This week on The HLS Podcast, the crew sits down with Michael Galloway — also known online as Ex-Cons Fitness, for one of the most powerful and transparent interviews of the season. Mike opens up about growing up in Houston’s north side, joining a gang as a teen, and serving nearly a decade in prison before rebuilding his life through faith, fitness, and mentorship. From starting his degree behind bars to managing Houston’s Credible Messenger Program, he’s proof that redemption is more than a buzzword — it’s a daily grind. Scrota digs into the psychology of change and survival, Rebel connects the dots between bias and the justice system, and Electrik talks empathy, community, and second chances. This one’s emotional, raw, and real — a deep look at transformation, purpose, and what freedom truly means. 🎧 The HLS Podcast — stepping over every line worth crossing.

This week, the HLS crew tackles one of Scrota’s most dangerous questions yet: should humans even have to work? After a heated argument about emergencies, patience, and who’s the “real linchpin” of the podcast, things take a turn into a deep debate about capitalism, UBI, laziness, and purpose. Scrota argues that society has evolved enough that no one should have to work just to survive — housing, food, and healthcare should be covered by default. Rebel fires back that “everything is work,” from raising kids to hunting for food, while Elecrik insists people would still choose to work if they loved what they do (and some would absolutely just sit outside drinking all day). It’s funny, fiery, and surprisingly insightful — a perfect mix of philosophy, sarcasm, and hood logic. 🎧 Tap in for an episode that might just make you question why your alarm clock exists.

This week on The Habitual Line Steppers Podcast, Scrota puts himself on trial. 🧠🔥 After being told (again) that he might be a "d*ck,” the crew dives deep into whether confidence, blunt honesty, and impatience automatically make you an asshole — or if people are just too sensitive. Rebel compares social bias to salesmanship and storytelling, Electrik confesses to being the cranky friend who gets called out, and Scrota tries to figure out whether authenticity has a social cost. The conversation gets real about how culture, tone, and bias shape how people perceive you — and what happens when being straightforward makes folks uncomfortable. It’s funny, introspective, and messy in all the right ways. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts — and decide for yourself… is Scrota really a d*ck?

This week on the HLS Podcast, we’re joined by special guest Nikita (@nikki_chan) — Dominican cosplay queen, fashion killer, and Overwatch menace — for a firestorm of topics that spiral from wholesome to heated real quick. We talk cosplay, cultural loyalty, and why Halibel might be the freak blueprint 🧪. But things really take off when we hit a cultural landmine: Is it ever okay to date your homie's ex? Electric and Nikita say never. Scrota and Rebel? They say context. It’s Latin America vs the Dirty South. Telenovela rules vs Southern hospitality. 👺 Plus: • Freak vs. Hoe – A surprisingly nuanced roast session • Men, loyalty, and lies wrapped in prayer cloth • Cosplay as reclamation, not performance • Love languages, Overwatch, and a "you buggin" counter that stays ringing One rule this week: if you’re gonna be a freak, at least be an honest one.

This week on The Habitual Line Steppers Podcast, the crew wades into forbidden territory: religion and politics, with special guest Jaysome Walker (Onyeisi), our second guest of the season. What starts as gym banter turns into a deep, hilarious, and thought-provoking debate about why we’re told not to talk about the two most influential things in our lives. Scrota questions why political talk feels off-limits when it shapes our everyday world, Rebel draws parallels between church, culture, and the cookout, Electrik breaks down why he avoids conflict altogether, and Jaysome drops a story about workplace politics that hits way too close to home. From history to hypocrisy, the crew strips away the “taboo” and gets real about what silence is costing us. 🎧 Tune in and step over the line with us because while the revolution might not be televised, but it damn sure can be podcasted.

