Seasoned & Unfiltered

Steveo, Big Bull Media

Seasoned & Unfiltered is where experience leads the conversation. No buzzwords. No polish. Just straight talk from someone who’s lived enough life to know the difference between noise and substance. Each episode explores business, leadership, culture, money, relationships, and the lessons you only learn the hard way. The wins, the mistakes, and the moments where reality shows up unannounced—it’s all on the table. Expect direct opinions, thoughtful reflection, and conversations that don’t bend just to make people comfortable. Hosted by Hot Steveo, a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, the show is grounded in real-world experience shaped by service, discipline, and decades of perspective. This isn’t advice pulled from a book or a trend. It’s insight earned over time—seasoned by life and delivered unfiltered. New episodes available wherever you get your podcasts.

  1. Oct 28 ·  Video

    Apparently Election Interference Comes With a Gas Receipt

    Apparently, election interference doesn't always come with a hacked voting machine. Sometimes it comes with a gas receipt. $2,000. That's the estimated cost the Iran war has already added to the average American household, according to an estimate discussed in this episode from Moody's Analytics economist Mark Zandi. And Steveo has a question: What if some of that economic pressure is being used to influence America's elections? In this episode of Seasoned & Unfiltered, we're looking at the Iran conflict, rising gasoline and diesel prices, the Strait of Hormuz, and allegations that Iranian leaders may be deliberately increasing pressure on energy markets ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. Higher oil prices don't just hurt at the pump. They affect trucking, farming, shipping, groceries, business expenses, and just about everything else Americans pay for. But here's where things get interesting. Could Iran be using attacks on shipping and disruptions to energy markets to influence American public opinion? Or are we looking at ordinary wartime strategy being interpreted through an election-year lens? Steveo examines the reported timing of attacks, Iranian political messaging, energy-market reactions, and the difference between a legitimate concern about foreign influence and an allegation that still needs proof. And yes, he gives the other side its fair shot. Because wars affect economies. Economies affect elections. That alone doesn't prove election interference. But if a foreign government deliberately times economic disruption to influence voters, shouldn't Americans know about it? From the Strait of Hormuz to the grocery store, from Tehran to Washington, this episode asks who really pays when international conflicts become political weapons. Spoiler alert: It usually isn't the politicians. Experience leads the conversation. The noise stays at the door. Welcome to Seasoned & Unfiltered with Steveo. Stay seasoned. Stay spicy. Keep it unfiltered. What do you think? Can deliberately manipulating energy prices amount to foreign election interference, or is that simply part of wartime economics? Subscribe, share your thoughts, and join the conversation. #SeasonedAndUnfiltered #Iran #ElectionInterference #GasPrices #MidtermElections #EnergyPrices 00:00 — The Election Interference Nobody's Calling Interference 00:22 — $2,000: What the Iran War Is Costing American Families 02:15 — Why $6 Diesel Affects Everyone 03:55 — Is Iran Targeting the Midterm Elections? 05:29 — Keeping Oil Prices High on Purpose? 06:04 — What We Know vs. What We Suspect 07:24 — Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters 08:27 — How Attacks Can Raise Prices Before Shortages 09:19 — The October Attacks and Election Timing 10:46 — Iran's Messaging to American Voters 12:17 — Can Economic Pressure Influence an Election? 13:42 — The Other Side: It's War, Not Election Interference 15:39 — When Military Pressure Becomes Political Strategy 17:15 — Why This Deserves the Same Scrutiny as Cyber Interference 18:55 — What This Actually Costs American Families 20:14 — Energy Security Is National Security 21:49 — Who Really Pays for Washington's Decisions? 22:28 — A Word From Angel Pillow 23:08 — Could Economic Pain Become a Political Weapon? 24:14 — Not Every Price Increase Is a Conspiracy 25:43 — What Voters Should Research Before Election Day 27:37 — Is Iran Trying to Influence the Midterms? 28:25 — Sometimes Interference Arrives at the Gas Pump 29:03 — Stay Seasoned, Stay Spicy, Keep It Unfiltered

