Relistening to The EZU podcasts

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 I don't have a cat but the vibe in this gif is exactly how I feel and look like right now watching and relistening to Steve Zaragoza's podcasts with his friends. Just drinking tea or coffee with a sweet snack while I browse old subreddits of The EZU that I missed while binge listening to Cloverfeels, DB, Talkin' Banter, First Time Show and the Sourcefed podcast. Even Steve's vlogs.

I'm mostly a lurker fan to most content creators I love so I miss out on their communities socializing with each other and I'm kicking myself for not being more online at the time because back then, Steve read everything. But now, he's too busy and can't. 

I wish I wrote in emails to If Feels Like The First Time, and told them how I related to Owen most of the time during that rewatch. I wish I had sent them something to their P.O. box. But I just enjoyed anonymously, just a number that clicked on their podcast. 

I wish I had done something to be more than a number. 

Then I came across Owlbynight's blog. It's amazing. He put into words exactly how I felt when I discovered Steve Zaragoza on SourceFed. I was watching videos only with Steve in them for a very long time as well. I became fans of the other hosts later but Steve was the funniest person to me. 

Also, I really connected with Steve on being a Mexican who doesn't speak Spanish. It seems like a silly thing to connect on but it was a big deal for me. Any friend I made who also doesn't know Spanish, isn't Mexican so it's not that embarrassing for them like it is for me. 

I got so angry for Steve when I read the comments on the video where he eats Mexican candy with Will. I thought the video was so funny! I don't know why I had to ruin the joy by looking at the comments. Everything they said about Steve is what was said to me from family and kids at school. I got so heated I had to turn my computer off. 

Anyway, I also related to Owlbynight's blog when he explains that it feels comfy behind a screen. Not going out much and not showing his face to the public. 

I take a pic of myself maybe three times a year and it's not for online. It's just for my photo album and scrapbook. And I go out shopping once a month. I do miss going out and hanging out with friends when I lived in Phoenix but I've found out that I can live without that. 

I love how it feels like my husband and I are in our own little world sometimes. I live in West Virginia now and I LOVE it here. So much more quieter and safer.  

I also like how self-aware Owlbynight is about not coming off as a creepy fan because I also do not want to come off creepy when I upload clips of Steve on my channel. I don't monetize anything, they are unlisted so I can link them to this blog from time to time. (And it's from his Twitch streams, those VODs don't last forever there. I wish he would archive them to The Valleyfolk Youtube channel, in a playlist.)

It's the only bit of creativity I have. Steve and his friends do all the work while I just sit back, enjoy their personality and sometimes save clips. 

I loved all the class clowns in my school growing up. Every single time. They made classes fun! I was only lucky enough to become friends with one of them and her name was Aileen. I lost touch with her after going to different high schools in 2004. 

I wonder if she remembers me. 

Most likely not. We weren't best friends but she was my funniest friend I've ever had.

I wonder if she's a content creator. I can't remember her last name so I'll never know. 

I would've loved to have kept in touch with her and have her be the Steve in my life instead of me forming this parasocial relationship with him. I'm good at staying self-aware though because I don't send in emails or comments. And I don't tweet at him too much (I think I @ him like 4 times a year) but I feel the parasocial-ness forming whenever I listen to anything he's in and I talk out loud as if he can hear me. That made me feel kinda crazy until I seen that others talk to themselves too when they listen to podcasts. 

I love that about Tiktok, finding people who relate to my experiences so I don't feel crazy alone. 

I'm so jealous of Jesse for getting into Steve's friend group. That's really awesome because Steve seems like a person that would be a friend for life. 

So, good for you, Jesse! I loved reading your blog explaining what it's like being a fan, I also feel this way with Steve AND another creator named Brittany Broski, I discovered her a year ago and I'll talk about her later. 

(I don't know if I should link your blog because I feel kinda creepy that I found it. I was looking for your aftershow of DB's aftershow because Brett and Owen talk about you and I found the blog that way.)

I think if I ever got to meet Steve and play Fortnite with him, I still wouldn't become friends with him because I'm just not funny on his level. We wouldn't click and that's okay. I'm happy with just remaining a fan. 

