We talk about Postcrossing, vintage postcards, getting too attached to our phones, going down TikTok rabbit holes, and why old-school hobbies still feel special in a world where everything is instant. From there, Anthony breaks down a recent graduation photoshoot, dealing with broken gear, being surrounded by other photographers, learning how to pose people, and trying to grow as an artist without putting too much pressure on the work.

The episode also gets into dreams, creative insecurity, photography goals, tattoo conventions, van life, working remotely, and the strange feeling of realizing your work has reached people you’ve never even met.

It’s a longer, more creative episode about art, growth, comparison, and trying to keep chasing the things that make you feel something.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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From there, the conversation turns into a chaotic trip through old Circle K memories, late-night gas station shifts, strange customers, help desk disasters, free soda, safe drops, and the kind of workplace stories that only make sense when you lived through them. We also get into the funny, questionable, and sometimes ridiculous line between “taking,” collecting, stealing, and pushing your luck.

It’s a classic Dial Tone episode full of random stories, old job trauma, dumb ideas, creative side quests, and the kind of conversations that somehow go everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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From there, the episode turns into a full food spiral covering Golden Corral, Subway, Cook Out, Chick-fil-A sauce, Polynesian sauce, milkshakes that are really just ice cream, Checkers fries, Bojangles, and the fast food debates nobody asked for but we had anyway.

We also get into pronunciation battles, Taco’s unique relationship with the English language, random geography lessons, the Panama Canal, the Three Gorges Dam, road trip ideas through Mexico, and somehow end up discussing math, towers, and whether either of us should be trusted to teach anything.

It’s a classic Dial Tone episode full of food talk, random rabbit holes, friendship, bad explanations, and the kind of conversations that only make sense when you’ve been talking for way too long.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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We also get into a heated story involving AI-generated tattoo designs and a near conflict between shops, which opens a larger discussion about originality, creative ownership, and whether AI belongs in tattooing at all. From there, we talk about editing workflows, supporting artists through documentation, and what makes handmade work different from algorithm-driven output.

The episode wraps with lighter conversations about games we’ve been playing, creative habits outside the shop, and why tattoo conventions remain one of the most important spaces for artists to connect, learn, and stay inspired.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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From there, the episode shifts into a mix of life updates and the kinds of thoughts that come out during therapy when you finally say things out loud instead of keeping them in your head. That opens the door to a conversation about creative habits like doodling during conversations, saving random notes from everyday life, and how documenting small moments over time can turn into something meaningful.

Eventually, the episode turns into what it naturally becomes: a full deep dive into hip hop. We talk about the Kendrick vs. Drake battle, artists we grew up listening to, how scandals change the way people experience music, and the difference between respecting the art and separating it from the artist. Along the way we get into Biggie vs. Tupac, Eminem, Lil Wayne, DMX, Wu-Tang, Action Bronson, Griselda, and the albums that shaped how we listen to music in the first place.

It’s part life update, part music conversation, and part nostalgia episode about the artists and moments that stick with you longer than you expect.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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The conversation then turns into a longer debate about space travel, whether we actually went to the moon in the first place, and what it means that we’re supposedly heading back again. We get into conspiracy theories, NASA logic, old technology vs. modern capability, and how people decide what they believe when it comes to big historical moments like the moon landing.

It’s a laid-back episode with random tangents, questionable theories, and the kind of conversations that start simple and slowly spiral into bigger questions about history, science, and what’s actually real.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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We share our thoughts on films like Sinners, The Irishman, Longlegs, Terrifier, and classics like Goodfellas, Casino, and The Godfather, while debating what makes certain directors, performances, and endings actually stick. We also get into Southern folklore, voodoo misconceptions, and how cultural context can shape the tone of a story more than people realize.

It’s a laid-back episode full of travel stories, movie debates, and the kind of unexpected tangents that happen when we just follow the conversation wherever it goes.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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We get into birthday trips to Greenville, Korean barbecue and hot pot for the first time, the unexpected value of a good manicure, and why Trader Joe’s still needs to come to Jacksonville. Then things shift into a bigger conversation about technology. From growing up with house phones and AIM to printing objects from your phone across town with a 3D printer, it’s wild how different everyday life looks now compared to even one generation ago.

