Episodes

  • BEHIND "ENERGY GUM" SONG WITH DUKE TEYNOR

    BEHIND "ENERGY GUM" SONG WITH DUKE TEYNOR
    Dec 21 2025
    Now, if you've been following Duke's work, you know him for Southern Gothic rock ballads about cursed circles and ghostly brides. You know him for German industrial techno recorded in abandoned factories. You know him for Carolina Outlaw Soul—that dirt road, whiskey-soaked storytelling that's been the foundation of most of what he does."Energy Gum" is... none of that."Energy Gum" is bright, colorful, unapologetically commercial indie pop. It's 140 BPM of pure sunshine energy. It's electronic synths, layered harmonies, and literal gum-chewing sounds turned into percussion. It's Duke stepping completely outside his comfort zone and diving headfirst into territory he's never explored before.And you know what? Duke's not gonna apologize for it. He's gonna tell us exactly why he made it, how it came together, and what it taught him about creative fearlessness and artistic integrity.So let's dive in. PART ONE: WHY THE SHIFT? First question everyone asks: Duke, why the hell did you make a pop song about energy gum?Fair question. Let me share what Duke explained to me.Duke's spent years building a reputation as someone who doesn't care about commercial expectations. He writes three-hour sci-fi rock operas about killer robots. He records German techno in languages he barely speaks. He dives deep into regional folklore that most people have never heard of. Duke does what interests him creatively, period.But here's the thing—and this is straight from Duke—creative fearlessness can't just mean "I only do dark, serious, artistic stuff." Real fearlessness means being willing to explore anything, including things that might seem commercial or mainstream or outside your established brand.When the opportunity came up to work on a project celebrating productivity, focus, and that caffeinated flow state we all chase, Duke could've said no. He could've said, "That's not my brand. I'm the Southern Gothic guy. I don't do commercial pop."But that would've been creative cowardice disguised as artistic integrity.Instead, Duke thought: What if I approached this with the same authenticity I bring to everything else? What if I actually leaned into the challenge of creating genuine, infectious pop music without compromising who I am as an artist?So that's what he did.Duke started listening to early MGMT, Tame Impala—bands that blend electronic production with organic energy and genuine enthusiasm. He studied what makes pop music work. Not just catchy hooks, but the production techniques, the layering, the way great pop songs make you feel something even when they're ostensibly about simple subjects.And he realized something important: celebrating focus and productivity isn't shallow. It's actually really relatable. We all know that feeling of waking up foggy, struggling to get our brains online, needing that boost to unlock our potential. There's genuine human experience there.So Duke wrote "Energy Gum" as an honest celebration of that moment when everything clicks. When the fog clears. When your brain unlocks and suddenly you're in flow state, creating, producing, making things happen.The fact that it's also celebrating a specific product? Duke says that doesn't make it less authentic. It just means he found a brand partnership that aligned with something he genuinely experiences and values. PART TWO: THE PRODUCTION - MAKING IT WORK Now let's talk about how Duke actually made this thing, because the production was a completely different process than anything he'd done before.First, the tempo. 140 BPM is fast—way faster than most of what Duke does. Southern Gothic ballads live around 70-90 BPM. Even his rock stuff rarely pushes past 120. But pop music thrives on energy, and 140 BPM gives you that driving, can't-sit-still momentum.Duke built the foundation on electronic synths and programmed drums rather than live instruments. That was a shift for him. He's used to recording live guitars, real percussion, organic sounds. But pop production requires precision, layering, electronic textures that create that polished, commercial sound.Duke told me the bassline is absolutely critical in this track. It drives everything. It's repetitive, hypnotic, locked into the kick drum pattern. That bass-kick relationship is what makes people move, what creates physical response to the music.Then they layered synths—bright, shimmering, optimistic sounds. Nothing dark or brooding. These are sounds that evoke sunshine, energy, forward momentum. Each synth line serves a specific purpose in the frequency spectrum, creating fullness without muddiness.The vocal production was probably the biggest departure for Duke. He's used to raw, gritty vocal delivery with minimal processing. For "Energy Gum," they did extensive vocal layering—lead vocal, harmony stacks, background vocals creating texture and depth. They used pitch correction not to fix mistakes but as a stylistic choice, giving that polished pop sound.And here's the fun part that ...
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    12 mins
  • THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG, "WOMAN IN BLACK" BY DUKE TEYNOR

    THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG, "WOMAN IN BLACK" BY DUKE TEYNOR
    Dec 21 2025
    Hey everyone, Summer here, and welcome back to the Duke Tyner podcastToday we're diving deep into the Carolina pinewoods. We're talking about ghosts, curses, and eternal longing turned malevolent. We're talking about one of Duke Tyner's most haunting creations—"The Woman in Black."If you've been following Duke's work in the Southern Gothic realm, you already know about "Devil's Circle"—that chilling ballad about North Carolina's legendary Devil's Tramping Ground, where nothing grows and the Devil himself is said to pace at night. "The Woman in Black" takes that mythology and expands it into something even darker, even more tragic, and honestly, even more terrifying.This isn't just a music video. This is a cinematic descent into North Carolina folklore's darkest corner, where a spectral bride waits in cursed circles for souls foolish enough to answer her siren call.So settle in, maybe leave a light on, and let's talk about Duke Tyner's masterpiece of Southern Gothic horror. PART ONE: THE LEGEND EXPANDS Let's start with the mythology, because "The Woman in Black" doesn't exist in isolation. Duke built this on the foundation he established with "Devil's Circle."The Devil's Tramping Ground is a real place near Siler City, North Carolina. It's a forty-foot circle of barren earth where nothing grows, nothing has grown for over a century, and according to local legend, the Devil himself paces there nightly, plotting humanity's downfall. Objects placed in the circle get thrown out by morning. Animals refuse to enter. People who sleep there report nightmares so vivid they wake up screaming.Duke captured all of that in "Devil's Circle." But then he asked a deeper question: What if the Devil isn't alone out there? What if something else haunts that cursed ground?Enter the Woman in Black.Duke researched local folklore and found whispered stories—not as well-known as the main legend, but there, if you know where to look. Stories about a woman in a wedding gown seen at the circle's edge. Stories about a voice that sounds like wind through pines but carries words. Stories about men who went into those woods and never came back, or came back changed, haunted, speaking about a bride who wouldn't let them go.Duke took those fragments and built a complete mythology. The Woman in Black was promised—engaged to be married—but abandoned on her wedding day. The betrayal and heartbreak were so profound, so consuming, that when she died, her spirit couldn't rest. She was drawn to the Devil's circle, that place of abandonment and cursed earth, and there she waits. Eternal. Patient. Lonely.But here's the tragic transformation Duke captures so brilliantly: loneliness, when it lasts long enough, curdles into something darker. The Woman in Black isn't just waiting for her lost love anymore. She's waiting for anyone. Anyone foolish enough to cross into her domain becomes hers. She doesn't chase—she doesn't need to. She simply waits, knowing eventually someone will come.Duke told me this is what makes the best ghost stories work—they're not just about scares. They're about tragedy. The Woman in Black is terrifying, yes, but she's also heartbreaking. She's a victim who became a predator. An abandoned bride who now abandons her victims to eternal darkness.That duality—victim and monster, tragic and terrifying—runs through the entire song and video. PART TWO: THE MUSIC - SOUTHERN GOTHIC ATMOSPHERE Now let's talk about the music itself, because Duke crafted "The Woman in Black" to sound exactly like its subject—seductive, dangerous, impossible to ignore.The tempo sits around 80-90 BPM. That's slower than a lot of rock, but it's perfect for this story. It's the tempo of a heartbeat. The tempo of footsteps through dark woods. The tempo of something approaching slowly, inevitably, with all the time in the world.Duke's vocals are gritty and emotional—this isn't polished pop singing. This is raw, lived-in storytelling. You can hear the warning in his voice. The fear. The fascination. When he sings "She waits in the circle when the moon is high, a shadowed bride with a hollow eye," you believe he's seen her. You believe he's barely escaped.The instrumentation builds this incredible Southern Gothic atmosphere. Electric guitar with atmospheric slide accents creates that distinctly Southern sound—think slide guitar wailing through humid night air, Spanish moss hanging from cypress trees, everything dripping with decay and beauty.The bass grooves deep and steady, anchoring everything. The drums hit heavy, echoing like heartbeats through empty woods. And then there's the fiddle—subtle but essential. That fiddle adds layers of authentic Americana, connecting this song to centuries of Southern storytelling tradition.But here's what makes the production truly special: the female ghostly harmonies.In the chorus—"Lost to the night with the Woman in Black"—you hear these ethereal female voices layered behind Duke's lead...
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    15 mins
  • MAKING CHRISTMAS CANDY

