Be Awesome Together

Charles McFall, Tyra Burton
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Join Tyra Burton, award-winning professor, social media strategist, and geek culture enthusiast, alongside Charles "Rock God of Podcasting" McFall for a weekly adventure in connection, creativity, and fandom. With over a decade of experience fostering dynamic discussions at Dragon Con, Tyra and Charles bring their passion for storytelling and community-building to the mic. Each episode dives into fresh discussions with creators, exclusive panels, and takeovers from fan-favorite personalities, all while celebrating the art of collaboration.

  1. 5D AGO

    Be Awesome Together: Spilled Whiskey Sessions

    Earbuds in, prayers up… and the chaos immediately delivers. Charles road-trips to Kennesaw to record Be Awesome Together at Tyra’s kitchen table, where the “hot mess” energy is the whole brand. Between mic-muting mishaps, sushi heartbreak (RIP Sushiu), and a Korean BBQ glow-up, you get that cozy, unfiltered “friends who actually like each other” vibe—complete with audience saves from Earth Station Boo and the kind of banter that only happens when you’re live and slightly unprepared. Then the episode takes a turn—in the best way—into real talk: therapy insights, showing up for the people you love, burnout, rest, and what it means to be a catalyst in other people’s lives. There’s creator strategy too: newsletters, hooks, subject lines, opt-ins, Patreon moves, and the reminder that the most important part of a newsletter is… sending it. It’s equal parts “spill the tea” and “dent the universe,” with a beautiful throughline: growth doesn’t require self-destruction—sometimes it just requires honesty, pacing, and permission to breathe. Actionable Items (5 takeaways) Use a “cold open hook” in the first 1–2 lines of your newsletter: a bold statement + a “keep reading” breadcrumb (“Con dates up top—story time at the bottom”). Build your newsletter into repeatable segments (ex: “Where I’ll be,” “What I’m making,” “One lesson from the trenches,” “Story time”). Consistency reduces decision fatigue. Treat rest like a deliverable. Add a recurring “permission to rest” checkpoint—especially after heavy work days—so downtime doesn’t turn into guilt spirals. Lean into your three-word identity (Peace / Wisdom / Catalyst) as a brand filter: if a project doesn’t align with at least one, it probably shouldn’t get your energy. For live shows: bake in a “tech grace minute.” Start with a 30–60 second buffer that assumes audio/video will act up—then you look intentional instead of frazzled. Quote “The most important part of a newsletter is sending it.” — Tyra Call to ActionFollow Be Awesome Together on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Surf The Chaos, Enjoy the Ride! These notes are empowered by AI. ~Chad

    1h 25m

  2. JAN 24

    BAT Mail bag Q & A

    Tonight’s grab-bag episode turns into a real-time masterclass in why “Be Awesome Together” works: you don’t just answer questions—you let the audience watch the process. Between Shelf Watch wins (Tyra reclaiming peace, Charles taking an Xbox day like it’s doctor’s orders), tech gremlins (hello, purple screen), and community shoutouts (Creative Mornings, Earth Station Boo, DVO), the whole thing feels like hanging out with smart friends who are honest about what’s hard—and still do it anyway. Then you dive straight into the meat: podcast myths, consistency, audio vs video, editing time, remote guest chaos, Twitch survival tips, and the “platforms” pressure cooker. The big through-line is refreshing: podcasting isn’t magic, it’s work—but it’s worth it. You talk about building momentum, keeping the soul in the show, using video strategically without worshiping it, and designing formats that keep neurospicy brains engaged (dice rolls, rotating topics, fresh angles). It’s practical, funny, and quietly motivating—because you’re not selling a dream; you’re showing a roadmap. Pick a topic you can’t stop talking about, even when you’re exhausted—then build a format that keeps it fresh (segments, dice, rotating angles, “broad strokes” with room to pivot). Commit to a realistic consistency plan (weekly, biweekly, monthly), and protect it like an appointment—consistency beats perfection, and it builds trust. If you do video, always rip the audio and distribute it—don’t force your audience into one platform or one consumption style. Editing rule of thumb: plan 1:1 minimum for basic production (trim start/end + level audio + upload), and 3:1 (or more) for true content edits. Remote guest success = tech + expectations: confirm mic/internet basics, send an example episode, and do a 30-minute pre-call to build trust and teach the “rules of the room.” “Quality can always improve. It’s harder to improve consistency.” — Charles Follow Be Awesome Together on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Surf The Chaos, Enjoy the Ride! These notes are empowered by AI. ~Chad

