Dr. K Chats with

[@jamieslacks]

“A game should make you want to waste your time, not waste your time.” Golden.

[@Lil.Lon3Ly]

Gaming or doing something you love is not wasting time, if you look back at the times when you were younger and if the things you did like gaming etc. brings nostalgia then those times are being put to good use which is to make you happy, happiness is never a waste of time.

[@jamieslacks]

@@Lil.Lon3Ly The phrase doesn’t mean to say that it IS a waste of time, more like it is so enjoyable you could hyperbolically say that you “want to waste your time on it”.

[@allbies]

@@Lil.Lon3Ly It's not the point he's making with that quote.

[@Maelthorn1337]

Asmongolden.

[@Lil.Lon3Ly]

@@jamieslacks No i get it, technically anything is a waste of time including gaming BUT i don't agree to call it wasting time when you use that time to enjoy something.

[@hornedlobster]

Asmon has got to be one of my favourite guests on this show. He's way more intelligent and articulate than people give him credit for.

[@cryptidian3530]

People forget he almost plays a character while he plays WoW. He's a cool dude when he's not in that character.

[@manofmysteryyy]

Ironically I feel like someone says this on every video he posts lol

[@daijme]

Yeah, I don't think anyone is discrediting him. I knew when he mentioned Memento Mori that he was incredibly intelligent.

[@Mamurai]

What is endearing with Asmon is how honest he is about himself. He is more intelligent than what people may think, but he has always been articulate and I think that is why he is so popular as he is. At least one of the reasons as to why he is a good 'host' .

[@Mamurai]

@@cryptidian3530 Yeah... I do feel he isn't playing a character as such. It is more 'Now I'm the host' like a radio host really. It doesn't mean he isn't himself, but I think it just happens naturally to some people, or something that has come in time with Asmon. On his unofficial channel when he isn't on camera he does appear much like this, and more relaxed, but still the same person.

[@SleapyZzz]

To imagine Asmon's mom passed away like half a year after this interview.. after having talked so open about his worry about his parents. That really hit.

[@capnbarky2682]

He could've waited until after his mom died to confront these feelings. This is a better scenario than what could've happened.

[@silversalmon9909]

@absolutelyfailz4480 ???

[@SteelValyrian]

@absolutelyfailz4480 Whoa- as a mostly random bystander who happens to be here now and not knowing your context- who are you talking to?

[@ToveriJuri]

@@SteelValyrian Yeah dude comes completely out of nowhere with a completely unhinged comment that's barely related to what's being said.

[@hmpf]

@@ToveriJuri How about you use critical thinking and read the first reply to OP's comment.

[@Fleshcut]

Zack is probably my favorite guest. He is well-spoken, smart, and his fears and problems are very relateable to me

[@nielsreiziger4850]

What amazes me about Zack is how aware he is about his life and makes choices with a underlying reason, he can always explain why he made that choice.

[@Jokervision744]

I have something like he does, but he had slow way up to the mountain top, but I started with slow descending, but while also having way to enjoy my time with family. I burnt my hand, I got shy, I got fat, I got encephalitis, I got one friend, I lost that friend because they didn't really keep up with me and I felt like they were doing fine by themselves, and then I got epilepsy. Now I just don't know what to do... I'm sick so it cuts out my possible choices for what job to do, and the stress has bit a piece of off me so I don't know what to go for even if as a field of study. Getting pension without working one day? I've gone through people asking help, but they basically used me to fill out their work time. I might just be having a excuse when I blame not having money for not being able to do anything... I guess it's not excuse but limbo between that and not being able to get money. I'm not really into living in a building that is filled with random stuff, that doesn't touch me anymore, and not being able to bring anything new in. This house is like sauna in summer, but it works fine in winter. It's middle of countryside, so nothing is close by, and all these things strip that cream of my casual everyday life. I wonder if prison had more things to do?

[@Jarl.M]

@@nielsreiziger4850 Yea because he's not a child.

[@urosivanovic8840]

@@SihSih420 Ah yes drinking the entire day makes you extraordinary, i dunno it souns to me like you are the ordinary person in here.

[@SihSih420]

@@urosivanovic8840 Asmon literally talking of spending a thousand years eating cheetos in his room playing wow. I know I didn''t make a good point, but I use to think this way as Asmon does. I had judged people who partied and did drugs, I thought at least I was not doing that and was just inside playing wow. How wrong I was..

[@guitrplayer4life]

"If i could sit in my room playing videogames, eating cheetos and doing nothing for another 1000 years I would do it" Confirmed, Asmongold is at least 1000 years old.

[@SamuelAlder]

haha :D

[@dertheorieticker3914]

Hes a reptilian

[@SteeezYWeezy]

@@dertheorieticker3914 ancient undead lich*

[@xdustyxsteedx21]

Is Asmongold Merlin? Awaiting King Arthur still? Or did he fail and knows it, so he spends his days in the only place left hes not laughed at for claiming hes a Wizard. Lol.

[@emanate0]

1000 years doesn't seem to help with drops tho

[@geologick]

This hits different now. Love Asmongold, he has so much integrity and wisdom. All the respect in the world to him, I hope he’s getting through his mom’s passing okay.

[@ogspeace]

agreed.... i truly hope he gets to have another session with dr. K. talking about stuff really helps.

[@karenmarsee]

one will never really get through something like that man

[@humanbean1424]

​@@ogspeaceI'm late to the scene, and has only recognized Asmond with long hair. I have a question. He seem like a person that try not to care about much. Dirty room. Unkept house, etc. Was he always like this or only after his mom passing?

[@retrorewind6042]

@@humanbean1424 hes always been this way, but we love him regardless

[@humanbean1424]

@@retrorewind6042 well thats good. I think.

[@sergiarilla8608]

"If i could sit in my room playing videogames, eating cheetos and doing nothing for another 1000 years I would do it" Amen

[@st33nb3an4]

Amen

[@drhashtagyolo]

amen

[@catzel1ps452]

Yes but no. You can only sit on a beach drinking martinis for so long before your mind seeks some productivity and meaning. Balance is key.

[@zeiwow0]

@@catzel1ps452 i can definitely attest to that i spent most of 2020 drinking beer playing video games having the time of my life and suddenly i got so sick of it and had to do something else.

[@싸넬동지-7성담배]

@Sergi Arilla How old are you if it's not indiscret ?

[@ryanmorrissette27]

The genuine reaction of comfort after he said “I don’t think you look bad at all”. I think that’s something he needs & deserves to hear more often.

[@Wolves2314]

Agreed man, no wonder he thinks of himself as an animal when thousands of people are constantly insulting you. He's just learn to accept it but he's actually a good person and has a lot of potential in life

[@Quplas]

Timestamp?

[@MegaWarsh]

@@Quplas 2:12:40

[@chincevideos923]

@@MegaWarsh

[@JarthenGreenmeadow]

I think its fair to say the adage "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is not based in reality.

[@MasteredMagic]

This honestly brought me to tears. These are vulnerable things that he was willing to share. I’m happy that this part of KZbin exists

[@drewpy14]

same. this is fucking awesome

[@presceltolives2076]

Asmongold, you will never be irrelevant if you just be yourself. You have so many fans and supporters that just want to hear you talk even more than we want to watch you play games. As long as Internet exists there will ALwAYS be a demand and need for Zach. You are a blessing to the gaming world, a blessing to me, and a blessing to your mom. Much love to everyone reading this

[@sethtatum3085]

Well said man, takes a very generous and genuine person to comment something like this in a world of negative comments and energy. Much love back to you!

[@Maxoule22]

Agreed, when i join an Asmongold stream or watch a video, the game he is playing is irrelevant to me, i enjoy his mind and sense of humor most of all, not the games.

[@spaghettipunch2681]

Add me in boyz. I don't even play games, but i like to hear his perspective on different things, i love his sense of humour and how both are intertwined

[@heymanxd9908]

Zack*

[@Dianbler]

Yeah, Zack is 100th times better than any TV show on air for the last decade. Be WoW or not, he's someone you enjoy listening to. The day he retires it will be a sad day for the internet and the world.

[@sunday3722]

Really got me when zack started talking about his parents , he’s a good man and I wish nothing but the absolute best for him

[@1missing]

The stories he tells of his mom are the best. He's got an old video on youtube somewhere of him with a camcorder recording his mom hitting level 60 back in the day.

[@sunday3722]

@@1missing oh yeah that channel is great!

[@MCplayerable]

at what minute?

[@HollowRick]

@@1missing wait that was his mom? I remember seeing that years ago 😅

[@prod.sah1l]

time stamp?