    MAKING CHRISTMAS CANDY
    Dec 19 2025
    MAKING CHRISTMAS CANDY Well, we're in the heart of the holiday season now, and if you're like me, you've probably been thinking about all those traditions that make this time of year special. The decorations, the music, the gatherings with family and friends. And of course... the candy.Today we're diving into something that's been part of Christmas celebrations for generations—homemade Christmas candy. We're talking about those sweet traditions that get passed down through families. The recipes written on index cards in your grandmother's handwriting. The techniques that seem almost magical when you're a kid watching the adults work in the kitchen.Whether it's fudge, peanut brittle, divinity, pralines, peppermint bark, or any of the dozens of candies that show up on holiday tables across the South and beyond—there's something special about making candy at Christmastime. It's chemistry, it's art, it's tradition, and honestly, it's a little bit of magic.So grab yourself something warm to drink, settle in, and let's talk about the sweet science and beautiful tradition of making Christmas candy. PART ONE: THE TRADITION AND HISTORY Let's start with why candy-making became such a central part of Christmas traditions, particularly here in the South.Go back a hundred years or more, and sugar wasn't something people had access to year-round the way we do now. Sugar was expensive. It was special. It was something you saved for occasions, and Christmas was the biggest occasion of the year.Families would save up sugar rations, pool their resources, and dedicate time to making sweets that would last through the holiday season. Making candy wasn't just about having dessert—it was about celebration, abundance, showing love through the effort of creation.In my own family, candy-making was an event. My grandmother would commandeer the kitchen for entire afternoons, and us kids would hover around watching the process like it was pure magic. Because honestly, it kind of is. You take simple ingredients—sugar, butter, cream, nuts—apply heat and technique, and suddenly you've got something completely transformed. Liquid becomes solid. Clear becomes opaque. Sweet becomes... well, even sweeter.Different regions developed their signature candies based on what was locally available. Down South, we had pecans in abundance, so pralines became a staple—those creamy, nutty confections that melt on your tongue. We had sorghum and molasses, so candies incorporating those distinctive Southern sweeteners showed up on Christmas tables. Peanut brittle became popular because peanuts were plentiful and cheap.Up North, maple candy made sense because maple syrup was readily available. Coastal regions incorporated ingredients like coconut. Every area put its own stamp on Christmas candy traditions based on local agriculture and cultural influences.But beyond regional differences, there's something universal about the act of candy-making at Christmas. It requires patience. It requires attention. You can't rush good candy. You have to watch temperatures carefully, stir consistently, wait for exactly the right moment. In our modern world of instant gratification, there's something almost meditative about the slow, careful process of candy-making.And then there's the gifting aspect. Homemade candy became the perfect Christmas gift—something that required time, skill, and care to create. When you gave someone a tin of homemade fudge or a bag of peanut brittle, you weren't just giving them sugar. You were giving them hours of your time, expertise passed down through generations, and a piece of your family's tradition.That tradition continues today, even though we can buy candy any time we want from any store. People still make Christmas candy because it connects them to the past, to family members who are no longer with us, to a slower way of doing things that feels increasingly precious in our fast-paced world. PART TWO: THE SCIENCE - UNDERSTANDING CANDY TEMPERATURES Now let's talk about what's actually happening when you make candy, because understanding the science makes you a better candy-maker.Candy-making is all about sugar chemistry. Specifically, it's about controlling how sugar molecules behave at different temperatures. When you heat sugar dissolved in water, the water gradually evaporates, and the concentration of sugar increases. As that concentration changes, the physical properties of the mixture change dramatically.This is where candy thermometers become your best friend. Professional candy-makers and experienced home cooks know that temperature is everything. A few degrees difference can mean the difference between perfect fudge and grainy disaster, between crisp peanut brittle and chewy mess.Let me break down the main temperature stages:Thread Stage (230-235°F): At this temperature, sugar syrup forms thin threads when dropped from a spoon. This stage is used for making syrups and some icings.Soft Ball Stage (235...
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    17 mins
  • Feline Nutrition about feeding your Cat

    Feline Nutrition about feeding your Cat
    Dec 18 2025

    THE TRUTH ABOUT FEEDING YOUR CAT

    Separating Fact fromFiction in Feline Nutrition

    Welcome, I'm your host Summer, and today we're tackling one of the mostconfusing topics in pet care: how to properly feed your cat.