Maybe we would bond over talking about horror movies, I can nerd out forever on horror but that's not enough to become friends with someone. I love that I can nerd out with my husband and best friend and I can make them laugh, that's more than enough for me. 

I've been seeing people say online that they don't have the energy to have too many friends and I kinda get it. So, even if I got to game with Steve, I would make sure not to get too close because what's the point? I wont have enough energy to hangout with him. It would be so rare, he would forget my name. 

Another reason I don't see myself ever being in Steve's friend group is because I'm going to share my pet peeves and nitpicks about people in the EZU. And that's not a good thing to do when you want a possible friendship with someone. 

I want to be real and I'm annoyed EZU fans aren't ranting about the things I want to rant about without it being hate. Like the people who stopped being fans of Steve just because he's not friends with Lee anymore and they leave negative comments anytime the Valleycast posts a video. 

I don't want to come off as those haters with my complaints of the EZU. If the things I hate keep happening, I'll still be a fan of the EZU. It's just nitpicks not a dealbreaker. 

It's like how Owen says that he HATES it when podcasters and commentaries start out by telling listeners to go watch a movie first before listening to that episode. Or when they apologized for how they sound because they have a little cold. BUT he still keeps listening. He has his nitpicks but it's not a dealbreaker. It's just something we roll our eyes at when it happens. 

Complaining and sharing our nitpicks just feels so good. It's a release. So, that's what I'm going to do with the podcasts I love later in this post. 

Anyway, another fan started a Talkin' Banter again but they only did 8 episodes.

That just shows that fans really loved the aftershow and I'm bummed it stopped. I understand not doing it every week but never?! 

I thought it was so cute how Brett started Talkin' Banter because he was a fan of Mike and Steve's podcast and wanted to show it. Plus, he said Mike gave him that idea and Owen wanted to join. It's so cute thinking about how excited they were thinking up that podcast only for it to start to feel like a chore.

I wish they wouldn't have recorded every week. Only when they could add more to the conversation. Not every episode is a banger anyways. Keeping up with each episode finally got to them. Owen said that It Feels Like The First Time podcast started to feel like a job and didn't want to be on any other podcast for a long time. It didn't have to be like that.

I wish they were open to pausing Talkin' Banter until First Time Show was done. So, they can go back to having fun with recording and talking about their friends again. Instead of just canceling it completely. 

I miss you, Brett and Owen! I hate thinking too much into that rude email that someone sent in and that was the last episode Owen was on.

I liked when a fan sent a email because they related to Owen that they also never sent in anything before and got inspired by Owen to finally do it. And that made Owen feel like emailing a podcast he liked. I wonder if he did... 

Fans loved Talkin' Banter because it was extra moments to nerd out to about Dynamic Banter and fans get a little more inside information on Steve and Mike from their good friends. 

Anyone who is a friend of Steve are instantly interesting. I wish Owen would understand that. When he went on DB last year, I got annoyed with him when he said only a small group of people listened to First Time Show. Who cares about numbers when fans are being VERY interactive with a show. They sent in music, funny audio edits, emails, tweets, pictures, videos and gifts, to show how much the podcast means to them. It was a funny, nerdy podcast. I even loved the movie episodes. They were fun to listen to. I think everyone overreacts by saying the movie episodes were bad. They weren't. It was fun watching bad movies and laughing at them. 

I wish they still had a PO box because I bet they would still get gifts. Fans relisten to the podcast every year. 

And the Valleycast is still really fun to listen to. Joe and Elliott are fucking funny! I wish they didn't give up on it. I comment from time to time to show support but it feels like no one is reading it. 

There are even people posting a little here and there about them on the subreddit. We want to be supportive but it's hard when the boys wont be active enough with fans about the topics of the Valleycast. They can still grow! It's never too late. They could even start focusing on Twitch. Their gaming streams were so fun to watch. Not many comedians are on Twitch. They could be that unique channel people find.
 
I'm so angry with Lee because they all could've gone their separate ways calmly but her posting second gave her the power. That's all I'll say. 

