J.R.: [00:00:00] Hello, everyone, and welcome back to One Thousand Gurus, where we share the stories and insights from people of all walks of life. I am your host, J.R. Yonocruz. Today, we welcome back my close friend, Yerson Ochoa, for his third appearance on the show. It's always nice to have him on back as one of our resident dance experts, but I also appreciate how willing he is to open up about his own journey, struggles, challenges, et cetera, as well as the lessons he's learned along the way and any insights.

We've actually had about one hour's worth of setup time as he was trying to figure out his laptop situation, but we were able to, like, catch up a little bit beforehand. Uh, and it worked out in the end anyways. We also thought going in we would only have 30 minutes to record, as he had something else scheduled afterwards.

But I think during the recording, his schedule shifted, so we went to almost the full hour, which is a nice unexpected treat. We catch up mostly about what he's been up to over the past year, how things have both changed in terms of teaching, but also how they've mainly stayed the same.

We also talk about friendships, the [00:01:00] nature of them, and how he's been shifting his perspective on maintaining those relationships. We also chat about closing different chapters in our lives, freestyle dance versus choreography, session environments, dance titles and labels, ego and dancing, and intentionally building a community.

It was quite an enjoyable conversation, and it reminded us that he and I are overdue for an in-person catch-up or dinner or something as soon as we figure out how to match up our widely different schedules. Yerson's usually available more in the early morning and early afternoon during the week, and I am the opposite.

I am after hours, and he's usually not free on the weekends. But we'll figure it out. Um, he also said he's interested in doing one of the reverse interviews since I've been looking for someone to do that, but we shall see. So anyways, without further ado, please enjoy this episode with Yerson Ochoa.

 Somehow I knew it would be like this. It's always more fun. All right, Die is the fun ... we started. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hmm, let me do my intro. [00:02:00] Welcome to One Thousand Gurus. Welcome back, Yerson Ochoa, for your- Woo ... third episode. Yeah, we had about an- Thank you for this, Yeah, we had about an hour's worth of technical setup, but it's all good.

We'll speed run this. And we'll see. We'll kind of freestyle this, like we just mentioned. So yeah, thanks for jumping on, man. How have you been? 

Yerson: It's been crazy since, like, the last year we talked. It's a lot, but goods and bads, so I'm kinda happy to share a little bit. Thank you for invite me, though.

J.R.: Yeah, of course, man. Always like having you on. Plus, we've been trying to hang out, so it's always a good excuse to just connect and chat and stuff, right? 

Yerson: Yeah, yeah. 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Yerson: I mean, I miss you 'cause I don't have too much, like, male friends anymore. 

J.R.: Yeah, 

Yerson: yeah. And I miss that environment, you know? The safe environment.

J.R.: Yeah. 

Yerson: But yeah. 

J.R.: I think we ta- I think we talked about this too, right? It's like I'm trying to hang out with more of my guy friends as well 'cause it's, like, a different en- well, I was talking to this with Herbie, because it's a different... It's, like, a sa- it feels like a safe space when you get to just [00:03:00] hang out with guy friends and not have to worry about, like, so much, like, what you say.

Not that we're saying anything weird, but more just, like, you just feel more comfortable, you know? It's like hanging out with your family when you're like, "Okay, they're not judging me and I can say something and they'll understand me," rather than strangers will take it out of context, right? 

Yerson: Yeah. At the same time, it's, like, a different way to grow.

Like, a all mens- Yeah ... has a specifically- Sure ... a specific, like, responsibilities that, as a man, we have to, like, figure it out. Our, our parents put expectations on us and it's something that we just can relate between men. 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Yerson: Like- It's 

J.R.: relatable, right? ... 

Yerson: us women, too. Yeah, yeah. 

J.R.: Of course. Yeah, I get that, too.

Just to recap for the audience, so Yerson's been on for three... This is his third time. First episode, episode number four, we recorded it in August 2024. Second episode was episode 38 in May of 2025, so it's, like, been 14-ish months since the last one. So I am curious. Well, I know your life updates, but, like, what...

In [00:04:00] a nutshell, how... what's your life been like for the last, like, 14 months? Any changes? 

Yerson: Yes. I, I've been trying to be focused more on my own work, so I stop I stop- What's the name? How can I say this? I stopped... I don't wanna say, like, connection with people, but I stopped putting, I stopped saying yes.

Mm. I stopped saying yes to a lot of stuff, and yeah, just, like, concentrate on training, concentrate on, like, my students. And it's, it's doing better, but in the beginning was hard. It was hard to say, "I'm sorry, I am busy, and I, I don't wanna do this." Mm-hmm ... so that, that transition was basically, like, half of a year- Mm

and to been cleaning my schedule to have more time for myself. I'm saying for myself 'cause I'm just working, but- 

J.R.: Right ... 

Yerson: I guess it's for myself. What, 

J.R.: what kind of, like, opportunities have you been saying no to, like, that you normally would say yes to? No, usually covers. Usually are hangouts- Like dance 

Yerson: projects?

[00:05:00] with friends. Yeah, dance projects. Or also sessions. Mm. I have

to drive all the way to LA or stuff like that. But I do, I do want to, but I know clearly, like, I- it's gonna affect my job if I go- Right ... 'cause the traffic and all that situation. Right. It happens to me before, and I don't wanna lose my job, you know? 

J.R.: Of course. That makes sense. I feel like I'm doing the opposite now, not with socializing with friends but more of going to sessions 'cause now I'm looking for sessions and trying to go out clubbing every weekend to dance just because I wanna s- like, start dancing the way I want to now.

But that's cool, man. Any... I know you've been teaching in, like, different studios. Has it changed a lot in the last year? 

Yerson: I'm glad I didn't 'cause it's been the same people that I've been taking my class for a while, so I got the- 

J.R.: Oh, like student-wise? 

Yerson: Yeah. I got the, [00:06:00] the bless, the, it's always people who take my class get to come back, and I really appreciate that 'cause that helped me to create my own self environment.

So it's like- Not like a club, but they know each other already. Or, "Hey, I'm going to this class in this place. You wanna come?" Stuff like that. So yeah. But I, I have a new, a new job, a new type of studio. This is a conservatory, so they pay for, for a year to train. Mm. Kinda like a school. Yeah. So that completely was a big episode of my life this year, 'cause it, it changed even my way to teach and my way to see students.

It's more, like, strict I would say. 

J.R.: Mm. 

Yerson: And I kinda miss it though. 

J.R.: So the conservatory, if I'm getting this correct, instead of your typical studio classes where people can sign up and drop in, the conservatory's, like, focused for a year.