  2. Oct 21 ·  Video

    Apparently Donating $5 Makes You a Person of Interest

    Apparently, donating a few dollars to a political campaign might get you more attention than you bargained for. 639,000 Americans. That's the number at the center of this episode of Seasoned & Unfiltered, and Steveo has a few questions. According to findings outlined in an October 2026 memo from Senator Chuck Grassley, Jack Smith's Arctic Frost investigation reportedly obtained information involving hundreds of thousands of Republican donors, voters, and supporters. We're talking names, home addresses, employment information, political donations, and potentially sensitive financial records. And some of those donations? As little as one dollar. So here's the question: When does investigating a politician turn into collecting information on the people who support that politician? Steveo digs into the allegations surrounding the Justice Department, FBI, Jack Smith's special counsel investigation, and the questions being raised about government overreach, the Fourth Amendment, political privacy, and constitutional protections. But there's an important distinction. A government investigation obtaining a database does not automatically mean everyone in that database was individually investigated or surveilled. The congressional findings raise serious questions, but they are not final court rulings. And that's exactly why Steveo wants answers. Why did some records reportedly stretch back to 2005? Who had access to the information? How long can the government keep it? And would Americans be comfortable with the same thing happening to donors from the opposite political party? Because today it might be somebody else's information. Tomorrow, it might be yours. No political party should get a free pass when it comes to constitutional rights. Welcome to Seasoned & Unfiltered with Steveo, where experience leads the conversation, the questions don't get watered down, and nobody gets to hide behind a convenient talking point. Stay seasoned. Stay spicy. Keep it unfiltered. What do you think? Should federal investigators have to provide greater justification when obtaining large databases of political donors and voters? Tell us in the comments. #SeasonedAndUnfiltered #JackSmith #ArcticFrost #GovernmentOverreach #FourthAmendment #PoliticalPrivacy 00:00 — They Weren't Just Investigating Trump? 00:15 — 639,000 Americans: The Number Behind Arctic Frost 00:57 — What Information Was Reportedly Collected? 01:35 — What Grassley's Memo Actually Establishes 02:15 — The October 2026 Congressional Findings 03:51 — When Does an Investigation Go Too Far? 04:49 — Why Were Records Going Back to 2005? 06:48 — Ordinary Americans Caught in the Data 08:05 — Bank Accounts, Addresses and $5 Donations 10:16 — Congressional Phone Records Enter the Picture 11:09 — The Other Side: Does a Database Prove Surveillance? 12:39 — A Word From Angel Pillow 13:58 — Show Us the Legal Justification 14:48 — The Fourth Amendment and Government Limits 15:20 — Who Has Your Information and How Long? 16:58 — Today It's Republicans. Tomorrow It's Who? 18:44 — When Legal Investigations Become Government Overreach 19:15 — Senator Blackburn's Lawsuit 20:05 — What Should Congress Do Next? 21:23 — Could a $5 Donation Put Your Data in a Federal File? 22:25 — Should the Government Be Allowed to Keep It? 23:35 — What We Know, What We Don't and Why Oversight Matters 24:14 — Stay Seasoned, Stay Spicy, Keep It Unfiltered Watch and listen to Seasoned & Unfiltered These are the show's regular links. The new episode's individual YouTube URL hasn't been provided yet, so I've linked the show search rather than an unrelated episode. YouTube: Find Seasoned & Unfiltered Spotify: Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts: Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts Amazon Music: Listen on Amazon Music

