Side Quest Energy Podcast

What happens when your computer runs out of space…Your podcast recording dies…And the backup plan becomes the shortest Side Quest episode so far?You talk about FIFA.Jono recaps his Monday night at New Zealand vs Iran at SoFi Stadium, officially transformed into Los Angeles Stadium for the World Cup. There were hundreds of Kiwis, a rooftop pregame, street hot dogs, stadium beers, traffic chaos, and one very patient soberish wife.New Zealand came in as the underdog.Outnumbered.Out-chanted.And definitely not expected to do much.But then they scored.And then they scored again.Which means, at the time of recording, Jono could proudly say New Zealand was undefeated in the World Cup.Technically true.The boys also talk about nostalgia, being surrounded by your people far from home, Dan’s sports background, and why stadiums are really just social quests with overpriced drinks.Then the episode shifts.From FIFA…To games.Dan introduces Every Day the Same Dream, Super Mario World, Kaizo levels, speedrunning, Mario Maker, and the strange little internet worlds that form around classic games.And that sparks the next Side Quest:Can two non-programmers use AI to build a simple browser game?Maybe.Probably badly at first.But that’s the quest.This week’s level ups:Jono crushed three gym sessions a week for the whole month of June.Dan is preparing a deeper gaming segment for Episode 7.And now we need your help.Send us a simple old-school game idea, mechanic, or childhood game memory.We might try to vibe-code it into something playable.

In this episode, Dan and Jono explore various themes, including their dedication to the podcast, the gaming segment featuring indie games, personal growth journeys focusing on fitness, and deep discussions on belief systems and faith. They delve into philosophical conversations about reality, the implications of AI, and the nature of existence, including thoughts on psychedelics and their effects on perception. In this conversation,

What does a 1980 arcade game have to do with artificial intelligence?More than you'd think.This week on Side Quest Energy, Dan introduces Jono to Missile Command — a simple Atari game built during the Cold War.At first glance, it's just pixels, missiles, and explosions.But underneath?A surprisingly powerful lesson about fear, technology, responsibility, and what happens when humans create tools that become bigger than themselves.That conversation takes us somewhere unexpected.From nuclear anxiety in the 1980s...To AI in 2026.Can AI be trusted?Should it be regulated?Are we building tools that help humanity level up...Or creating problems we're not prepared to solve?Along the way, we explore everything from AI therapists and digital loneliness to the challenges facing the next generation growing up with artificial intelligence from day one.And then the conversation gets personal.Jono shares the philosophy behind BOOSTWOM and why he's betting on something surprisingly old-fashioned in an AI-driven future:Human trust.Word of mouth.Real customer experiences.While everyone else seems focused on replacing people with technology, he's trying to figure out how technology can amplify genuine human connection instead.We also talk about:• Why reviews have become the modern version of word of mouth• The hidden story inside Missile Command• The difference between AI as a tool and AI as a decision maker• Why loneliness may be a bigger threat than technology itself• How small businesses can compete in an AI-powered world• The challenge of raising kids in a future none of us fully understand• What happens when technology evolves faster than regulationAnd, as always...We finish with the question that sits at the heart of Side Quest Energy:How are you leveling up?Because sometimes the side quest turns out to be the main quest.And sometimes a conversation about an old arcade game becomes a conversation about the future of humanity.Welcome back to Side Quest Energy.Let's dive in.

In this episode, Dan and Jono explore their podcasting journey, the impact of technology on content creation, and personal experiences with neurodiversity, particularly ADHD. They discuss the challenges and insights gained from cognitive testing, the emotional journey of understanding ADHD, and the importance of therapy in personal growth.ADHD Test Results

What starts as a conversation about podcasting… quickly turns into something else entirely. A deep dive into creativity.Storytelling.Why people feel compelled to make things.And why some people simply can’t stop pulling on weird little threads until they turn into full-blown obsessions.This week, Jono and Dan sit down with filmmaker, storyteller, and creator of the podcast Jacob Reed and Me — Jacob Reed.What follows is part creative masterclass… part late-night hangout… and part accidental therapy session.They talk about:The strange psychology behind making podcastsWhy “low effort projects” sometimes become life-changingThe brutal endurance game of creative workAI slop, internet propaganda, and raising kids onlineSame-name coincidences and investigative storytellingParasocial relationships and hearing your own voice backWhy most creatives fail simply because they quitAnd the weird side quests that somehow become the main questThere’s also:Miss Rachel references.Deadlock gaming talk.Stories about Jimmy Kimmel Live.A hotline for people with the same name.And a surprisingly deep discussion about Shakespeare, self-doubt, and pooping on a mountain called Mount Disappointment.In other words…Exactly the kind of conversation this podcast was built for.

IS THIS THING ON? Episode 001 — Side Quest Energy PodcastMost podcasts start polished.This one starts honestly.In the very first episode of the Side Quest Energy Podcast, Jono and Dan hit record before they had everything figured out — because that’s usually how the best adventures begin.This episode is part microphone test, part late-night garage conversation, and part reminder that most people spend their whole lives waiting to feel “ready.”Topics include:Starting before you feel qualifiedCreative risk-takingEntrepreneurship and building things from scratchPodcasting chaosSide quests, often level us upThe strange pressure to have life figured outWhy authenticity beats polishThe energy of simply showing up and pressing recordThere’s no fake guru nonsense here. No manufactured perfection. Just real conversations, real ambition, and the beginning of something that might become great.Or crash and burn spectacularly.Either way… we hit record.Welcome to Side Quest Energy.© 2026 Side Quest Energy Podcast.