Rock Bottom

Christopher Morello

We listen to podcasts of successful people and leave feeling worse about ourselves.Rock Bottom flips that script. We revisit the hole before the breakthrough. We get comfortable. We reflect. And reframe what it means to be at rock bottom. Because the reality is, there’s a bunch of rock bottoms. Just like the Earth’s terrain. Highs and lows. Mountains and valleys. Eagles and those scary-ass looking deep sea creatures.

Episodes

  1. 12/16/2025

    Awakening Authenticity: Valeria Moraga’s Journey of Radical Acceptance and Creativity / Rock Bottom Ep. 005

    Awakening Authenticity: Valeria Moraga’s Journey of Radical Acceptance and Creativity Join us in the Rock Bottom Lounge as we dive deep into the life and experiences of Valeria Moraga, a multidisciplinary artist and spiritual powerhouse. From her early life in the Philippines to her transformative years in New York City, Valeria shares candid stories about navigating cultural identity, gender, and creativity. Learn about her serendipitous encounters, the power of radical acceptance in friendships, and the importance of finding community and self-awareness. Discover how Valeria harnessed her journey through rock bottoms to become her authentic self, offering invaluable advice to those on similar paths. 00:00 Morning Coffee Adventure 00:41 Radical Friendship Acceptance 02:22 Welcome to the Rock Bottom Lounge 03:08 Serendipitous Meeting with Valeria 03:33 Cultural and Spiritual Reflections 07:02 Powerful Play: Us vs. Them 09:42 Navigating Identity and Community 13:04 Childhood in the Philippines 17:40 Journey to Self-Discovery 20:27 Life in New York City 21:53 Starting the Conversation 22:34 Discussing Life's Journey 24:16 Finding Community and Creativity 25:57 Parental Concerns and Self-Sovereignty 28:47 Financial Advice and Life in New York 30:02 Navigating the Late Twenties and Thirties 35:49 Rock Bottom and Self-Discovery 38:28 The Power of Writing and Self-Expression 46:11 Final Reflections and Advice

    47 min
  2. 10/11/2025

    Quitting A Job, Hitchhiking, and Tapping into Life with an Abundant Community w/ Vincent Coconato of Bob's Dance Shop | Rock Bottom Ep. 004

    Vincent Coconato (aka. Coco) shares his compelling and transformative journey from losing his job to founding Bob's Dance Shop, highlighting the importance of getting out of one's comfort zone and trusting in the universe. The episode features Coco's unique experience hitchhiking with a Polaroid camera to pitch an idea and accidentally meeting the former CEO of Polaroid, which affirmed his belief in destiny. As he navigates various 'rock bottoms,' Coco explains how he built a community, started a viral dance movement, and ultimately found success by following his passion and instincts. He emphasizes the value of intuition, community support, and practical advice for those feeling unfulfilled in their careers. 00:00 The Decision to Hitchhike 00:57 Introducing Vincent Coco Nato 04:16 The Birth of Bob's Dance Shop 04:51 Rock Bottom and the Rise of Polaroid Pete 07:35 The Hitchhiking Journey Begins 15:42 Lessons from the Road 22:02 Building Bob's Dance Shop 23:54 Reflecting on Faith and Synchronicity 25:11 Growing Up in the Bible Belt 25:24 Striving for Validation and Worthiness 25:57 College and Fraternity Life 26:20 Advice for College Students 26:57 The Importance of Travel and New Experiences 29:56 Losing a Job as an Opportunity 30:47 Finding Purpose in Your Career 32:59 The Manufactured World vs. Nature 36:11 The Birth of Bob's Dance Shop 40:57 The Viral Flash Mob 43:48 Building a Sustainable Ecosystem 50:11 Supporting New Artists and Friends

    53 min
  3. 07/27/2025

    Life Lessons from Prince Manvendra: From Death Threats to LGBTQ Advocacy | Rock Bottom Ep. 003

    In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, an Indian prince, who opens up about his extraordinary journey over the past decade, from inspiring a passion for worm composting to becoming a powerful advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. The prince shares intimate details about his arranged marriage, his coming out journey, and the many hurdles he faced, including death threats and disownment by his parents. Discover how yoga provided him stability and the path to self-acceptance, eventually leading him to publicly declare his sexuality and change societal perceptions. Now on a tour in the U.S., he reflects on his advocacy, recent book launch, and continued efforts in farming and beyond. Prepare for a conversation filled with wisdom, resilience, and hope. 00:00 Intro 01:07 Meeting After a Decade 01:33 Royal Expectations and Arranged Marriage 01:59 The Wedding Night Dilemma 03:25 Struggles of a Royal Marriage 04:55 Realization and Divorce 11:21 Journey to Self-Discovery 20:05 Embracing Yoga for Stability 27:56 A Story of Perseverance and Hope 28:25 Advice for Those at Rock Bottom 29:42 Coming Out and Founding The Luxury Trust 30:20 Facing Family and Societal Pressure 33:13 Publicly Coming Out and Its Aftermath 34:51 Advocacy and Media Influence 36:54 Legal Battles and Victories 38:02 Personal Reflections and Yoga's Impact 43:59 Touring America and Spreading Positivity 51:27 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom

    54 min
  4. 07/10/2025

    From Isolation to Leading a Global Community w/ Priya Rose | Rock Bottom Ep. 002

    We sit down with Priya, founder of the decentralized tech community Fractal. Priya shares her journey from isolation and career uncertainty to building an interconnected network that feels like living on a college campus. Discover how Fractal has grown from hosting dinners in New York to expanding internationally, providing spaces for activities, classes, and co-living. Priya also discusses her upbringing in Palo Alto, the impact of having a social hub at home, and the pivotal moments that shaped her life, including her transition to software engineering. Learn actionable insights on building your community from zero, finding fulfilling work, and creating supportive networks. Whether you're feeling isolated or looking to enhance your social capital, this episode offers invaluable advice on creating a life rich in connections and happiness. 00:00 Introduction to Priya and Fractal 01:54 The Growth of Fractal Communities 05:16 Personal Reflections and Early Influences 08:00 Challenges and Growth in Early Adulthood 11:51 Discovering Software Engineering 13:54 Building Community and Finding Purpose 19:00 Starting a Subculture: Fractal U 19:44 Fractal's Campus Accelerator Program 19:58 Coding Bootcamp and Career Transformation 20:27 How to Start Hosting 21:54 Overcoming Perfectionism in Hosting 23:01 The Importance of Friendship Hours 24:39 Navigating Rock Bottoms and Seeking Help 26:33 The Value of Social Capital 30:16 The Concept of Senius and Historical Examples 34:14 Personal Reflections and Chris' Rock Bottom 35:05 A Note on Parenting

    36 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

We listen to podcasts of successful people and leave feeling worse about ourselves.Rock Bottom flips that script. We revisit the hole before the breakthrough. We get comfortable. We reflect. And reframe what it means to be at rock bottom. Because the reality is, there’s a bunch of rock bottoms. Just like the Earth’s terrain. Highs and lows. Mountains and valleys. Eagles and those scary-ass looking deep sea creatures.