Decades as a Professional Musician & Educator | The Life & Lessons of John Reid

What 40+ Years in a Comic Shop Actually Teaches You | Culture, Collecting & Success with Robert Mora

Welcome to The Apex Mindset Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with Robert Mora, owner of Star Comics, a shop that's been part of the Lubbock community for 40+ years and a cornerstone of pop culture collecting in West Texas. From growing up around comics to building a store that has adapted through decades of industry shifts, Robert shares the real story behind what it takes to survive—and thrive—in a world where trends, customers, and entire markets are constantly evolving. We dive into the business of comics and collectibles, from high-end statues and distributor challenges to the realities of used books, online sales, and why physical media continues to hold its ground. We talk about the psychology of collecting, the different types of collectors, and how Robert's personal philosophy shaped Star Comics into something more than just a store—it's a living collection. This conversation also explores the bigger picture of pop culture—Image Comics as a creator-driven model, the rise of manga, the impact of corporate control on Marvel and DC, and what it really takes to create stories that last. From Absolute Batman to the future of comics in 2026, Robert breaks down the trends shaping the next generation of storytelling. We also get into marketing, customer experience, and what it means to build a space—physical or digital—that people actually want to be part of. From Lubbock-Con to Free Comic Book Day, this is a conversation about community, consistency, and staying relevant without losing your identity. Chapters: 00:00 - The Statue Market Breakdown | Why High-End Collectibles Don't Always Make Sense 10:18 - McFarlane vs. Mattel | Corporate Buyouts & the Struggle for Control 12:30 - Sports Cards & Fantasy Football | The Hidden RPG World of Collecting 14:52 - Before the Comics | The Origin Story of Star Comics 17:56 - Used Comics vs. Digital | Why Physical Media Refuses to Die 20:32 - Growing Up in Comics | Star Wars Treasury Editions & Robert's Story 22:23 - The Psychology of Collecting | Why Everyone Collects Differently 24:48 - The Store Is the Collection | Robert's Unique Approach to Ownership 27:13 - More Than a Comic Shop | Lubbock-Con & Building Community 31:43 - The University Effect | New Faces, New Trends Every Year 33:59 - Back Issues, Newsstands & Direct Editions | The Evolution of Comic Buyers 35:29 - The Rise of Absolute Batman | Trends, Manga & the Future of Storytelling 38:38 - Inside Image Comics | Creator Power, Value & Market Demand 41:40 - What Makes a Story Last? | Building Perennial Pop Culture 48:10 - Marvel, DC & the IP Wars | Corporate Control & Zack Snyder vs. James Gunn 57:10 - The Next Era of Comics (2026) | Trends, Shifts & Robert's Picks 1:07:00 - Marketing That Actually Works | Consistency, Service & Showing Up 1:17:23 - Designing a Store That Feels Like Home | Environment Marketing 1:22:00 - The Digital Storefront | Translating Experience Into Online Design 1:28:15 - eCommerce Realities | Convenience, Branding & When to Fire Customers Thanks For Watching! Follow Star Comics: Website: https://www.starcomicsonline.com/ [https://www.starcomicsonline.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starcomicsonline/ [https://www.facebook.com/starcomicsonline/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starcomics/ [https://www.instagram.com/starcomics/] FOLLOW: https://www.ethanpeal.com/ [https://www.ethanpeal.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/ [https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial [https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial] TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal [https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal] X - https://x.com/ethanApeal [https://x.com/ethanApeal] #TheApexMindsetPodcast #comics #comicart #marvel #dccomics #marketing #digitalmarketing