[@josiahpaulthompson]

Asmon is like a time capsule that captured the good parts adolescence: not worrying about school or life stressors, getting to let go and go explore the unknown and hang out with your friends. The ritual of plugging into a video game was a bigger deal as you did not have a pocket computer that hacks your dopamine loops all day. For me I feel like I am back with my friends when I hear him talk. Also I feel like he is kind of living the story of Andy from Toy Story. He had a really great run, so many adventures and stories with his games, and now he is realizing that he needs to say goodbye to these things that he loves if he wants to move on to his next stage in life. A bittersweet change of priorities.

[@douglasmcarthur5298]

Brilliantly said, especially that last paragraph. ❤

[@TeacherGus1]

And to be honest, letting go is the hardest part. I'm going through this right now. I know that I have to let things go, but it's to fuc***g hard to do them. My therapist said to me today: think about what is your priority, and this scared the hell out of me.

[@josiahpaulthompson]

You know it is when you willingly expose yourself to fear, discomfort, change, responsibility, that you become strong. If you decide to own your attitude and decide to earnestly make the best of things, especially when they are shitty, you will find a version of yourself that you are unashamed of. -- Uncle Iroh, probably.

[@TeacherGus1]

@@josiahpaulthompson As Zack said, I'm not ashamed of myself. I'm not ashamed of how I feel today. I just feel I could be so much better if I just had let things go a few years ago.

[@cryinpooper]

Nothing lasts.. but nothing is lost

[@Ghostcharm]

i love zac. hes smart, self aware but always open minded. usually intellects like his close off help or new perspectives but he is constantly accepting new truths and realizations about his life. thank you both for this episode

[@ColeNorton]

I don't know why KZbin decided to start recommending me Asmongold videos this year, but damn am I glad they did. Despite how good his life and "job" may seem on paper, he never sugarcoats how he truly feels. Its a big reminder that no amount of fame or money can change the fact that were all just here temporarily. Shoutout to Asmongold for not being afraid to show vulnerability on a topic that most people would rather not confront

[@Yugdax]

It takes strength to talk about your own weaknesses

[@taichipandabat6153]

True....but i still see that Asmongold bottles his emotions and turns it into logic......Logic and Emotions don't go well together

[@WanderTheNomad]

@@taichipandabat6153 I think they _can_ go well together if you use your emotions to guide your logic and your logic to control your emotions. Like Yin and Yang(or something)

[@chincevideos923]

@@taichipandabat6153 well it depends on the equation logic is very good at helping to regulate your emotions ... but emotions are terrible at regulating logic

[@chincevideos923]

@@WanderTheNomad holy shit beat me to the punch

[@Jacckh]

I hope there is a third episode with Asmon. I feel like he’s such an important Internet personality that these episodes are so valuable to so many people.

[@__-bk6mm]

100%!

[@doc7000]

I don't understand.

[@fucksusan.fuckcensorship.874]

@@doc7000 cause he embodies a lot of other gamers. who cant tell if they even enjoy games anymore and dont know if its the quality or not. Especially when you play games for so long it would be like doing something you enjoyed for years and then all of a sudden its not as enjoyable. This type of thing can happen to any hobby.

[@ottertowerking2595]

We kind of got something similar with the Steak & Eggs podcast

[@ethosterros9430]

How?

[@nathanielinman]

Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher born in 544 B.C. said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”

[@ub3rfr3nzy94]

I love that quote.

[@RichyRich2607]

Kinda lame quote tho

[@LilAligator]

Think I like this more 'look both ways before crossing roads'

[@ub3rfr3nzy94]

@@RichyRich2607 How?

[@magnusr.poulsen2437]

Sure if we look at it metaphorically and experientially. But If we look at it existentially, and follow what Doctor K says, the self of the man is still him in his most neutral harmonic constant core state. Even if he lost his foot in the river, he would still be him. As would the river, even with the man's foot at its bottom.

[@TheKidMajin]

when the realization hits that asmon basically does all of this online out of fear of his mom passing. all of this was for her all along. wholesome as fuck. love asmon

[@Johnluxemburg]

That is so true. He loves his mother So much❤️

[@MissPopuri]

Death comes for us all. Prospero reminded us at the end of The Tempest that every third thought should be your death.

[@unbenanntunbekannt]

@@Johnluxemburg he talked about it in his recent videos, when he mentioned that he'd give up everything he has just to be able to get his mother healthy again broke me.

[@The-Esoteric-One]

​@@MissPopuri Why torture yourself like that though? I overthink enough as it is.

[@forexalised9053]

@@The-Esoteric-One Everyone's brain works differently, there is no such thing as "why torture yourself by thinking about this?". That's like asking someone to just stop being angry, it will make the more angry or frustrated.

[@RoryCMahan]

Zack fucking gets it, man. I'm in the same place as him in so many ways. 32, male, avid gamer. Yearning for brotherhood of days long past. Fearing getting old and ceasing to exist for as long as I can remember as I came up around religions I never believed. Having these fears stoked as I helped my mom take care of my grandparents as they slowly lost their independence, their minds, and eventually their lives. Right down to the first time I saw my mom walking with a cane and shame about my teeth, Zack gets it and that just makes me feel better . . . even if neither one of us has figured it out yet. Gives me hope that at least one of us will.

[@gisubsim4311]

Is it mid life crisis? I seem to have hit the same wall.

[@CardCaptor32584]

I was there too. Got married and the new challenges totally knocked me out of my rutt though. I feel like learning about someone else and letting someone have total access to my personal space was a joyful yet totally new challenge. Best of luck to you my friend. When you are feeling down, means there's something to climb lol.

[@neek01]

@@gisubsim4311 doesn't that usually happened between 40 and 50?

[@gisubsim4311]

@@neek01 everyone is different. Some men could have it as early as mid 30s and some late as 50-60s

[@RobinsMusic]

Im 18 and I feel the same way I hate my life often

[@revaamritkar7281]

"There is an axis of suffering and contentment that is actually independent of happiness and sadness." Dang, that hit hard.

[@albertgeorgy6827]

No spoilers please dood wtf

[@jlo7064]

@@albertgeorgy6827 He mentions this in probably half his sessions. Hardly a spoiler.

[@pedroassuncao200]

This sounds a lot like the mentality, philosophy and psychology of Viktor Frankl. What he proposes is that the axis of suffering and fulfillment act independently than those of success / failure, happiness / sadness. You can be successfull, happy but still suffering. You can be a failure and be fulfilled.

[@jonathanharoun5247]

@@albertgeorgy6827 This ain't Attack on Titan dood

[@MikeSakaru]

@@albertgeorgy6827 If you don't want things spoiled, don't go into the comments section of a video before watching it. This will never not be true. Learn to manage this and live a happier KZbin life.

[@marker52]

YOO I WAS LITERALLY REWATCHING THE PREVIOUS DR. K VID WITH ASMONGOLD YESTERDAY I'M SO HAPPY

[@rajjo9241]

Dr. K?

[@marker52]

@@rajjo9241 yeah my bad lol

[@ctrlaltshift]

Pretty sure they had the same fear of death convo too 😂😂

[@rory6987]

@@ezaf5989 no u

[@liammate1264]

@@ezaf5989 you have brain damage.

[@UnluckyHydra]

That moment when Asmongold was getting emotional telling that story about his friend drawing the dragon and meeting him. I could feel that emotion rising in him. I'm starting to understand more of what Dr. K means.

[@laurengemma1463]

"Can I sit with that for a minute?"...I think we should normalize saying this before responding to all kinds of things.

[@Jon-yn4pq]

For real. So much better than just firing back with the first thing that pops into your head.

[@blakephotographytexas]

I was coming to comment this same thing. Love that he genuinely shows interest and careful consideration to everything.

[@Sloppygator9309]

It feels awkward and uncomfortable when a therapist does that to me. I don't think of anything new during the pause. I just think about how awkward it is the whole time and I lose my train of thought

[@aBradApple]

Agreed. I usually like to have a bit of time to process new information before responding. It seems like people are generally in a hurry to get to the end of *insert topic/destination* though it’s never truly the end. Kinda like thinking going 10 over the speed limit will get you there faster though you really only save a few seconds in most cases.

[@laner.845]

This has been one of the hardest lessons for me to learn. Sometimes thinking and getting past gut reaction is better for communication to occur.

[@ValensBellator]

I didn’t realize how much some of these things bothered him, I feel kind of bad for all the balding jokes. An hour and a half in and this has been utterly fascinating! I’m so grateful that Zack is sharing this with us, he’s such a good man.