    1h 15m

  3. JAN 17

    Overwhelmed Creators Anonymous: Good Enough Wins

    Charles “Rock God of Podcasting” McFall & Tyra Burton come in live with zero expectations and immediately lean into the chaos: language quirks, creator fatigue, and the very real “can I go back to vacation?” mood. From there, the episode turns into a candid, funny, way-too-relatable behind-the-scenes look at what it means to keep showing up when your energy tank is flashing “E.” They riff on body doubling (45/15 focus sprints), the “shelf watch” saga, and how a simple tool like Meta Business Suite can quietly save your sanity when life gets loud. But the heart of the conversation lands on the creator struggle nobody glamorizes: overwhelm, perfectionism, and the emotional attachment to how things “used to feel” when you had time. They talk about unfinished episodes, missing files that definitely exist somewhere (six ways to Sunday), the loop of “I can’t do the fun part until I do the miserable part,” and the truth that collaboration often gets us across the finish line faster than solo grit. It’s messy, honest, and encouraging—because the real message is: choose you, be intentional, and build systems that let the show go on without burning you down. Run the “Good Enough” protocol: Pick the smallest publishable version of your thing (even if it’s “just me on mic”) and ship it—momentum beats perfection. Use body-doubling for creative work: Try 45 minutes focused + 15 minutes break with someone else live or on a call; it reduces friction and keeps you moving. Build safety nets on purpose: Back up recordings and keep redundant capture options (Zoom, local audio, cloud)—future-you will thank past-you. Name your “pressure valve” breaks: Put guilt-free recovery on the calendar (games, music, pizza, nap—whatever resets you) so you don’t wait until burnout forces it. Stop yucking your own yum: If the editing (or any “tomato-chopping task”) drains you, restructure the workflow—delegate, simplify, or batch it so the joy stays intact. “Choose you.” — Charles McFall Follow Be Awesome Together on YouTube , Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok Surf The Chaos, Enjoy the Ride!

    1h 23m

  4. JAN 10

    Hot Spots & Habits: Planning the Year Without the Shame

    New year, same chaos — and that’s exactly the vibe Charles and Tyra roll into with: “Happy rebooting of the Matrix.” What starts as the usual “are we live / can you hear the music / who’s got the button” spirals into the kind of real talk people actually need after the holidays: burnout, momentum whiplash, and why “resolutions” feel like a setup for failure. Charles lays it out like a man who’s watched too many January gym crowds vanish by week three: resolutions can be arbitrary, shame-loaded, and weirdly performative… so he’s pivoting to a bucket-list mindset — aiming for direction, not deadlines. Tyra comes in with the counterbalance: “I don’t do resolutions… I do planning.” And she’s not playing. She maps her year, spots the “hot spots,” and organizes her goals around four clean categories — happiness, peace, prosperity, and expression — then breaks the big stuff down into quarters, months, and realistic actions. The episode turns into a practical creator-life jam session: newsletters, SendFox quirks, double opt-ins, protecting your address with virtual mailboxes, and creator tools like Metricool vs Meta Suite — with the shared takeaway that creators don’t need perfection… they need systems that survive real life. Actionable Items (5 takeaways / steps) Replace “resolutions” with “direction + steps.” Pick a goal (health, creativity, income), then break it into tiny actions you can repeat — progress beats dramatic January promises. Find your “hot spots” before you set goals. Look at your calendar and identify the weeks/months you’ll be slammed — then plan around them so you don’t set yourself up to fail. Use a 4-category filter for your year: happiness, peace, prosperity, expression. If a goal doesn’t connect to one, ask why it’s on the list. Build a “capture system” for ideas. A single note for each show/project (like Charles’s Notes app method) prevents good ideas from evaporating mid-chaos. Protect your privacy if you run a newsletter. Consider a virtual mailbox/street address option so your real address isn’t tied to creator business workflows. Quote (from the transcript)“I’m just putting things on a bucket list. The bucket list is where I want to go in life and what I want to do.” — Charles Follow Be Awesome Together on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Surf The Chaos, Enjoy the Ride! These notes are empowered by AI. ~Chad