We also talk about disappearing habits like calling instead of texting, neighbors dropping by just to say hello, and what it meant to grow up with a little more independence and a lot less screen time.

Somewhere in there we decide people should probably start writing letters again.

Episode 14 is part nostalgia, part tech appreciation, and part reminder that maybe things didn’t feel this fast all that long ago.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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We somehow open on Friday the 13th even though it isn’t Friday the 13th, talk about Pi Day, celebrate one full year of playing chess badly, and try to figure out what’s actually wrong with Taco’s elbow after the doctor basically said “good luck.”

Then the conversation shifts.

We get into near-death moments, getting older, and what changes when something serious reminds you that you’re not guaranteed another day. Taco tells the story of the car accident that almost killed him and his kids, what it was like sitting in the hospital afterward, and the moment it really hit him that things could have gone very differently.

From there we talk about trauma, comparing experiences, bouncing back from hard situations, and why people downplay what they’ve been through even when they shouldn’t.

Somewhere in between all that we also talk about turning 30, having kids someday, the name Luna Riot, building a home office setup, 3D printers, thrifting trips around eastern North Carolina, and why this office is finally starting to feel like ours.

It’s funny, honest, and one of those episodes that ended up deeper than we planned when we hit record.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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From there the conversation turns into absolute chaos.

We debate dental hygiene, Taco’s legendary refusal to brush his teeth for over a decade, and his even more shocking claim that he hasn’t showered in three weeks. That spirals into a full discussion about hygiene habits, body chemistry, and whether mouthwash alone can carry the weight of good breath.

The episode also dives into everyday life frustrations and philosophies. Anthony goes on a rant about modern car key fobs costing hundreds of dollars, the difference between supporting local businesses versus big chains like Starbucks, and why small coffee shops and Dunkin still win when it comes to working-class coffee culture.

Toward the end the conversation shifts into work and lifestyle. Anthony talks about grinding long corporate hours and feeling proud of the projects he’s building, while Taco explains how he structured his life to work as little as possible by cutting expenses, living simply, and essentially becoming “semi-retired.”

Along the way we get into thrifting, wedding photography horror stories, the stress of capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments on camera, Taco’s 20-year marriage that has been separated for almost all of it, and the strange life choices that somehow still work out.

Like every episode of Dial Tone, it’s equal parts ridiculous stories, real life philosophy, and two friends trying to make sense of adulthood.

If you enjoy the podcast, share it with a friend and check out the previous episodes.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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We talk about living in Jacksonville near a major Marine Corps base and how military culture shapes the local economy, from deployments to tattoo shops to the constant flow of service members through town. That leads into a wild story about Taco almost joining the military, getting kicked out of the ASVAB testing room, and somehow learning the months of the year through pushups.

From there the conversation goes everywhere. We get into strange internet rabbit holes, the weird corners of human curiosity, and how the brain processes sensation and experience. That opens up a deeper discussion about memory, consciousness, psychedelics like DMT, and how the human mind might actually work.

Things take a more reflective turn when we talk about aging, grandparents, and what it means to slowly lose memory through dementia or Alzheimer’s. We share personal stories about family, wisdom passed down through generations, and why preserving those memories matters more the older we get.

As always, the episode mixes ridiculous humor with real conversations about life, memory, culture, and the strange things that make us human.

Listen to Episode 11 of Dial Tone and join the conversation.

If you enjoy the podcast, share it with a friend and check out the previous episodes.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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What started at a Circle K in Jacksonville stocking the beer cave, hiding out in the bib room with no cameras, surviving power outages, and dealing with absolute chaos somehow turned into an eight year friendship and a podcast.

In this milestone episode of Dial Tone we finally tell the real origin story.

We talk about how we met working opposite shifts, how a random cigar night turned coworkers into real friends, and how Taco went from overnight stocker to assistant manager while Ant mastered the art of doing just enough to not get fired until he got fired anyway over an ice cream machine complaint after getting away with way worse.