[@itsomegali5342]

2 days later we see valen in chat spamming bald memes.....

[@ValensBellator]

@@itsomegali5342 I’ve actually never said it before, though I thought it was funny. It’s like the most common running joke; I wonder if it still bothers him? It’s made its way into almost any video that references him.

[@itsomegali5342]

@@ValensBellator i mean at some point he probably started coping with it

[@Ryan21500]

30ish min in and I feel like it’s me talking to this guy. Different details same principles. Similar age asmongold, I just hit 35.

[@Ryan21500]

Still watching.. man.. talking about death had me almost in tears. I feel the same way.

[@NZOMV]

I definitely understand where zack is coming from when it comes to not enjoying games as much now. I feel it's more of gaming companies focusing more on revenue than actually making great games more so than getting older.

[@Tyronom]

For me it's more like a young child i way more easily fascinated and immersed in new things. As an adult it's way harder to surprise you with new things and you cannot enjoy it as much.

[@rvh4034]

The whole world is getting more and more fcked by the day.

[@HyperMoon]

@@Tyronom I kinda agree but not entirely. Because I have had same feelings as asmondgold, literally bought new games, played for 5 minutes and just didn't enjoy it. But occasionally i'll play something that is really unique or different and it just totally engages me like I am a kid playing halo for the first time again. Recently for me that was the Stalker series. I think these days there is far less originallity in the industry. When we were kids there was so much new things happening, going from 2d to 3d games for example, and the tech was dramatically improving all the time. These days developers are taking safer routes, taking less risks, and generally just not doing anything creative or risky enough to be super engaging.

[@collectiblesnrandomstuff544]

To me it’s like doesn’t matter how great a game is , I never even touched god of war past the intro chopping tree thing , I looked at it , said wow nice graphics, then switched back to Netflix and said I would play the game later. To this day I haven’t touched it. It’s just not the same anymore I’m 42 btw. I thought I was gonna be a gamer for life :(

[@Tyronom]

​@@collectiblesnrandomstuff544 Try to commit playing every day or every other day until you finish and then see if it's still something you enjoy. Not giving enough playtime and taking too long breaks between sessions is what makes it hard to enjoy.

[@tylerlarose3725]

Zack, I was in tears almost the entire time I watched this. I've never been able to express my feelings on these topics and I feel like you've done it for me. It's good to know I'm not alone. That there are others out there who feel the way I do. I really thank you for sharing this and being open. I see you from a totally new and different view point and I'm so proud and just idk I cant describe the feeling I have after seeing this. Thank you.

[@crash_hunter8659]

And did you changed, what’s after a year passed?

[@KetoDoe]

Hmm interesring inquiry

[@AD-sh4rw]

Holy parasocial relationship Batman

[@pix3lle375]

Only 10 minutes in but this conversation so far is so chill I feel my blood pressure lowering

[@eg28]

is that a good thing or do you already have low blood pressure?

[@ragnarokgaming6897]

Emma G Can pretty much gaurentee it was meant as a good thing 😆 I got a kick out of your comment though because that didn't even cross my mind lol. Partially because I don't know if it's a sincere question or a monotone joke 😜

[@nickuva6508]

Who says that and who asked

[@Rayhaku808]

@@nickuva6508 it's a comment section. Nobody needs to ask shit lol

[@WaterYaDune]

Trying to listen to the whole thing put my body into cryostasis for 5 hours

[@bradjaena1807]

Man, Zack telling his mom that he’d bring her to church because it meant something to her hit me hard. Almost brought a tear to my eye.

[@FarbrorBosse]

The hardest part of growing up, is realizing your parents are growing older.

[@angelaengle12]

As someone who's mom passed away when I was 23, that reality hit me like a semi-truck over-loaded with cement blocks that was on the run from the cops.

[@jermicahfischer8626]

Facts

[@BOOhaha96]

This comment could not be more accurate, holy sh

[@barneylinux]

It brings tears to my eyes when I think about the fact one day my mom and sand won’t be around. And I get into fights and arguments with them all the time.

[@ghostsinthegraveyard5766]

my Mother has had joints replaced and my grandmother now needs a pacemaker. Entropy gets us all in the end

[@dachr2]

Taking a wild guess I think the journey with OTK will bring him more joy than seeing the company itself having success. Hearing him reminiscing about the good old days with his boys really highlights that one of the things that has been missing in his life has been doing something cool together with a group of close friends. And damnit that's so relatable!

[@camedarus]

"The whole world around me changed. I didn't." More relatable words (to me) has seldom been spoken. I'm 33 and everything is changing but I'm the same.

[@FrostRare]

Hey man. It’s really good to hear that there’s someone else out there my age that’s dealing with this. We still have so much time man. All of our problems have solutions, and if we work towards those solutions, even if we don’t achieve them, our loved ones will support us. Keep strong brother.

[@selflit]

ive watched recently the interview with dr k and dude whos childhood was spoiled and stabbed someone in and out of prison like survival instinct, did 20years of jail time, and still managed in his 40s by the tell of it to have good grades in programming course very inspiring since i thought as a graphic designer who struggled with different addiction among which gaming was most prominent even after parents passing away to see that its not too late for me at 25, ive had very rough breakups with girls, and only recently ive discovered that gay relationship is currently more suited, i still respect girls but for now this is right decision and we are managing to live fine with conservative person (grandma) who doesnt accept that.. although pressure is there for me to find a job, but priority is to find a passion and get my act together, i would add that mild forms of cannabis helped me break those dopaminergic chase cycles yet it can have counter intuitive effects if you get too anxious, i would mention also that i have no previous history of mental illness in family except alcoholism and general melancholia, acid 🍄 and Alternative medicine such as kambo 🐸 later on were thing ive done from the age of 18 to deal with life situation and clean the body and now i try my best to take care of nutrition on daily basis

[@sabamonstergaming]

@@FrostRare I'm 41 - and I've just climbed down this hill. I'm also a medically retired veteran so I'm a bit more stubborn than most, lol. Think of it as a photo in time. The world is always changing, always adapting and evolving. It's okay to remain who you are. If you ask me; it takes strength of character to do that despite the entire world shifting around you. This sounds cliche' but the older you get, the more perspective you'll have and it won't feel like 'stagnation' anymore. Just a different perspective. Keep your chin up man.

[@TheFocusX]

When Asmon talked about that dragon drawing, tears came down to my eyes because I felt the exact same feelings of good old days with the boys never coming back.

[@WanderTheNomad]

1:50:35

[@FreekillGaming]

Shit went deep

[@Applecornflakes]

Yep same

[@Connoisseur7184]

This is something I dont understand. The good old days with the boys might be gone, but why do people act asif nothing could replace them? I remember the good old days with the boys very fondly but I never have the feeling I'd want them back. I am grateful I had them but I have different things I enjoy now.

[@Reibaku]

@@Connoisseur7184 it has a very simple explanation: everyone’s minds processes things differently and reacts differently to different feelings. Nostalgia is a very powerful feeling. Some people will reminiscence fondly from the past and feel cheerful afterwards thinking about what the now has for you and what the future holds. I’d dare say this is what a healthy mind should do. Other people will feel melancholic afterwards feeling completely hopeless that their good years are behind them, even when there’s no guarantee of that, and just give in to that hopelessness and despair and try to escape reality with distractions. For an outside viewer whose mind doesn’t work this way will find it impossible to understand, but you don’t have to, all you have to do is to have empathy and if someone you know feels this way maybe have a conversation if they feel like it. I like how Dr K drives these conversations because it’s mostly guiding towards self reflection and find our own enlightenment through it, you don’t have to be a therapist to do it, just have a conversation and make it about the person only and avoid giving advice and you’ll be 80% there for sure

[@kevincorkum2147]

"Pride is not the opposite of Shame, but it's source. True humility is the only antidote to shame." -Uncle Iroh

[@umadbroyo2388]

Best animated character to have ever existed!

[@Andrew-ut2wi]

Such a powerful show and an amazing character. Love Uncle Iroh!

[@leachofsouls]

Iroh was the most Buddhist character in anything ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@Havainus]

I did not expect to follow the entire 2 hours through when opening this video, but hot damn if this isn't amazing to listen to. Great questions, great railroading of the conversation, focusing on the important parts, managing it all to stay coherent and being respectful, I'd love to have a therapist like this. And Zack being open as he is about everything, showing it's okay to feel, even if it's difficult. Beautiful video, I really hope more people will watch this.

[@mydemon]

"Your INT is at an 18, but I don't know where your WIS (wisdom) is" OMG beautifully put!