  3. Oct 13 ·  Video

    Apparently God Is Nonbinary… Until Election Season

    Apparently God is nonbinary. Or maybe that wasn't quite what he meant. Depends on which interview you're watching. Welcome back to Seasoned & Unfiltered, where Steveo has a few questions for Texas Democrat James Talarico—and he's brought the receipts. In 2021, Talarico made headlines for saying God is nonbinary and arguing that modern science recognizes more than two biological sexes. Now, as he faces Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, he's acknowledging that some of his earlier statements missed the mark. So what changed? His beliefs? His understanding? Or just the audience he's trying to win over? Steveo digs into Talarico's original statements, his more recent explanations, and the intersection of Christianity, transgender issues, school sports, and political messaging. But this isn't just about a few controversial sound bites. We also examine Talarico's actual record in the Texas Legislature, including education funding, childcare, prescription drug costs, and juvenile justice. And yes, Ken Paxton's controversies deserve scrutiny too. Because here's a novel idea: Maybe we should judge politicians by what they've said, what they've done, and what they're promising now. Imagine that. Whether you're Republican, Democrat, independent, or just tired of politicians explaining why their own words apparently don't mean what they sounded like, this conversation is for you. Seasoned by experience. Served unfiltered. Subscribe, share your thoughts, and tell Steveo: Was this an honest clarification—or a politically convenient makeover? #SeasonedAndUnfiltered #JamesTalarico #KenPaxton #TexasPolitics #TexasSenate #FaithAndPolitics ⏱️ YouTube chapters 00:00 — James Talarico: Faith, Gender & Politics 01:39 — Who Is James Talarico? 02:34 — Wait… God Is Nonbinary? 03:51 — Theology or Political Theater? 05:19 — Now He Says He Missed the Mark 06:58 — Did His Beliefs Change or Just His Message? 09:01 — Transgender Students, Sports & Faith 10:42 — The Six Sexes Controversy 12:18 — Six Then, Two Now. Which Is It? 13:15 — Political Cleanup on Aisle Six 15:22 — When Christianity Becomes Political Messaging 17:14 — Being Provocative Has a Price 18:55 — What Has Talarico Actually Accomplished? 20:18 — The Ken Paxton Problem 21:59 — A Word From Angel Pillow 24:26 — Compassion, Policy & Accountability 25:30 — Should Politicians Be Judged by Their Past? 28:18 — Clarification or Campaign Makeover? 28:45 — Talarico's Actual Legislative Record 31:16 — The Progressive Policies Behind the Messaging 32:00 — Steveo's Take: Talarico vs. Paxton 32:56 — Stay Seasoned, Stay Spicy, Stay Unfiltered YouTube extras Thumbnail headline: GOD IS WHAT NOW?! I would depict a large, illustrated Texas Capitol with a church stained-glass window behind it, a dramatic quotation mark surrounding the phrase “GOD IS NONBINARY?”, and a smaller stamped line reading “HE SAID WHAT HE SAID.” Keep the same cream, burgundy, navy, and distressed editorial illustration style as your other S&U thumbnails. Pinned comment:

