O Box 117 Addison, TX, 75001 Your next Pokemon adventure begins here! Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company International.

    "Sableye Shadow Sneak Into The Spotlight" ft. Lundberger | TRAINER'S EYE #194

  6. Sep 2

    "Finding My Voice Through Dragonite's Roost" ft. Andrew Arboe | TRAINER'S EYE #193

    Pokémon can introduce us to a much bigger world. Sometimes, it can even give us the confidence to explore it. For autistic self-advocate Andrew Arboe, Pokémon has been part of his life since Pokémon Yellow. What began with exploring Kanto eventually grew into a love for JRPGs, traveling, public speaking, and discovering new experiences beyond the screen. In this episode of As The Pokéball Turns, Andrew Arboe shares his memories of secretly searching for Wi-Fi to use the GTS, putting 900 hours into Pokémon Diamond, rediscovering his love for Black 2 and White 2, and how video games helped him develop new ways of understanding and expressing himself. He also explains why Dragonite became his favorite Pokémon. A Pokémon whose kindness, resilience, and hidden strength reflect qualities Andrew continues developing within himself. Because sometimes the games we grow up exploring help prepare us to explore a much larger world. Sources Opening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit our website: www.asthepokeballturns.com Join Our Discord Community! https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRt Mailing Address P.O Box 117 Addison, TX, 75001 Your next Pokemon adventure begins here! Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company International.

    "Finding My Voice Through Dragonite's Roost" ft. Andrew Arboe | TRAINER'S EYE #193

  7. Aug 26

    "Wooper After The Haze Clears" ft. Adam Woodward from Sky Arrow Club | TRAINER'S EYE #192

    Pokémon’s older games were filled with experiences many Trainers never got to fully enjoy. Experiences like perfect Pokéblocks, record mixing, and trading with people sitting right beside you were dormant for many Trainers. For Adam Woodward, organizer of Sky Arrow Club, those forgotten multiplayer experiences are worth bringing back. Adam Woodward shares how a Black 2 and White 2 Funfest meetup grew into a community dedicated to experiencing retro Pokémon together. He discusses organizing events across New York, recreating old tournament formats, making competitive play more accessible, and finally experiencing features he had waited years to enjoy with other players. But Sky Arrow is about more than preserving old games. It’s about creating the kind of memories Adam hopes people will someday want to recreate themselves. Because Pokémon may be playable alone, but some of its best memories require another Trainer. Sources Opening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit our website: www.asthepokeballturns.com Join Our Discord Community! https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRt Mailing Address P.O Box 117 Addison, TX, 75001 Your next Pokemon adventure begins here! Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company International.

    "Wooper After The Haze Clears" ft. Adam Woodward from Sky Arrow Club | TRAINER'S EYE #192

  8. Aug 19

    "Piplup Answers The Call For Support" ft. PiplupITW | TRAINER'S EYE #191

    Sometimes the Pokémon we carry with us aren't our own favorites. Sometimes they remind us of someone we love. In this episode of As The Pokéball Turns, David Hernandez meets PiplupITW, a father who walks into card shows dressed as his daughter's favorite Pokémon. What started as a Piplup collection after his grown children moved away became a handmade costume, created alongside his wife, that now brings smiles to kids and adults throughout the Pokémon community. Behind those smiles is a deeply personal story about becoming a father at 19, growing up alongside his children, adjusting to life as an empty nester, and holding onto the memories they created together. From Magic The Gathering nights with his son to collecting Piplup cards for his daughter, he reflects on why the time we give our children matters more than anything we could buy them. This Pokémon story is about family, nostalgia, and discovering that missing one chapter of life can become an opportunity to bring joy into someone else's. Listen now and follow As The Pokéball Turns for more stories celebrating the people behind Pokémon. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit our website: www.asthepokeballturns.com Join Our Discord Community! https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRt Mailing Address P.O Box 117 Addison, TX, 75001 Your next Pokemon adventure begins here! Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company International.

    "Piplup Answers The Call For Support" ft. PiplupITW | TRAINER'S EYE #191
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Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Every Trainer has a story. As The Pokéball Turns is a Pokémon podcast sharing real stories from Trainers around the world. From Pokémon communities to lifelong friendships, we explore how Pokémon shapes lives and builds connections across the games, the TCG, and beyond. Hear from creators, community leaders, and everyday Trainers as they share what makes Pokémon more than just a game. 🎧 New episodes every Wednesday Follow the podcast to hear more voices, more journeys, and more memories. One voice, one journey, one memory at a time. Your next Pokémon adventure begins here!

Information

  • Creator
    David Hernandez
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    205
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 As The Pokeball Turns
  • Show Website
    As The Pokeball Turns

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