Is scrolling the new smoking? Rebel thinks so. Scrota disagrees— Electrik still finds himself wrist-deep in dopamine loops before bed. In this episode, the HLS crew unpacks their own screen addictions, algorithm-induced rabbit holes, and the psychology behind the endless feed. Scrota breaks down how tech platforms are designed to manipulate our attention, Electrik confesses to developing physical injuries from doomscrolling, and Rebel... well, Rebel proudly schedules scroll breaks like they’re cigarette intermissions. We also manage to detour through Tom Cruise movies, Thandie Newton aging discourse, relationship fidelity stats, and why Angela Bassett is clearly a time-traveling goddess. This one’s messy, smart, chaotic, and unfiltered—just like your explore page. 🧠 Daydreaming vs. Thinking 📲 Screen time confessions 🎮 Overwatch vs. the Algorithm 🚗 Is driving hard or are we just bad? Like, follow, and tell us your worst scroll moment. 📲 Full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

Houston’s bayous are supposed to move water, not bodies. Yet over the past year, sixteen have been found, with six in just two weeks. The crew dives into the mystery to figure out what’s really going on in the city’s murky underbelly. Scrota’s convinced the numbers don’t lie. Something’s off, and it smells like either a serial killer, organized crime, or the cops sleeping on the job. Expect dark humor, heated debate, true-crime tangents, and way too much talk about Houston’s “glorified ditches.” The trio ends with a challenge to the listeners: what do you think is happening in the bayous? 🎧 Tune in for a mix of stats, sarcasm, and suspicion — only on The Habitual Line Steppers Podcast.

We back in this mug. Season 2 of The HLS Podcast kicks off with Scrota, Electrik, and Rebel fighting through viruses, mic mishaps, and existential dread to bring y’all that unfiltered heat. This week, the fellas go in on: 🤮 Why “success porn” online is a scam, and what real value sounds like 🤔 Who can you trust anymore? (Spoiler: not that McDonald’s stranger in the Bronx) 📉 Why 5-star reviews might be lies and 1-stars might be gospel 🧠 AI voice scams, crypto rugs, and how Sam Altman almost got jumped by Pikachu 📷 How Scrota’s passport photo turned him into a shadow creature Plus: government shutdown nonsense, liberal delusions, Ezra Klein vs. Ta-Nehisi Coates, and a wild grammar tangent about “amuse-bouches” and insubordinate clauses.

What do Coldplay concerts, cheating CEOs, and ancient Babylonian star maps have in common? Absolutely everything. This week, Scrota, Electrik, and Rebel get into it — breaking down a viral workplace affair caught in 4K, and asking: is it cheating if you got front row tickets? 👀 From the wild world of high-profile divorces and "strategic breakups" to the messy gray area between legal contracts and soul ties, the crew debates what really ends a relationship. Sex? Money? Bad zodiac compatibility? All of the above? Meanwhile, Electrik confesses to filtering dating prospects by their sun sign (yes, seriously), Rebel goes off on “water dogs,” and Scrota breaks down how ancient folks figured out the year using shadows and sticks. It’s a hilarious mess of infidelity scandals, bad astrology takes, and conspiracy-level cosmology that you didn’t know you needed.

In this laugh-heavy, side-eye-filled episode of The HLS Podcast, the crew dives fork-first into one of Black culture’s most iconic metaphors: the cookout. But this time, we’re not debating real celebs—we're handing out imaginary plates to cartoon characters, Muppets, and talking animals. From Panthro to Garfield, Moana to Kermit, we explore who really belongs at the cookout… and who brought raisins in the potato salad. We also break down ChatGPT’s takes on our personalities in animal form (spoiler: one of us is a crowned eagle), talk Sesame Street’s radical roots, and ask why the hell people are still inviting folks who don’t season their food. It’s messy, it’s cultural, and it’s hilarious.

If happiness had a price tag, would you even want to pay it? This week, the fellas are joined by the soulful storyteller BronxNotorious as they dig deep into what it really means to be happy. From billion-dollar hypotheticals to dopamine hits like chess with your kids and Overwatch victories, we unpack the ways happiness hides in plain sight. We talk love, money, parenting, anxiety, legacy, and that quiet terror of losing the good thing you’ve got. Is happiness about avoiding misery, or chasing euphoria? We don’t agree on the answer—but we all agree you should hit play. Check BronxNotorious out at www.edgarruizjr.com and on IG @eggie79

In this episode, the squad dives face-first into chaos, contracts, and capes. Rebel’s out-of-office, Electrik’s in villain mode, and Scrota’s trading reps for beers. The convo spirals from botched business deals and rich friend etiquette to whether you should ever loan Superman money (spoiler: don’t). They argue over which superpower is the most abuse-worthy, whether origin stories should be banned, and why invincibility is just a trauma response. Also: does being “the oldies” generation hit different when you realize your childhood songs are 30+ years old? Come for the existential dread, stay for the spicy takes on DC vs Marvel, vacation philosophy, and why lending money might be more dangerous than laser vision.