    Now, if you're a cat owner, you've probably been bombarded withconflicting advice. Feed them grain-free! No, grains are fine! Raw food only!Wet food is better! Dry food is more convenient! Your cat needs milk! Wait,cats are lactose intolerant!

    It's enough to make your head spin. And here's the thing - a lot of whatwe believe about cat nutrition is based on myths, marketing, andwell-intentioned but outdated information.

    Today, we're going to separate fact from fiction. We're going to bustsome myths, share some surprising science, and by the end of this episode,you'll have a much clearer understanding of what your cat actually needs tothrive.

    So grab your coffee - or should I say, grab your cat some water, becausespoiler alert: they shouldn't be drinking milk - and let's dive in.

    SEGMENT 1: THE FOOD ALLERGY MYTH

    Let's start with something that might genuinely surprise you. How many ofyou have switched your cat to a grain-free diet because you thought they mightbe allergic to grains?

    If you raised your hand, you're not alone. The grain-free pet food markethas absolutely exploded in recent years. But here's the truth that themarketing departments don't want you to know:

    Only about 10% of cats actually have food allergies.

    Let me say that again. One in ten. That's it.

    And when cats DO have food allergies - and this is the really interestingpart - they're usually allergic to proteins, not grains. The most commonculprits? Chicken, beef, fish, and dairy. Not corn. Not wheat. Not rice.

    In fact, research from veterinary dermatologists shows that grains causeallergic reactions in less than 1% of cats with food allergies. So if your cathas a food allergy, which is already unlikely, and it IS allergic to grains,which is even more unlikely - well, you've got yourself a statistical unicorn.

    Now, I'm not saying grain-free diets are bad. For some cats, they workgreat. But if you're spending extra money on grain-free food because you thinkgrains are inherently bad for cats, or because you're worried about allergies,you might be solving a problem your cat doesn't have.

    The reality is that cats are obligate carnivores - meaning they need meatto survive - but small amounts of grains aren't harmful to most cats. In fact,they can provide fiber and other nutrients.

    The real issue with many commercial cat foods isn't the grains - it's thequality of the protein, the amount of filler, and the overall nutritionalbalance.

    So before you spend premium dollars on grain-free food, talk to your vet.If your cat is showing actual signs of allergies - things like excessivescratching, skin irritation, digestive issues, or chronic ear infections - thenyes, an elimination diet might be necessary. But the grain-free label aloneisn't a magic solution.
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    18 mins
  • 3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object

    3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object
    Dec 17 2025

    3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object ever detected passing through our solar system. The first was ‘Oumuamua in 2017, followed by the comet 2I/Borisov in 2019. Each discovery has challenged what we thought we knew about space debris traveling between star systems. Unlike asteroids or comets born around our Sun, interstellar objects carry the chemical fingerprints of distant stellar environments — essentially acting as time capsules from other star systems.

    What makes 3I/ATLAS especially compelling is its behavior. As it approaches the Sun, it shows comet-like activity — releasing gas and dust — but its trajectory reveals that it is not bound to our solar system’s gravity. It is simply passing through, unaffected by our Sun in the long term, destined to leave and continue its lonely journey across the galaxy.

    Scientists are eager to study objects like 3I/ATLAS because they offer rare clues about how planets and comets form around other stars. The gases released from its nucleus can be analyzed to determine its composition, which may differ from comets we’re familiar with. Even small differences can reshape our understanding of how common certain elements are across the galaxy — elements that may be essential for life.

    There’s also a deeper, more philosophical angle. Objects like 3I/ATLAS remind us that our solar system is not isolated. The galaxy is dynamic, filled with wandering debris from countless star systems. At any given moment, something ancient and alien could be silently passing through our skies, unseen.

    While there is no danger from 3I/ATLAS — it will pass at a safe distance — its presence sparks curiosity and wonder. It’s a cosmic traveler, a messenger from far beyond, briefly illuminated by our Sun before fading back into interstellar darkness.

    Moments like this put things into perspective. Long before humans looked up at the stars, 3I/ATLAS was already on its journey. Long after we’re gone, it will continue onward — a quiet witness to the vast story of the universe.