You have similar, the same students, and it's like a curriculum, more [00:07:00] strict or something? 

Yerson: Yeah. They come with the idea of, like, train for big opportunities or for, like, industry or even for just ballet or, or all this, all stuff, conventions and things like that. So they have, like, been dancing since they are 6 years old to 18.

Once they get to 18, they graduate and they have to start looking for other kind of classes. So it give me the opportunity to, to work with young people. But at the same time, you know, like, when we're young, we don't get to get too mature to understand what we're doing. So that's of- one challenge. Second one is, like, now I'm gonna make sure that they get to have improvement in the end of the year.

So if, if they don't grow, I feel kind of responsible 'cause it's my- 

J.R.: Mm ... 

Yerson: department, right? Hip-hop. And when it's other classes my main mentality is, like, have fun, enjoy yourself, meet yourself, and try to understand how it is being a beginner even with [00:08:00] doing a choreography that is for intermediate, right?

So it, it changed a lot 'cause, like, now with the other one I'm, like, more focused on basics, routines, drills, and exercise- Mm ... to, like, change the body response. Re- resp- what's answer. 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Yerson: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So- Okay ... it's, it's, it's, it's definitely, like, a different, different teaching a lot. 

J.R.: Yeah. That makes sense.

Yerson: I miss it though. 

J.R.: Yeah. It's a different type. It's like where your other classes are, "Okay, we're gonna learn this, but have fun," this one's like, "Okay, you may or may not have fun, but we're trying to get better, and I have to mold you into a better dancer and track your progress and make sure you look good."

Yerson: Yeah, it's gonna be boring, but- 

J.R.: Yeah ... 

Yerson: it's gonna make you better. Do it. 

J.R.: That's cool. Yeah. 

Yerson: Yeah. 

J.R.: That sounds like a interesting learning experience. Anything else that you learned along the way or new reflections as you, you know, in other dance or wh- or [00:09:00] that and also I'm curious, like, how has your personal dance artistry, has it, h- how has it changed, if at all, over the last year?

Yerson: I don't think it changed, per se. I think friends are start opening my eyes a little bit more than just stay at teaching. 'Cause my main thing is teaching, right? I love to share. I love to, like, educate people in whatever I've been educated before, right? But have, I joined this program, Tempt Collective, and it was three months of intensive pro- intensive programs, in- intensive practices, intensive foundations and stuff.

I really appreciate all the support that I got and so many comments, friends, teachers, like, in- forced me, not forced me, but pushed me, like, "Hey, try industry. Try to do that." And I was always against to it. And, and I don't like it, to be honest. It's very boring sometimes, and the payment is not that good. But at the same time in, like, it's a little bit of- cloud [00:10:00] of like exposure to, for me- Mm

to get more students. So I kinda see it that way now. And at the same time, this is my 30 year this... I'm gonna get 30 this year. So I'm like, at least I wanna finish all these, like, opportunities until I'm 35, I guess. 

J.R.: Mm-hmm. 

Yerson: And I can start trying to think about settle down to create a studio and stuff like that.

So I think, like I, I was, I was... I thought that I was done with industry. I thought that I don't wanted to do this anymore. But what I experienced there, and I've been experienced for a long time, but I didn't notice it because I just go work, bye. But now that I think back, okay, I did this video with Carly.

I did a choreography for a Italian artist. I did a choreography, a whole show for a reggaeton

artist in, last year, and I even didn't enjoy it 'cause I was just, "It's work." Yeah. Does that make sense? I gotta do this 'cause it's work. Yeah. So I didn't- Right ... actually got [00:11:00] too deep on what I was doing. I was just ans- in automatic. So now I'm thinking like, "Bro, I've been doing this for a while. Why not actual try it?"

So, now that changed a lot. From my s- my mind, it changed a lot. Now I have to find a way to make time to do all this stuff. But, eh, my mentality has been changing because the environment that I am, so my friends pushing me to do that. Eh, me saying yes to that is, it's like a rollercoaster 'cause do I want to?

Do I not? I kinda like it. It's excited... It's exciting, so, yeah. But I love teaching, so I would never stop teaching, though. 

J.R.: Hmm. Okay. I like that. You mentioned friends, and I know that was one of the topics you wanted to talk about. Have you had any new reflections on how you see friends or your social circle?

Yerson: Definitely how... What's the word in [00:12:00] English? In Spanish it calls ef- efimero. That is very like, not casual, but y- I have to be okay with having friends for cer- certain time of my life. I don't have to think about pulling a, a dance friend. Getting, getting a new friend is gonna be forever. Mm. And I have to be okay with it.

And it's kinda sad, and I feel a little bit like, eh, senseless about it because I lost so many friends before, so I'm like, well, whatever. At the moment I hate it, but now that I figured it out that it's gonna happen, I feel more like, hmm, it is what it is, you know? I would appreciate the time with a video, but if you have to go go, I guess.

Yeah. 

In different ways. Like friends that we can have a confrontational situation or whatever like that and we have to s- take different ways, [00:13:00] cool. But at the same time, it could be just the life. He has to move to other city, so you have to be okay with it. You cannot pull all the time and try to call him all the time.

Like, nothing is the same. Like, different hours, different work, different schedule, different life, you know? Or even, okay, I joined this program, so I get to meet new people, but I know that for more tries that we do, like we trying to con- connect again. Let's go to do this, let's go to do that. Nobody's gonna have the same schedule.

It doesn't gonna work. And yeah, it's okay, just let it go. If you see in a class, say hi. Do you know what I'm saying? Like... 

Mm-hmm. Mm. 

And that, that, that's something that I have to chew, chew it a little bit more 'cause I'm still affecting me. Still- Like, damn, I miss this person. You know? Like, I wish I have time for this person, but I can't sacrifice myself because I just gonna hurt myself, [00:14:00] or I need to think about my future, too.

I think I need, I need to think about my job, so I cannot sacrifice those stuff. Mm. If it happens, happens, you know? Like, I'm glad, like, for you, you and I, you... We talk we were in Koreas. We almost see every Friday, sorry, every Sunday long time before. The language barrier was a problem yet, but we see each other.

But I didn't appreciate too much, and you didn't either, remember? So I think when we separate, we talk separate ways. Even that we see once a three months, once a six months or a year, it feels like I have a safe space with you. And I didn't have to do anything. It was just like that. So I didn't have to push effort to, like, take care of this, take care of that when there's nothing to take care of.

