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Lured Up Podcast 406 - Happy Trails Live Streamed on - 8/26/2026 Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor When the pacing of the game is nonstop, even a slow down feels like a break. While we had the wrap up of the Water Festival, the kickoff of the Worlds event and Mega Starmie over the weekend, we still know that the road to the finale is upon us. We will be swimming in events and activity over the next few weeks, so it's time to prepare both on and off screen. The news cycle never cares about how exhausted we are with the announcement of the next season in Pokémon GO, Twilight Trails! While we have the key art and a few bits of information, it will likely be a few weeks before we can really start to get the vibe of things. It brings up the discussion of the importance of seasons, and if they are necessary to the game anymore. We don't really see any narrative, and the events just flow into each other. We would love to hear what you think about seasons and what you want out of them. Wayfarer is having a major update that moves it further to being an independent tool outside of Pokémon GO. Beginning on September 1st, you will be taken to the Wayfarer Website to manage nominations and all of Wayfarer, rather than remaining inside of Pokémon GO. The reaction is mixed, with more casual Wayfinders being reluctant to want to move, and the experienced map-makers loving the decision. We wrap up with a Professor's Principle about “Protecting your peace”. There are plenty of things within the game and community that can have an impact on your mental state. We see tons of anger and negativity online every day. That has a negative impact on your peace, as it drains some energy out of you that could have been used for something positive. We discuss how finding things that being you joy while letting go of things that drain you is a fantastic approach to shifting your energy. Rather than needing to find more energy (we are already exhausted), we talk about releasing energy that we are spending in a negative way, and reallocating it to something that supports your joy and peace. Pokemon XP & Worlds Events Starmie Super Mega Raid Day Twitlight Trails Wayfarer Update GO Pass: September Ken on Incensed LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2026Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Scopely ExploreLured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Lured Up Podcast 405: Live Streamed on - 8/18/2026 Publish Date - 8/20/2026 We got back to basics last week, so we get back to gameplay this week. We start with a recap of the last week including having a week off of events, Nickit Community Day, and the kickoff of the Water Festival. Adam worked a card show but was able to squeeze in the final hour, and Ken was able to play in Red Bank with a solid group of Trainers. The Water Festival is a pretty awesome event, with new Pokémon, boosted Shinies, and some solid Tier 1 and 3 Raids. This week is also a great one to put in some grinding as we earn more and more XP and Stardust bonuses as we progress through the event. That week off was a nice break but Lunala and Mega Starmie mean that it is time to get back to Raids.Lunala's Shiny debut will be a popular one for sure, and a Super Mega Raid Day for Starmie will be 6 hours of Mega Raid goodness. We take a look at both Pokebattler and GO Hub to put a little Raid Guide and Battle Party together for them both. We will likely see plenty of Mega Mewtwo Y in the lobbies as it is a top counter for both bosses. We have some time before the end of month push with XP, Worlds, Mega Ascension, and the Mega Finale take over our lives for a bit. This week is the perfect opportunity to perform your Pokémon storage and item maintenance. It has been a struggle for many to recover from GO Fest, so you should have awareness now if you want to make sure your GO Plus can run non stop during the events. Is buying box storage the answer? It is really only a short term solution because if you don't have an inventory plan, you will end up out of space very quickly. We wrap up with our Professor's Principle of the week, which takes a look at how important it is to position yourself in a way to achieve small victories. From setting fun and unique personal challenges in the game, to letting Party play guide you, there are ways to keep momentum pushing forward to make a gameplay session more fun and engaging, without needing a big reward at the end. It parallels well with life too. Pride is an awesome feeling that is helped along when you feel accomplished. Finding a process that includes small and achievable goals is an awesome way to keep yourself feeling driven and motivated to press on. Nickit Community Day Water Festival Starmie Super Mega Raid Day Pokebattler Lunala Counters GO Hub Lunala Counters Pokébattler Mega Starmie Counters GO Hub Mega Starmie Counters Pokémon XP & Worlds Events GO Fest Mega Ascension & Finale Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2026Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Scopely ExploreLured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Lured Up Podcast 404: The Plan All Along Live Streamed on - 8/13/2026 Publish Date - 8/14/2026 What a week, am I right? Seriously though, this week has been a wild ride as Scopely Explore dropped multiple massive news bombs this week. While we start things off recapping the Summer Marathon, it isn't long before we spill into the larger news stories. The first being the details of the Mega Finale, which have come to little to no fanfare. Trainers are not too happy with the Raid lineup of the event, as we won't be able to grind the Kalos Mega Starters and we will once again have Mewtwo in the mix. That is of course, after everyone in the game just got a free Hundo Mewtwo with a background. Trainers were shocked to learn about a free Timed Research that rewarded a Hundo Mewtwo, and of course the internet was ablaze with reactions. From Trainers thinking it is the best thing since sliced bread, to some that somehow found a way to still be upset about things. At the end of the day, this was an unprecedented move that opened up a lot of questions. Was this a reaction to the online community's complaints or was this the plan all along? While we will likely never know, there is plenty of speculation flying around. The final big news drop was that the Explorer Gadget has now rolled out globally to Trainers level 20 and above. While not a direct replacement for the GO Plus+, the tool is a bit clunky and cumbersome to figure out, with limited explanation of how it truly works for it to be effective. We are sure that Trainers that do not have autocatcher hardware will love it, for those of us that have a GO Plus+, it just doesn't stack up and isn't the tool we hoped it will be. Adam feels like it will evolve over time, so we will have to see! Our Professor's Principle this week is about Expectation vs. Reality. With so many Trainers online being upset about the Mega Finale, it really comes down to them being upset about something they never even had. It opens a discussion about how to balance standards against expectations to find a place in the middle where you leave room to be flexible. The journey is part of the process and when you allow some uncertainty to the outcome, it allows you to adapt to manage emotions and ultimately disappointment. Let us know what you think! Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Summer Marathon: Arctic Embers GO Fest: Mega Finale Hundo Mewtwo Explorer Gadget LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2026Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Scopely ExploreLured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chris and Jamal are back for Episode 238, and after some dad talk about birthdays, kids growing up, college, lacrosse, and just how different parenting is in the digital age, they jump into a week where the Wayfarer community had a lot to say. The guys revisit last week's discussion about moving Wayspots and gameboard optimization after listeners raise an important question: what happens when moving an existing Wayspot into a new cell affects someone else's legitimate nomination, or even another game entirely? They also discover that apparently they managed to upset both the breakfast-mushroom community AND Pikmin Bloom players in the same episode. Impressive. Then it's time for the main event. A Pokémon GO player took to X claiming they received a 30-day ban after simply trying to help their community by submitting PokéStops. Sounds scary... until you start looking at the details. Multiple accounts, a nomination for something already on the map, and a screenshot from a YouTube video being used as the nomination photo suddenly make the story look very different. Jamal and Chris break down the viral conversation surrounding the ban and tackle some of the arguments that followed. Can reviewers actually target a specific submitter? Why can a Wayfarer violation affect your Pokémon GO account? Should volunteers really be punished for breaking the rules? What about spoofers and major content creators who appear to violate Terms of Service without consequences? And when does legitimate criticism of Wayfarer cross over into fear mongering? The conversation leads to a simple message: participating in Wayfarer is not inherently dangerous. Enforcement emails can sometimes be poorly worded, community review will never be perfectly consistent, and legitimate nominations absolutely get rejected. But those things are very different from receiving enforcement action after violating established rules. They also examine another ban situation involving accounts being used by children and how something that initially looks like another frightening enforcement story can become much easier to understand once all the details come out. And for anyone hearing these stories and wondering whether they should even try Wayfarer, the guys finish the discussion with the opposite message: yes, you should. Read the guidelines, start reviewing, connect with experienced Wayfinders, ask questions, and get involved. The goal shouldn't be to make people afraid of Wayfarer. It should be to help people understand how to participate responsibly. Plus, we've got Wayspots of the Week, Coal of the Week, Tales from Canada, Dad Jokes, and plenty of the usual Wayspotters chaos along the way. Stick around for: Chris and Jamal discover that sometimes the biggest threat to your Wayfarer account isn't Scopely Explore, the reviewers, or some mysterious person targeting your nominations... Sometimes you just need to stop hurting yourself. Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Chris Bell Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 06 August 2026 Published: 09 Augusy 2026 Season 5, Episode 30 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 403: Back to Basics Live Streamed on - 8/5/2026 Publish Date - 8/7/2026 Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor The last few weeks have been non-stop ups and downs over events, tickets, and the need for a break. This week we take a step back from that conversation to discuss some important topics about what made us originally fall in love with this game. It was likely NOT buying every event ticket, having every weekend consumed with events, and min-maxing every single mechanic in the game. It likely had to do with exploration, having fun exploring to catch Pokémon and spending time with fiends. We look into how important those basics are to keep your personal motivation and excitement over the game alive. We get back to basics with conversations about the not so exciting but exceptionally essential to your success. Things like managing Pokémon storage, item inventory, and goal setting are important crucial to maximizing the time you do get to play. Our talk helps navigate some things to keep your eye on to make dedicated gameplay sessions as efficient as possible. There are two in-game events to unpack this week, first the Spring Marathon and then the XP/Worlds event. Taking a look at the Marathon event, we are sure that Scopely has learned a lot about how the online community feels about Research with walking tasks. Spoiler alert, they don't like it. Not surprisingly, we love it, and hope more Trainers can see how Walking is not only a core part of the game, but a mechanic that improves our experience by suggesting healthy choices. The XP and Worlds event is still three weeks away, there are some dates to put on your calendar. There will be 4 different Twitch drops during the Worlds weekend including a Timed Research exclusively available from co-streamers like us! Stay tuned for a date and time that we will be co-streaming during Worlds! We wrap up with our Professor's Principle of the week in a discussion about how when you lose your way, it's best to get back to basics. The onslaught of events has burned a ton of Trainers out, and with it comes less motivation and drive to even open the game. Putting effort into finding what brings you joy and rediscovering it can help you get your groove back in our current post, GO Fest burnout phase. In life, things are a bit less tangible. We lose motivation to do the small things, which can be getting good sleep, eating right, drinking water. Returning to those basics will undoubtedly have a positive impact on other parts of your life. The little things are vital. Little Things make big things happen. Summer Marathon: Arctic Embers Pokémon XP & 2026 Worlds Event LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2026Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Scopely ExploreLured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Chris and Jamal get into one of the biggest philosophical questions Wayfarer has faced since the transition to Scopely Explore: should gameplay finally have a seat at the table? They debate whether legitimate location edits that improve the gameboard should still be considered abuse, discuss if Scopely should be more transparent about S2 cells and inclusion rules, and imagine what Wayfarer would look like if it were built from scratch by a gaming company instead of a mapping company. Before diving into the topics, Chris responds to a lively Reddit discussion surrounding last week's episode and clarifies his thoughts on Wayfarer, player data, and Niantic's original mission. Chris responds to last week's Reddit debate and clears up the context behind his comments. A major Wayfarer update now lets you finish draft submissions from anywhere without returning to the nomination location. Should gameplay optimization still be considered abuse if the final pin location remains accurate? If Scopely built Wayfarer from scratch today, what rules would stay, what would change, and what would disappear? One's Gotta Go: Pizza Toppings Edition (Pepperoni, Sausage, Bacon, or Mushrooms?) Wayspots of the Week feature a stunning dog park mural and a beautifully designed boardwalk entrance. Coal of the Week highlights why Little Free Libraries on K–12 school property should never be nominated. A thought-provoking discussion about the future of Wayfarer under Scopely, Chris' Reddit rebuttal, another community debate sparked by One's Gotta Go, and a pair of fantastic community-submitted Wayspots that showcase exactly what makes exploring so much fun. Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 30 July 2026 Published: 2 August 2026 Season 5, Episode 29 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 402 Live Streamed on - 7/29/2026 Publish Date - 7/31/2026 We talked last week about the dust settling after the back to back flurry of the 10th Anniversary Event in NYC and GO Fest: Global. Trainers had a long week leading into the event and an even longer weekend of non-stop Raids. We have absolutely seen a shift lately from a focus on catching and grinding at events to Raiding. With the feeling of success from Raids being at the mercy of RNG, the return doesn't always line up with the investment. This can really lead to fatigue, which is our main topic of the episode. Every year after GO Fest, there is typically a window of events that seem like they drag. Each event seems to be trying to recapture the magic of GO Fest, but can't actually pull it off. Blend this with the crazy pacing and relentless schedule of events, Trainers are feeling a bit drained physically, mentally, and financially. It is hard to be motivated to play when faced with this type of exhaustion, so when the Mega Finale was announced as a two day event, Trainers were gasping for air. We take a look at what we would want from an event calendar, and how just a weekend off can make all the difference. This leads to a conversation about expectations, accountability, and finding joy in the things we do. That convo leads to our guiding principal of, “Just because you can, doesn't mean you should”. Ken shares how over the last few years his decisions were dictated by circumstance. Saying no to things was done out of necessity, not out of desire. As things changed over time and life stabilized, his ability to say yes to things returned, however it became an issue. Saying yes to everything put undue stress on his health and finances, with a side order of guilt if he said no. Navigating one's ability to say no to things as a choice, is an example of empowerment. We examine that empowerment and discuss the parallels between decision making on and off screen. Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor GO Fest: Mega Finale Shadow Giratina (Altered) Counters: Pokébattler Shadow Giratina (Altered) Counters: GO Hub Summer Marathon: Arctic Embers LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2026Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Scopely ExploreLured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Chris and Jamal get into Scopely Explore's recent Pokémon GO survey and what it could mean for the future of gyms, PokéCoins, and Wayfarer. They discuss whether more gyms could be coming, if free coins might move beyond the current gym system, and how those changes could impact the Wayfarer community. The conversation then shifts to a spirited debate about the value of Wayfarer contributions, as they respond to the claim that Wayfinders are simply providing "free labor" and explain why helping build better communities is its own reward. Plus, Chris shares another hilarious Tales from Canada, Agent X celebrates an incredible milestone of 3,000 accepted Wayspots, and the guys expose a fake playground that somehow appeared in two different locations on the map. Stick around for: Dad Jokes Tales from Canada Wayspots of the Week Coal of the Week A look at what Scopely's latest survey could mean for the future of Pokémon GO and Wayfarer. Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Chris Bell Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 23 July 2026 Published: 26 July 2026 Season 5, Episode 28 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 401: The Highest Bidder Live Streamed on -7/21/2026 Publish Date - 7/23/2026 Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor The dust has finally settled from the 10th Anniversary Event in NYC and GO Fest Global Weekend. We have a ton to unpack and discuss as the community has had some time to respond to the madness that was the last week. It was pretty wild to see the community turn on itself in anger. The creators were up first to feel the flames as it seemed the Community Ambassadors would come out untouched. Then… The Times Square Mewtwo hit eBay and things went nuts. People forgot about being mad at creators and turned on the CAs and their communities. RaspberryWeiner broke some news about finding out the in-game name of one of the sellers who even came forward to apologize and say that he didn't know selling a Pokémon on eBay was against any rules. It was wild to watch as the internet delivered another reason for the X-mob to dislike the event. We stuck