We get into gas station life in full detail. Wild customers. Bathroom horror stories. Soda syrup wars in the cooler. Getting high on third shift. Dating coworkers. Disappearing for years. And the “I’m in the lobby” text that restarted everything.

Underneath all the chaos this episode is really about unlikely friendships, race and age gaps, distance, rock bottom moments, rebuilding, and how honesty is what actually made the friendship stronger when life got real.

Episode 10 is funny, reckless, reflective, and way deeper than a gas station story should be.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

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Ant gets back from Raleigh and immediately admits the diet didn’t survive the weekend. Milkshakes with a whole brownie on top. Loaded bagels. Tacos and sushi in the same sitting. Pork belly pad thai. Southern breakfast platters. Zero restraint. Zero guilt in the moment.

But the trip wasn’t just about food.

We get into the art museum, independent art stores, a Latinx-owned shop called Moonjo where Ant drops $200 supporting artists, barcades, vinyl shops, and why supporting independent creatives actually matters. There’s a whole side conversation about language, culture, “Latinx,” and accidentally trying to solve non-binary Spanish as two unqualified guys on a mic.

Then it shifts into something more real, what it feels like to step away from your routine, break monotony, and come back recharged. We talk about work cycles, burnout, money, discipline, slipping into old habits, and that weird balance between enjoying life and not sabotaging yourself.

It’s funny, it’s chaotic, it’s self-aware, and it somehow moves from brownie milkshakes to cultural identity to corporate monotony without warning.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

Ant walks through the full Valentine’s Day stress cycle. Overpriced Airbnbs, almost blowing the budget on a luxury treehouse, scrambling for dinner reservations a week before Valentine’s Day, and somehow pulling it off while standing in Subway. Taco’s contribution is mostly suggesting fast food and being a general menace.

We circle back to the snowstorm from last episode and find out Taco drove straight through it to get snowed in with the “lady from the beach,” turning into a full-blown weekend situation while Ant watched the weather and questioned his life choices.

From there, the episode shifts into real conversations about relationships, how Valentine’s Day feels different when you’re actually serious about someone, and why celebrating yourself still counts if you’re single.

Then things go deeper. We talk about addiction, sobriety, food, weight loss, portion control, and how wild it is realizing your body can actually change when your habits do. Taco opens up about his past with drugs, recovery, and what addiction felt like when it was happening. Ant talks about food being his version of that struggle and how both of us are trying to do better without going extreme.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, we also manage to talk about working together in the new office, corporate burnout, weird fetishes, sponsorships, and why Taco absolutely cannot be trusted to stay on topic.

It’s funny, uncomfortable, honest, and exactly how these conversations actually go when we hit record.

Call or text the Dial Tone line, follow the socials, and if you’re sending something wild, start it with “for Taco” so he can screen it.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

We’re recording in our first shared workspace, dialing in the setup, and realizing we’re posted up across the street from the courthouse, sheriff’s department, and jail… which feels fitting. The energy is better, the audio is cleaner, and it finally feels like Dial Tone has a home.

Then we break down the pre-snowstorm Walmart chaos. Empty shelves, flying extension cords, skipped lines, instant karma, and Ant nearly crashing out over meal prep.

From there, the episode turns into a real conversation about AI, scams, corporate tech, and where creativity fits in a world that wants to automate everything. We talk about AI in art and tattoos, the difference between using tools and replacing the process, and what it feels like to come from graffiti and still live in a corporate world.

New space, old chaos, real conversations.

Connect with Dial Tone :

Call or text the show: 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

Follow and watch more content:

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Facebook: Dial Tone Podcast

Connect with your hosts:

Taco on TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony on TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony on Instagram: @younglord.ant

From there, we spiral into Facebook drama updates, Valentine’s Day Airbnb plans, Taco somehow landing an AirAsia affiliate link, fear of heights, bridges, malls, and why Ant still thinks walking the Manhattan Bridge at night is peak peace.

Then things get real.