Decades as a Professional Musician & Educator | The Life & Lessons of John Reid

Welcome to The Apex Mindset Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with my friend and bass teacher, John Reid, a professor and performing professional musician whose journey through sound, stages, classrooms, and studios has shaped more players than most people will ever realize. From discovering Steppenwolf and choosing the low end, to navigating early bands, career pivots, and the realities of making a life in music, John shares the moments that defined him, playing bass as a left-hander in a right-handed world, and the musicians who influenced his path. We talk groove vs. technique, why bass is more than "just rhythm," the truth behind the "failed guitarist" myth, and how music theory becomes a language, not a rulebook. John also reflects on teaching at South Plains College, what it really takes to pursue music as a career having lived the life himself, and why passion sometimes evolves into purpose. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - The Beatles & the Spark That Started It All 02:00 - Left-Handed, Right-Handed: Playing Bass Backwards 04:10 - Why Bass? John's First Love 06:15 - The Gibson eb-0 & The "Mudbucker" 07:17 - From Underage Prodigy to Sound Tech to Texas: A Career Pivot 16:20 - Finding His Lane at South Plains College 17:50 - Why Teaching Became the Real Calling 18:58 - Canadian Bands, Cold Winters & What-Ifs 19:53 - Early Days at SPC: Patience & Personalities 22:10 - First Bands, Gigs, First Lessons 23:45 - Jerry Serrano, Alma Quartet & Recording Solitude 38:38 - Genre Shapes Technique: Playing Across Styles 40:50 - Pick vs Fingers: Finding the Right Feel 45:25 - Groove vs Technique: Speaking the Language of Bass 50:27 - Are Bassists Just Failed Guitarists? (Let's Set That Straight) 54:23 - The Bass Player's Role: Locking in With the Band 58:03 - What John's Working On Now 1:03:46 - Current Influences & Live Playthroughs 1:10:00 - The Reality of a Music Career: Fitting Into the Nashville Mold Thanks For Watching! Follow John: https://www.spccreativearts.com/home/john-reid/ [https://www.spccreativearts.com/home/john-reid/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/john.reid.7509/ [https://www.facebook.com/john.reid.7509/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/reidjohnfrederick/ [https://www.instagram.com/reidjohnfrederick/] FOLLOW: https://www.ethanpeal.com/ [https://www.ethanpeal.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/ [https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial [https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial] TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal [https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal] X - https://x.com/ethanApeal [https://x.com/ethanApeal] Purchase the Album "Solitude" Here! - https://almaquartet1.bandcamp.com/album/solitude [https://almaquartet1.bandcamp.com/album/solitude] Listen to the Full Album - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ki9MQcU_xm_qKxdVaeqyX2TRLGF2kL3q8 [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ki9MQcU_xm_qKxdVaeqyX2TRLGF2kL3q8] Purchase Vinyl "Legends In Their Spare Time" Here! - https://www.discogs.com/release/2248142-Mackinaw-Legends-In-Their-Spare-Time?srsltid=AfmBOoqaIkOw4oKMjmg7JadGcmZF7dQW0pNGxdtEN2DlCkDqZLY06KDH [https://www.discogs.com/release/2248142-Mackinaw-Legends-In-Their-Spare-Time?srsltid=AfmBOoqaIkOw4oKMjmg7JadGcmZF7dQW0pNGxdtEN2DlCkDqZLY06KDH] Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7kYPLDW2Ew&list=RDd7kYPLDW2Ew&start_radio=1 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7kYPLDW2Ew&list=RDd7kYPLDW2Ew&start_radio=1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rhup_Ikblo&list=RD4rhup_Ikblo&start_radio=1 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rhup_Ikblo&list=RD4rhup_Ikblo&start_radio=1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvfTO-mErzM&list=RDXvfTO-mErzM&start_radio=1 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvfTO-mErzM&list=RDXvfTO-mErzM&start_radio=1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_T [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_T]. #TheApexMindsetPodcast #bass #performingarts #musictheory #music

Life Behind The Mic: From Radio Personality to Director of Marketing with Cody West | Apex Mindset Podcast

