Hey, if this blows up, like we got to go to LA and really blow this thing up. I'm like, man, it's got to be a movie. And he's like, no, it's going to be a movie. Sitting in $100,000 seats courtside at a Lakers game pretending to be Luca. It's a crazy life, man. When you put it that way, does it sound a little wild?
It say agreeable things in a unique way. The second I would wake up, I would get on my phone and start writing down ideas. Dude, the sky's is the limit. Exactly. Where do you see it going? From South Bend to Evansville and everywhere in between, this is Get In, the show focused on the Hooser State and the incredible stories happening here today.
I'm Nate Spangle, founder of Get Indiana, and I will be your host for today's conversation. This episode is brought to you by Cluster Truck, the pickup and delivery kitchen born right here in Indianapolis, just like this podcast. Cluster Truck is built for whatever kind of hunger you're dealing with. Late night cravings covered. Family dinner, easy office lunch, of course. From handstretched pizzas and house-made mac and cheese to fresh tacos and salads, the menu runs deep and everyone finds something they're craving.
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Use code get in at checkout for $5 off orders of $25 or more. Order now at cluster truck. com and truck on. My guest today is Thomas Biddle, but he's better known online as at Popcorn with Tom. Now, he's become one of the internet's most entertaining faces, likenesses. You've probably seen him courtside with the LA Lakers, uh, as he has a very similar resemblance to, uh, Luca Donuch.
Is that how you say? Luca Donuch, I think so. Yeah. Yeah, something like that. Um, you and our friend Mantis have broken the internet uh for the past like several weeks just making funny videos and entertaining and captivating audiences and there's a whole strategy behind it about how you got sponsors to pay for the content. I'm so intrigued to dive into this and your journey.
Um, a lot of it I would say is high testosterone content, just a lot of high tea. So, this is going to be If you are a lover of the internet, if you're a lover of social media, if you want to know more about the ins and outs of how social works, you're going to love this episode. Tom, welcome to the show, dude. Thanks for having me, man. This is my dream podcast. Oh, let's go.
Hype. You know, he got offered Joe Rogan, but he turned that down to come here. So, uh, my brother, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I feel like we've been internet friends for a couple months now. Oh, yeah. Uh, but during that time, you have absolutely blown up.
like it has I mean you were already you know on your way. You were very well known. You had a bunch of um of like you know video like short clips and shorts and things that you were doing but like you went all in on the Luca and LeBron stuff with Mantis and like literally like I know probably like a billion views in a in like three weeks in a month. It's crazy. But before we talk all the the crazy ways you guys are breaking the internet today, I want to start what was the first video you posted on the internet? Yeah.
So, it's crazy, man. I'm still like a baby to the internet. I started in like October of last year. So, shut up. It's been like five or six months. Okay.
How long had you thought about potentially, you know, starting to post? Well, so I will say like back in I think it was 2022 when I lived around Fort Wayne, I just wanted to do something like I feel like I've always been like a somewhat entertaining person. So, I wanted to do like burger reviews. So, I did it in Fort Wayne and then I moved to Indianapolis. So, I kind of stopped doing that. Um, but that didn't really go too far anywhere.
But, then I just I don't know. I was up in Indie, kind of got bored with life and I'm like, I want to do something challenging. Like I want to do something on the internet and then I just started posting random like movie reviews. I'm really into movies. Yeah, that's where the whole thing came from was popcorn. It was movie reviews.
Popcorn without Yeah. So I just started doing like movie reviews. Didn't really go anywhere. And then I just remember there was one I don't even know where I got the idea to high testosterone movies and it blew up. So I kept doing stuff like that and then I'm like I wonder if I could expand this to something else. So then I just started doing high chest anything and I don't know why people just love it.
So I just kept doing it and now it's just evolved into I don't even know anymore. It's just crazy. So just doing all kinds of stuff. Literally you're just like a personality on the internet now. Yeah. I mean so so you were putting out movie reviews like very much like ball knowledge of movies and TV like you were like going in the weeds.
Yeah. So I was just like ranking movies talking about different movies um that I'd watch in theaters, stuff like that. So pretty basic but um yeah. Then the the high tea thing caught on. Okay. So what were the what were the high tea movies that we needed to know about?
Well, I think I did La La Land, which is a uh surprising pick for most people. That movie will make grown men cry. So, I think any any movie that can make a man cry, that's high tea for sure. Yeah, that was the big one. Saving Private Ryan's another one. Uh Doom.
Oh, Saving Private Ryan is like the most like ups and downs, emotional roller coaster, and just like masculinity and like that movie just encompasses a lot of life. Exactly. In that movie. Oh, yeah. Wow. Okay.
Did you like go to college? like what was your like what career path are you simultaneously pursuing while also pursuing the internet? Yeah, so I went to Huntington University. What do you study there? Sports management. So my dream was to work for a sports team which I eventually did when I moved to Indie.
I worked at the Pacers for a little bit part-time and then um I worked at a gym simultaneously while I did that and then just kind of the internet stuff caught on. So dude, wait. You started posting when? Uh October of last year. You started posting in October of 2025. And how quick after starting posting were you able to make some money so you didn't have to work?
Uh it was January. So shut up. I think it was like three months and you were like the internet is my employer. Yeah. It's uh it's crazy. Are you a risk taker?
I am little bit of a risk taker. I love that dude. I mean my and it it does change everything. It's going to sound very cliche so I apologize to the listeners but when you go all in and when you're just like no this is how I'm going to do it. I'm going to figure it out. like what was the first thing that paid you to post on the internet?
