Ep. #53 Getting Back Up

Sam is in the kind of year that changes everything. After months of carrying family chaos, financial pressure, and a brutal slowdown in work, he’s suddenly back in motion with a packed travel schedule, a major IndyCar doc-narrative series, and a massive Witcher fan film that’s already turning heads.Tyler and Sam catch up on what it looks like when life hits hard, work disappears, and then everything starts landing at once. Sam opens up about becoming a caretaker for his mom after a scary medical crisis, why the first half of the year felt like survival mode, and how that stretch ended up becoming one of the most meaningful seasons of his life.You’ll discover: How Sam’s mom’s illness forced a total reset on his schedule and priorities Why the first half of the year became the “year of the credit card” What it takes to mount an ambitious Witcher fan film with practical effects, custom wardrobe, sword choreography, horses, and a medieval tavern location Why his new IndyCar series feels like a dream job for a filmmaker who also lives and breathes racing How he went from months of uncertainty to being booked solid through the fall Sam also breaks down the creative fulfillment that comes from passion projects where people show up because they love the story, not just the paycheck. From filming at Salt Lake City’s Thieves Guild to working with stunt teams, traveling internationally, and building a career around the things he genuinely cares about, this episode is a reminder that the right opportunities often arrive after the hardest stretch.And if you’re the kind of listener who loves movies, games, filmmaking, or the weirdly motivating chaos of Elden Ring, there’s plenty here for you too. Sam and Tyler get into the films, directors, and games that shaped them, why physical media still matters, and how failure, repetition, and persistence can become a real-world philosophy. Essential listening if you need a shot of encouragement, a behind-the-scenes look at indie filmmaking, or proof that a year can look broken right up until the moment it doesn’t.