Welcome to the Apex Mindset Podcast! In this Episode of The Roundtable, I sat down with Cody West, Director of Marketing at Wylie & Son, Inc. Owner & Broadcaster at West 11 Sports and ex-Radio DJ with over 20 years behind the mic ... Radio shaped Cody's voice, discipline, and understanding of community. From owning a station to building West 11 Sports to navigating the rise of streaming and smartphones, this episode follows Cody's journey of adaptation and reinvention. We also explore the philosophy of advertising, the power of storytelling, and how those lessons carried directly into his transition into marketing leadership. If you're interested in broadcasting, marketing, storytelling, or what it takes to evolve with changing technology while staying true to your purpose, this one is for you. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:11 - Growing Up in Andrews, TX: Life in the Permian Basin (1980s) 02:58 - Catching the Radio Bug: First Steps in Pecos, Texas 07:05 - The Power of AM & FM: Building Local Broadcasts 09:28 - Local Fame & Legendary Beginnings: When Radio Made Stars 10:55 - Radio's Golden Age: The Era That Shaped Everything 12:25 - Owning KTTZ-AM: Packing Up and Starting Over in Littlefield 17:34 - Behind the Mic: What Running a Radio Station Really Takes 19:59 - When Disaster Strikes: Tornado Scare & EBS 21:32 - Selling and Philosophy of Advertising 28:51 - Radio in the Modern Age: Smartphones, Streaming & Change 36:49 - West 11 Sports Is Born: Returning to Live Broadcasting 48:05 - The Grind Behind the Scenes: Family, Travel & Flexibility 50:15 - A Major Transition: West 11 Sports Closes & Wylie Begins 55:59 - Stepping Into Marketing: A New Role, A New Passion 58:25 - Crafting the Voice: What Makes a Great Radio Sound 1:01:48 - Rediscovering Purpose: From Broadcasting to Marketing 1:06:57 - Building a Story: What Makes Marketing Successful 1:07:41 - Taking Calculated Risks: Designing the Life You Want 1:10:02 - Reinvention: Lessons Learned & Looking Ahead Thanks For Watching! FOLLOW: https://www.ethanpeal.com/ [https://www.ethanpeal.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/ [https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial [https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial] TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal [https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal] X - https://x.com/ethanApeal [https://x.com/ethanApeal] Resources: https://storybrand.com [https://storybrand.com] https://wyliesprayers.com/ [https://wyliesprayers.com/] #TheApexMindsetPodcast #radio #marketing #wylieimplementandspraycenter #littlefieldtx #reinvention

DUNES - My Story, Running My First 10k Through The West Texas Sandhills | Apex Mindset Podcast