[@moneybuas4942]

timestamp for this please.

[@xCxRxAxVxExNx]

the interviews with zack are phenomenal.

[@AdequateMusique]

I had this exact same feeling when I turned 30! I described it as an “early-life crisis” I saw it as completing an open world game, and then just running around the game world with nothing left to do, but you’re stuck in the game. Super Mario 64: you collected all 120 stars and now you’re just stuck with nothing special left to do. In my case I achieved the house/girlfriend/child/economic stability/safety/contentment dream I was working towards, but then I was struggling to find the next mountain to climb. The fix for me was deciding to start working out, educating myself on everything I’ve struggled to understand previously, and trying to help other people in whatever way I can. Being the best version of myself before checking out 🤩

[@Edigor100]

you mentioned working out and education but I think hobbies as a whole are a something that can help with that feeling in a major way as well not hobbies like playing video games because those always seem to have some sort of end, but rather things that persist like photography, model building, collecting, gardening, woodwork, some sports like cycling etc. those might sound like the most cliche, boomer hobbies to have but they bring long term joy and can't just die out overnight because your goals will be projects of which there is an unlimited amount of

[@AdequateMusique]

@@Edigor100 yes, I agree! Do projects and activities that lead to results that persist, instead of chasing things that have short term dopamine bursts, because one becomes more tolerant/resistant to those eventually. Working on your body and health, and cultivating skills that allows you to discover and express your creativity/soul will be far more fulfilling and long lasting

[@dekippiesip]

I think having a mountain that is so high you'll never reach the top in your life is a good thing to have. Einstein had tremendous succes, but at the end of his life he was still searching for the 'theory of everything' that united QM and GR. He didn't succeed, but others could pick up the work he left behind. Another one is someone like Elon Musk. He achieved lots of succes but he still has goals like putting humans on Mars. Weather he can fulfil them in his lifetime is doubtful, but at least he always has something to climb, without ever needing an entire new mountain. But this only works if you have a business or are a scientist or something. Because there is always more to do, you sure as hell will never climb that mountain. And that keeps life interesting I think.

[@AdequateMusique]

@@dekippiesip I agree with that point, and you described it beautifully. Always have a larger-than-life project ongoing, and let’s not go mad in the pursuit of it.

[@paulus5877]

Damn i just turned 28 and i am so far from getting to that point. No money, No girlfriend, no car... I feel like i would be very happy in your position, but obviously i can't really judge it.

[@gablo1089]

Love when you have Zack on. Such a genuine person.

[@shrekstacy]

As someone who already absolutely loves Zack, this really gives me a deeper appreciation for who he is and why he is himself.

[@charleskulvet4911]

Just Zack? no love for Asmonbald?

[@519MaLoNeY]

This was absolutely outstanding. EVERY SINGLE THING the Doc ended up on is a realization I arrived at after hitting the bottom from an addiction and divorce and then finding joy and accomplishment in raising my daughters while working as a health care aid. There’s LITERALLY nothing glamorous about where I am or where I’ve been, on the contrary it’s been insufferable…but as it stands, today I’ve never been happier and I’m 40 and have nothing but hope for everything. Thanks for sharing this chat. I sincerely believe it’ll help many people out of that pit.

[@txdmsk]

Hey man. I hope you are doing great! Have a good summer with your daughters, brother!

[@519MaLoNeY]

@@txdmsk thanks man, I appreciate that! I hope you have a great summer.

[@MrCmon113]

It's quite obvious tbat people feel better when they've successfully bred. Same thing in all animals.

[@Dresden0478]

I don't think Asmond looks weird or bad doing this. If anything it was a very Brave thing to do.

[@dragoezcurra]

It's risky. I enjoyed watching Zack instead of Asmongold. I am sure you did aswell. But the world is big, and there is people for everything. Irrational Hate can go over the sentiment of empathy. Say for example, I watch Asmongold stream. I don't type, ever. I am not into that kind of interaction, it's a waste of time IMO, unless you are subed. If for x reason I ever get banned from his chat, I really couldn't care less. Butt my opinion does not stand for everyone's. There is some dubious people that would go out of their way to destroy his identity using this live exposure of his emotions. But let's be real. He just exposed his weak points. It takes only 1 reddit post about these weakpoints to make him hurt. And those freaks will be there tonight in reddit and they will do it for shure.

[@daicaghund3587]

@@dragoezcurra Isnt that the sad truth. Well said.

[@stevewilks8141]

Why did you capitalize the first letter of the word "brave"?

[@Dresden0478]

@@stevewilks8141 I think it was my phone's keyboard auto correcting it for some reason.

[@JarthenGreenmeadow]

​@@dragoezcurra Dude knows his weaknesses, I doubt some random person on Reddit or Twitter is going to bother him at this point.

[@Ottobot2]

Asmon cares deeply about WOW and his mother and his fear is that he has no control over their fates. Both are "dying" and he is stuck in the middle of it. The reason he has felt bad the last 2 years is because he is beginning to believe that wow is coming to an end. The scare with his mothers medicine that happened during the Texas freeze also reminded him that he has limited control over things and that his mother is getting older and is more vulnerable. He needs to appreciate the moments he had with both of them and come to terms with their deaths. I think Asmon is becoming stronger due to this slow death of wow and hopefully he is able to bounce back and find a new game that he can love again. The day Asmons mom dies will be a very difficult day for Asmon. Hopefully he is strong enough to make it through that. You cant control many things in life but you can control how to move on past the death of something and start something new. I hope he moves out of her house after and builds a new future for himself instead of staying in that house in misery.

[@OrthodoxTrent]

He’s coming to terms with loosing the two loves of his life. Damn that’s some perspective.

[@idleeidolon]

this comment needs more likes.

[@veradrost9654]

Man, I am extremely attached to my mother. The thought of my mother vanishing one day has frightened me since I was 12. There's a song in the Netherlands by Karin Bloemen called Geen kind meer (= Not a child anymore) all about rebelling against your mother as a teen, losing her as a young adult, the anger and regret... The words you never got to say to her... It breaks me every single time I hear it.

[@Bonebounder93]

@@veradrost9654 yep i will end myself when my mother goes some day no one else loves me

[@senfglas214]

@@Bonebounder93 thats not what your mother would want to happen and you know it 🙂

[@zionsimanian9310]

Fucking hell my heart goes out to Asmond, that’s an insanely heartbreaking story to hear and I truly feel sorry for all the shit people have given him throughout his life

[@whatever9274]

what did people do to him?

[@MinecraftMartin]

Trust me, he's doing fine lol

[@douglaspurcell7506]

@@MinecraftMartin come on man. just because the guy has money doesn't mean he's feeling great. he's obviously got some deep rooted depression. whether he would admit it or not, you don't live your life the way he does if you're not deeply depressed. and this is coming from a person who knows becuase I live my life the same way. You don't clean or improve your environment because you don't have the energy to do it. you don't interact with people a lot becuase you feel like it's not worth it. you only want to do the thing that makes you happy and gets you from one moment to the next. and I think for both me and Asmon, that thing is playing video games. And I don't feel like money solves these issues. I don't have Asmon money, but I'm in a better place financially than I ever have been and it's getting better and better, and that hasn't changed anything. more of the same for me.

[@MinecraftMartin]

@@douglaspurcell7506 Come on man what? If you find him relatable, that's great. He's successful because of how relatable he is. I will also say that our sympathy likely does nothing for him. He has access to world class resources. His social network is as good as anyone else's. He's doing better than 99.9% of the world's population. If it helps you personally to relate to him and validate your own issues, that's valuable. It really is. I just wouldn't waste too much emotional investment into his personal health, however. Waste of energy. Agree or not that's fine. If you think your empathy toward him is making a difference in his life, and that in itself is important to your personal life, then by all means. :)

[@bmwmd110]

@@MinecraftMartin This is actually a good comment.

[@MVPUnlucky]

It’s weird seeing these interviews. They are generally very informative but it very well feels like Dr. K is learning as much as people learn from Dr. K which is truly a sight to behold. That moment where Dr. K was trying to figure out how to get Asmon to talk emotionally and Asmon just does it and Dr. K goes “I don’t know what you did, but do it again” really shows his humanity in learning and experiencing life. This guy is one of the best psychologists for sure.