    And for a brief moment, it’s passing by us… reminding us how small we are, and how incredible it is to be here, looking up.
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    3 mins
  • Sorghum, The ancient grain that might just save our future

    Sorghum, The ancient grain that might just save our future
    Dec 16 2025
    Today we're diving into something that might surprise you. We're not talking music, we're not talking policy, we're not even talking about the latest AI developments. Today, we're talking about a grain. But not just any grain.We're talking about sorghum—one of the most ancient, resilient, and frankly underappreciated crops on planet Earth. A grain that's been feeding humanity for over five thousand years. A grain that survives where corn and wheat can't. A grain that's about to become absolutely critical as our climate continues changing and our global population keeps growing.Sorghum. The ancient grain that might just save our future.So settle in, because we're about to explore the fascinating history, the incredible versatility, and the untapped potential of this remarkable plant. And I guarantee you, by the end of this episode, you'll never look at this humble grain the same way again.Let's get into it. PART ONE: THE ANCIENT HISTORY Alright, so let's start at the beginning. And I mean the very beginning—because sorghum has been around longer than most of what we call civilization.Archaeological evidence suggests that sorghum was first domesticated in northeastern Africa, specifically in what's now Ethiopia and Sudan, somewhere between 8,000 and 5,000 BCE. That's right—we're talking about a crop that predates the Egyptian pyramids. While our ancestors were still figuring out how to transition from hunter-gatherers to agricultural societies, they were already cultivating sorghum.Why? Because it worked where nothing else would.See, the regions where sorghum originated were harsh. Hot. Dry. Unpredictable rainfall. Soil that wasn't particularly forgiving. And yet people needed food. They needed reliable calories. They needed something that could handle the brutal conditions of sub-Saharan Africa and still produce a harvest.Sorghum was the answer.From those African origins, sorghum spread throughout the continent, becoming a staple crop for countless cultures. It moved into West Africa, became central to diets across the Sahel region, spread south into various kingdoms and empires. Everywhere it went, it adapted. Different varieties emerged for different conditions—some for wetter climates, some for extreme drought, some for altitude, some for heat.And here's what's remarkable: Unlike wheat or rice, which require very specific growing conditions, sorghum is basically the survivor of the grain world. It's the plant equivalent of that person who can sleep on a concrete floor, eat whatever's available, and still wake up ready to work. Sorghum doesn't complain. It just grows.The grain eventually made its way across the Indian Ocean through ancient trade routes, establishing itself in India and parts of Asia. Different cultures adopted it, gave it different names, developed different uses. In India, it became jowar. In China, gaoliang. Each culture recognized what African farmers had known for millennia—this grain was reliable.Now, sorghum didn't arrive in the Americas until much later. It came with the slave trade—a dark chapter of history, but one that's important to acknowledge. Enslaved Africans brought sorghum seeds with them, maintaining a connection to their homeland through this familiar crop. In the American South, sorghum found another home, another set of conditions where it could thrive.By the 1850s, sorghum cultivation had expanded across the southern United States. Farmers discovered something interesting—you could not only eat the grain, but certain varieties of sorghum produced incredibly sweet juice that could be boiled down into syrup. Sweet sorghum became a major crop, particularly during the Civil War when sugar supplies from Louisiana were disrupted. Sorghum syrup became the sweetener of choice across much of rural America.My own family history connects to this. Growing up in the South, sorghum syrup was a staple. You'd pour it over biscuits, use it in baking, sweeten your coffee with it. That dark, rich, almost molasses-like flavor with hints of caramel and earth—that was sorghum. And most folks didn't think twice about it. It was just part of Southern food culture.But here's what most people don't realize: While we in America were mainly using sorghum for syrup and animal feed, the rest of the world—particularly Africa and Asia—continued relying on sorghum grain as a primary food source. Hundreds of millions of people have depended on sorghum for their daily calories for thousands of years.It's the fifth most important cereal crop globally, after wheat, rice, corn, and barley. And yet, if you walk into an American grocery store and ask where the sorghum is, you'll probably get blank stares.That's about to change. Because sorghum isn't just an ancient grain with a rich history. It's a crop perfectly suited for the challenges we're facing right now. PART TWO: THE RESILIENCE FACTOR Let me tell you why sorghum matters more today than maybe ever before.Climate change ...
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    22 mins
  • Behind "3 i Atlas - Eternal Design" Music Video