What was your first deal? So, the first deal I ever did was with Koshi. They I actually reached out to them because I'm friends with Mantis and I know he uh works with them and that's like his brand that he works with and then I just reached out to them. I don't know. I reached out to a bunch of brands. They were the first one to hit me back and um it was actually just like an amazing fit.
Um I found a really good avenue to to do sponsored content with them and it really worked and it we actually like just after this uh Laker stuff we just resigned like a long-term deal. So, really good, bro. Wait, like what were you doing? How are you incorporating Koshi in your original content? So, they have like uh a lot of people know them from like the sports betting and stuff like that. I do stuff with like the culture stuff.
So, like with movies and stuff, so I could implement um just different actors, different movies into different content and Wow. Yeah, it was really seamless. So, it was it was perfect fit. Okay. So, you get your first deal with Koshi and like was that the only one you needed? That was the big one that um but I did some other ones like I do uh I do work with a beer company right now and then also um just I did you know Bass Body Works is doing uh work with them on TikTok.
They're like a men's like hair care brand. Just a couple well because I feel like that is like a big mysterious part of you know people gain followers but they don't know how to monetize it in an authentic way that doesn't like cannibalize their audience. Yeah. like what what got you to the point where you were like, "No, I think that I can do this in a way that is authentic to my audience but also, you know, gets you taken care of." Yeah. I think I just had to find the right brand and it just happened.
I just, you know, happened to get lucky. It was my first one that really worked so well. But I also worked with a couple brands that it just I couldn't find the fit into my content and it just didn't work. Um, luckily Kashu fit really well. Um, and yeah, right now I'm doing a couple other brands that I think are going to do pretty well, but you just have to find the right brand. Okay, so give me a give me a site October.
What were like the first like that first iteration of videos? Cuz I think a lot of people when it comes to content creation, they're scared to start. Like it it's like, oh, that's kind of embarrassing. Like, did you start a net new account with zero followers called at Popcorn with Tom? I did. Yep.
So you start a net new account. What did you start posting on it? I think I just set out my tripod, whatever, and then I just started ranking like top five movies of all time. Just very basic stuff. Um, I didn't really know what was going to come out of it at first, but What were your top five movies of all time? Oh gosh, I just different genres.
I think the first one I ever did I think my first video was like top five comedy movies. So I think I did uh I got to go Ste Bros obviously. Um, how many does Will Frell take on all on all time? He probably had two or three other I mean the other guys. Yeah, phenomenal comedy. Wedding Crasher is another phenomenal comedy.
Like there are some good ones in there and I feel like Will Ferrell is, you know, loosely attached to a lot of them. He really is. I I totally agree. Ben Stiller is a sleep slip on pick too. Oh yeah. Yeah.
And I mean Sandler like Yeah. One of the OGs. Okay. So you start with like the basic I feel like everyone starts there. It's like rank something and and I think that it also helps you when you take stances when you have opinions about stuff like I think this is better than this and and then it's like extra bonus points if you have like a humorous like funny way as to why you are validating your rankings. Okay.
So you start with ranking movies and it's eh yeah you know so I I think eventually I just tried to do very out there things and because I I think part of blowing up on the internet since it's such an oversaturated place is you have to take you have to say agreeable things in a unique way and that's why I think the high stuff caught on because no one was really doing that. Um, so I just started ranking movies in a different way and I think that's what caught on. And then I just started trying new things, different topics, different ways to rank stuff and Okay. And so a lot of times just like listing and ranking things like what that was that was the thing that you were just doing. Oh my gosh, I'm thinking which one did I like? I don't know.
I feel like it was movies and restaurants and situations and just like very relatable stuff and then yeah, you spin an interesting uh thought process behind it. you're like, "Oh, and justifying why you're ranking it a certain way." Yeah. Uh, like how quick, like, you know, one month, October to November, how many followers did you gain? I would say I don't think I actually started gaining any traction until probably like late November. Um, when that first it video came out.
Um, I think I don't know, probably I would say around Christmas time, I probably had like 50K followers, dude. On Tik Tok. And in three months, that's pretty crazy. Yeah. Like that just goes to show like I dude I grinded for like years. Like I think it took me oh my gosh I don't even know like 18 months maybe to get 50k.
So for you to get it in 3 months is crazy. Must mean you're doing something right. Yeah. And I think the the most underlooked thing about it was I was posting five times a day. So I treated it like a job before I'd ever paid anything. And I think that's why it worked out.
Okay. Some people say you're not supposed to post five times a day. I don't know. Um I think it worked. I tried to spread them out pretty evenly across the day. So like 8 am you wake like you wake up you go to the gym or whatever you come back and you're like eating breakfast posting.
Oh the second I wake up I mean it got to a point I couldn't even I literally you could ask my girlfriend I could not sleep cuz all I would think about is different ideas cuz I had to one make so much content to do five times a day consistently and I never wanted to miss a day and two I was just excited to do it. How many days in a row did you post five times a day? Oh my gosh. I don't post five times a day anymore. I think it's about three a day now. But when I was doing when I was in my main five times a day grind, it was probably like 3 months of doing that every single day.
You posted you posted five times a day for 3 months. Yeah, it was a grind. It was I mean that's how you gained 50,000. Yeah, it was consistency. That's all it was. And do you think that like was there ever a time where you felt like you were oversaturating people?
Um yeah. I mean I feel like I still sometimes wonder that. Um but I think I don't know. I just got to try to keep it unique. How variable? Like if you post five when you were posting five things in a day, would all of them blow up?
Would like one out of five? Would two out of like what what was the data that you were looking at showing from posting five times a day? Yeah, it was uh they were pretty consistently blowing up. And I think that's why I leaned so hard into the the category of stuff I was I was getting on TikTok um probably in like January, February, I was getting like a million views a day consistently every single day. It was it was crazy. But then at some point people just get bored with whatever you know, whatever the thing you're doing is.
