Random Thoughts - An Exploration of Ideas

With Nathan Carroll and Carlos Ruiz
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

Random Thoughts is a long-form, unscripted conversation show built on curiosity and contradiction. Guests range from artists and bartenders to veterans and builders, people who’ve lived enough to have opinions worth testing. Some episodes are thoughtful, some funny, some intentionally uncomfortable. It pushes past shallow, performative talk to explore identity, culture, masculinity, faith, purpose, loneliness, and the strange corners of modern life. Sometimes wisdom. Sometimes chaos. Usually both.

  1. 5h ago

    Random Thoughts #76 | Johnny Nobody: Living More Than You Have Left

    What happens when a heavily tattooed motorcycle stunt rider, musician, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed nobody walks into the Random Thoughts studio? You get one hell of a conversation. In Episode 76, Nathan and Carlos welcome Johnny Nobody, a man whose appearance tells one story, but whose life reveals something entirely different. With more than three decades in the tattoo industry, appearances on tattoo television shows, thousands of miles traveled by motorcycle, and a new business venture in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Johnny has lived anything but an ordinary life. But beneath the tattoos is a fascinating perspective on fear, discipline, authenticity, and what it means to live life on your own terms. We explore everything from the personal meaning behind Johnny’s tattooed eyes to his decision to live completely free of alcohol and drugs. Johnny shares stories of overcoming serious injuries, building businesses, challenging industry traditions, and refusing to let society define who he should be. The conversation also takes some unexpected turns into artificial intelligence, the future of creativity, motorcycle adventures, reality television, and the importance of staying true to yourself. And for the first time, we’re recording from our brand-new Random Thoughts studio! In this episode: The story behind the name Johnny NobodyWhy Johnny tattooed his eyesLiving a straight-edge lifestyleMotorcycle stunts, serious injuries, and recoveryThe truth about reality tattoo television, according to JohnnyAI versus human creativityBuilding a unique business in MurfreesboroOvercoming fear and embracing mortalityWhy appearances rarely tell the whole storyRandom Thoughts is an unscripted exploration of life, relationships, personal growth, freedom, and the ideas that challenge how we see the world. No agenda. No scripts. Just genuine conversations. Episode 76 reminds us that the most interesting thing about someone is rarely what we see on the outside. #RandomThoughts #JohnnyNobody #Podcast #Authenticity #Mindset #TattooCulture #Motorcycles #PersonalGrowth

  2. Oct 14

    Random Thoughts #75 - You Can’t Carry Everybody’s Problems | Amy Returns

    How do you show up for somebody without taking all their problems home with you? Amy’s back with us, and we get into helping people while you’re still working through your own stuff, knowing your limits, and having friends who can help carry the weight. She also tells us about a $10,000 donation to her nonprofit from a woman she’d met once—and what that made possible for two other women. Of course, we don’t stay serious the whole time. Nate packs for a hiking trip he never takes, defends cutting his own hair before prom, and Carlos casually reveals he used to treat his friends with “funeral money.” There are apparently still a few Carlos stories we haven’t heard. Faith, friendship, disagreements over Halloween, and plenty of giving each other a hard time. Amy fits right back in. What’s something you’ve learned you can’t carry for somebody else?

  3. Oct 7

    Random Thoughts #74 - Getting Sober, Getting Older & Still Figuring It Out

    Nathan’s coming up on 30 days without a drink. Naturally, we celebrate that progress by discussing how he ate all three caramel apples in the package. One habit at a time, apparently.This week, it’s just us—Nathan and Carlos—talking about getting older, learning to respond instead of immediately reacting, and supporting your friends by actually buying their stuff. We get into what it means to call somebody up instead of calling them out, and why an easier life doesn’t necessarily leave you feeling satisfied.Somewhere in there, Nathan gives an eyesight experiment about five minutes before getting bored, then decides he might need to go outside and dig a hole because AI is doing too much for him.A little progress, a little pushback, and plenty of giving each other shit. That’s Random Thoughts.

  4. Sep 30

    Random Thoughts #73 - Nathan & Carlos: Let's Test a Billion Dollars

    Would a billion dollars ruin your life? Nathan thinks it might. Carlos has a better idea: let's test it. Nathan and Carlos are back for a conversation about money, freedom, and whether getting rich would actually buy you peace—or just a helicopter. They debate AI, work, privacy, and the appeal of bringing an idea to life without turning everything into a business. Along the way, Brennan gets replaced by the dog, the studio couch eats humans, and Carlos makes his case for crying in a Bentley. Plus: camping, movies, plans for a new studio, and Lucy's growing role in editing Random Thoughts. It's friends challenging each other, giving each other hell, and occasionally stumbling into a serious point. Random Thoughts is a long-form, unscripted conversation show built around curiosity, contradiction, and real people. Some episodes are thoughtful, some are funny, and some drift into uncomfortable territory on purpose. Sometimes there's wisdom. Sometimes there's chaos. Usually there's both. Follow Nathan: https://www.instagram.com/nathan.carroll_rtp/ Follow Carlos: https://www.instagram.com/carlito.hd83/ Watch more Random Thoughts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLew8XZcc1uWjK8shOTPpB_SlwyzmZUExv