We talk about corporate life, imposter syndrome, going from Circle K wages to executive-level pressure, balancing money with mental health, staying creative while working nonstop, and learning how to shut up the voice in your head that tells you you’re not good enough.

There’s stories about getting fired, walking to job interviews, building careers from scratch, grinding without quitting, and why being grateful isn’t corny, it’s survival.

It’s part comedy, part therapy session, part motivational rant, and fully Dial Tone energy.

Call or text the Dial Tone line if you’ve got career stories, corporate horror tales, creative struggles, or just want to talk your shit. Clips dropping all week. Links below!

Welcome to Dial Tone.

Call/Text us at 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Taco TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony Instagram: @younglord.ant

We also get into Taco’s “2026 game plan,” playing the field, expectations, communication, and why being honest with yourself matters more than flexing for the internet. Somewhere in between, we accidentally start a private school, debate words we can’t pronounce, talk weight loss, walking, therapy, and why friendship with zero judgment is undefeated.

It’s funny, unfiltered, a little unhinged, and very Dial Tone.

Call or text us with your wild stories, dating advice, or anything you want us to talk about!

New episodes every week. Welcome to Dial Tone.

Call/Text us at 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Taco TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony Instagram: @younglord.ant

In Episode 4, Anthony and Taco debate dropping “Podcast” from the name, break the mic clamp mid-recording, and somehow end up talking gyms, motivation, testosterone, dating apps, hookup culture, consent, old iPods, vinyl vs Spotify, and Taco’s now-legendary “shadow hookup” (yes… still no visual confirmation).

We get into: – Dial Tone branding (keep “Podcast” or drop it?) – Gym chaos, weight loss accountability, and getting back on track – Dating apps, shallow swiping, and attraction vs substance – Consent convos and modern dating realities – The “shadow” situation + Walmart run-ins

New episodes every week. Welcome to Dial Tone.

Call/Text us at 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Taco TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony Instagram: @younglord.ant

Episode 3 has everything: a new call-in number for Dial Tone, office hunting, a building with a real bank vault (yes, a vault), and Anthony getting personally victimized by MetroPCS over a flip phone and a $5 international calling plan.

After that we spiral into doom scrolling, social media ruining our brains, comment sections being absolutely insane, and why it feels so hard to actually make content instead of just consuming it.

Also… there’s a weird amount of talk about gym showers and warming your nuts. Don’t ask. Just press play.

Call/Text us at 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Taco TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony Instagram: @younglord.ant

We talk about a White Elephant where nobody brought gifts, a Christmas Eve taco piñata held up by a shovel, and the kind of family moments that only make sense once you’re already in too deep. From there, the conversation drifts into health, time management, weight loss, therapy, fatherhood, and the weird balance between trying to improve yourself while still enjoying life.

Some of it’s funny. Some of it’s honest. None of it’s scripted.

This episode is a good example of how Dial Tone moves. One story turns into another, jokes turn into real talk, and before we know it, we’re unpacking things we didn’t plan on touching at all.

New episodes every week. Welcome to Dial Tone.

Call/Text us at 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Taco TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony Instagram: @younglord.ant

This is our first recorded call, and it’s exactly what Dial Tone is built on. Two friends, no script, no agenda, and no effort to steer the conversation in a safe direction.

We hit record and let the conversation go where it always does. Camper life, the realities of living without a normal bathroom, uncomfortable logistics nobody ever asks about, and the kind of questions that only come up when you’ve known someone long enough to say anything out loud. It’s ridiculous, specific, and unexpectedly thoughtful at times.

This isn’t a polished introduction and it’s not meant to be. It’s a real pilot. Messy, honest, and a clear snapshot of the kind of conversations this show lives in. Long tangents, strange curiosity, and moments where you forget you’re even recording.

Episode one sets the tone. Stay on the line.

New episodes every week. Welcome to Dial Tone.

Call/Text us at 910-357-1830

Email: dialtonepod@gmail.com

TikTok: @dialtone.podcast

Instagram: @dialtonepodcast

Taco TikTok: @travel_with_taco

Anthony TikTok: @Anthonyy.jpg

Anthony Instagram: @younglord.ant