It's naturally friends. Does that make sense? I naturally appreciate you. I naturally, naturally we connect. Naturally we are friends. [00:15:00] So I feel like when we force too much to, like, help this person try to this relationship happen, you start changing, too, and you becoming someone that you don't like, and then becomes to be too tiring.

And now it's 'cause social, social media is like, oh, who- whoever who has more friends is more successful. Like, no. No. It's, it's tiring. It's exhausting. It's like, I don't wanna satisfy everybody else. Like, I need to satisfy myself, too. I need to be happy with myself. And friends now for me means like, okay, I'm gonna give my best to you at the moment that we connect.

Something happen, something you don't like about me, you decide to take a different way, it's okay with me. I don't wanna hate you. Like, I still like the person that you, that you introduced to me, and you for me still being a friend. But if you have a different opinion or you have to move another place, another place I wanna [00:16:00] make sure that you know that I'm okay and you always gonna be my friend.

So I think that's for me a friendship now rather than, "If you don't see me this week, I don't gonna talk to you. If you don't do this thing, if you go with this person, I don't wanna be your friend no more." Like, what? And I heard that a lot. That whole two years, this year, I heard that a lot. Not just directly to me.

Friends in common, right? Come to me, they tell me, like, their situation. Like- I know where this coming... I know where this gonna go, but I think you have to experience, experience it. Like, if you think that that's a friend, go for it, I guess. Yeah. I don't know. 

J.R.: Yeah. No, I like that. There's a few things that I like that you said, which is I guess a recap for me.

So one is kind of like the temp- the temporariness of friends sometimes. Sometimes they're in your life, and sometimes they leave, and sometimes we have to [00:17:00] accept that, okay, you know, that was great, but we have to go our separate ways for whatever reason, right? I think I... That's something that I've been thinking about a lot recently, too.

I think we've talked about this. And then, like, the second thing was you mentioned, like, high maintenance versus low maintenance. Like, I guess for us, example, I feel like we're very low maintenance friends. Like, we don't need to be in each other's lives, but when we meet each other, we can just pick it up and it's easy, and we don't expect each other to...

I don't expect you to do stuff for me and vice versa, so it's low maintenance. And then also the

Yerson: forcing a friendship versus letting it be organic. That was the third thing that I liked what you said because I f- also thinking about the sa- They're all related, but they're different concepts.

J.R.: Because sometimes we want to... I've been in situations where I wanted to force a friendship, meaning like, okay, we have a friendship and I wanna build it and grow it. But if only one person is, is watering the plant, and then I'm forcing it to grow, whereas the other person's not helping to garden, then it feels like an uphill battle.

But- Yes ... instead we can let some friendships, [00:18:00] like, naturally, organically grow, and then some that maybe they might die or wither, and that's totally fine. But I think it's hard for some people to accept, like, losing-- not losing a friend, but letting a friend seem, a relationship, letting it seem like it's dying, when in reality we're just letting it be and then seeing if it comes back, you know?

Yerson: It's scary. It's scary when you see your friend is going somewhere else or, like, he's having a new hobby and, and I, I know we get to be comfortable in the place that we are in that moment, even if it's good or bad. That's another thing that I wanted to talk. But we have to accept that the time keep, keeps going, and nothing is gonna be as was today, tomorrow.

So, better just enjoy it and, yeah, don't put too much expectations on tomorrow too 'cause it's gonna just ruin your day. And tomorrow it could be bad and good. And honestly, like having, after having so many nightmares about, like, my tomorrow, 'cause I'm like, "I don't wanna see this person. I have this work.

I don't wanna work with that person," or, [00:19:00] "I don't wanna go there. I don't wanna do that, but I have to do that. I have to work every day. I have to train my body. I feel so tired. I have to wake up." All the stuff, yeah, I'm already ruining my day for tomorrow 

Yeah. 

And I was talking with my friend about this.

Like, I don't, I, I don't wanna, like, be like, "Oh, this is what a male does and this is what a female does." But I feel like- Yeah, yeah ... me as a man, the part that most I like to being a man is, like, I can just play stupid. Example, like I start overthinking a lot and blah, blah. Like, I have this, this, this, this, this.

And I'm like, "Turn it off. Now I'm stupid. I don't wanna think about it." Yeah. It's just like I just gonna, I don't know, think about monkey with a, with a- Yeah ... thing in. So I don't know. Like, I just- But 

J.R.: you're saying that's a, that's a man thing? 

Yerson: I feel so. Because- Okay ... men, there is, there is... My friends for example, they- 

J.R.: Sure

Yerson: they don't give a fuck. They just jump, you know? They just jump to the, the, to the, to the bridge. They don't care about... They don't think too much about gonna hurt or no. I just... I see a a rope grabbing my legs. I think I will [00:20:00] survive. Fuck. Mm-hmm. Okay, let's, let's just jump. But I feel like a female get to overthink more and plan more things.

Like, of course, not everybody. But- 

J.R.: Mm-hmm ... 

Yerson: they get to be like, "What if this happen? What if this happen? And what if this, this, this?" And I do have part of myself too, but I feel like every time that I follow that part of myself, I'm stopping myself so much that the train already go That train already passed 

J.R.: Yeah 

Yerson: So...

J.R.: I think that's true. I, I feel like it's also... I mean, I agree, and in my experience, I don't think that's necessarily gender specific. Because I know guys, like dumb, dumb guys of course will be like, "Ah, turn my brain off." But I know there are dumb girls out there who just don't think. Dumb girls. And for me, as a, as a thinker, I'm like, "Why did you not think this through?"

And it's guys and girls, so I'm like, I think it's just a people thing. 

Yerson: You need to live, brother. It's 'cause you need to live. That's part of living. You cannot have [00:21:00] an super not normal life. Okay, this sounds- Yeah, yeah ... wacky for me. But 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Yerson: But, but I really believe so. Like, all these traumas, as one of my best friends says too, like, trauma make you funny.

So, so trauma- It's true ... is gonna- Best 

J.R.: jokes ... 

Yerson: yeah, ever. So I appreciate all my traumas too, and I've been trying to close all these chapters of my life too, like close it by one by one, getting a little bit more braves and be like, "Okay, A, hi. I know we never closed out this, but I wanna do it." You know what I'm saying?

And I wanna let us move on. And it actually helps. It's so hella scary though. It's so hella scary. It's- But I really think it's necessary. Yeah. I don't 

J.R.: know. I was gonna... Yeah, no, I was gonna ask 'cause that, I mean, that was our next thing. But, like, I think we both inherently know that closing chapters is a good thing, [00:22:00] but maybe I'm asking for people listening who might be like, "Well, maybe I don't need to close this.