  5. Sep 23

    Random Thoughts #72 - Landon O’Bryan: Fixing Yourself Before Helping Others

    Landon O’Bryan joins the Random Thoughts crew to talk about the path that took him from nursing school to chiropractic care. After struggling with injuries of his own, Landon learned how movement, strength work, stretching, and hands-on care could help him rebuild—and that experience pushed him to open his own practice inside CrossFit Barbell Battalion. The conversation ranges from CrossFit, injury recovery, and what honest patient care should look like to fasting, alcohol, faith, community, and the choices that shape everyday life. The group also pauses to remember Savannah Stair and reflect on how short life is—and why the people you love should hear it now. Random Thoughts is a long-form, unscripted conversation show built around curiosity, contradiction, and real people. The guests range from friends, artists, bartenders, builders, thinkers, veterans, creatives, and everyday characters who’ve lived enough life to have opinions worth testing. Some episodes are thoughtful, some are funny, some drift into uncomfortable territory on purpose. The show exists because most conversations today are shallow, performative, or filtered for approval. This one isn’t. It’s about letting ideas breathe, following tangents, questioning identity, culture, belonging, masculinity, work, purpose, faith, loneliness, and the weird corners of modern life. Sometimes there’s wisdom. Sometimes there’s chaos. Usually there’s both. Check out Carlos Ruiz:https://www.instagram.com/carlito.hd83/?hl=en Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/40zdvb1LdjrLQSUicBbIWZ?si=b3d545158e8546f6 Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/random-thoughts-with-nathan-carroll/id1532602559 Follow Nathan Carroll:https://www.instagram.com/nathan.carroll_rtp/ Random Thoughts Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLew8XZcc1uWjK8shOTPpB_SlwyzmZUExv

  6. Sep 16

    Random Thoughts #71 - Faith, Fatherhood, and Owning Your Choices

    Using **#71**, as mentioned in the opening: :::writing{variant="standard" id="71031"} Random Thoughts #71 - Faith, Fatherhood, and Owning Your Choices ::: :::writing{variant="standard" id="71032"} In this episode of Random Thoughts, Nathan, Carlos, and Brennan get into faith, personal responsibility, and the example we set for our children. Nathan opens up about taking a break from alcohol, his plans to fast, and an unexpected moment with a new Bible. The conversation moves into gratitude, the difference between cussing and hurting people with your words, and how easily we can get pulled into someone else's negativity. Fatherhood becomes the heart of the discussion: being present, building trust, admitting when you're wrong, and teaching your kids that they can hold you accountable, too. Nathan shares a moment with his son Landon that changed his approach to parenting, while Carlos challenges the idea that every outcome comes down to a parent's choices. There's also excitement about becoming a grandfather, a detour into Dracula, and plenty of unfiltered humor. Just the boys working through what it means to take responsibility and leave something worthwhile for the next generation. :::

  7. Sep 9

    Random Thoughts #70 - Angel Noble: The greatest rescue is the one we never have to do.

    In Episode 70 of Random Thoughts, Nathan, Carlos, and Brennan sit down with Angel of Mission of Truth (MOTO) for a conversation about faith, resilience, and protecting vulnerable children.Angel shares her journey from leaving a troubled home at 15 to rebuilding her life through education, performance, and a calling to serve. She explains how her work in Haiti—and the disappearance of a girl she knew—helped inspire Mission of Truth and its focus on care, accountability, and preventing exploitation.The conversation also turns to human trafficking in Tennessee, online grooming, and the importance of building trust with children. Along the way, there’s plenty of Cajun humor, motorcycle talk, and an honest look at what it means to put faith into action.“The greatest rescue is the one we never have to do.”

  8. Sep 2

    Random Thoughts #69 - The Miss Barbara Effect

    Miss Barbara is back — and apparently, one episode wasn’t enough. Nathan and Carlos sit down with one of the most memorable guests to come through Random Thoughts for a conversation about faith, purpose, aging, business, relationships, and what keeps a person excited about life. Miss Barbara shares where her joy comes from, why her faith remains at the center of it, and what she’s learned about continuing to live fully instead of simply getting older. Along the way, she turns the questions back on Nathan, including where his relentless drive to create new businesses and chase new ideas comes from. There are laughs, uncomfortable questions, a few “Sorry, Miss Barbara” moments, and plenty of the wisdom and personality that made people ask for her to come back in the first place. Because apparently, we really do all need a Miss Barbara in our lives.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Random Thoughts is a long-form, unscripted conversation show built on curiosity and contradiction. Guests range from artists and bartenders to veterans and builders, people who’ve lived enough to have opinions worth testing. Some episodes are thoughtful, some funny, some intentionally uncomfortable. It pushes past shallow, performative talk to explore identity, culture, masculinity, faith, purpose, loneliness, and the strange corners of modern life. Sometimes wisdom. Sometimes chaos. Usually both.

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