As The Pokeball Turns

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...

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 deepl...

Can choosing joy be one of the bravest things you do? Sometimes the smallest voice can spark the biggest conversations. Politichu, the Pokémon VTuber who unexpectedly turned a free Pichu model into a platform for community, compassion, and meaningful conversations shares their Pokémon story. From growing up with Pokémon Silver, embracing Chikorita out of pure spite, and navigating life with autism, to finding belonging through content creation, Politichu shares how Pokémon became more than a ...

Most people dream about real-life Pokémon. Officer Granite decided to build them. In this episode of As The Pokéball Turns, David Hernandez sits down with Officer Granite, the creator behind incredibly lifelike animatronic Pokémon, to uncover the story behind one of the Pokémon community's most creative projects. What began as a childhood fascination with Jurassic Park animatronics eventually evolved into building moving Pokémon that delight fans of every generation. From teaching himself rob...

Some Pokémon don’t just represent us, they help us become who we are. For Scintilla, that Pokémon was Incineroar, a powerful, misunderstood feline that gave him the confidence to build a new identity, both online and off. We dive into Scintilla’s journey from reluctant art student to passionate Twitch streamer, from teacher to tiger. He shares stories of his grandfather winning Pokémon merch during the Mew craze, how a deaf friend helped him fall in love with the games, and the deep emotional...

For Harry the Handicapped Hitmonchan, catching Pokémon meant something most of us take for granted: movement, choice, and belonging. Born with cerebral palsy and bound to a wheelchair since childhood, Harry the Handicapped Hitmonchan shares a deeply personal journey of strength, storytelling, and self-expression through the world of Pokémon. From boxing dreams and custom wheelchair ROM hacks to trading Legendary Pokemon for friendship, Harry’s story redefines what it means to be a Trai...

When you lose everything, what brings you back? For Ginger Jirachi, it was Pokémon and a little wish upon a star. After a painful divorce and losing nearly everything he collected, Ginger Jirachi rebuilt his life one Pokéstop at a time, powered by Pokémon nostalgia, the warmth of community, and the quiet strength of starting over. From sibling memories and clay-art cards to a wish for Worlds and a newfound path in sobriety, his story reminds us that sometimes, wishes really do come true...

He lost his best friend but every time he taps a PokéStop, it’s like they’re walking together again. We meet Shiny King, the Pokémon GO Community Ambassador in London, Ontario, Canada, whose journey from nostalgic fan to local leader is rooted in love, loss, and legacy. From rediscovering Pokémon through his child to honoring a best friend lost too soon, Shiny King shares how Pokémon GO helped him rebuild connection, purpose, and community after everything felt silent. You’ll hear how o...