Maybe I can just let it go and not close it." What is your, what are your thoughts on that for people who think that's not necessary? 

Yerson: I mean, I feel like you don't need to close it if you don't think about it. You know? Like, there is something that happens that you already- closed. 'Cause it cl- I think closing doesn't mean like, okay, we get and then agree, agree thing and bye.

It's, I think it's more like if something really, really strong happen, close it. But at the same time, we we tell them, you know, like, "This, this, this, I don't want that. I really don't wanna be your friend. Bye." So it happens to me before, a friend was like, "I really don't think I can be your friend," and let it go, and yeah.

That helped me a lot. I think that was the first experience that I had that I was like, okay, I feel bad, but I feel release 'cause I don't have [00:23:00] someone that I have to take up, take care about in my brain. So it's kind of like I have more space for other people. Mm-hmm. And so- 

J.R.: Does it mat- does it matter if you close it or if they close it?

Or what if they close it and then now you're like, "Oh, well, I can't do anything about this now." Does it matter or? 

Yerson: I think it's a different, different flavor. Like a different bitter 'cause it wa- it hurt me when that person told me that. It hurt me a lot. But at the same time, it was really painful for me to say words that I know is gonna hurt the other person, but I know that is what it has to be, what it has to be done, you know?

And so it's different pain, but eat it or- It hurts, let it go. But I always compare this with the, the rope image when they like... The rope is all the way in your arms and it's pulling you, and when you let it go, you see the marks over there. And sometimes when you're doing those stuff, because, you know, when you're a kid you...

I used to play with that thing, and we pulling, you don't feel the pain. You don't [00:24:00] feel the pain. Once that you let it go, the pain start getting there. All the blood get there and you feel the pain, and it's kinda itchy. Uh-huh. It's kinda s- tickles and everything, but then heal. So it's hard to let it go.

And I really know it's really hard to let it go. But yeah, I think it needs to be done. Makes sense. It needs to be done. 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Yerson: Both sides. 

J.R.: That makes sense. I like that. So you also mentioned creating safe environments rather than looking for it, like in your circle of friends. What did you mean by that?

Yerson: I wanna take my... I take it for personal experience. Before... Nice. H- Now I have until 4:00. Sorry. Be- because before I did this for a person that I loved. This person wasn't having a really good environment of friends. So I was like, "My person needs new friends and someone who can take care of that circle and, and [00:25:00] keep it in control.

That way they still being organic and real." But when things went wrong and I had to leave that place, I was like, "I did so much for that person. Why never did it to myself?" And as you knew, I lost a lot of friends three years ago, and a lot of people, like, blocked me out their, their lives, and it hurt me a lot.

And I was like, "What can I do now?" You know, like, "I'm alone. Where should I go?" Which... And I was re- like, literally, like, what's the name when you're on the floor and you're, like, trying to, like, walk with just arms? 

J.R.: Like, like crawling? 

Yerson: I guess. I don't know English. But yeah. Okay. I like getting there to different circles and be like- 

J.R.: Yeah

Yerson: "Where can I belong? Where can I feel safe?" 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Yerson: That's exhausting, and that's, that's embarrassing, too. It felt, it felt embarrassing. It felt shame. I don't know. Well, in the end- Yeah ... I was like, "If I could do that for my person, [00:26:00] why I didn't do it to myself?" So I start, like, first working, see where I'm going watch what I'm doing every day, watch what kind of likes I like, what kind of things I do like for myself.

Like, for me, you know, like playing games or rhythmical games. Go to Round1 and just play the s- the DDR, stuff like that. Things that remind me to- Be constant movement, right? So I'm like, "Okay, maybe I just gonna join some training. Maybe I just gonna keep doing this stuff and ask for a friend if they don't want to, want to, and if they don't want to, it's fine.

But if they want to, at least I have a new connection." And bit by bit, I get to see this kind of person, and I start pulling that to myself. Pulling like, "Hey, I have this." Okay. "I have fun with this person." Okay, let's do it again. Oh, boom. This... Another person. Oh, I have this friend who also like this. Boom, another.

Or let things happen too. [00:27:00] Like, I was working so hard. I was jumping to different studios. I, and I joined this program, and I get to meet people who, who like the same things as me. So I'm like, "Okay, nice. We are the same friends, like friends group now." So from 10 people, maybe two stay with you all the time because they wanna still, like, doing this stuff.

So I create a small circle. And now with my s- my students in different studios, I was doing the same thing. Okay, now I bring it, I'm gonna bring this to my job. And I start to bring in those kids together to dance and to do projects and to have fun. But now I'm the leader of my friend team, so I can regular...

I can pla- plan how things can... How to avoid things es- escalate in the wrong situation and try to deal with it. [00:28:00] But at the same time, I, I know that they're gonna give me support back. 

Mm. 

They're gonna... They will support my, my thoughts because they know me. They came to me before, and I accept that. So now I create a small circle, and I'm happy in it.

I feel safe. I feel having fun. I feel like I belong there. But it take me a while to realize, like, I didn't need to go to a specific circle. They have their own party. They have their own way to go. They have their own way to talk. My situation I created for myself. So my people talk how I talk. My people dance how I dance, and my people respect each other how I respect them.

So it's, it's fun. And I think it feels more safe. But I know, as coming back before, like, it one day might end, and I should be okay with it. 

J.R.: Mm. I like that. So it's curating your own circle rather than always necessarily trying [00:29:00] to yeah, look for it or join another circle or... Because you can now, not control it, but you're more, I guess like you said, safer because it's people that you chose to be around you and that you trust.

Yerson: Yeah. No, I, I know that you're trying to do to go more parties and stuff, but you're still keeping your circle super close. 

J.R.: Yeah, no, I, I prefer to just not talk to anyone. I just do everything one player.

It's easier. I don't have to s- I don't have to schedule with anybody. I don't have to figure out stuff. I don't have to worry about stuff. I'm like, oh, it's so easy, one-player game. You just go and do stuff. 

Yerson: Well, that- that's me when I'm playing video games. But there's sometimes- Yeah ... for example, when I'm playing Guitar Hero, I want somebody who play the drums while I'm playing the, the guitar.

J.R.: Yeah. No, that's true. 

Yerson: If you know 

J.R.: what I mean. Yeah. No, I, But I am doing stuff to meet new circle of friends, like in different groups. So there's like this dance session that happens every Tuesday and they're like a shuffle, shuffling [00:30:00] and house. And so I go there meeting people, and it's been a lot of fun.