Electric is feeling real conflicted after tallying up his Overwatch hours… while Scrota just shrugs and queues for another match. In this episode, the Line Steppers crack open gaming culture—talking about the shame, the joy, and the stereotypes that come with being a gamer in adulthood. Is gaming a waste of time or a legit form of connection, creativity, and stress relief? We talk parenting, mental health, rage quits, racism, and whether these virtual worlds are a coping mechanism or just plain fun. Plus: we ask the hard questions… like why is it always “gamers are lazy” but never “capitalism is draining”? 😤

Scrota's back from Nigeria and the boys are fully charged with stories, culture, and a little jetlag. From traditional Igbo ceremonies and goat head delicacies to the chaos of feeling "not Nigerian enough," this episode is a deep dive into diasporic identity, culture clashes, and homecoming truths. Electric opens up about his own multicultural upbringing, while Scrota relives the spicy aftermath of isi ewu and the rules of kola nut diplomacy. Whether you’ve ever been called “too American” by your cousins or just want to know why Nigeria has a four-day zodiac system, this one’s for you.

With Scrota off in the motherland mining vibranium, Electrik and Rebel lock in for a no-holds-barred convo on music, culture, and creativity. From blues legends to TikTok dance moves, they explore how artistry has evolved—and how AI might be stealing some of the soul. They share hilarious stories, debate the joys of eating vs cooking, and dive into everything from church roots to autotune abuse. This one’s deep, ridiculous, insightful, and full of love for the culture. Tap in.

So here’s the deal — we went out last night to celebrate Juneteenth like real ones, and... yeah, no episode from the crew today. But don’t worry, the show must go on. Filling in for us are two unlikely heroes: Brotha Knowledge (aka Brizzy B) and Sistah Soul (aka Ketty Wap) — two extremely Caucasian guests who stepped in last minute because, let’s be honest, all the real brothas and sistahs had the day off. We told them, “Do it for the culture.” They hit us with a “Bet.” In this wild Juneteenth Special, they’re breaking down some of the most heated HLS debates, passing judgment on who was capping and who kept it solid. It’s chaotic. It’s heartfelt. It’s lowkey offensive. But it’s all love. Happy Juneteenth, y’all. We’ll be back next week… probably still hungover.

We had to do it. In this one, we finally pull the mic up to one of the loudest topics out there: masculinity. What is it? What ain’t it? Who taught us what we know — and what should we be teaching the next ones up? In this episode, we’re breaking it all the way down: the pressure to be perfect, to be emotionless, to hold it all in until you break. We get vulnerable about what we were taught, what we’ve unlearned, and what healthy masculinity can actually look like. What’s strength? What’s toxic? What’s real leadership? And is it okay to shed a tear along the way? We’re exploring all of it — the weight, the walls, the breakthroughs — with honesty and heart. Pull up.

We finally pulled up on this one — how do you actually teach your kids (and yourself) how to move with real confidence? In this episode, we chop it up about raising kids who walk in any room like they belong there — and know when to let folks know they ain’t the one to play with. We talk role models (yes, GloRilla came up), building unshakable presence, and what that “F.A.A.F.O” energy really looks like when done right. Vulnerability, strength, balance — we’re diving into it all. Tune in and get your aura game up!

In this episode, we’re asking the question: do you really need college to make it? We dive into the pressure to get that degree, the rising cost of higher ed, and whether the so-called “college path” still guarantees success. From welders makin’ bank to folks drowning in student loan debt, we break down the pros, the cons, and the generational guilt trips. Is it still the golden ticket, or just an expensive detour? Tune in for real talk, sharp takes, and a few rants your student guidance counselor definitely wouldn’t co-sign.

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the blurry line between appreciation and appropriation. After watching the movie Sinners, we had questions—big ones. Like, who gets to borrow from Black culture? Is it homage or just straight-up hustle? From K-pop idols rocking box braids to viral dances with no credit, we’re breaking down what cultural appropriation really is, whether it can be defined, and how it shows up in media, music, and fashion. We’re also asking the real question: when do we start snatching back invites to the cookout? Tune in for real talk, sharp takes, and a few revoked guest passes.