    1h 13m

  5. 12/20/2025

    Have you had an awesomely creative year?

    The episode opens like a real holiday living room: cats eating plastic, Shane crashing into the house like a tornado, and Charles & Tyra immediately getting hijacked by “life is lifing.” And somehow—between scotch, cold-brew regret, and a whole side-quest about chairs, shelves, and the chaos of scheduling—they land on the real theme: this is the final Be Awesome Together episode of 2025, and it’s time to breathe, reflect, and celebrate what got created in spite of everything. From Multiverse con improv chaos to Tyra teaching in a totally new environment (new campus, new students, new material) to Charles stepping into higher-level creator confidence without apologizing for his value—this conversation is basically a love letter to staying creative when the world is loud. It also turns into a surprisingly sharp discussion about attention spans, algorithms, and how creators can bridge the gap between “1-second doomscroll” and “45-minute storytelling.” It’s funny, honest, a little spicy, and exactly the kind of year-end reset that reminds you: you’re not behind—you’re building. Pick one “first” from your year (a new skill, new audience, new risk) and write down what it taught you—then carry that lesson into 2026 instead of just making a resolution. Design your “bridge content”: use short clips (30–60 seconds) to emotionally hook people, then point them toward the longer episode or deeper story—don’t fight short-form, use it as the on-ramp. Stop apologizing for your value: if you’ve built expertise over decades, price and present it like expertise—your years are part of the deliverable, not just the hours. Create a low-pressure consistency anchor (like Charles’ Wednesday night tutoring sessions): same time, same place, predictable rhythm. It’s not “content” first—it’s community first. Make “find your joy” measurable: pick one creative outlet that calms your nervous system (watercolor, crochet, journaling, quiet editing) and schedule it like it’s an appointment with your future self. Tyra: “I hope everybody finds a creative outlet that not only inspires them, but I hope they find one that brings them some peace and calm… because we need a lot of that.” Follow Be Awesome Together on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Surf The Chaos, Enjoy the Ride! These notes are empowered by AI. ~Chad

    1h 32m

  6. 12/13/2025

    Professionalism: Skill, Judgment, and Not Being a Jerk

    This episode starts exactly where real creativity lives: in the messy, human moments before the “perfect” show begins. From audio hiccups and nostalgic commercial references to candid laughs about chaos, Charles and Tyra pull the curtain back on what professionalism actually looks like when things don’t go according to plan. And spoiler: it’s not polish—it’s presence. As the conversation deepens, professionalism is reframed as something far more powerful than follower counts or flashy resumes. It becomes about kindness, emotional intelligence, preparation, boundaries, and knowing when to adapt instead of panic. Through real-world panel stories, teaching moments, and behind-the-scenes convention realities, this episode challenges creators to rethink what it means to “show up” — not as a persona, but as a grounded, trustworthy human who can handle the moment when everything goes sideways. Lead with kindness first. Skill matters, but professionalism starts with how you treat people—especially when things go wrong. Be prepared, not rigid. Do the work ahead of time, but know how to pivot when the plan collapses. Know what you bring to the table. You don’t need to bring everything—just bring your thing with confidence. Set and respect boundaries. “No” is a complete sentence, and clarity prevents resentment. Separate friendly from friends. Not every professional relationship is personal—and that’s okay. Put the show first. Whether it’s a panel, class, or stream, professionalism means protecting the experience for everyone. “Professionalism isn’t about numbers—it’s about your drive, your ethics, and where you put your energy.”— Charles McFall Follow Be Awesome Together on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Surf The Chaos, Enjoy the Ride! These notes are empowered by AI. ~Chad