And then, like, I've joined a couple run clubs just to meet people just running. So- Okay ... yeah, and then I'll probably join a bowling league soon. So just like other, you know, groups of people with specific activities, and I'm hopeful that I'll find people just to do s- those things with and then make friends probably.

Yerson: Yeah, I think that's, that's a naturally natural way to meet people, doing things that you like to do. And yeah, suddenly somebody's gonna next appear next to you, you know? Like- Yeah ... and you see them three times, four times like, "Oh, you, you like to play here too. Okay, let's do this together." 

J.R.: Yeah. Yeah. 

Yerson: Yeah.

And that's, that's kinda cute. Yeah. 

J.R.: Organic- I mean, I still have... Yeah, organic. Organic based on specific activities is what I'm leaning towards 'cause, I mean, I have friends here and there that, like, you know, I could connect with them and we can talk, like either bring them on the podcast or we hang out one on one or [00:31:00] small groups.

But like, I feel like there's also... There's a lot... I don't wanna say baggage, but, you know, different groups and different circles have different contexts and histories and sometimes the more people there are, the more friction and complication there is. But with the new group of friends, I'm just showing up for this one time, once a week event and just see people, have fun, and then just leave.

You know, like just leave it there rather than having all this context. That's what I'm trying to do- ... is meet those people. Yeah. 

Yerson: I, I guess, like, that's a definition of having a hobby. Yeah. Yeah. Because people take it so personal, their hobbies, and they take it in as a career and like, "Oh, you can no make me look bad.

You can no do that. You can no..." They're like... Yeah. I thought we were having fun. 

Yeah. 

Even- That's the other thing too ... even now... Sorry, when I was, like, filming- Yeah ... TikToks, Reels and some kind of friends, [00:32:00] they're like, "Can we do it again? I did so bad." I have fun, bro. And then the one that- Yeah ... one I'll post, I'm, I'm literally stressed.

Like, I don't wanna do this anymore. We were repeating- Yeah ... the same combo for, like, seven times. Just- 

Yeah ... 

post the one where we laughing. Post, post the one that we, like, mistaking, falling, and laughing about something. I think that's a more fun part. 

J.R.: No, I agree. But that's, that's the, that's the tough thing about TikTok trends, dances, cover dancers, is they always wanna look perfect, and I'm like, "Ugh, no one cares.

It's not a big deal." Like, maybe this video does well or maybe it doesn't do well, no one sees it, but either way, your life is gonna be the same. Like, why don't we just have fun? But it's hard to, it's hard to tell people that, so I get it. But yeah, those are just perfectionist dancers. But I also, like, I guess this is a random tangent, but as I'm doing these new things for myself, it's nice to be a beginner, and there's, like, no stakes, no expectations, and [00:33:00] if I happen to be good at it, it's because I'm practicing.

But if I suck at it, I'm like, "I'm just a beginner, man. I don't know what I'm doing." Like, I go to these- Ah, shut up. I go to these events, like, maybe just learning shuffling, right? Like, I'm like... They'll be like, "Oh, have you shuf- shuffle before?" I'm like, "No, not really." And then I do something. They're like, "Oh, looks pretty good."

I'm like, "Yeah, I mean, but I'm just learning, you know? Like, I'm just learning the 

Yerson: combos." Yeah, I've been dancing for so many years. I can do waacking- Yeah ... and stuff. 

J.R.: No- 

Yerson: Like, shuffle is 

J.R.: so 

Yerson: hard. 

J.R.: Okay. Okay, so, like, here's a, here's a story. So, like, I was doing some shuffle combinations, and I'm just practicing, and they're like, "Oh, like, you know, you're getting pretty good."

But I'm brain farting because I'm like, "Oh, I don't know the... I have to really drill it." And I'm drilling it for 30 minutes, just one combo. And then I'll freestyle, and they're like, "Oh my God, like, you're pretty good." I'm like, "I mean, I'm okay. Like, I'm just learning." But then I'll meet some people who are dancing, and they'll be like, "Oh yeah, I invented this thing, and I'm so cool."

And in my brain, I'm, like, meeting them, and I'm like, "Okay, that's cool. Oh my God, you're good, right?" In my head I'm like, "If you have to tell me how good you are, I don't think you're that good." Right? So that's why I don't [00:34:00] tell- Right? How can you tell yourself that? I don't tell anyone my, I don't tell anyone my background.

I'm just like, okay, I'm practicing for, like, the whole session, and then the last 20 minutes, I'm actually dancing and I'm having fun, and then they can see, like, oh, they can judge, "Oh, I think he's good," or whatever, right? But I'm not gonna tell you I'm good. But then some people I meet, they're like, "Oh yeah, I'm so good," and they dance.

I'm like, "Okay, you're fine," but, like, if you have to tell me, I feel like now you look worse. 

Yerson: Ah. Okay. I have two opinions about it. Like- 

Yeah ... 

it's 'cause in my place, it happened before I started joining this place, right? And there is always, like, one or two people who has who, they trying hard to be good, and I get there and I've been good in 30 minutes practice, right?

Mm-hmm. 

Yeah. And- '

Cause you're a 

natural ... 

natural, right. And- 

Yeah ... 

I feel bad when they feel bad about themselves, you know?

And so I had to explain, "No, it's... Yeah, I've been dancing for a while, so I have some [00:35:00] experience. But I never did this before, but it's fun." Because I don't wanna make them feel like they've been doing this for 10 years and 

Yeah, 

yeah ... front the guy three seconds. Like, three hours and- Yeah ... they're already, like, doing back flips.

Yeah. 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah. 'Cause you're, you're, you're like, you wanna, you wanna be transparent. You're like, "I'm not starting from zero." Yeah. "I do have some experience." Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Yerson: Yeah. Actually, pointing that, that thing, I got a, a friend she's a good dancer, but she puts so much pressure on herself and so much, she got so much willing to be the number one all the time. So when somebody is really close to her or s- somebody tell her, like, "Oh, you did bad this," or, "You did this, this, this," or, "You're not doing enough," stuff like that, they collapse They literally collapsed. Like, at the beginning, she was so good. She was having fun.

She was enjoying the environment. And in the end when she had [00:36:00] some, like, feedbacks she kind of started overthinking. She was like, "I've been dancing for so many times." And like, oh my God. And it happens to my other student too. Like, "Okay, do you have any experience dancing?" And they're like, "Oh yeah, I've been dancing for, like, nine years, 10 years.

Since I was a kid," and this, this, this. And like, when I see them dancing, now they, they put the bar so high. 

J.R.: Mm. Mm-hmm. 