    Behind "3 i Atlas - Eternal Design" Music Video
    Dec 15 2025
    Behind "3 i Atlas - Eternal Design" Music VideoHey everyone, Duke Teynor here.And today... we're talking about something I've been waiting to share with you for months.We just released the music video for "Eternal Design" by 3 i Atlas. And I'm not gonna lie—this might be the most ambitious, visually insane, emotionally devastating thing I've ever been part of.This isn't just a music video. This is a cinematic experience. This is mythology built from sound and stone. This is what happens when you take the weight of existence, the defiance of titans, and cosmic-scale storytelling... and somehow fit it into four and a half minutes of visual and sonic fury.If you haven't watched it yet, pause this right now, go watch "3 i Atlas - Eternal Design" on VEVO or YouTube, and then come back. Because I'm about to break down everything that went into creating this beast.Let's dive in. THE CONCEPT: BIRTH OF A TITAN (1:00 - 3:30)So let me take you back to where this all started.The song "Eternal Design" was written about burden. About carrying weight that no one else can see. About being the pillar that holds everything up while the world keeps spinning, completely unaware that you're the reason it hasn't collapsed yet.We've all felt that, right? That sense of bearing impossible weight—family expectations, financial pressure, emotional labor, creative responsibility—and you just keep going because if you stop, everything falls apart.But we didn't want to make a video about a guy sitting at a desk stressed out. We wanted to take that feeling and amplify it to cosmic, mythological scale.Enter 3 i Atlas.Not just Atlas from Greek mythology—the titan condemned to hold up the sky. But 3 i Atlas. Three iron hearts. A being born from void and ancient stone. A guardian that doesn't just carry the world—it carries creation itself.This is a titan that the heavens disowned. A guardian that exists at the edge of the cosmos, in a storm-ravaged valley where reality fractures. And when those three iron hearts ignite beneath cracked granite flesh... that's not birth. That's awakening. That's defiance incarnate saying: "You abandoned this. I'll carry it anyway."The concept was simple but massive: What if the weight you carry isn't just metaphorical? What if it's literally cosmic? What if you're the only thing keeping existence from collapsing into void?That's 3 i Atlas. THE VISUAL JOURNEY: BUILDING A WORLD Alright, so once we had the concept, the next challenge was: How the hell do you actually show this?We knew from the beginning this couldn't be a performance video with a band in a room. This needed to be cinematic. Biblical scale. Apocalyptic mythology meets cosmic horror.The Opening Shot:The video opens in a storm-shattered valley. And I mean shattered. We're talking fractured earth, lightning tearing through dark skies, mountains that look like they've been broken by gods. This isn't Earth. This isn't any planet you've been to. This is the edge of existence—the place where reality starts to unravel.And in the center of that devastation... stone begins to move.The Awakening:3 i Atlas doesn't just stand up. It forms. Stone cracks. Granite splits. And beneath that ancient rock, three iron hearts ignite—glowing like forge-fire, pulsing like war drums.We used a combination of practical effects and digital enhancement to create this. Real cracked stone textures, real lighting effects, layered with CGI to make those iron hearts look like they're burning from the inside out.When those hearts ignite, the whole landscape responds. The ground shakes. Lightning intensifies. The sky itself fractures above—because this awakening is so powerful it's literally breaking reality.And then... 3 i Atlas rises.A colossal figure. Granite skin with lightning scars etched into it like ancient wounds. Eyes that glow with cosmic fire. And in its hands—not the world. Not the sky. But the weight of creation itself.The Cosmic Wasteland:As the video progresses, we see the scale of where 3 i Atlas exists. Storm-torn vistas. Surreal cosmic backdrops where nebulae swirl in the distance and stars collapse. Apocalyptic beauty.The director wanted every frame to feel like a painting—like something you'd see in a museum depicting myths from civilizations that never existed. And I think we nailed that. THE SOUND: SEISMIC STORYTELLING Now let's talk about the sound, because the visuals don't work without the music—and the music doesn't work without the visuals. They're inseparable."Eternal Design" is structured like an earthquake.The Verses - Intimate and Cracked:The song starts quiet. Almost whispered. Acoustic guitar, sparse and fragile. The vocals are raw, close, personal—like someone confessing a secret burden they've carried alone for too long.Lyrically, we're talking about scars, about fractures, about being made from stone and lightning. The verses are intimate. They're the moments before the weight becomes unbearable.Musically, this ...
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    5 mins
  • The Story of Root Beer