  4. Oct 1 ·  Video

    Deported: When “Law and Order” Gets Complicated

    Steveo has never been particularly subtle about illegal immigration. Enter illegally and commit crimes in America? Deport them. But what happens when you actually look at who is getting swept up in America's 2026 immigration crackdown? In this episode of Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steveo does something uncomfortable: he challenges his own position. Immigration arrests have surged, but Steveo examines data indicating that a large share of those arrested have no criminal conviction. Some are longtime residents. Some came to America as children. Some have jobs, families and U.S.-citizen children. Others are fighting asylum or immigration cases while sitting in detention.  steveo-ded6b83d-80a9-4806-8f97-… Then there's something many Americans may not realize is happening at all: third-country deportations. Instead of being returned home, some migrants are being sent to countries where they've never lived, may not speak the language and have no family or support system.  steveo-ded6b83d-80a9-4806-8f97-… Steveo also shares the story of a young man he personally knew who came to America from Mexico at about two years old, grew up here, graduated from a local high school and was eventually deported after an arrest. It's a case that forces Steveo to wrestle with where enforcement ends and proportionality begins.  steveo-ded6b83d-80a9-4806-8f97-… This isn't an argument for open borders. It isn't an argument against immigration enforcement. It's a harder question: How far should America go to enforce its immigration laws—and who are we willing to break in the process?  steveo-ded6b83d-80a9-4806-8f97-… Experience leads the conversation. The noise stays at the door. This is Seasoned & Unfiltered. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 — The Knock at 5:45 AMWhat America's immigration crackdown can look like inside an ordinary home. 01:10 — Steveo Hasn't Changed His Mind About CriminalsIf you entered illegally and commit serious crimes, Steveo's position is clear. 02:30 — But This Gets ComplicatedWhat happens when enforcement reaches people who don't fit that picture? 03:08 — The Angel Pillow 04:36 — ICE Arrests Are ExplodingRecord arrests—and a deportation system struggling to keep pace. 05:30 — Who Is Actually Being Arrested?Criminal convictions versus immigration violations and pending cases. 06:55 — The Numbers That Changed the ConversationSteveo examines the criminal-record breakdown among arrestees. 08:11 — When Mom or Dad Doesn't Come HomeDetention, legal limbo and the impact on families. 09:07 — How the Immigration Crackdown Actually Works 09:41 — The Hyundai Plant RaidHundreds of workers arrested in one massive operation. 11:29 — What Happens After You're Detained? 13:18 — Deportation Doesn't Always Mean Going HomeThe expanding use of third-country removals. 15:01 — Sent Somewhere You've Never LivedNo family. No language. No established life waiting for you. 16:05 — Steveo Knows Someone This Happened ToA personal story that makes the policy much harder to discuss in the abstract. 18:23 — America's Immigration System Is Broken TooEnforcement is one issue. The legal immigration process is another. 20:31 — What About People Brought Here as Children?When America is the only home someone remembers. 21:16 — Aggressive Enforcement Meets an Overloaded System 21:38 — The Workers Who Weren't Even the TargetsA closer look at the Hyundai operation. 23:32 — Third-Country ExileWhat happens when deportees are relocated somewhere entirely unfamiliar? 25:29 — When Immigration Enforcement Reaches a Lawful ResidentA Milwaukee case raises a different set of civil-liberty questions. 28:25 — This Is Bigger Than the BorderFactories, highways, homes and communities are all part of the enforcement picture. 29:14 — Record Arrests, Detention and Legal Limbo 30:28 — The Question Steveo Can't IgnoreNot whether America should enforce immigration law—but how far should it go? 31:02 — Does This Make America Safer—or More Afraid? 32:35 — Stay Seasoned, Stay Spicy, Stay Unfiltered

  5. Sep 18 ·  Video

    They Missed. We Sank Their Tankers.

    Iran fired ballistic missiles at U.S. Navy warships. The missiles missed. The response didn’t. In this episode of Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steveo digs into the September attacks on American warships and the subsequent U.S. strikes against Iranian oil tankers — a military story he argues got overshadowed by headlines about rising oil and fuel prices. And those prices matter. When oil jumps, Americans feel it at the pump, at the grocery store, through shipping costs, and everywhere else fuel touches the economy. But Steveo’s question is simple: Can you explain the price without explaining what caused it? The episode also looks at Iran’s alleged sanctions-evasion “shadow fleet,” the competing narratives coming from Iran and the United States, and the possibility that continued attacks could either force Iran to back down—or push the region toward an even larger confrontation. Steveo also gives the other side its due: maybe focusing on oil prices was reasonable because that’s the part millions of Americans immediately feel in their wallets. But telling the economic story without the military story leaves out important context. And underneath all of it are American sailors doing their jobs while missiles are coming their way. Missiles. Tankers. Oil prices. Propaganda. And the story behind what you're paying at the pump. Stay seasoned. Stay spicy. Keep it unfiltered. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 — They Missed. We Sank.The story Steveo says got buried beneath the oil-price headlines. 00:30 — What Happened to the Iranian Tankers?The attacks on U.S. warships and America's response. 02:03 — And Then Oil Prices Took OffHow conflict in the region reaches American wallets. 03:26 — Combat vs. the HeadlinesWhy Steveo thinks an important part of the story was overlooked. 03:50 — The Angel Pillow 05:03 — What CENTCOM Says HappenedThe military response and the immediate pressure on energy markets. 06:41 — A Moment to Remember 9/11Steveo reflects on September 11 and those who served. 07:39 — If You Shoot at American Forces, What Happens Next?The deterrence argument behind the U.S. response. 08:26 — Why the Oil Tankers MatteredThe alleged sanctions-evasion network and funding behind Iran's operations. 10:08 — Eight Tankers in Four DaysSteveo lays out his case for why the strikes mattered. 11:10 — Iran's Shadow FleetOil, cash, weapons and regional proxies. 12:23 — The New Exchange Rate: Warships for TankersThe warning being sent to Iran. 13:31 — Iran Says It Sank U.S. WarshipsSteveo examines competing claims and propaganda. 14:20 — Okay, Let's Give the Other Side a Fair ShotMaybe oil prices really were the story Americans needed most. 15:22 — Price Without Cause Is Half the StoryWhy Steveo argues the military and economic stories belong together. 17:21 — What Happens If Iran Doesn't Back Down?Deterrence versus the possibility of a wider confrontation. 18:17 — Your Gas Gauge Is Connected to TehranHow decisions overseas reach fuel, freight and grocery prices at home. 18:34 — Don't Forget the SailorsAmerican service members faced live missile fire and came home safely. 20:10 — Don't Take Steveo's Word for ItA challenge to research the claims and draw your own conclusions. 21:38 — Facts First. You Decide. 21:58 — Stay Seasoned, Stay Spicy, Keep It Unfiltered