When I memorized all the high school mascots, it was like sick for day 13. Like people were like still very But then by the time I got to like day 26, they were like, "Okay, I'm I'm over this. You need a new gimmick." Was there ever a point like where you were posting five times a day and you're like, "Okay, at some point I'm going to have to think of like you can't be a one-trick pony." I mean, I talked about this um with Evan from Stuff That Rules. I love him, dude.
He makes like cinematic masterpieces. him. It's like he is so pigeonhold a little bit where like he has a very specific script of like, hey, you know, I'm I'm making a list of stuff that rules. I add five new things on it every day. And he's like, they're like great videos. Like you can't watch that and not be happy.
Like he belongs on an episode of Ted Lasso. I totally agree with that statement. Yeah. Right. And but at some point like all great things people get less interested in. Like he's still on the rise.
He's still like getting, you know, popularity. People are watching it. It's incredible. Amazing. Again, but we even talked about it here. He's like, "Oh, yeah.
That's why on his personal account, he's starting to go out in person and like say, "Does it rule?" And like go do like a different style of content. Um, so it's like for you, were you thinking about this where it's like I got to make hay while the sun shines? But I also have to think about like what's my next thing? Yeah, for sure. And I think I'm in that like transitional period right now cuz at first I was like I mean the analytics were unreal and I'm just like why change it if it's still working.
So I was just doing lists of everything I can think of. And that was the great thing about it is I feel like I really couldn't run out of ideas and that's why I was able to post five times a day. But then it got to a point where like the views started dropping down a little bit. Um so I kind of started thinking like who is my core audience and what can I make that applies to them? And I think that that pivot was so important to the longevity of my pages because yeah, you can't do the high te thing forever. I totally agree.
It's like you don't want to be a onetrick pony. So I think like the the category of what videos I made was just like masculine stuff for the boys, right? That the at the core of it, that's what it was. And um so I started trying to think, well, how can I incorporate that in different types of videos? So a big series I'm doing right now is like S tier guys night stuff, stuff like that, like sharable stuff. and um just like going golfing, going to a concert, stuff like that.
And and people really like that. So, I've been pivoting a little bit. It's very relatable. Yeah. Just like relatable guy stuff. A lot of I feel like most of the videos besides the one that I see you doing with Mantis, like this seems like another side quest that you guys have just like gone on, but like your your normal content is set up a tripod and like pontificate about something, you know?
Um is there more to it? Like if someone was out there and like, "Hey, I want to get started on the internet. like I want to quit my job and I want to start posting content. What do they need to get started? I would just say you have to have uh you just have to have consistency. You need to at least post like once a day.
I mean I that's the thing I've even when I've dialed it back to like three times a day. I have not missed a day since I've started in October. Like there's you can know you can go back and look. I have not missed a single day. Um so I think that is the most important thing for me is consistency. Um just being always on someone's feed every single day helps so much.
um person and it's like I feel like people think that you're going to annoy people or whatever cuz like nobody thinks about you as much as you think about you. So it's like if they don't like what you're saying they're just going to swipe by. Like you have to really get annoying for someone to like go and unfollow. Like it happens of course you know like whatever but like the the followers lost versus like consistently like putting out a lot of content the followers gained is not even close. Yeah. What what advice would you have for like like thinking and constructing a good series where people can like uh you know because I think the number one thing that stunts a lot of creators from being consistent is they wake up on Monday and they're like okay this week I'm going to start it and then they're like okay they maybe wake up they're be creative think of an idea okay execute the idea you know edit the idea post the idea at 8:00 p.
m. night and they're like, "Shit, that was so hard. I can't do that again." Like, and then day two goes by, nothing. And oh, by the way, the first day's video got like 16 likes and, you know, 1,000 views or whatever, and they're like discouraged and they give up. How would you say like, what advice would you have for people to go and and break through?
Well, I think they have to realize that like failure is is good. And when you start like those first videos, like they're not going to blow. That's not reality. They're going to be bad. But I think the most important thing is when you start, you just have to you get an idea in your head. You have to post about it.
And it sounds cliche. That's what every creator says. But you have to it's just a game of throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. You know, like the first few like I don't know month and a half of what I was posting, I was posting the most random stuff. Anything to do with like movies and TV shows, I was posting the most random stuff. Um and I just waited to see what caught on and that's really I think the name of the game.
Yeah. What uh what is an idea that you still think is a great idea but totally flopped on the internet? Anything with like comedy, sometimes I'll think it's like the funniest video ever and I'll post on trial reels or something and it just flops and I'm like, man, that just goes to show like your sense of humor is very unique sometimes. How are you learning and how are you like gaining knowledge on being a better creator? Honestly, Mantis, he is just that guy knows everything. He's been at it for so long.
He's been giving me so much advice. Uh he's helped. What's the best What's the best advice that young Mantis has given you? Just his mindset about everything. He's every time we talk and I'm like, "Oh, man." Like, "I really hope like for example, we're going to the Lakers this weekend."
And I'm like, "Man, it's got to be a movie." And he's like, "No, it's going to be a movie." He's just he's very determined that it's going to work out no matter what. And he's he's always like correct in the way I talk about things with my content. He's like, "No, it's going to happen." He's just very motivating in that aspect.
And is how did you how did you meet Austin? I just DM'd him one day and I'm like, "Yo, like I'm from Indiana, man. Let's do a video." And he pulled up. Super chill guy. And what was the video?