There was drama with Brittany Broski as well. I found her on the podcast, Violating Community Guidelines. She was doing a podcast with her roommate, Sarah Schauer and they were fucking funny together like how Lee is fucking funny with the boys. But something clearly happened between Brittany and Sarah because suddenly they made a post on Youtube saying that the last video was their last podcast episode and thanking the fans for watching. 

It was sad and shocking. At first we all thought it was the company dropping them but once we noticed that they weren't filming together anymore (like in Tiktoks, personal Youtube channels and Instagram stories) we started to learn that they weren't getting along but their friendship wasn't completely over, because they still follow each other.

They still have not said anything about one another and Sarah has continued to work with the podcasting company that was doing VCG but it's a different podcast name. And she has a new host with her. 

Brittany made a solo podcast and it's my favorite podcast at the moment. 

I know. I know. Fans of the EZU are reading this and thinking, "How the fuck can you say DB isn't your favorite podcast?!" 

Sorry but Brittany is that funny. I really want her and Steve to meet someday! She would fit right into his friend group. And Steve has complained about how there aren't enough women in the EZU. Well, here's one that should be added! 

Plus, me being a woman, I just instantly related to her nerdy fangirl side. I don't fangirl about the same things she does BUT I understand exactly when she explains how it is to be a fan. 

(Women get hate for not talking about important stuff but men can talk about farts and be left alone.)

She reads fanfiction about whatever she's obsessed with and she loves ASMR. That's not something Steve ever talks about doing or understanding. I can see myself being friends with Brittany. 

I couldn't keep up with her comedy or anything but I can talk to her about fangirl shit that Steve wouldn't be into. (He has talked about ASMR with Mike and they both didn't get it. They thought it was sexual, which it isn't. ASMR helps people relax and sleep. Some can be sexual but not all. It reminded me of how people who don't like anime, think all anime is porn.) 

I wish Steve would do a podcast solo or vlog alone again! His vlogs are great.
I love hearing Brittany talk without another host there to interrupt her or disagree with her. And she goes off topic and it's funny to see her try to get back on it. But that wouldn't happen as much if she had someone else there with her. 

Steve, please just do more vlogs about movies since you thought the podcast was bad when you did them with friends. I just want to hear you nerd out about movies again! 

Anyway, Brittany moved out and lives alone now and didn't say why. But I respect it. I'm so grateful that Brittany and Sarah aren't allowing fans to join in on their private drama. That's their business and fans shouldn't feel the need to choose sides. Trisha Hershberger didn't choose either. She said on her stream that she is still friends with all four of them and loves them all. Lee should've let the fans have that too.

Brittany and Sarah seem to want to stay friends because they still follow each other, like I said, so it just seems like they are angry with one another and that's it. 

It's happen to all of us. We fight with friends and it either becomes a big fight and ends it or a big fight that turns it awkward for a while as it slowly heals. So, let it happen to creators with big followings in peace. 

Jesse, if you're reading, I recommend you check Brittany out.

Her and Steve's weird humor makes them feel like the same person but different genders. She's such a good hearted person and shares the issues women have to deal with. Some are obvious issues while others aren't.

I remember on one of Steve's streams, he was talkin to Anna and he was saying that being on Twitch can be annoying when people backseat game but it's not too bad and Anna stopped him and said, "Sorry Steve but try saying that after being a woman streaming." Or something like that and he backtracked and said she was right. He just wasn't thinking about that and it's understandable. I think that's why it's so awesome to have found someone like Brittany who is so fucking funny and is sharing what she goes through as a woman. And as a woman who isn't skinny. 

In the past, Steve has talked about his weight being something that bothers him too. 

Plus, both of them have made some mistakes that pissed off fans but they always show that they are willing to learn. I felt creeped out when Steve dated a fan who was 23 while he was 39 but she is an adult. I just didn't expect him to date girls that young. I think that's another reason why I want to stay a fan and not become his friend. I can have that disconnect where I'm just here for the laughs not his lifestyle choices.

But he didn't do anything wrong. At all. She just shared drama of her being rejected by him because she's immature. She only got attention because Steve is famous. If another 39 year old man slept with her but didn't want to date, she wouldn't be so public about it.