  6. Sep 13 ·  Video

    When Political Violence Becomes a Punchline

    One year after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Steveo has a question that goes far beyond whether you agreed with the man: When did political violence become something to joke about? In this episode of Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steveo looks at the anniversary of Kirk’s assassination, Utah Valley University’s decision to cancel classes while a memorial takes place under heightened security, and the uncomfortable way institutions talk around political violence without always calling it what it is. Then there’s the internet. Memes, jokes, mockery and viral content surrounding the death of a husband and father. Steveo argues that you don’t have to agree with Charlie Kirk—or even like him—to recognize that celebrating or trivializing political violence crosses a line. But one of the most powerful parts of this story isn’t political at all. It’s Erika Kirk. While the internet argues, she has spoken publicly about grief rather than revenge, offering a very different example of strength, restraint and dignity after unimaginable loss. This episode isn’t about making Charlie Kirk a saint. It’s about something much bigger: whether Americans can still disagree, debate and fight for ideas without becoming comfortable with violence against the people on the other side. Because once bullets enter the conversation, we’ve already lost something bigger than the argument. Stay seasoned. Stay spicy. Keep it unfiltered. Chapters 00:00 — The University Can't Say His NameSteveo opens on the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. 01:45 — One Year Later: What Happened to Charlie KirkWhy Steveo believes the anniversary needs to be addressed plainly. 03:18 — This Isn't About Worshiping Charlie KirkThe larger conversation about political violence, institutions and honesty. 03:48 — Utah Valley University Shuts Down CampusClasses are canceled while security increases and a memorial takes place. 05:16 — Why Won't Institutions Just Say It?“Reflection” and “healing” versus directly confronting political violence. 06:12 — When Murder Becomes Internet ContentMemes, mockery and the culture surrounding Kirk's death. 07:52 — You Don't Have to Agree With HimWhy condemning political violence shouldn't depend on politics. 08:37 — The Murder Case Moves ForwardSteveo discusses the ongoing legal proceedings. 10:01 — Erika Kirk Chooses Grief Over RageA widow's response becomes one of the episode's most important moments. 11:37 — What Real Strength Actually Looks LikeRestraint, dignity and carrying loss without surrendering to bitterness. 13:27 — America Isn't Just Divided Over PolicyAre we becoming divided over truth—and whether our opponents are still human? 14:35 — Silence Isn't NeutralSteveo challenges institutions that choose softer language when clarity is needed. 15:26 — The University's Side of the ArgumentWhy UVU might want peace, security and distance from becoming a permanent political battleground. 17:05 — Laughing at Death Is a WarningWhat happens when cruelty and political violence become normalized online. 18:29 — So What Do We Do About It?Tell the truth, reject political violence and stop treating tragedy like a team sport. 19:24 — Charlie Kirk Isn't Really the TestThe real question is how we respond when someone we disagree with is killed. 20:57 — Bullets Don't Belong in the ConversationHard disagreement is part of a free country. Political violence cannot be. 21:43 — Truth, Courage and RestraintSteveo closes with what he believes patriotism requires from Americans now.