[@___Robin___]

Idk I didn't get that feeling; whenever Asmongold told something new I felt like it wasn't the thing that Dr. K wanted to hear and therefore he looked for ways to expand his theory to MAKE it work or conjured a new one. It's easy to put big labels on someone like fear of death or fear of helplessness, needing to relive moments of emotion. I think he totally overanalayzed for something clearly obvious. Asmongold is a popular succesful streamer that loved playing wow and grew out of it cause of monetization. There are literately millions of people feeling unfulfilled, unhappy in life. If you watch his streams you often hear him being upset, upset about the game and the ongoing microtransactions and lack of love from developers, while there are dumb people in his chat constantly defending blizzard with BS arguments like we don't care. Living like that playing with morons all the time that say they don't care and playing a game where you know the developers know they're scumbags but can get away with it is just a depressing reality. Asmongold just straight up HATES how society works and OFTEN talks about honor and integrity and how important that is for him, but we live in a society were that ceased to exist. No wonder one would constantly think of his past filled with friends and innocents minds enjoying their time, it's what I do all the time as well. The reason he would be so fine with accepting death at the moment it arrives is cause he knows it will only go downhill from here on, cause you can't put back on rose tinted glasses when you saw the world through gray glasses for years.

[@violetly_]

He’s a Harvard grad. He could probably make a lot more money doing other things with his resumé, but here he is. Incredibly talented, and 1000x better than any psych or therapist I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot LOL!)

[@whasian1487]

One must be curious to be a good psychologist. Each patient should be a learning experience. Dr. K told Zack he needed him to bring up emotion and face it. That made Zack recall the story where he had an emotional reaction to it. Zack has a history of facing things by way of trial by fire, such as putting himself in danger to overcome the fear of it. If Zack knows exactly what the trial is, and is able to manifest that trial consistently, he'll eventually overcome it. Hence the recommendation to see a therapist who would function as a guide to essentially arrive at that trial over and over until conquered.

[@DRsideburns]

​@@___Robin___ I don't think the state of the vidya industry is the source of Asmon's problems. Sure it's an annoyance but it's not enough to have you feeling like there's nothing to look forward to in life I think it's common for people who hit 30 to go all wtf and have a quarterlife crisis. Esp nowadays that we blew up all the old shitty value structures but haven't created new ones yet

[@HyperMoon]

@@___Robin___ But alot of those issues come from how your mind is wired, and how you learned to think about things growing up. You can't forget the things you now know, but you can learn to interpret those things in a more positive and beneficial way and change the way you emotionally respond to those things.

[@x1SoLo1x]

Watching him instinctively cover his pain with laughter at 1:56:36 .... I felt that one, we have all been there.

[@snappers]

All I have to say is that Asmon is a real one people. No entitlement, no bias, no anything. Open minded, well versed, intelligent and ready to hear your side but, also be ready to hear his. The pressure, stress, anxiety and I'm sure the list goes on that he has felt over the course of his life by experiencing hardship after hardship has turned him into a diamond in the rough in a world of people that couldn't care less of anything. Very honored to enjoy his content and appreciate that a person like him with such an enormous outreach exists. The world needs more Asmon's!

[@AltijdHard_403]

hardships? i haven't heard any real hardships tbh... When 90% of your life is your computer screen, things from the outside world may feel progressively harder than they really are. The problem is that his life is the gaming chair and his view is the walls. good luck dealing with feelings when all you do is eat potato chips and stream and play games. Other than that I 100% agree with you.

[@dreambiscuits]

​@@AltijdHard_403you don't even know him personally and you're saying he's never faced hardships? The absolute arrogance of that statement.

[@AltijdHard_403]

@@dreambiscuits well you make it seem like he went through hell to get where he is even though that's not what the video shows

[@DubhghlasMacDubhghlas]

Every single person is biased. And open minded depends on the topic he can be pretty closed minded on somethings.

[@derpishthemememerchant5838]

@@AltijdHard_403 dawg he lost the person who he cared about most, he’s been through it

[@Orlyy]

"I'm not afraid of dying, I'm just scared of not existing anymore", is how I feel honestly.

[@Bake749]

But that's the same fucking shit lol

[@johnlckhrt2]

@@Bake749 not really. The thought of dying in general doesnt bother me. Its the thought of not having a conscious, or any brain activity whatsoever. Like some day i will be buried 6 feet under and rotten away leaving nothing behind but bones. My thoughts will cease to exist. Thats what scares me

[@LorrdiRockz]

@@johnlckhrt2 you could think all the time in history where you were not alive, conscious, or having brain activity, and be anxious about that the same exact way for the same exact reason tho. the thing is, when you stop thinking you won't be there to feel anything about it, so from your perspective you will never stop thinking, because when you do you won't be there to observe it anymore

[@blakbear6528]

@@johnlckhrt2 i feel like it's like when you were just a little baby, you just came to life and started thinking until 7 years old but you don't really remember anything before that. You are just kinda existing until your brain develops enough to actually be aware of your existence

[@mistyrob99]

@@johnlckhrt2 Then the solution is to make something that will outlast you.

[@FuzionTR]

"you're waiting for the next thing to go wrong" that hits deep.

[@miniespeon158]

I love how he shared his story on stream. I’m not as old as he is but my health has been declining recently and i never had to worry about death really until now, my anxiety surrounding it is way worse, and i feel the same way he does about my great aunt. Me and him are a bit similar in that way i think. This has been therapeutic for me, thank you so much zach, and thank you for being so brave

[@ah2522]

try psychedelics, they will remove your fear of death completely.

[@TheChefODoom]

"It's sad that all of those examples you gave of good games are from over ten years ago." OOOOOF

[@childhoodprepper]

I always love asmons talks and the ones with dr k are always the best. Dudes incredibly intelligent but def has a lot on his plate

[@remondx8880]

He's an intelligent dude, no doubt about it. But it also shows that intelligent people can simply create more elaborate mental prisons to lock themselves in.

[@joehenry087]

This is a straight up hardcore therapy session and Asmon is a real G for doing this.

[@ethosterros9430]

How? Hes a rich dude who wants for nothing. This is commercial therapy for fun. Dr k at best this is to build clout for his brand I've never seen him actually help anyone. He interviews and converses with rich people who dont need his help.

[@TheSuperGreatOne]

@@ethosterros9430 Yeah because rich people can't feel sad?

[@ethosterros9430]

@@TheSuperGreatOne their feelings are subjective. Their life is good. After the feeling passes as always they still return to a life with 0 real problems.

[@AD-sh4rw]

@@ethosterros9430 yup just look at rekful. He didn’t help him for shit

[@Mynamegeoph]

@@ethosterros9430 I think you lack empathy brother

[@ValensBellator]

I keep getting distracted by my own inner monologue answering his questions as if he was interviewing me 😂

[@beringtse]

haha I do the same and sometimes I get so curious about how he would respond

[@remondx8880]

The way Dr K asks his questions slowly make me realize that I've settled for a lot of mediocre therapists in my life. I feel like this man could drill down to the core of my problems super EZ GG POG. And probably most of us here.

[@Chizuru94]

​@@remondx8880 Absolutely agree. I tried therapy a few times, but always got treated like I am the problem, like my issues aren't that big or as if it could be fixed easily with the snap of a finger etc. I have bad social anxiety and I got told to just go there by bus as if it's nothing after the first sessions and got asked why that'd be a problem at all. And that lady was workign with a really skilled therapist I didn't get a spot for, sadly. And my brother always got told to just fight his anxiety and phobias and that they have no idea what his problem is and one therapist even asked him why he even came to him since his life and attitude is okay. Like, what the hell o.o So yeah, after years of therapy, me and my brother only saw clowns, even in seemingly professional practices. Hell, even a psychiatry I went to (nothing serious, got send there because of stomach issues after being in a hospital for a few days - I have extremely bad gastritis since years) was utter shit. I got emotionally abused and verbally insulted there by caretakers/therapists, basically. I'd give so much to have someone like Dr. K. or being able to attend one of his coach or group therapies, but financial issues and my bad anxiety make that impossible, sadly. But yeah, most therapists really can be a joke, sadly :( But to everyone reading this; not everyone is! You won't know until you tried, so I wish everyone the best of luck and success ;)

[@tiddlypom2097]

@ValensBellator Good to know it's not just me! I get so invested

[@WanderTheNomad]

I tend to do this whenever I watch one of these interviews. Just to see what I come up with for an answer, even if the person Dr K. is asking the question to is completely different from me. It's kinda like a fun thought experiment, mentally answering these questions that weren't directed towards me.