And Brittany's mistake was her saying that big creators need to speak out on big issues while she didn't want to speak on Palestine herself (but she eventually did.) 

(I left this comment on Reddit but it's very long so here's the last part of what I said.)

I just strongly believe they both are good hearted nerds who just want to make content that brings people joy. And they both have a good quick "yes and" improv type humor and I think if they met each other it would be magic. 

I loved that Owen calls Steve a comedic genius in one of the Talkin' Banters, I thought it was cute hearing how much he loves his friend's humor. 

When Brett asks why Owen doesn't want to talk on the mic on DB, Owen says that he isn't funny. It's not his skill. He says DB wouldn't be the same show if he replaced Mike for an episode. 

Years later that is proven wrong though. Steve can carry the humor for any show he's on. The EZU fans love Owen and it sucks he doesn't seem understand that. 

Now for the nitpicks:

1. I hate when Steve talks about not making any money on It Feels Like The First Time. (He mentions it in the DB episode where Owen finally is a guest. Steve says it other times but I didn't keep track.) I wish Steve would just fully treat The First Time Show as a hobby. It doesn't need a schedule even if he was rewatching a TV show. 

Just record after everyone who's going to be on the podcast has finished watching the episodes. 

It can be weekly or monthly. It doesn't need to be stressful or strict. 

It also doesn't need sponsors. Make it a Patreon exclusive for DB or something. 
It also doesn't need to be a video. Keep it a audio only podcast if that's easier. 
Also, fuck the format. If it's hard to find someone who hates it, who cares! Fans just want Steve to nerd out about shows and movies with his friends. The main reason Steve was being strict with this rule is because he wanted his podcast to stick out from the other nerdy podcasts. But the fact that he is on the podcast already makes it different from the rest! 

I wish Steve knew he can carry shows by himself. His streams are proof of that. He's always so entertaining to watch, even when he's just playing a chill game. 

So, it really makes me sad that one day The Valleycast will stop if they mainly care about money even though I feel like the Patreon numbers they have is enough to at least keep it going and to try involving the fans more. Ask fans to leave comments or emails and then read those comments on the next episode. That's all it takes. I hate how they really wont be happy with it just being a fun hangout that is being record and remembered. 

(Me defending them from a hater lol)

2. When Kevin had to replace Mike, he said that he never wants to be on mic ever again even though he can keep up with Steve's humor. I just don't understand why he will put his foot down on being a guest but he's fine with talking in the background every episode? Is it because it was funny when Owen did it?

Owen only wanted to be off mic so he wasn't forced to stay. He wanted the freedom to leave the room anytime he wanted. Kevin never leaves the room so??

 
It's a weird rule Kevin gave himself: "I don't want to talk on mic with you, Steve. So, find someone else but I will talk off mic with you." 

(Please don't act like this is hate. I'll always keep watching DB no matter what. The show is different now, it happens. It's okay!

I love a lot of other shit that I have nitpicks for. Still love them through.

I would never leave a comment or message like this to them. "Hey I don't like this about your podcast, change it!" I've never sent anyone an angry email. People who do that need to just make a blog, call a friend, get a journal, make their own podcast and rant there.)

3. (This is about Brittany Broski) I don't like that she keeps saying millennials are cringe when she really means White millennials. Everything she makes fun of them for doing, I don't know anyone in my life that does that but white people I see online. 

Very interesting that she doesn't point out that the only reason she finds them cringe is because they aren't using AAVE. 

4. I love Brittany but I don't love her fans. They are cringy to me. I know they are just playing around when they act serious about her being their supreme leader but it's too much. It takes over the comments in her Youtube videos.

Steve's fans can be too much as well but it's rare. I usually find them funny when I scroll down and read DB comments, old Valleyfolk and SourceFedNerd comments. Even when they comment while he's streaming.

Her being a supreme leader is funny when the joke is coming from her though. 

Maybe I'm being too bitchy with number 4 through....

That's all I mainly wanted to rant about. Ranting on here isn't forcing anyone to read this vs if I left a comment under the videos or Reddit. 

I just want to end on saying, I'm so happy to have found these funny people and I can't imagine finding anyone else funnier than Steve Zaragoza and Brittany Broski.