  7. Aug 24 ·  Video

    “Transitory” Was a Hell of an Expensive Word

    They told us inflation was “transitory.” Apparently, “transitory” can last a little longer than expected. In this episode of Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steveo runs the tape on one of the most repeated economic talking points of the Biden years and asks a simple question: when the numbers changed, why did the response take so long? We dig into the inflation surge that began in 2021, the Fed’s delayed interest-rate response, the 9.1% peak in 2022, and what rising prices actually meant for American families. Then Steveo puts the Biden-era numbers next to the first part of Trump’s second term to see what the data says about inflation, wages, tariffs, grocery prices, and the cost of living. And yes, there’s an argument for the other side. COVID disrupted supply chains. The economy reopened unevenly. Russia invaded Ukraine. Nobody had a crystal ball. But being wrong once is one thing. Staying wrong while the numbers keep changing? That deserves a conversation. Prices don’t magically go back down just because inflation slows — and Americans are still living with the consequences. This is Seasoned & Unfiltered. Check the numbers. Make up your own mind. And if it makes you a little mad… well, good. CHAPTERS 00:00 — “Transitory.” Yeah… About ThatThe word that aged about as well as milk. 02:16 — The 21.2% QuestionSteveo lays out the number that drives the entire episode. 02:33 — When Yellen Called Inflation “Transitory”What Americans were being told in 2021. 04:27 — The Numbers Were Already ChangingInflation climbs while policymakers maintain their position. 06:06 — Then Inflation Hit 9.1%The 2022 peak and why “temporary” became harder to defend. 07:20 — What Inflation Actually Cost American FamiliesThis wasn't just an economic chart — households felt it. 08:42 — The Best Defense of Yellen and PowellCOVID, supply chains, reopening and the argument from the other side. 11:48 — When Being Wrong Becomes PolicyWas the Federal Reserve too slow to react? 14:44 — Why Did the First Rate Hike Take So Long?The timeline from rising inflation to the March 2022 response. 15:21 — Can You Blame Ukraine for All of It?Separating inflation already underway from the later energy shock. 16:49 — The Accountability ProblemOfficials could admit mistakes. Families still paid the bill. 19:20 — Inflation Slowed. Your Grocery Bill Didn't.Why lower inflation doesn't mean prices return to where they started. 22:16 — Let's Actually Look at the CPI NumbersBreaking down the Biden years one year at a time. 25:22 — 21.2% Cumulative InflationPrices versus earnings and why families fell behind. 28:05 — Now Let's Look at Trump's Second TermComparing the early numbers from 2025–2026. 29:29 — Tariffs, Inflation and What Actually HappenedDid tariffs send inflation through the roof? 31:13 — The 2026 Middle East VariableWhy energy and geopolitical shocks complicate the numbers. 33:30 — The Real-Wage KickerAre wages finally gaining ground on prices? 35:20 — What Aren't You Being Told?Steveo's bottom line — and a challenge to check the numbers yourself. 35:51 — Stay Seasoned, Stay Spicy, Stay Unfiltered

    “Transitory” Was a Hell of an Expensive Word

About

Seasoned & Unfiltered is where experience leads the conversation. No buzzwords. No polish. Just straight talk from someone who’s lived enough life to know the difference between noise and substance. Each episode explores business, leadership, culture, money, relationships, and the lessons you only learn the hard way. The wins, the mistakes, and the moments where reality shows up unannounced—it’s all on the table. Expect direct opinions, thoughtful reflection, and conversations that don’t bend just to make people comfortable. Hosted by Hot Steveo, a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, the show is grounded in real-world experience shaped by service, discipline, and decades of perspective. This isn’t advice pulled from a book or a trend. It’s insight earned over time—seasoned by life and delivered unfiltered. New episodes available wherever you get your podcasts.