What was your guys' first collab? Uh we went outside of Gainbridge and we did uh I think it was like high test cities in the US and we just did it outside of Gainbridge. Nice. Yeah. Where did the Luca Lebron thought come from? Yeah.
So everybody since I don't know 3 or four years ago they just say you look like Luca Don tell me that every day. And then when I was with Mantis that day he was like has everybody ever told you you look like Luca? I'm like yes all the time. He's like dude we got to do some kind of video with that cuz he's more into like the sports side of things. I'm like yeah man that sounds good. And so we kind of brainstormed.
I don't we didn't really do anything with that idea for a couple months and then one day we put it together and we're like dude let's go dress up full Lakers uniform we committed to the bit went down to the downtown Y did pick up he was LeBron I was Luca and it popped off and then we're like hey if this goes good as good as we think like we should go to go to LA and do something at a Lakers game that'd be cool and that just seemed like a fairy tale at the time and then so where did the yeah where did you finally decide to cuz you guys were like running and pick up like and it'd be like you know small clips or whatever like mantis being Mantis like doing his thing. Uh it was so when the Lakers came to town for the last game against the Pacers this season, we had we literally hired a security team and surrounded me and I was wearing like a warm-up hoodie and I kind of like put my head down and but I had like a Lakers jersey, which this is the funniest thing.
I always do a full uniform in public and people still believe it's Luka, which I think that's kind of funny. But we walk out of everybody's over here at the Conrad downtown thinking Luca is about to come out and I've come out over here with the security team around me and we try to get a whole like distraction. No. Did it work? Freaking blew up. Had like 5 million on Instagram.
Wait, did the people there though think that you were actually him? Yeah, all the kids did. They were like, "Oh my gosh, Luka, you can go back and watch the video." They were all screaming. And then people realized it wasn't me and the parents got a little mad, but no, they didn't. Yeah, a couple of them were like, "Don't let him sign your stuff.
Get out of here." No. But it's funny. But then the funniest part was act as they were over here. Luca actually comes out right after that. Like the timing is crazy.
We had no idea that was going to happen. It was really confusing. Dude, that is like so funny. Hiring a security team. I think that was all Mantis. He was the one that did it, but he committed to it fully.
I mean, he is he's a character for sure. Oh my gosh. Okay, so that works. Last game of the season, but then you're like this pipe dream of let's go to LA and and do the whole thing. Yeah. Like how does that end up becoming reality?
Well, the before the Conrad thing, I think we kind of were both like, "Hey, if this blows up, like we got to go to LA and really blow this thing up." So, it did. And then I think like couple days after that, we're like, "Dude, let's book the book the flight. Let's do it." So, we went on the weekend, it was the last two season or last two games of the regular season. Um, we just sat in like normal seats and we were just kind of hoping to get some clips outside the stadium and people were loving it.
Like, they were eating it up. They thought it was so funny. And then the next game was on like the Sunday following that and Manchester was like, "Yo, I think we should go courtside. The tickets just dropped pretty low." And how much for tickets? They were 2,000 a piece, which courtside in LA, that's pretty good, bro.
$2,000. But we knew it was going to work. We knew it was going to work, so we did it. And you just kind of have to ham it up at that point. Yeah. Oh, we're just being clowns out there.
Who's Who's filming? Really? We didn't have anybody filming. It was just We were hoping to get clipped by somebody, which it did. So, we we were not facing you wouldn't see us on TV. We're like down in the corner um facing the opposite direction, but it's literally the second we sat down, everybody's yelling.
There's a lot of attention on us. And I think ESPN got a clip of us, Overtime got a clip of us, and it blew up, don't get me wrong, but not to the level of the next weekend, which after that was So, you paid $2,000 to sit courtside, but not like in the TV seats. Yeah. And but like you're getting so you guys don't even have to take video of yourself. You don't have someone like planted. No.
What? You just trusted the process. We knew who told Wait. Like a random person just posted it. I mean literally within seconds of walking into our seats. I think this guy from ESPN Los Angeles comes up.
He's like, "We need an interview with you. Let's get a video." So they they take a video of the Lakers warming up and then they just pan right over to us and it was gold. And then dude, okay. Is that different than in Indiana? I won.
I don't even know if there's an ESPN Indiana. Oh, I don't think so. But it's like I feel like the meme style stuff like LA like like you know ESPN LA is interested in that. They think that that's funny, but I don't feel like an Indiana brand would do something like that. No, I think LA they're they're much more uh theatrical with things. I think they like more the show.
Yeah. So I I don't think it would hit as well in Indiana. Really? Okay. So literally from the moment you walk in, you're sitting courtside and they pan over and you're going there. Yeah.
Then like throughout the day or throughout the game, you're just like you guys just being funny like Yeah. So I think I think the overtime picked up a video of it. Um and then House of Highlights did which is really like where it blew up the first night. Um and then we're just trying to you know act like clowns on the sideline like just cheering really loud cuz no one in LA cheers. No one. It's really weird.
We were like standing out a lot because I think we were just so passionate about the game. Yeah. And it's like, you know, they're probably like just more chill. Yeah. Leaving the stadium, what's the conversation that you and Mandis have? I mean, we were just so excited.
We We really thought that was, you know, the end of this little side quest. We thought we really maxed it out as much as we could. Um, but oh my gosh, we were wrong. So, literally when we were in the airport to come home that following day, uh, we got a text that the the brand we worked with wanted to send us back out for a full like marketing campaign. and they were going to put us on like you're going to see us on TV. Um, and it was going to be a whole thing and we it was a very subtle uh brand.