[@TCBHale]

"she didnt want me to call the ambulance, because we couldnt afford it" wtf america :)

[@Yonhondainove]

Dude thats all around the world. Europe is reaping the benefits of its colonialism past with your low population and explotation of 2nd/3rd world workforce. While average european dude enjoys 10-15$ paywage and working 8hours per day and social benefits. Ukrainian dudes go to Poland Germany Czech to work 200-300 hours a month with 5-7 dollars per hour. Not even mentioning Indian or Chinese dudes. You guys are more priveleged theb you think you are. And its ok. But dont think the world can be like this everywhere.

[@jijijijijiji44]

@@Yonhondainove The US could be like that too, they just dont want to. Do you seriously think that the country that has more military funding than all other powers cant actually afford universal healthcare? Also, if youre for real going to talk about europeans taking advantage of third World countries, the US does the same thing, so its an even ground. Where do you think that big corporations get their low prices from?

[@immasurvivor]

@@Yonhondainove Thats the dumbest/saddest shit ive ever heard. ''colonialism gives you the privelage'' what about all the nations that never colonized anything? How are they so ''privelaged''? Oh right, zero-tolerance on corruption and everyone actually participates in the respective societies. Everyone works, everyone pays taxes. If you live in a nation with a solid economy and you cant call an ambulance its because someone has ''stolen'' the money (your taxes, your money) that should've paid for that, or someone can make money on expensive ambulances and they lobby to keep them expensive. The same goes for healthcare and general infrastructure, if the economy functions but the infrastructure is bad you are living in a corrupt nation.

[@DaRealSlacker]

@@Yonhondainove Straight up mindchanging comment - I live in Denmark and did NOT have this angle on my welfare system.

[@Alexeht91]

@@Yonhondainove I would rather have no access to "medical support" than pay them money all the time, while when I need medical attention it takes ages, and if you pay private you have help instantly. Honestly IMO free medical aid do not work at all

[@mr.zendar885]

"It feels like there aren't as many good things to look forward to anymore." Thank you for expressing something I haven't been able to.

[@8xnnr]

I'm 30 so I'm around zacks age and ive lived the exact same life as him playing wow. Life can get repetitive and most of the time it sucks but just when you think you've seen it all, done it all, nothing to look forward to something new pops up. You just have to wait for it.

[@smashedbread]

im 30 now and was very similar to asmongold's view. Focusing on achievement, I would always have to find a new thing to work towards to keep me distracted or I would just feel bad. Since then what helped me is instead of eating fast and always thinking I have to accomplish something, I let that all go. I still work and try to achieve, but I don't put my value in success. I take my time to enjoy food, to live in the moment, to feel the wind and the sun. I look at who I am as a person and I know who I am. I value who I am and I like who I am, and I know I have faults and I am fine with my faults and each day I work on those and try to do less of my faults and more of what I value in myself. In this I have found peace. If you can find peace with who you are and focus on that instead of your surroundings and situation, then that happiness is hard to lose.

[@remondx8880]

Whenever I read a comment like this, I still hope for some magic instruction on how to get there. In reality I'm probably just afraid of how much festered emotionally undigested filth would breach through the surface layer of rationality. Was it a very painful process to get where you are now?

[@smashedbread]

@@remondx8880 at first yeah. It took awhile of small steps. Eventually I was taking care of myself and my mental health above anything else. Anything that affected that in a negative way I learned how to either let it go, or be able to not let the situation get to me, or in the case of family learn how to approach it in healthy ways. Working on myself, my perspectives on things, and just growing myself, a lot of those situations fixes themselves, and the ones that didn’t, I had a better outlook on, better methods for handling them, and overall didn’t let it affect me. I now am able to handle so much shit going on around me and still be at peace because it’s all external, it’s all temporary.

[@smashedbread]

Also one of the best things that helped me was accepting all my faults and failures. Everyone has struggles and these are mine, they are part of what makes me who I am. I own that instead of feel shame. Now that I own up to them, I can make small steps to work on them. If I make progress and then fall again, I can pick myself up and keep moving. A perspective I learned about life in general is actually from Richard Dawkins. “We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones. Most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born. The potential people who could have been here in my place but who will in fact never see the light of day outnumber the sand grains of Arabia. Certainly those unborn ghosts include greater poets than Keats, scientists greater than Newton. We know this because the set of possible people allowed by our DNA so massively exceeds the set of actual people. In the teeth of these stupefying odds it is you and I, in our ordinariness, that are here.We privileged few, who won the lottery of birth against all odds, how dare we whine at our inevitable return to that prior state from which the vast majority have never stirred?” So whenever I’m down or frustrated or things start getting to me I just think I’m lucky to be having to deal with this cuz it means I’m here, I’m alive. And better yet, I’m alive in this day of such technical advancement and capability. I hope some of this helps you out in some way my friend

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

@@smashedbread I'm the opposite. I have no anchor to this world, and my reason to exist is no longer here. The more I try to connect with this world, the more I am met by two paths... Create the worlds in order to bring fourth the future, or ignore the world for my own pain to never repeat... But both paths lead to my self destruction, regardless if I saved the world or not. However, I have chosen another path. Returning to my worlds can never happen, but accepting the true end to this world is my peace. Oblivion upon all, a fate which can no longer function for the worlds to be built on. Thus, the eternal end to everything and beyond. I have lived... I have died... But this world, Earth... Is not my home... Yet, I am here to observe the end of the grand cosmos... My Book of Fate.

[@smashedbread]

@@christopherfaulkner8514 I mean I try to achieve in the sense of doing my job and not sucking at it and learning to improve. But my focus is enjoying life and taking time to do stuff I enjoy even if that’s sitting in my underwear playing games all weekend

[@JacobHayden911]

About time you guys had him on again! June of last year was last time. Great conversation! 💚

[@Vugen18]

This conversation should be showed to any up and coming therapist ! What a perfect conversation both consciously and unconsciously

[@Koolkit33161206]

I can't even properly explain how much I related to most of the things Asmon was saying in this video. The last 30 or so minutes of the video almost had me in tears, especially when he started getting broken up as well. There were many important and helpful messages for me in this, and I'm sure for others as well. Thank you for the video!

[@___Robin___]

I feel exactly like Zach, but unlike you I feel the outcome is inevitable. I age, I deteriorate, been there done that, no new thrills, waiting for the first bad thing to happen. Honestly I'm just tired of feeling this way and living in general I would be glad when it's over.

[@thirdforest182]

@@___Robin___ I think a lot of us share those feelings. Life was best when it was simple. We live in good memories. Life is hard. But tomorrow is a new day, and we can make of it what we choose.

[@tylerblue9691]

I watched some of this live and then watched each section spread across two days. Incredible interview/therapy session. It had its ups and downs in terms of emotion. It was so philosophical and existential yet also grounding and personable. One of the best pieces of “content” I’ve ever seen honestly. It made me feel good, made me think, and inspired me to be better. If I’m ever feeling down I’ll watch part of this video 100%. Zach needs to come on more often! So intelligent and well spoken especially when he’s with Dr. K. Loved it. Just loved it. Thank you healthy gamers!!

[@Pekins]

Zack really feared of losing his mom, RIP.

[@fancen]

of course?

[@Tom-iy8bb]

@@fancen This was recorded before she died.

[@fancen]

@@Tom-iy8bb and what is your point

[@erikarnesen6052]

​@@fancen The point is that he had a close connection with her, which made her loss very hard for him. Not everyone is close to their parents, some might even be happy that they're gone. A happy and loving family are not a reality for a lot of people.

[@squshy1]

You hit the nail on the head.

[@TheLineCutter]

they are so chill together. like a bromance.

[@pleaseno326]

Dr. K: What is it, rule 42? Asmon: 32 Me: They are still pure.

[@Skoey1337]

haha right

[@Kovac_]

"teehee i'm such a hardcore degenerate knowing internet rules look at me XDXDXDDDD" pfft

[@pleaseno326]

@@Kovac_ That wasn't really the point of the comment, but go off king. You do you.

[@Skoey1337]

@@Kovac_ lol okay bro calm down now

[@humanoidbeing.8300]

@Russian Bot uwu

[@chameleonedm]

My quick take as a gamer my entire life: When I find myself apathetic towrds gaming, that is a red flag that I am becoming or have become depressed. It isn't the game, nor my age; when I stop taking enjoyment from my greatest hobbies that is a problem with ME - directing that outward is a way to mask and avoid the issue Anyways, thats my truth, your milage may vary

[@riot_of_flowers725]

I agree with you on this. I've been gaming since I was 5 years old. First system I ever played on was an Atari 2600. Games are the one constant that bring me more joy and fulfillment than anything, and thats never changed. Through the years, I've found that if I'm stressed out, or in a rut, it takes everything I have to grab that controller, or pull myself up to the mouse and keyboard.