Yerson: And I see it, and like- 

J.R.: Yeah ... 

Yerson: this is a new style. Of course you're gonna be bad. I don't care, but you care. I can see in your face that you're like, triple, four times thinking like, "Oh my God."

And it made me feel bad. 

J.R.: Mm. 

Yerson: Because now these two people, especially these two people, cannot dance next to me, 'cause when they dance next to me, they feel judged. 

J.R.: Mm, mm-hmm. 

Yerson: And I guess not because it's me. I think it's because they told me that they are good. Right. They set it- Good, good at that ... 

J.R.: they s- they set themselves up, and then now they feel bad.

Mm. 

Yerson: Ugh. 

J.R.: [00:37:00] Yeah, that makes sense. 

Yerson: So that's why you have to explain, "I'm a retired dancer." Do you consider yourself retired dancer? 

J.R.: No, I, I think I, I never will retire because... Well, how you, however you define it. I define dancer as I hear music and my body moves, so that's never gonna stop until I die. So I, I will never retire.

Like, of course, I don't think I will compete. I probably won't do covers, but I will never stop dancing. So I know it's, it's different definition, but I more just think of it like, okay, I like being the beginner because I just wanna enjoy dancing. Sure, I have context and background, but, like, I'm genuinely trying to learn these different footwork styles because I am a beginner.

But if I throw in my own stuff that's different, and I'm not lying to anyone. I'm not saying like, "Oh, I've never danced before." I'm like, "No, I've never done shuffling. I'm learning some combinations." So it's interesting, but I also wanna try to, in a new environment, keep the vibes and be positive and, you know, like, I'm not, I'm trying to come with no [00:38:00] ego and no like, "Oh, look at me, I'm g-" 'Cause there are some people like that, where they're like, okay, you clearly...

This person I, I see, they're clearly, they have a lot of ego, and they want recognition. And I'm like, "Okay, fine. Whatever. Do what you want." I'm just gonna meet people and be supportive and then learn my own things and practice. Also there's another type of person I've been meeting. There's, like, another type of beginner, where they, they just started dancing, but they start talking about how they're gonna practice at home.

And I'm there, we're at the session practicing, and I'm like, "How about you just practice now?" Like, like I'll go up to him and be like, "Hey, what are you working on?" Oh, right. I 

Yerson: was just- Yeah ... 

J.R.: I'm like, "I'm going... I'm, I'm working on something," and I talk with some of the people I met, and I'm like, you know, "What are you working on?

Can you show me? Oh, that's cool. Let me try it out." And then they're like, "Hey, what are you working on?" And I show them, and they try it out, and they practice, right? And I'll meet some new people who are like, "Oh, yeah, I just started dancing." And you know, I'm like, "So what are you working on?" He's like, "Oh, you know, just, you know, running man or something," right?

And I'm like, "Oh, do you, are you practicing?" He's like, "Oh, yeah. I mean, I'm gonna go home this weekend and practice." I'm like, "Why don't you just practice now? We're, we're [00:39:00] practicing." And he, and he's like, "Okay. Yeah, yeah, I guess I should." And I come back like like, you know, 30 minutes later, and he's still just standing there or talking to other people.

And I'm like, okay, maybe you just wanna socialize. That's fine. 

Yerson: Yeah, 

J.R.: that's different. But, but you're talking about practicing, so why don't you just practice? So in that case, I'm like, I just, I just go up to him and be like, "So, like, can... Like, what are you working on? Like, you know, can you show me? I wanna, I wanna learn."

And then just encourage him to dance so then now I can dance, too, and you know, no judgment or anything. 

Yerson: Yeah, but at the moment that they said "I've been... I wanna... I've been working on this," they already is like, "Okay, if I show him, I cannot fuck it up." 

J.R.: Yeah, no, I mean, but that's... Yeah, no, I agree, but, like, I also try to be like, you know, I don't...

I'm trying to show them that I don't care how good you are. I'm just genuinely curious. Like, oh, what are you working on? 'Cause everyone's working on something, or they're vibing over there. And so no matter if it's bad or good, I'm like, I'm, like, also struggling with my combination 'cause I've never done it before.

And so at least I can show them like, oh, look, I'm so good. And then, oh, are you gonna feel [00:40:00] bad now 'cause I'm a good dancer? More just, like, a little bit of, I guess, accountability. Or I'm like, "Hey, well, why are you here?" You know, like, just practice, socialize, whatever. But, like, you can't tell me you're gonna practice next week when everyone here is practicing and you're just standing here.

You know? Like,

Yerson: Yeah ... I don't know ... and that's kinda sad 'cause, like, I wish we have the, the... our ego outside the room- Yeah ... when you are in a session- Yeah ... when you're in a practice room. 'Cause, like, we... I'm expecting from everybody just no titles, just freestyle, and let ourself go. But when I have s- when I perceive somebody already thinking and like, "Oh my God, this person is good.

I have to do better," or someone is like, "Should I go? Should I not go? I'm scared." Like, and all these kind of thoughts that it always comes because our ego, it take me out of the zone. Yeah. So I, I don't do sessions anymore 'cause that. Of course, of course, yeah. There is someone, there is always someone [00:41:00] who is just, like, socializing.

Cool. There is always somebody who's trying to show off, and there is always someone who is, like, mysterious, just watching everybody. And I'm like- Okay, you wanna dance? 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Yerson: No, no, no. Yeah. 

J.R.: Yeah. I don't know That makes sense. Yeah, I like this specific group that I've been going to meet up with for a little bit because everyone's really nice and chill.

There's a lot of beginners, more veterans, and they're really welcoming. Like, oh, they're just having fun, like goofing around, and then they... A song will go on, and a song... P- people go off, and it's, like, super fun. So it's very beginner friendly, which I like. I'm just mentioning, like, the couple of instances where I'm like, okay, there's maybe one person who I'm like, I'm just meeting people, and, like, you're already telling me how good you are.

And I'm like, okay, like, it's not my first dance community. Like, chill out, man. But everyone else- Okay, I don't ... is nice. Yeah. 

Yerson: It, it happens. It happens. I mean- Yeah, yeah ... I'm not saying that they they wrong or they're right 'cause [00:42:00] dancing- Yeah ... there's, there's no wrong or right thing. 

J.R.: Sure. Yeah, 

Yerson: yeah. I feel like there is some mentality that we can't give to new people.

Because this is a new environment, so these new people will give that same mentality to other new people. So I... That's the only part that I'm scared about. Like, so. 

J.R.: That's true. 