So, we put their brand on the on the Lakers jersey and we didn't have any plans to film anything specific. We were just really hoping we'd get picked up again. So, it was like a huge risk, huge gamble by them or by you? Uh, by them because I mean for me it's like we're at a Lakers game. I'm losing nothing by going here. But for them it was like, you know, they invested a lot of money in it um just to see if we got picked up like we did last time and it probably did like 10x the numbers this time.
So Okay. Wait, so you get a I mean are can you talk about the brand? Yeah, Kali is Okay. So Koshi puts you courtside at a Lakers game behind like on the bench basically. Uh on the TV side. Mhm.
Like you started posting last October and like six months later your court side had a like in like if you had to did you look at how much the tickets cost? I think for those two tickets I mean there's an article out there that said it was six figures. I don't know you know bro you in six months go from posting your favorite five movies on the internet for an audience of a couple thousand maybe a couple hundred. Yeah. to sitting in $100,000 seats courtside at a Lakers game pretending to be Luca. Like, bro, it's a crazy life, man.
When you put it that way, does it sound a little wild? It does. And I just actually explained it to my parents when I went to LA. They didn't really understand what I was doing. And then I tried to explain to my parents what I did exactly, and I don't think they I don't think they really understand still cuz it's kind of a weird journey. Did they see you on TV?
Well, yeah. I was like, I mean, they got to see this. So, I texted him like, "Hey, we got courtside ticket to Lakers game. Like, I'll explain how this happened like after. You just got to watch and see what happens and just like have fun with it." Well, yeah.
So, what do they say? Like, you're from a small town in Indiana. Yeah. They think it's so funny. They But do they like think that this is like a career? Yeah, I think I think they were like fully supportive of it.
I think they they love it. They're just glad I'm having fun, you know, making money doing something so crazy like this. I mean, obviously I know, you know, I'm not an idiot. I know it could end any time, but I mean, as long as I'm giving it my full 100% effort, like I got I I don't feel worried about it. I think it's uh Yeah. And again, it's just like you got to commit to not being a onetrick pony.
Like if if you know, for the rest of your life, you're coasting off of being looking kind of like Luca, like you're probably in trouble, you know? But if you continue to think of new and creative ways of again capturing attention Mhm. dude, the sky's is the limit. Exactly. This episode of Get In is sponsored by Greeks Pizzeria, an Indiana original that's been serving scratchmade pizza since 1969. Now, what stands out about Greeks is that they have stayed focused on the basics that matter.
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Where do you feel it? Where do you see it going? I don't think I can predict the next six months, cuz if you asked me 6 months ago where I'd be today, I would never have guessed, you know, sitting courtside at the Lakers game acting like Luka Don, you know? I don't know. I'm just going to keep trying. In a perfect world, if you were like dreaming it and you were like, "Okay, like what's where do you want to be?"
I mean, I would really love to evolve into something more long form. Um, right now I'm just doing the short like 20 30 second clips on Instagram, Tik Tok. Um, but I would love to expand over to YouTube and do something long term. As far as ideas of that, I don't really know. I haven't really thought about it too much. How do you how did you learn like the production of videos?
I feel like that's a piece that is a barrier to entry for people as well. Really just kind of learned it on my own. Just like what do you edit on? I just edited on TikTok. Really? Cap go sometimes.
Bro, inapp. This man is inapp editing. You honestly, dude, when you figure out all the other softwares and stuff, you're going to Sky's the limit. You got courtside at a Lakers game editing in the Tik Tok app, you are set. Holy smokes, that's insane. I know.
That's good for you. Thank you. I appreciate that. Well, I think that's just a testament to like if you work hard and you're just consistent, like you don't have to have like fancy stuff. You don't have to be or hell, dude. Why am I What am I doing in this expensive studio?
like I could just be, you know, but that's the internet. It's it is so much not about not just about how much you're willing to invest and like a certain stage, right? Like for a Mr. Beast video, you the only way to go is up and up and up. You got to spend more money. You got to make the video crazier.
Like the wildest thing you could ever imagine. Totally. But getting started, turn on your iPhone, put it on selfie camera, and just start to rip. Mhm. Learn about the like equation that is a video, right? It's like hook them in, build suspenseah like like up and up and up and up and then deliver them on the back side.
Yeah, I agree. Yeah. And I think that the process of that is definitely involved in terms of my content. Um before I would just think of a list of something and then write it down as it came to my head and now I'm learning like you got to you know first 5 seconds, first three seconds are the most important. You got to really grab their attention and you know now I'm deep into the analytics of things and that's how I formulate my new videos. Okay.
So you start to do more long form content. Like are there ideas that you're like, "Oh man, you know, I'm going to start working to execute this kind of content." Yeah, I I have always loved that content of just like people showing kindness in different ways, whether it's like giving money to people or just like complimenting strangers cuz I feel like in today's world like people just lack that human connection of kindness and stuff. I want to do something like that. I don't really know exactly what. Well, dude, and I feel like the easy way to blow up is always by being a prankster.
Mhm. Like just doing pranks, doing like stuff that like the average human being would never do. And it's like, well, could you flip that over the other way? And could you be like the kindest human being on planet Earth? Like, which is crazy because like Mr. Beast, I feel like does a lot of that.
And people still somehow find a way to talk smack to him. I know. And it's like, dude, he's building wells in Africa. Like he's trying to like stop child labor on cocoa farms. Like Yeah. I just think like as I grow older, I feel like I just see a lack of people, you know, complimenting strangers or I don't know, it just it feels like there is uh especially with people being on their phone so much, people don't go out and just like talk to people anymore.
And I really want to like keep that prevalent as time goes on. Um cuz I don't think it's going to get any better as far as like being on technology and stuff. So I really want to be I think part of my content I've I've um really like lately is I feel like people kind of look up to me as like a big brother sometimes. A lot of like younger audience. So I will make like stuff just showing how to be kind to people and stuff like that and people really like that. So I think it could be expanded to long form.