[@shinkamui]

i'm there with you. Games have inspired me to take up illustration and the whole wonders of games' worlds and characters and all just mesmerizes me. And then when i'm depressed i start just going through the motions and grinding. As soon as I see myself losing the little magica stary eyed moments i know i'm messed up lol. Great practical way to remember to not neglect feelings.

[@christiantackman2631]

I may or may not have needed to read this.

[@kigeruse]

This so true cause when I'm really not feeling great i watch tv rather than play and i find watching tv a waste of time. I always rather play a video game than watch tv. But when I feel some type of sadness or depression i just want bro sleep away the feeling

[@iamnahaerys6892]

Hmm I kind thought the same sometimes, but sometimes it just is the game. There a phases where I lose interest in a game I have been playing and sometimes there is no other one that catches me for months, but I am not depressed, its just how it is. But you still have a point...there is just a difference between "losing interest" and "losing interest", if you know what I mean :D

[@MarcelEntertainment]

Why can I relate so much? Wow I feel the exact way as Asmon does. It's like you look back to the past and see all the cool stuff and feeling you had while playing games or doing stuff and remembering the passion you had for it. You set yourself some great goals and after some time it feels like all slowly decays and if you look back a few years ago you see your old self and how happy you felt doing certain things and now you are trying to find something similar in the current time/the now but you can't find anything comparable or on the same level of passion or fun and you feel weird like getting old, like wasting your time. Oh wow I can so relate to that.

[@beastmasterbg]

think about it for a second and remove the age thing. Back in the day the gaming industry was trying to create new unique content no game had. All the NES , PS1 , atari etc that had new games are purely original(with some copies here and there) and they were finished games and it felt like a giant library of books you want to read and it was awesome because every game was literally different. But now games are more or less the same with the same buttons same types of items same types of mehanic same grinding same useless story same everything. Theres no actual passion in to it. They literally see what was successful before and copy paste it with other skins put you in a loop to do things and give you boyscout badges for trying

[@Malinkadink]

@@beastmasterbg Copy cats really aren't the major issue here, it's the monetization becoming the primary goal. Game design has been iterated on for a long time now and what constitutes good and bad mechanics and systems is well established. One facet of good game design is quality of life elements that are there to stop the player from wasting time on tediousness and get to the fun parts. Blizzard and WoW is literally the perfect example where they will hold QOL hostage and they know even when so many players are fed up many wont leave and they get to collect the sub $. This is why anyone that still enjoys WoW is better off coming to play WoW at the tail end of every expansion when all the QOL they've been holding off on is put in and you can get your moneys worth in 1-2 months and see all the content the expansion you just paid $40 for was going to offer instead of paying blizzard $15 a month for 2 years to get to the finale.

[@mcflynnsreturn]

I went through this especially with wow. I thought with not liking classic at first that I had just outgrown games (36 now). Recently I picked it back up and decided to play it the way I wanted to, I decided to create my own content, telling jokes to people on boats, healing that lowbie about to die, talking to my group members in dungeons and raids. I am having fun like I used to back in original tbc. My point is the only way out is forward, and we are the adults now we need to be the change instead of asking for it sometimes. Disclaimer: That's not to say there is no place for criticism though

[@majesticslug1724]

"The Hermit... In solitude, he discovers the truth about himself and the world. From this he draws strength, his lantern cutting through the darkness." asmon brought this quote from cyberpunk to mind.

[@MissPopuri]

This is why if there is a part 3 a year after this video came out, I would ask if he had anything more to ponder about the female dragon masturbating which elicited his memory kicking in to tell the story. I seem to be getting from him how he kind of feels like he is meant for someone, but he is scared to get too close based on previous experience. Like maybe the feelings elicited by a female dragon bring up feelings of lust that make it hard to really love another person when you constantly feel like you are using them to get what you want, it makes sense, but it might not be the case.

[@FuxkAroundFindOut]

@@MissPopuri what the actual fuck...

[@user-dj9iu2et3r]

Isn’t that a tarot thing? Not just Cyberpunk

[@majesticslug1724]

@@user-dj9iu2et3r idk im not a nerd

[@majesticslug1724]

@@user-dj9iu2et3r or a 20 year old chick

[@f-sharp-a-sharp]

I needed this today. So much. Thank you to both of you. Zac (spelling? Apologies) for describing so well what I’ve been feeling for years, so clearly and honestly. And dr k, for unlocking so many things. I’ve seen lots of therapists who can’t handle the “arguing” (read: the patient/me can’t stop over-intellectualizing and looking for that cosmic gotcha that proves life sucks). They don’t realize that it’s actually a sign of you begging for help and desperately hoping for freedom from the prison you’ve put yourself in. This was my level up point. Out of nowhere.

[@f-sharp-a-sharp]

And I’ll add that even those therapists still helped me immensely, so please don’t take this comment as reason not to get help! 🖤

[@Koroto]

This one was extremely insightful, it's scary in just how many ways I relate to Asmon's way of thinking. Keep doing what you do Dr.K!

[@maggiemonks]

This entire video hit me hard. I really appreciate the openness and depth that Asmon is willing to go and how real he can be at this point. There's a lot that is different in my life, obviously, but I relate to so much here.

[@darkdarkdarkdra]

I am dealing with exactly the same problems, this has helped me a lot too. I know is not about me...but watching you guys talk made me realise a lot of things. Thank you for sharring and being open about things.

[@smallaify]

I have never heard of this KZbin, but I never knew I’d almost need it. I love the way the interview is set up. It’s the perfect mix of podcast and actual therapy for the viewers and the guest speaker. I loved this, and I’ll continue to watch more, thanks!

[@calebcasual]

Seeing the underlying reason why he started youtube and streaming definitely was a revelation, Proud of you zack, this was surprisingly wholesome

[@lorddelanghe666]

This is the best 2 hours I've ever seen of anything. So much relevance. I'm getting ready to start therapy next week and I can only hope they are half as capable as this man.

[@rulinggodsidly3217]

sweet just refreshed my youtube n this popped up,let's go!

[@ericwood3709]

This is absolutely amazing. So cool to have this discussion publicly available.

[@cowfreezy]

Thank you so much for revisiting this man!

[@blackmushi26]

I absolutely love Asmon's honesty and openess. I'm so glad youtube recommended him recently. Hes helping me through some difficult stuff.

[@securetugboat]

⁹

[@user-dj9iu2et3r]

I found he was intellectually open but entirely emotionally closed off. Never once explored the emotional side as Dr K was trying to steer him there.

[@AliHamza-sv4ni]

@@user-dj9iu2et3r some people just cant access it . for example i generally close off any bad emotions . i dont feel them much . but maybe one day of the month a start thinking about it .then its gone

[@AD-sh4rw]

Autism

[@enyraries]

I really hope there's a pt 3 for this. Awesome awesome stuff Dr. K

[@kylenmaple4668]

“The willing suspension of disbelief is removed and you’re just left there like a rat in a maze” This quote was spoken by: A.) Plato B.) Aristotle C.) A WOW streamer who complains a lot

[@BebehCookieIcecream]

An amazing insight for sure!

[@RurouniKenshinShinta]

They would be proud

[@classicandy5317]

He is definitely more intelligent than people give him credit for.

[@PenguinSlayer]

Wow. I died when he was talking about being raised catholic. “Man, I haven’t ever heard of anybody living in a fish, I don’t know if this is true.”

[@bookofbrah]

I know this is already 2 years ago but I just watched this session and must say: I really see a lot of pain and suffering in Asmond und could feel him a lot. I've read about the passing away of his mother and just hope, that he had/has some therapy and is fine. What a nice, relaxed and good-minded dude! I also really felt him talking about the good ol' days with the boys. We (nearly) all loved these days!

[@ChairmanMeow1]

I love Zack the person!! I really worry about him once his Mom gets very old or passes away. I hate to even bring that up, but I do worry about him and that. He is so attached to his Mom (for many reasons) and you can tell they have a unique and great bond. I'd like to see Dr. K talk to him about how he will deal with that inevitability. Kind of dark I guess, but that is my biggest concern with Zack.

[@botMAXX3R2975]

That is the one thing I think that could actually break him. It is something he needs to start thinking about. A matter of when rather than if. Circle of life and all.

[@ravens.u.a.sflightservices]

@@D3nn4zz if he ever had that tragedy, i don't think he would ever come back to streaming. He started streaming for his mom. even his youtube, it would all be gone.

[@pukelius4128]

@@ravens.u.a.sflightservices or he would then have tribute streams when he gets over it. I think Asmon will be fine, such strong is his mind.

