Desert Stories: Palm Springs Origins and the Tahquitz Canyon Witch

Identity, Family, and Transition

In this deeply personal episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz sits down with Kiki Solano for an open and honest conversation about identity, family, and the journey of transitioning from female to male. Together, they reflect on self-discovery, growing up, navigating today's world, and the challenges and rewards of understanding one another through change. Along the way, they explore how family relationships evolve, what it means to be seen for who you truly are, and the importance of curiosity, communication, and compassion. This isn't a political debate or a discussion of headlines. It's Kiki's experiences, perspective, and lessons learned along the way. At its heart, this episode is about family, identity, and the courage to become who you are.

Cops. Guns, and Color

In this episode of Cruz Control, we tackle three subjects that are often discussed separately but deeply intertwined in American life: cops, guns, and color. Drawing from their different backgrounds and life experiences, Aaron and Arrington explore how race, law enforcement, and firearm culture have shaped their perspectives. Aaron reflects on navigating the world as a man of mixed heritage, while Arrington shares his experiences growing up and living from a different vantage point. This is not a debate, and it’s not an attempt to provide easy answers. Instead, it’s an honest conversation about perception, personal responsibility, fear, trust, identity, and the experiences that shape how we see one another. As with every episode of Cruz Control, the goal isn't to win an argument, it's to better understand the human experience through open dialogue, curiosity, and respect.

Behind the Velvet Rope: Bouncing, Myths, and Reality

In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz takes listeners behind the velvet rope and into the unpredictable world of nightclub security. Drawing from his years working as head of security in strip clubs, Aaron reflects on violence, ego, control, loneliness, and the psychology of nightlife. What begins as a conversation about security work quickly becomes a deeper exploration of human behavior, how people act when desire, alcohol, money, and emotion collide. This isn’t a collection of wild stories. It’s a thoughtful conversation about masculinity, confrontation, power, and what working in chaos teaches you about people and yourself.

Gods in the Sky: From Religion to Astrotheology

What happens when the beliefs you were raised with stop making sense? In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz explores his journey through organized religion, questioning long-held ideas and searching for meaning beyond traditional frameworks. From early faith to personal deconstruction, the conversation moves into deeper territory via Vision Quest. Examining belief, doubt, and the role of astrotheology in understanding ancient systems of thought. This is a conversation about faith without dogma and curiosity without certainty. Of note, we will continue this conversation in future episodes.

Fueling the Machine: Nutrition, Discipline, and What Actually Works

Everyone eats. Almost no one agrees on how. In a world full of conflicting advice, nutrition has become more confusing than ever. In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz breaks down what actually matters, cutting through diet trends, misinformation, and extremes to focus on the fundamentals of fueling your body. From consistency and discipline to mindset and performance, this conversation explores how nutrition impacts not just how you look, but how you live. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about building something sustainable.