My uh one of my wrestlers, his name is Jack Howie, he absolutely love it. And he's like, "Yo, coach, do you know Popcorn with Tom?" And I was like, "I think so." And he and he was like, "Dude, you got to do something. You got to like talk with Tom." And I think that was why I DM'd you in the first place.
And so shout out to Jack Howie. What a guy. He's like loves all the stuff that you put out. Like he's just like a huge fan. That's awesome. Yeah, he DM'd me.
He was like because I think I DM'd you like a few days before that maybe. And I don't remember how like what he said, but he DM'd me. He's like, "Dude, this is my wrestling coach." I was like, "No way. I just I just reached out to him." Yes.
And it Okay, you might have reached out on like a Saturday or like a Friday. And it was like Tuesday at practice and he goes, "Coach, like you need to talk to Tom." And I was like, "Okay." And I went and found the message and I was like, "Oh, dude, my bad. Totally blah blah blah blah blah." And and it like all came together like that.
That's wild. This is crazy. But you never know. I will say like, do you get a ton of messages and stuff? DMs? Yes.
I've actually never been recognized like in person though, like ever. It's only like messages of DM. Not one time. No. I'm still waiting for that time. I mean, people will like when we go to LA and I'm like dressed as Luca, but like But they don't know your popcorn.
Exactly. Yeah. So, you almost need to get like popcorn with Tom on the back of the jersey. Yeah. I want to I want to talk and I want to vision cast a little bit. So today it's like you know ranking movies you know situations the short 20 30 second clips you know the next iteration is maybe some more long form stuff.
Mhm. If you could build the perfect decade if you went on you took this Luca series and you kept parlaying that and going and going and going. Where does the journey end 10 years? How old are you? 24. 24 when you're 34.
Where is the journey at when you're 34 years old? Like this is the interesting piece that we're growing up in the internet. Like I don't know who this would probably be like, you know, 10 years out ahead is like what Jake and Logan Paul are doing and what uh Mr. Beast is doing. Like there's not a lot of like older internet voices and people to look up to right now. Where do you think the next decade takes you?
I don't know. I mean, I just want to, like I said, I want to expand to something long form. I want to build more and I think that's why maybe like people don't recognize me and stuff is because I want to build more of like a deeper connection with like my followers and stuff. So, I really want them to see who I really am and see what I really stand for and that's why I want to make like longer videos. Um hopefully I can blow up in that aspect over the next few years and and just really make more of like a positive impact on people's life. I like to just like have fun with the content and and yeah, just not take life too seriously.
That's really what I try to promote at the end of the day. What do people need to know about you from like a from a you who is Tom? You have a ton of followers. cuz you've gotten hundreds of millions of views, the whole nine yards there. But like what do people really need to know about Tom? I'm just like a normal guy that just like tried something one day and it worked out.
And I just don't take life too seriously. And I think that is like my main thing. I just people people are so upset and angry all the time. Like I'm just I just try to like have fun with life because you only get one life. Like why not just have fun with it, you know? So I just like hang out with friends, do some fun stuff, hang out with my girlfriend.
I'm just a normal guy. Just a normal guy. Yeah. What would you say to the people out there that that have always wanted to be a creator, have wanted to make content, maybe they've tried a couple times before, but they just haven't had that one video that has given them positive momentum. Mhm. I think it it happens when you least expect it.
I think I was getting to a which sounds funny cuz it didn't take super long for me to blow up, but I was just like getting to a point where like I'm just making the same kind of videos, same results. Like I don't know, this is really for me. And then right I would say if I gave it another month or so I probably would have just gave up. I don't know. So I think it just happens at least. What were your friends saying?
What were the people closest to you saying about you posting your videos on the internet? I mean I'm sure they were kind of like laughing at it, you know? I don't know. It was embarrassing. Like I feel like I people would be like a like I saw your TikTok and it was like that's kind of weird. But I Dude, it is embarrassing until it's not.
Exactly. Even sometimes now when people are like I saw your video and I'm like I hope you liked it. like uh it's it is a little embarrassing. It's a good it's a good feeling though when you know you like bet on yourself and it worked out. Like I do love when people come up and are like, "Oh man, I love your videos." It's like thanks.
Like I put a lot of work into those. It's like and I'm not like an artist. I always say like I can't paint. I can't draw. I can't sculpt. Like none of that's for me.
But like creating good videos and like creating entertaining content for the internet is my art form. Yeah. and like learning about what makes everything, you know, produce just a little bit better, get a couple more views, a couple more shares, like learning the science that is the internet is fun to me. I agree. Yeah. Do is it like do you love the process creating?
Yes. Now that I've like really learned and I've had a few months of like uh learning about analytics and I'm sure I'll love it when I learn about like editing on new softwares and stuff. Yeah. Right. There's so much untapped uh parts about it. But no, I just love the process of uh just thinking of new content and then looking at analytics.
Looks what works, what drives views and stuff like that. And how were you putting out 35 pieces of content every week? Like how how much time were you dedicating to that? I was probably spending at least five, six hours a day in terms of like thinking about the ideas, writing them down, um listing them off, filming them, editing them, and then posing them. Like I would probably I would wake the second I would wake up, I would get on my phone and start writing down ideas and then probably wouldn't stop until probably 6 p. m.
No way. Yeah. And I'm still kind of like that. It just I think I take more time on each video and post a little less. Um but it's still majority of my day. That's all I think about.