DUNES is a short documentary telling the story of my first 10K race through the sands of West Texas at Monahans Sandhills State Park. This wasn't just a race. Running a 10K in sand tests more than your legs, it exposes your mindset, your preparation, and your purpose. In this film, I break down what it takes to step into longer distances, the mental and physical demands of racing, and the lessons learned along the way. From learning the structure of distance races to navigating race-day nerves, weather, gear, and strategy, DUNES follows the run as it unfolded; mile by mile. I also reflect on the deeper side of running: faith, discipline, community, and the people who shaped my pursuit, including the influence of my stepdad, Jon Kelso. If you're training for your first 5K or 10K, curious about competitive running, or simply looking for motivation to pursue something hard, this story is for you. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:23 - Why Distance Matters (5K vs 10K Rules Explained) 03:30 - The Running Community & Contagious Positivity 08:12 - Running the Race: Faith, Purpose, and the Word 11:06 - How Running Found Me 12:40 - My Origin Story: Flaws, Focus, and Becoming More 16:25 - Jon Kelso: Inspired the Run 19:08 - The Catalyst: Proving Something the Right Way 23:11 - Lessons From My Stepdad, Jon Kelso 25:50 - Pursuit, Passion, and Self-Motivation 30:07 - Who Wins and Why: Competition, Classes, and Demographics 33:20 - DNFs, Qualifying, and Running as a Career 41:15 - Training the Right Way: Prep, Planning, and Habits 47:32 - Weather, Gear, and Adapting on Race Day 50:54 - Starting Line Nerves & Pre-Race Rituals 59:16 - The Run Unfolds: Pace, Playlist, and Strategy 1:05:40 - Alone in the Dunes: The Mental Battle of a 10K 1:10:03 - The Finish Line & Fighting Through Injury 1:14:26 - Your Harshest Judge: Finishing 4th Unexpectedly 1:18:35 - After the Race: Recovery and What Comes Next 1:21:18 - Raising the Bar: Bigger Goals and Enjoying the Spoils 1:29:31 - Facing Limits and Choosing to Push Forward Thanks For Watching & Being A Part Of My Journey! Check Me Out: https://www.ethanpeal.com/ [https://www.ethanpeal.com/] Follow Me: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/ [https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial [https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial] TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal [https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal] X - https://x.com/ethanApeal [https://x.com/ethanApeal] Resources: https://www.maxwellleadership.com/ [https://www.maxwellleadership.com/] https://simonsinek.com/ [https://simonsinek.com/] https://jocko.com/ [https://jocko.com/] https://cameronhanes.com/ [https://cameronhanes.com/] https://www.courtneydauwalter.com/ [https://www.courtneydauwalter.com/] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Prefontaine [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Prefontaine] Books: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shoe-Dog/Phil-Knight/9781501135927 [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shoe-Dog/Phil-Knight/9781501135927] https://a.co/d/iMgyssf [https://a.co/d/iMgyssf] https://cameronhanes.com/products/endure-book [https://cameronhanes.com/products/endure-book] Products: Garmin Instinct 3 Watch - https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1316397/ [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1316397/] Collagen Peptides - https://orgain.com/products/collagen-peptides-pre-probiotics [https://orgain.com/products/collagen-peptides-pre-probiotics] Creatine - https://orgain.com/products/creatine-monohydrate-micronized-powder?srsltid=AfmBOopkl8ENy1Si5ZLSPtU_OQ83lAreppaRB_aeYuBS1j-20o-sAOj7 [https://orgain.com/products/creatine-monohydrate-micronized-powder?srsltid=AfmBOopkl8ENy1Si5ZLSPtU_OQ83lAreppaRB_aeYuBS1j-20o-sAOj7] #TheApexMindsetPodcast #10krun #trailrunning #running #biography #firstrun @texasparksandwildlife [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCwdtpZyZGJoHXnT4Rm2xEgQ]

What My 5k Training Taught Me About Passion, Pressure & Purpose | Couch To Champion Finale

Welcome to the Finale of my Couch To Champion Journey! This is it, the final check-in before race day. From the first steps off the couch to the battles with injury, burnout, and self-doubt, this journey has been anything but easy. In this episode, I look back on the highs, the lows, and the lessons that reshaped my view of success. I share how slowing down helped me rediscover joy, rekindle old passions, and reignite my purpose, not just as a runner, but as a creator and a person. From embracing consistency over motivation to transforming my nutrition and training with the Garmin Coach Plan, this is the chapter where confidence meets clarity. And it all leads to a huge announcement about what's next. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:27 - Birth of Couch to Champion 05:40 - My Year: Injuries & Mental Battles 09:19 - More Than a 5K 13:12 - Hitting Pause on Running 15:42 - Identity Lost & Found 18:00 - The Success You Don't See 19:00 - Rekindling Passion: Art & Community 24:20 - Consistency, No Matter What 25:00 - Rise. Pursue. Conquer. 27:10 - Where I Am Today 29:20 - New Diet, New Fuel 33:20 - A Final Word of Hope 36:04 - Final Thoughts & HUGE ANNOUNCMENT!! 39:30 - Outro Thanks For Watching & Being A Part Of My Journey! Check Out My Art: https://www.artbyethanp.com/ [https://www.artbyethanp.com/] Follow Me: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/ [https://www.instagram.com/ethan_peal/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial [https://www.facebook.com/ethanpealofficial] TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal [https://www.tiktok.com/@ethan.peal] X - https://x.com/ethanApeal [https://x.com/ethanApeal]