Yerson: Well, honestly, like, if I'm their friend, I'll be like, "Okay, brother, relax. It's, it's fine. If you do it wrong or bad, let's figure it out together."

You know? Like, at the end of the day, one step is not meant to be the same way all the time. Yeah, yeah. You have to play with it, destroy it, create it, destroy it again. Mm, change it and create something. So I think that's why it's so important, the fact that people ought to understand what is create. Does that make sense?

Right. And not just like- Yeah ... copy and paste. Oh, I got this step. It's exactly like this video. And you see, I was about to say a comment, a racist comment. But it's... But there is a- [00:43:00] I don't know. A random person doing hip-hop, but it clearly- Sure ... they just do ballet. That is Yeah, 

J.R.: right ... 

Yerson: it's, it's- Sure. 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah

that's a classic. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I get that. No. I was talking to another dancer on, like, a couple episodes ago about the whole dancing thing. Like, sure, we can go back to K-pop covers 'cause we, you and I both have done that, and then, like, freestyle, and then as I'm going back into freestyle, it's so obvious when you tell a cover dancer, "Hey, just do it wrong," and they're like, their brain explodes, 'cause like, "How do I do it wrong?

Like, I only know how to get an A+ in choreography." But in freestyle it's the opposite, where it's like you... Sure, I lear- I taught you how to do something. Now do it differently and it's okay. You can still get 100%, or there's no grades. You just have fun. And, and so, like, when I, sometimes when I take...

Actually, every single time I take a workshop in the last 10 years, I will find a place to do the choreography wrong on purpose, but I do it intentionally. Like, I hit the move still, or no, I hit the musicality and I make sure the [00:44:00] technique is clean, but I do the wrong move, and it throws everyone off 'cause they're all choreo cover dancers, and they're like, "Wait, what did you just do?"

And I'm like, "I'm j- who cares? I'm not getting paid for this. It's not a performance." True. "I'm just doing a workshop." Yeah. And so it's so funny to see their reaction versus a freestyler when I, when I talk to my old friend from high school who, like, is a really good locker. And I'm like, "Man, talking to you reminds me of when I started learning freestyle back in high school, and you can do something and then they tell you to do it differently, and that's totally fine."

And I'm like, "Dang, I totally forgot about that until you-" Yeah ... until I'm talking to you again. So I love that. 

Yerson: Yeah. I have one friend like that in Peru. Everybody's on classes, everybody's learning how to do house, and I was like... And I see him in the other room, the other room, the other studio right next door.

So I see him, and he's in his corner with his AirPods, and he's creating a random move. Like, oh, I never thought about this shit. And I go to him. I was kinda scared, 'cause you see a, a guy like with his... And he's practicing. And then I go. He calls Pedro too. [00:45:00] Aga Pedro. I'm Peter. So yeah. So I go, "Oh, Pedro.

Brother, I, what you were doing right now?" Like, "Actually, I'm trying to figure out what I was doing, so, like, I'll teach you something." So I was following, and we cr- we create because he was just making up the spot. So I was there just to, like, be with him because he in the ad... in the end he create it. And until nowadays, I can't forget the step.

Oh. I never saw in any house class. Never. Oh. But I can't for- I can't forget that step. I still doing it. It's- Yeah ... it's been, like, nine, nine years. 

J.R.: Oh, it's like a completely new step? 

Yerson: Completely a, a weird step, yeah. 

J.R.: Oh. 

Yerson: And it was fun. 

J.R.: That's 

Yerson: cool. It was really fun. It was really fun, the sensation, like you are doing- something from nowhere.

Yeah. You know that you don't have the, you have the foundation and everything, but you know that you're just [00:46:00] playing around. Yeah, 

J.R.: yeah, yeah. 

Yerson: And you're not trying to look cool, 'cause we were not looking to the mirror. We were looking to the wall. 

J.R.: Yeah. Yeah, 

Yerson: yeah. Yeah, it was fun. 

J.R.: Yeah, no, I like that. Same, as I'm trying to learn foundation and technique for the footwork that I'm doing, I'm also going back and forth between just playing and having fun and messing around.

But yeah, that's a good thing to ke- I wanna keep that in mind next, for the next session. 

Yerson: Yeah, mirrors, mirrors definitely affect us a lot. Mirrors and cameras affect us a lot. Yeah. But yeah. 

J.R.: That's true. There, yeah- Because- There are no mirrors there. We're, like, outside, so we only have some shadow. And sometimes I wanna record some of the combos I'm working on just for reference, but sometimes I'm like, "Let me just stay in the moment and just keep practicing and just, like, feeling the music."

I can always record later, I guess. 

Yerson: I guess. But later never comes. I, I do happen, it do, it does happen the same thing in my conservatory. Those are my kids. Some o- some of my kids got to be really like, "Am I doing right? Am I [00:47:00] doing wrong? Am I good? Am I not?" And just to touch back a- about the thing that you were saying.

Beginners, right? You are a beginner. I- as I said a long time ago, it is like we come back to the videos. Yeah. I think in the first interview or podcast. In beginning, intermediate, and advanced is a title for the steps, for the choreography. Yeah. Not us as dancers. I don't feel like- Yeah ... a dancer has a title.

There's no, like, a university. I mean, there's stories and stuff like that. There is, like, you can go learn. You learn. You, you not go there to get a tag. Does that make sense? Like, "Oh, I'm beginner dancer." Does that make sense? You don't get that. You just, you j- you are just a dancer. And as you are coming back to beginner because it feels comfortable, it's just 'cause beginner is a moment when you actually feel- Mm.

And then you can worry about- It's like a mindset. Yeah. It's like a mindset that you have to have, and now take it for intermediate [00:48:00] and advanced choreographies when you don't have time to think about this, right? So it's something that everybody has to come back. So I, I don't think, as I said, you are a beginner or the other persons are a beginner or you're more advanced because you have more experience than them.

But I really feel like if we take off these tags about dance, about, like, I am this, I am that, you're just dancing, bro. 

Mm. 

It, it will be easier to don't have to have the standard. There's a lot of students asking me, like, "Am I beginner? Am I intermediate? Should I go to advanced?" Mm. "Should I go do that?" And I'm like, "If you like the choreo, you like the song, just do it."

Yeah. "But I'm gonna do so bad." Who cares? "And I never took this class before." More reasons to go. 

J.R.: Mm. I see what you mean. I like that a lot because in your environments when students are so caught up with their ranking, you know, like, oh, you're only beginner level or intermediate or advanced, and you're like, dude, who cares?