What are you thinking about right now in terms of videos? I'm just I'm really thinking about this leaker stuff that's been taking up my mind lately. Yeah. Think about what I'm gonna do there. Okay. You're So this won't go out.
You're going to the game this weekend. will be out after that. What can we expect from this upcoming Lakers trip? It's going to be crazy. We're going to do some crazy stuff. Um, most people when they sit courtside at the Lakers, they're just in their nice fits.
I'm going to just be there acting like a kid, you know, just having fun with it and we're going to get some crazy videos. I might even rip a high test video courtside next to LeBron. I think that would do pretty good. Did they say anything? Were there rules when you guys were sitting there? Funny story.
The first time we sat courtside, I mean, probably right after the ESPN guy came up to us, we had a security guard like, "Yeah, you need to come with us." And it was like out of a movie, dark room in the back. They took us back there during the game. Before the games, right before the game, and they're like, "Listen, you guys got the full uniform, like do not go on the court." Like, and then gave us like they took pictures of our IDs, made us sign all these forms, gave us his card saying what was going to happen if we did anything. It was I mean, it was like kind of scary.
I'm not going to lie. Yelled in the mic. That's crazy. What? Yeah, that was 10 seconds into being there for the first time. Did they end up liking you or not liking you?
Oh, they loved us, I think, because we were very respectful about it. Like, we weren't we weren't there to like, you know, Well, they probably know that Mantis tried to check into an UPY game and they were like, "Do not try to check in game." Yeah. No, we just we were just having fun really. Like, we didn't do anything like they thought we were going to run on the court or like I don't know when we were being on TV, they told us like, "What were the consequences if you did?" Oh, they would kick you out so fast.
I mean, when we sat at the Rockets game, there was a guy beside us and he said something to the Rockets coach, but it was like in favor of the Rockets like, "Oh, how' they not get that call?" And the Rockets coach looked at him, he starts like giving him some giving him some words and they kicked him out like literally right after that. It was the guy sat beside you. Yeah, it was very It was crazy. And I don't think he deserved it at all. No, they were they are very very So 10 seconds in there, they pull you into this dark room like what's the first thing they ask you?
Uh they just well they just told us right away like don't try anything cute like if you do you're going to get kicked out you'll get banned like all this stuff and they're kind of just like scaring us a little bit but I think after the you know first quarter they're like all right they're just here to have fun and like they there was no rules on content like you could film whatever you wanted. Yeah, they didn't say anything about um the only thing they said um in terms of like I mean it's not really in terms of like uh us filming, but when we were actually in the shot of the camera on CB, they were like, "Don't try anything to like get attention on the camera." Like specifically like anything crazy. They were like, "You're here as a fan." Like like what do you mean? I don't know.
Maybe just like holding up a sign or like I don't know like or something or something like that. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. But you were still allowed to be like a crazy fan. Oh yeah, for sure.
like a fun loving whatever. Yeah. What like were there any crazy comments? Like did any other celebrities or people like noticed this and think it was fun? Yeah, we had like uh well I think a couple of the players in the Jazz one of the first games we went to reached out to Mantis. Um a lot of I mean like all the players loved it.
The only ones that didn't really say anything were LeBron and Bronny. I think they were just too locked in on the game. They didn't really care. But uh No way, dude. They definitely had to know. I mean there's a video on ESPN.
It was one of the ones that blew up. It was LeBron and he was like he was like it looked like he was trying hard not to look at us cuz we're right beside him like taking a picture of him and I don't know I think he was just annoyed but probably like he's like people say this is my twin it's Mantis standing there but it would be so cool if it like if they did think you know did Luca anything from Luca? Luca gave me like the nod of approval. Didn't really talk to me though but he gave me one of these so I felt good. Yeah. There you go.
But he might be playing this weekend so we'll see. I think if I get a jersey swap with Luca Don, that will break the internet. If Luca and JV Luca or Great Value L If Luca and Great Value Luca get a jersey swap, that would be crazy. Yeah. Yeah. You know who actually loves it?
Jake Larabia, Indiana legend. He uh he plays for the Lakers. Lauren Central guy. He loves it. He loves it. Oh yeah.
He probably knows who Mantis is. I feel like Mantis has been doing videos forever. Yeah. Like he's like a he's like a granddad of Indiana internet. Yeah. That's wild, man.
Oh, I love it. Okay. Are there other crazy wild ideas like the Lakers Luca lookalike? Wow. Say that five times. The Lakers Luca lookalike uh that you have like is there Can we expect more big internet breaking feats?
For sure. There will be something in the works. Me and Mantis were just always thinking about crazy stuff. We will uh Yeah, we'll think of something. We're just kind of riding the Lakers wave right now until probably the end of the playoffs and then we'll think about the next thing. Dude, that's interesting, too, where you can do this and it not be disrespectful.
Yeah. Like I think that cuz like I think that getting to know you a little bit more, it's like, oh yeah, you're a good dude. Yeah. And Mantis is also a good dude. Like don't get that twisted. I like Mantis, but he's also like willing to take jokes.
Oh yeah, for sure. You know, uh it just doesn't really seem like your style. No, like I don't I just like to have fun. Like I don't know. I don't really want to like upset people. I just want to have fun with it.
Yeah, dude. Like when Mantis I we talked about it on his episode when he did the like Shrek beef and the like uh sexy Red Lobster like we would like switch out we would switch out the posters and stuff. It's like he was pissing the people off behind the counter a little bit but like it's all harmless fun type for the most part of it. But uh yeah, it's definitely interesting to like go and get insane virality and not have to like prank someone or do something. Yeah, for sure. Yeah.
Yeah. I love it, dude. Okay. Well, we've come towards the end of the show where we get to talk all things Indiana. Let's go. I've been waiting for this.