    The Story of Root Beer
    Dec 14 2025
    The Story of Root Beer Hey everybody, welcome back to The Duke Teynor Podcast Show! I’m Duke, and sitting right here with me is my partner-in-sippin’ stories. (Laughs) You know I like that one, Duke. And today’s story is a fizzy favorite — root beer! It’s sweet, it’s foamy, it’s American as apple pie… but where did it come from? Good question. Root beer’s roots — pun intended — actually go way back. Native Americans were already brewing herbal teas and drinks from sassafras and sarsaparilla long before colonists arrived. Early settlers picked up on it and used those plants to make medicinal tonics. That’s right. In the 1800s, pharmacists would mix up sassafras, spices, and herbs as health tonics. They believed it could cure everything from stomach aches to blood problems. Of course, it wasn’t long before people realized — hey, this stuff tastes pretty good. Enter Charles Hires. In 1876, he introduced the first commercial root beer at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. He originally sold it as a “healthful drink” and even marketed it as a safer alternative to alcohol. From there, root beer exploded in popularity. Companies like A&W popped up in the early 1900s, making it not just a tonic, but a true American soft drink. A&W even became the first franchised restaurant chain in the U.S. Today, root beer has gone way beyond the corner soda fountain. You’ve got brands like Barq’s, Mug, and of course A&W still going strong in the U.S. And root beer floats — come on, that’s an American classic. But it’s not just America anymore. Root beer has made its way around the world. In Canada, it’s a staple. In Asia — especially the Philippines — A&W root beer is huge. Even in Europe, specialty shops carry American root beer for people who crave that unique flavor. It’s funny, because some people outside the U.S. say it tastes like “medicine” — probably because of that original sassafras and wintergreen flavor. But once it clicks, you’re hooked. Root beer has evolved from folk medicine to soda fountain superstar to international export. And it’s still got that nostalgic, American feel every time you pop open a frosty mug. So whether you love it plain or in a float, root beer is proof that a little kitchen experiment can bubble its way into history. That’s the sip-sized story for today. Thanks for tuning in to The Duke Teynor Show!Hey everybody, welcome back to The Duke Teynor Show! I’m Duke, and sitting right here with me is my partner-in-sippin’ stories, Echo.(Laughs) You know I like that one, Duke. And today’s story is a fizzy favorite — root beer! It’s sweet, it’s foamy, it’s American as apple pie… but where did it come from?Good question. Root beer’s roots — pun intended — actually go way back. Native Americans were already brewing herbal teas and drinks from sassafras and sarsaparilla long before colonists arrived. Early settlers picked up on it and used those plants to make medicinal tonics.That’s right. In the 1800s, pharmacists would mix up sassafras, spices, and herbs as health tonics. They believed it could cure everything from stomach aches to blood problems. Of course, it wasn’t long before people realized — hey, this stuff tastes pretty good.Enter Charles Hires. In 1876, he introduced the first commercial root beer at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. He originally sold it as a “healthful drink” and even marketed it as a safer alternative to alcohol.From there, root beer exploded in popularity. Companies like A&W popped up in the early 1900s, making it not just a tonic, but a true American soft drink. A&W even became the first franchised restaurant chain in the U.S.Today, root beer has gone way beyond the corner soda fountain. You’ve got brands like Barq’s, Mug, and of course A&W still going strong in the U.S. And root beer floats — come on, that’s an American classic.But it’s not just America anymore. Root beer has made its way around the world. In Canada, it’s a staple. In Asia — especially the Philippines — A&W root beer is huge. Even in Europe, specialty shops carry American root beer for people who crave that unique flavor.It’s funny, because some people outside the U.S. say it tastes like “medicine” — probably because of that original sassafras and wintergreen flavor. But once it clicks, you’re hooked.Root beer has evolved from folk medicine to soda fountain superstar to international export. And it’s still got that nostalgic, American feel every time you pop open a frosty mug.So whether you love it plain or in a float, root beer is proof that a little kitchen experiment can bubble its way into history.That’s the sip-sized story for today. Thanks for tuning in to The Duke Teynor Podcast Show !
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    5 mins