Like, sure, [00:49:00] it'll probably be harder if you're not com- used to the vocabulary or the movements, but you're still a dancer. It doesn't matter what your tag or your title is or whatever because that doesn't really matter. So I like that. It's like a more of a mindset too. 

Yerson: Yeah. It's, it's, it's very important 'cause you don't get to connect anymore with the, the art itself.

You're just connecting with the title. You're just keeping a filter. You're keeping a, "I have to do that." But it's hard, 'cause I also have that situation, you know? When I'm dancing and I'm teaching, I'm the teacher. So when I'm actually showing the, what I wanted to do, I'm not thinking I'm a teacher. I just, like, giving the information.

And most of my friends tell me to, like, "I should record you when you're doing that, 'cause that is when you look really, really into it and really connected with the song. But when you do solo, you do look completely different." It's because when I'm dancing solo, I, I have the standards, too. There is a camera in front of my face, and I have to post it on my social media, [00:50:00] and people is looking at me and blah, blah, blah, blah.

So no more solos for me. I need my friends next to me to remind me that this is fun, bro. Like, yeah, let's make mistakes, you know? 

J.R.: Yeah. Oh, 

Yerson: makes 

J.R.: sense. 

Yerson: But, but still, it's... I know it's hard. But I think we s- it's a good, it's a thing that we should start putting the seeds on, you know? Like, no more tags for the dancers and more tags just for the choreographies over the steps.

And bit by bit try to, like, learn whatever. 'Cause you can learn a windmill. That doesn't mean, doesn't make you a intermediate dancer. 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah. It's 

Yerson: just a step, right? 

J.R.: It's 

Yerson: intermediate step. It's 

J.R.: just a move. Yeah, yeah. Yeah 

Yerson: The foot? 

J.R.: I like that. Very insightful. Very, very philosophical. Okay, Yerson, we're getting close to time.

Anything else you wanna touch on? I know we're a little bit over than we thought. 

That was a lot of good stuff, though ... 

Yerson: I think how are you, J.R.? 

J.R.: It's too late now, man. We're [00:51:00] at- We're... It's too late. Shut up. 

Yerson: You're gonna have to get that offline. It's not too late. We have- You, 

J.R.: you had, you had 50 minutes to ask me how I am.

Now I'm not gonna tell you- We have 10 minutes 

Yerson: more. We're wasting one already ... 

J.R.: Yerson, Yerson, you never hang out with me, so now I'm a high-maintenance friend. So now I'm not gonna talk to you ever again. That 

Yerson: actually hurt. You just opened a trauma wound right now. 

J.R.: Good. Good. No. That's what friends do. They, they poke, they poke trauma for fun.

Yerson: Oh, no, actually they do that. 

J.R.: Yeah. I know, exactly. No. 'Cause we show it's not that, it's not that bad. Well, at least with us. It's kind 

Yerson: of bad. Yeah, just laugh. 

J.R.: Yeah. No, I'm- No, ... I'm okay. We'll, we'll, we'll hang... We'll catch up, we'll catch up another time off camera since we still have to figure that out anyways.

Yerson: We should do a podcast with you. I'm gonna be the interviewer. 

J.R.: I'm looking for someone to do that. So far- I will do that ... it's hard to find someone. If you want to- 

Yerson: I can give 

J.R.: you 

Yerson: the questions ... 

J.R.: we'll do all in, all in Spanish, and then I'll just be like, "Si. Azul." Brother, 

Yerson: brother. Agua. Dos glass. Claro. 

J.R.: Agua.

Yeah. Si. Biblioteca. [00:52:00] Para llevar. Taco y burrito. 

Yerson: Sorry. 

J.R.: I don't... I'm just... It's not racist. That's just all I know, okay? Ah. I'm not saying that's all Spanish is. Latinos are not just 

Yerson: Mexican, bro. 

J.R.: I'm just, I'm, I'm didn't say Mexican. I'm just saying the stuff I know. But yes. Yes. We'll, we'll, we'll catch up.

We'll have, we'll have Latino food wherever we might find some. You have said so many words. And maybe another 

Yerson: podcast. So whatever. Yeah. Okay.

J.R.: Well, now that your computer works, we can, we can always do another one. 

Yerson: Yes, finally. Now I know how to do this, but, yeah, it's okay. I have to move, so... 

J.R.: Yeah.

That's true. Okay. Let's, let's just wrap this one up so we can call it off. I don't want to make you late. Wait gratitude, what are you grateful for, man? 

Yerson: I'm grateful for the patience that I have. I noticed that I've been working since before, like, since [00:53:00] I've been here in my patience to don't crash out.

And after all what I've been through, I think I did a very good job and I let things happen. And happily, patience paid it well, and I get to do the things that I want. 

Mm. I like that. 

Eh- Yes ... and I'm grateful for- Having opportunities having opportunities based who I, who, who, who I am. For how I do the stuff, and also for being known, 'cause I'm really, how do you say, care to people.

Like when you care a lot to people. 

J.R.: You care a lot. 

Yerson: I care a lot, I guess. Yeah. So I, I, I got a lot of compliments like that way, and I'm like, I'm happy 'cause I'm trying to take care of myself too. So if I can take care of someone else [00:54:00] probably I can do that to myself, too. 

J.R.: I like that. Nice, man. Thank you for that.

Where can people find you? Just your Instagram? I'll link it, but if they wanna see what you're up to, just check out your Instagram? 

Yerson: Yes. 

J.R.: Okay. Cool. 

Yerson: We'll link that. I don't have TI- I, I, I do have TikTok, but I don't use it. And- Yeah, yeah ... it's YouTube I don't have. I'm not an influencer. 

J.R.: Yeah, that's fine.

We'll, we'll link it anyway, so if you're curious to check out his, his TikTok he doesn't use, I'll link that as well. Okay, cool. All right. Well, thank you. I'll sign off now. Thank you, Yerson, for sharing all of your wisdom and insights and trauma and et cetera. I'm just kidding. But it's always nice to catch up to you.

You're right. We will catch up off camera, and then we'll have another interview. If you wanna really do the reverse interview, that'll be fun too, I guess. 

Yerson: Yeah. 

J.R.: Cool. 

Yerson: That'll be 

J.R.: fun. All right. Thanks, man. Me and Blessie. Yeah, sure. All right, let me sign off before I stop this recording. So thank you guys for being here.

I appreciate it. Be sure to like, follow, subscribe. Leave us love in the comments. Leave Yerson love in his comments as well. [00:55:00] Reminder to always be kind to other people, especially yourself, and remember that you can always learn something from someone if you take the time to listen. So thank you guys for being here.