This has been your part. Okay. So, this question is brought to you by our friends at JC Hart. They're a leader in creating enjoyable living experiences at apartment communities all across Indiana and beyond. Check them out at homejart. com.
My question for you, why do you call Indiana home? The hospitality, man. It's the greatest place in the Midwest, the Indy500. I mean, everything. This is Indiana's amazing. Oh, dude.
Absolutely. Are you going to do content at the IND500? 100%. You got to pull up to our tailgate. I'll be there. Shotgun with Nay Spangle.
Come on, dude. It'll be uh it'll be so much fun. Like, we do the whole prize wheel and yeah, rally the boys and and come to the tailgate. It's going to be a heck of a time. Um, what's your favorite Indiana tradition? Definitely 3500 for sure.
I've been going since I was a kid. I was gonna say like growing up in what, uh, Wells County, like near Bluffton, like was it big up there? Like I feel like it never it didn't stretch to where we were at. The 500 wasn't a big thing in Bourbon really. Well, maybe just for I mean I maybe have a biased perspective cuz my dad was really into it. He's been going since he was a kid, so he would always take us.
But I was actually just talking to a couple buddies of mine from Fort Wayne and they they didn't really seem like they were super hyped about it. But in Indie, I feel like everybody is, dude. in Indie. It is It is a thing. The The weather just changes in May. Oh my gosh.
Um Okay. Do you do Carb Day as well? I haven't yet, but me and my girlfriend are going to go this year cuz I've heard that's like that's a place to be. When you're having a creative block, what do you do to get yourself out of the creative block? Oh my gosh. I I've been going through a lot of those lately.
I just go back and and I look at what worked and um just kind of build upon that. And I look at the com like the comments will uh usually like kind of expand upon the video that I posted and kind of give me some ideas and I really just have to look back at like like I was telling you earlier like what is the core of what my following is and what do they like and it's like that relatable guy st guys nice stuff and absolutely okay dream collab. I want to do something with Luga so bad. I want to do something with him so bad and I feel like I've always heard I've looked like him. I just feel like I got to do something with I don't know what but we got to make it happen. Yeah.
Jersey swap. That's that's really the goal. The Luca Jersey swap, that's a fire one. Yeah. What's your advice to kids out there that want to be creators? I think you just you can't worry about what people think because people will laugh at you until it works out.
Um, and I will say it's a very very rewarding feeling when it does work. Um, cuz one it it's good because you kind of can like stick it to the people that didn't believe in you, but also you can uh you I no longer care what people think about me at all. like it posting so much you just kind of you're you're free from that feeling of anxiety of just like oh people are going to laugh at this like I don't care I could not care less it's a very freeing feeling and I that translate to any any aspect of my life I don't care anymore so I love that dude yeah you got to be free okay we've come to the same three questions we ask every guest who comes on the show first this is this is your opportunity to share a part of the state that you love that more people need to know about what is a hidden gem in Indiana so I'm I'm a Fort Wayne kind of guy. Uh the deck in Fort Wayne. Have you ever been there? I haven't been to the deck.
Gosh, it's like a bar and I mean it's for everybody. It can be for like uh the younger crowd, the older crowd, too. It's right on the river. Um there's a restaurant attached to it and then in the summer it opens up and there's like I mean there's like a patio and then there's also like a boat dock down there you can go sit on like literally on the river. The drinks are amazing. uh they're very strong and so like with the older crowd like 40s 50s they'll go like uh afternoon on a Saturday and then when it gets like eight or nine that's when like the younger crowd goes and they're kind of pregaming the other bars cuz the drinks are really good and really strong.
So that place is so fun. The Deck in Fort Wayne. What a spot. I love it. Okay, this is where we get to source uh new guest ideas and learn about other Hoosiers that are doing great things. Who's a Hooser we need to keep on our radar?
Someone who's doing big things. Young Mantis. Yeah, that's a go. He's the goat, dude. He He cares and like he doesn't booze. Like he's not like he is just all in.
He's so locked in. He is so locked in on making videos. Oh my gosh. Yes. When we're like on the plane and doing anything like he is always thinking about a video or editing a video, like he's so locked in. He loves Indiana, too.
Like dude, that's a true hooer. What a ride. 6 months. 6 months can change your life. Like it it's wild. Six months ago, you had a normal person job and you started posting on the internet and now you're sitting courtside at Lakers games and like figuring out what comes next.
Just continuing to lean into growing your audience, breaking the internet. I love it, dude. I think it's uh it's very very impressive and it like pushes and even me like I hear like the passion and and like the grind that you're willing to go to and it's like dang well if he can post five times a day for three months like maybe I got to up upgrade uh how much content we're putting out every day. So, keep up the good work. If people want to follow you, if they want to learn more, they want to see some of your stuff, where can they do that? What are all the channels?
It's popcorn with every everything, Instagram, Tik Tok. Are you a YouTuber? I have YouTube. I don't really post a lot on there yet, but dude, it's hard. Yeah, I've heard it's the hardest one to grow on for sure, bro. It is a grind.
I have yet to figure it out. I'm trying to figure out. Yeah, that's why I'm a little like hesitant for the long form stuff. I know it's going to be a whole new challenge. It's fun, bud. All right, man.
I love it. And we'll talk to you soon. Appreciate it, man. This show is made possible by our friends up at Sweetwater. Whether you're looking to start a podcast or take your content to the next level, click the link in the description to see all my gear recommendations at Sweetwater. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at everything we're doing across the state, make sure you follow me on Instagram and Tik Tok, Nate Spangle.
Thank you so much for listening and being a part of what makes the Hooer State great. We'll see you next time here on Get