    1h 30m

  7. 12/06/2025

    BAT: How mentality affects creativity

    This episode dives straight into the heart of creative burnout, sick-day fog, and the emotional roller coaster every creator secretly rides. Charles and Tyra openly unpack what it really feels like when mindset slams the brakes on creativity—whether it's doom-scrolling through exhaustion, pushing too hard out of habit, or losing your spark in the middle of a project you love. It’s honest, funny, and full of those “yep, that’s me” moments that remind you you’re not alone. From sick-day recovery stories to rediscovering creative flow, this conversation feels like sitting with two friends who get it. They talk clutter, boundaries, the danger of doing “too much,” and the quiet magic of doing just enough to keep your creative soul alive. Whether you’re a writer stuck in the muddy middle, a podcaster staring down the keyboard, or just a human balancing life and burnout, this episode gives you permission to rest, regroup, and reconnect with what lights you up. Actionable Items Clean or reset one small corner of your creative space—your brain may follow. When burnout hits, switch to a different creative activity to re-ignite flow. Practice saying “Nope, I’m good” to things that drain your energy. Leave yourself mid-sentence or with a quick note to make restarting easier. Check in weekly with a creative partner who can nudge you back into motion. Quote of the Episode"Your mindset affects your creativity because they are connected. When we're not creating, we're missing that connection." — Tyra Burton Call to ActionFollow Be Awesome Together onYouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Surf The Chaos, Enjoy the Ride! These notes are empowered by AI. ~Chad

    1h 22m

  8. 11/27/2025

    BAT: Be Grateful Together

    This episode is pure cozy-chaos in the best BAT way — whiskey jokes, southern cornbread debates, gratitude confessions, and a whole lot of heart. Charles and Tyra slide from dinner talk into deep emotional work without ever losing the playful banter that makes their dynamic magic. This is that feel-like-you’re-in-the-living-room kind of episode — the kind where being grateful turns into storytelling, vulnerability, and laughing at yourself in equal measure. Whether it’s Tyra unpacking the very real struggle of trusting people, Charles reckoning with self-worth, or both of them navigating collaboration mishaps, this episode becomes a warm reminder that gratitude isn’t about perfection — it’s about practice. If you want an episode that gives you humor, honesty, and some light emotional heavy lifting, this is absolutely one to watch or listen to. Try micro-gratitude: Identify one small thing each day that went right — even if it’s just getting out of bed or brushing your teeth. Practice “intentional compliments:” Give someone a sincere compliment today and notice how it lifts your energy too. Absorb gratitude without deflection: When someone compliments you, resist the urge to downplay it. Say “thank you” and let it land. Check your communication loops: If a collaboration moment feels off, pause, clarify intent, and express appreciation to get back on the same page. “The more you compliment people, the more you feel gratitude.” — Charles McFall Follow Be Awesome Together onYouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Surf The Chaos, Enjoy the Ride! These notes are empowered by AI. ~Chad

    1h 26m
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About

Join Tyra Burton, award-winning professor, social media strategist, and geek culture enthusiast, alongside Charles "Rock God of Podcasting" McFall for a weekly adventure in connection, creativity, and fandom. With over a decade of experience fostering dynamic discussions at Dragon Con, Tyra and Charles bring their passion for storytelling and community-building to the mic. Each episode dives into fresh discussions with creators, exclusive panels, and takeovers from fan-favorite personalities, all while celebrating the art of collaboration.

Information

  • Creator
    Charles McFall, Tyra Burton
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Charles McFall, Tyra Burton
  • Show Website
    Be Awesome Together