[@rg5317]

:(

[@saltybird]

"The road to enlightenment starts with what you feel every single day" what a fantastic discussion.

[@user-dj9iu2et3r]

This is so true.

[@FridayFroths]

In this modern quick content world that has changed my attention span for media to rarely get my brain to get through a 5 minute video, I stumbled on this video without searching for it, and I have now sat through the entire session. This was amazing. I cried multiple times. They touched on almost every topic that I have thought on since I was a child. I seriously needed this video. Thank you so much.

[@painn7591]

it's good to sometimes just put your phone away and sit down and contemplate past experiences and appreciate them as they are, so as not to keep yourself in constant stimulation.

[@Bennn__nnn]

Takes alot for anyone to go up and talk about this, but especially Zack due to his profession and all the spergs. Very proud of him.

[@remondx8880]

Maybe he was exactly the right person for it. His mostly awful twitch chat made him grow a thick skin. Maybe too thick when it comes to emotional expression but that's what therapy is for. I hope Dr K's after-care can lead him in the right direction.

[@MrSlaughterrific]

Very true around the 10 minute mark. The game industry has entered a large phase where people extremely detached from the product are running the show. The business boys make the most important decisions and they fuck over the game itself in the process.

[@hgzmatt]

Yeah that's pretty much what it feels like to work on games.. but even if it's not some corporate BS there will always be some boneheaded boss telling you what to do. It can be fun.. but often isn't.

[@madisonstone3258]

I'm not a gamer and not sure how I found you but I am so thrilled I did. The way you explain traumas, triggers and other things is done in a way that actually makes sense and get me to see things from a different perspective. Also no fluff which is refreshing! My son is a gamer and I told him about you, I hope he checks out your videos. Thank you so much for keeping it real in a world with far too much woowoo and fluff!

[@TheNimbus12]

2027 - Asmon is a calisthenics athlete literal bodyweight god pull up champion and motivational speaker with an episode on the joe rogan podcast

[@roarystudies4192]

im in

[@MattIsLoling]

lolasmon1

[@xyzero1682]

>when joe calls you bald

[@xyzero1682]

@Peasant THERE IT IS DOOD!

[@MattIsLoling]

@Peasant McConnell pull that up

[@minguk]

I relate to Asmon with a lot of things. I turned 30 recently as well and also just find myself not having any things to look forward to and also just living life on auto-pilot. No memorable days, everything just blurs together and days pass by. And now "I feel like I am just wasting my damn time" like Asmon said.

[@GrippeeTV]

This guy is so self reflective, he thinks a LOT, and I love that. He has to be one of my favorite guests on this show.

[@user-dj9iu2et3r]

He thinks maybe too much. The Doc’s prognosis was for him to start FEELING more. I think that makes sense.

[@Sean.F]

The number of GOLDEN quotes in this video, both for psychology and for gaming stuff, is staggering. Zack's way of phrasing complex ideas, and the way his and Dr. K's ways of thinking interact, are just awesome to see. One of my favorite interviews so far!

[@DistrictWitch]

this dude is a legend - any man who takes written notes while not making eye contact is instantly a doctor as far as I'm concerned

[@nrf82]

Asmon really turns into gold any interaction, loved the interview

[@xzhou]

I feel 30 is a transition, I am in that transition and I totally relate. I don't want to get older but you can't stop it.

[@laja6108]

So true

[@laja6108]

@Valyron90 that's looking at it at face value. It's not the number where the hang-up happens, it's what that age period tends to represent - a time in our lives where we are no longer new to being an adult and have quite some experience with it. Many of our preconceptions about adulthood and dreams we had when younger have been ruthlessly exposed as naive as we couldn't have possibly known what to really expect from life before actually experiencing it. By this age, many of us have kids in school, we're partway through careers that we don't see as starry-eyed as when first beginning, are witnessing our parents become closer to the average age of death if they haven't passed already, are more likely to have attended funerals of our friends and family members versus earlier ages, and are more strongly sensing our own mortality as our bodies are no longer as resilient as younger ages where we were still developing to our fullest potential. Biologically, the 20s are is as good as it's going to get in terms of hormonal levels, muscle repair, and growth, fat to muscle ratio, etc. Many are beginning to experience arthritis, struggle with weight, and other health issues that were masked in our younger bodies. With such a radical transition it's only natural to experience a bit of an existential crisis while one tries to balance out decisions and opinions we formed in early adulthood and face them with the reality of at least 10 years of living as an adult. There is no way you can be the same person and that is upsetting...it's realizing part of you and who you imagined yourself to be has died or needs to die. That's scary. Anyway, I know this is long af but figured I would explain it so maybe you won't judge as harshly and perhaps understand. Even psychology recognizes early 30s as a time people commonly experience an existential crisis for the reasons mentioned, above... in addition to others I've likely forgotten.

[@kenntechonline8323]

Loved the last session with Zac, thanks for getting him on again, and i hope he's comming on latetr :)

[@TweedleDub]

Holy shit this whole conversation hit home for me! Thank you Zach for being brave enough to put this out there! I have had to grapple with the fear of not being able to control death (not so much the fear of actually dying but the inability to control the chaos death often brings) due to death being around me in various ways throughout my entire life. I had a friend who died under questionable circumstances that were deemed as suicide. The circumstances pointed to them being killed but it was easier to call it a suicide as the scene was set up to have the appearance of. Followed by this friends brother, who was also my friend committing suicide. Also there were several cases of friends/peers dying due to violence committed by other peers (not friends). Death, and the inability to have any real control over it became a constant theme in which I would do all I could to be prepared for when it would inevitably come knocking on my door. The catalyst for my issues/trauma was being forced into a situation where I had to choose between protecting my life by ending another life. I did everything I could to escape the situation but ultimately I was forced to face the choice between having my life violently extinguished while a huge group of people gathered to watch as if it were some form of entertainment, or to do the unthinkable and become the instrument of death myself. The choice I made didn't feel as if I consciously made it but rather my body took over and I was just along for the ride. I ended up with awful PTSD and insomnia for years afterwards. I tried to see therapists but none of them ever talked like Dr. K, they always seemed to be condescending and unwilling to allow me to really "bat down" their interpretations of what I felt/experienced. Thus I have had to try to work through stuff on my own. I wish I had the opportunity to talk with someone like this. Its so strange to feel like this was so relatable even though our situations seem so different. Again thank you for being brave enough to put this out there. It may feel/have felt like doing so wouldn't have much impact, but this whole video has made me feel less broken/alone in my contemplating death in general. I apologize for the huge block of text but I truly felt compelled to say thank you and maybe let others know they too are not alone. There are those of us out there that have had to carry various baggage that we try to hide in the hopes of appearing "normal". Again, thank you

[@Crudux-Cruo]

All I have to say is that you are a very strong person! Life has very strange ways sometimes and we have to deal with it in our own ways. Nobody else will help us like only we could. It takes time and deep effort, but at the end, we can be happy again. I know it, because I was in a deeeep hole myself and no one else but me could help myself. Now I am trully happy again, but it took a long long time and a lot of patience before I realized what direction I have to go. Much power to you!

[@AndresLionheart]

The first episode with Zack is what actually brought me to this channel in the first place. Good to see that this second episode with him is just as interesting. Hopefully we keep seeing him around here. I could listen to these 2 for hours.

[@mikeyollie9]

I can’t get over how much I love these talks. I’ve worked on my inner self a lot and have come to a realization in my career. As a chef one of the questions I get asked the most is “what’s your favorite dish to cook?” After many times of just blurting out the first thing that came to my head I thought about why I love cooking. I fell in love with the process. The experimentation, the tweaking of ingredients, sourcing the ingredients, cooking techniques. It’s all become the focus of my passion outside of work hours. I don’t like the final dish as much as I love the techniques and care used to put it together properly.

[@Franticity7]

It's the process!

[@SeanLives]

Asmon has legit become my favorite KZbinr, I just find his vibe so comforting somehow, and he's really smart and wise

[@resentfusion5634]

man thats why i love streamers like asmon and summit they are so real and so human. ive also been feelin completely lost and hurty even when i used to be perfectly fine and since its been so long it feel impossible to get out or feel different

[@MokuTom]

thank you so much for this conversation.. just sat through it all while grinding stuff out in FFXIV. I've watched asmon for like 8years or so now, he is such a genuine and interesting guy.. and i love Dr. K for getting us to see the sides of him that he really has trouble showing. i know that he can progress past his mental barriers in due time and wish him all the best.