Club Pronto: Royal Oak Clubbing, The Netflix Catfish, and The Death of Payless

Is the "Secret Fanbase" actually Aaron’s biggest untapped demographic? In this episode of the After School Special Podcast, Aaron and Don dive into a wild weekend that started at Pronto in Royal Oak and ended with a deep dive into the dark side of the internet. From being hit on five separate times at a gay bar to discussing the shocking "FBI involvement" in the Governor Whitmer kidnapping plot, this episode covers the full spectrum of the Michigan experience.In this episode, we discuss:​ [00:53] - The Royal Oak Incident: Aaron shares his experience at Pronto and why being "validated" by a secret fanbase feels so good.​ [04:20] - The 180 lb Goal: Why Aaron is trying to get back to his high school weight and the reality of being "skinny fat."​ [08:08] - Health & SSRIs: A transparent look at Aaron’s health journey, his 2016 stroke, and how medication impacted his weight.​ [13:45] - The Era of Cyberbullying: Why modern high school drama is way darker than it was in the '80s and '90s.​ [20:45] - The Death of the Mall: Why Kmart and Payless failed and why we still crave the "Great Lakes Crossing" nostalgia.​ [30:10] - Politics & Conspiracy: Our take on Charlie Kirk, the state of the country, and the "live by the sword" philosophy.​ [54:05] - Gravy Seals & The FBI: Breaking down the bizarre details of the Michigan Governor kidnapping plot and the role of informants.Why the algorithm loves this episode:This is more than just "local talk." We’re exploring masculinity, mental health, the evolution of retail, and the political divide in America. Whether you’re here for the laughs or the deep dives into serial killer psychology and lead poisoning [45:03], there’s something for everyone.Connect with After School Special:🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on culture, comedy, and life in Michigan.💬 Drop a comment: Have you been to Pronto? What's your favorite defunct mall memory?Watch the full video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q6ERYhq2dFAKeywords: MichiganPodcasts, RoyalOak, Ferndale, MentalHealth, ComedyPodcast, ConspiracyTheories, 90sNostalgia, AfterSchoolSpecial