around NYC to play GO Fest Global, where we put ourselves under a massive challenge to walk all the way from Bryant Park in Manhattan to Industry City, Brooklyn and back. Let's just say our dogs were barking and we were just about out of gas when we got back to Bryant Park. Huge shout to LeBro for making the journey with us to Brooklyn. We were very surprised by the gameboard at the Community Celebration, as it seemed to be 90% Gyms. You could feel the lack of Lures as the spawns seemed pretty thin. It was a pretty cool setting, but definitely was a departure from the park style play that we have seen before. Scopely Explore did have a first this week, and that was the announcement of their first make up event under their new name! In all seriousness, the community is buzzing in a positive way about the make up GO Fest Raids being a global make up. They are even throwing in a bunch of Raid passes to boot.The Scopely Effect is becoming more and more noticeable, and we are loving that even when parts of the community can feel a little rough around the edges, the masses online still seem to be rowing in the same direction as the developer. The pacing and event calendar for the rest of the month into August is already looking packed. With Ultra Unlocks, new Shinies, and plenty of things to do, there is definitely no rest for the weary. The focus on IRL play with a consistent spattering of very remote friendly events have created a nice balance for different types of Trainers to come together. Before we wrap up we have a few listener emails and a voicemail to play, with SerAmanda bringing a banger of a protip in the settings. We close with our guiding principal of the episode being: Everyone is playing a different game. Trainers with different goals and process can meet on the same gameboard and navigate an event together, even if they are concerned with very different things. In life, we interact with people every day and never really know what they can be going through. Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition GO Pass: August Gigantamax Rillaboom Max Battle Day Summer Marathon: Arctic Embers Fire and Ice Hatch Day Ultra Unlock: Water Festival Ultra Unlock: Starmie Super Mega Raid Day GO Wild Area 2026 LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2026Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Scopely ExploreLured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Jamal and Chris are back together as Chris returns to the show, and there is plenty to catch up on! The guys discuss the end of the standalone Wayfarer social media presence and what combining Wayfarer and general player support under Scopely Explore could mean for communication with the community. Will Wayfarer benefit from a larger audience, or will important updates get lost among game support issues? And does this move make the Wayfarer Community Forum more important than ever? Then, inspired by a listener question, Jamal and Chris break down how to write a successful Wayfarer appeal. From addressing the actual rejection reason and bringing new evidence to avoiding emotional arguments and making reviewers do the work for you, they share practical advice for giving your appeal its best chance of success. Plus, One's Gotta Go forces them to choose between Google Street View, official website links, supporting photos, and satellite view. Which essential Wayfarer tool could they live without forever? Stick around for two very different Wayspots of the Week, including a lesson in how to get a Wayspot approved inside one of the biggest chain restaurants in the world, plus a beautiful mural celebrating a Pennsylvania town's coal-mining roots. Then Grandpa TP sends us straight to detention with a Coal of the Week that proves sometimes a great joke still makes for a terrible Wayspot. In this episode: Chris returns to the show Wayfarer and player support merge under Scopely Explore Does Wayfarer still need its own social media identity? Why the Wayfarer Forum may now be the real home for official communication How to build a stronger Wayfarer appeal Why you should address the rejection reason first Bringing evidence instead of emotion One's Gotta Go: Wayfarer Tools Edition How to nominate something eligible inside a chain restaurant A mural celebrating local coal-mining history A detention center nomination that belongs in the Coal pile Stick around for: Dad jokes, two Wayspots of the Week, Coal of the Week, and the return of the Jamal-and-Chris banter we've been missing! Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 16 July 2026 Published: 19 July 2026 Season 5, Episode 27 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Chris is still away this week, so Agent X returns to the co-host chair alongside Jamal for another packed episode of Wayspotters. This week's conversation covers some of the biggest recent developments in Wayfarer, including the shift from Niantic Games to Scopely Explore, reports that Niantic Spatial has moved from resolving photo additions to processing nomination approvals, and signs that Pikmin Bloom may have received a map update. Then Agent X takes the lead on Topic #1: Location, Location, Location, breaking down how even a great nomination can fail if the pin placement is wrong. Using real examples like pathway markers, neighborhood signs, and Little Free Libraries, he and Jamal talk through how sidewalks, fences, verges, and other boundaries can be the difference between an acceptance and a rejection—especially when private residential property is involved. In Topic #2, they tackle the question of whether suspicious nominations are actually abuse or just misunderstandings from newer Wayfarers who don't fully understand how location placement works. It's a thoughtful discussion about where to draw the line between education and enforcement, and how reviewers can approach questionable nominations without assuming the worst every time. Wayfarer News: Scopely Explore officially arrives, Niantic Spatial appears to be approving nominations, and Pikmin Bloom may have had a map sync Topic #1 – Location, Location, Location: why bad pin placement can ruin an otherwise great nomination Topic #2 – Abuse or Misunderstanding?: when a misplaced pin is just a mistake, and when it might be something more Tales from Idaho: Agent X debuts a new segment with the story of Soda Springs' famous man-made captive geyser Wayspot of the Week #1: a creative bug hotel that blends art, conservation, and local identity Wayspot of the Week #2: a clubhouse nomination that nails the social gathering criteria Coal of the Week: a Little Caesars submission that is a perfect reminder that sometimes you really do need to get out of your car Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Scott Robinson Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 09 July 2026 Published: 12 July 2026 Season 5, Episode 26 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 400 Live Streamed on - 7/10/2026 Publish Date - 7/11/2026 We recorded this special episode from our hotel room in NYC in order to address our thoughts on the social media fallout about the 10th Anniversary Event in Times Square. While we had the times of our lives unlocking core memories, the online community was at serious risk of imploding on itself. It seems as though the online community was not a fan of how Scopely Explore handled the event, and subsequent reward from being in attendance. Be sure to let us know what you think and tune in to next episode as we continue the conversation! Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Jamal is joined by not one but two Wayfarer Ambassadors, as Chris is out this week, with Agent X and ElfFromSpace stepping in for a packed episode of Wayspotters. After opening with some heartfelt words for Chris and his family, the crew jumps into one of the biggest recent Wayfarer updates: photo voting on the Wayfarer map. They break down what the feature does, why it's a meaningful quality-of-life change, and whether it could lead to better Wayspot photos, more player engagement on the Wayfarer website, or a few good old-fashioned photo thumb wars. From there, ElfFromSpace takes the lead on a deep-dive into how to take better Wayspot photos, with practical tips on framing, lighting, cropping, night photography, murals, bridges, basketball courts, restaurant interiors, and how far you can go with editing before a photo starts to cross the line. One's Gotta Go: Movie Theater Snacks A featured Wayspot of the Week from Japan Plenty of Wayfarer photo strategy, hot takes, and ambassador insight along the way Photo Voting Comes to the Wayfarer Map Jamal, Agent X, and ElfFromSpace discuss Niantic's new photo voting system, what it means for Wayspot cover images, and whether the benefits outweigh the possible chaos. How to Take Better Wayspot Photos ElfFromSpace shares a full set of tips for improving main Wayspot images, from choosing the right angle and time of day to handling murals, sports courts, and difficult indoor lighting. Photo Editing: Helpful Tool or Risky Move? The crew talks about what kinds of edits can improve a Wayspot photo and where things can go too far. One's Gotta Go: Movie Theater Snacks Popcorn, nachos, candy, and soft pretzels enter the arena. Only three can stay. Wayspot of the Week A really cool featured nomination from Japan rounds out the show. Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 03 July 2026 Published: 05 July 2026 Season 5, Episode 25 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 399: Monday Madness!! Live Streamed on - 7/1/2026 Publish Date - 7/3/2026 GO Fest: Global is on the horizon, but the game is still chugging along with a ton of content as July unfolds. This weekend in particular has an incredible 3 hour window of gameplay, that we highly recommend you take advantage of. That is of course, if you don't have Fourth of July plans, as PGO is a global game, this weekend may be tough for US Trainers. If you can make it out to play on Saturday from 2-5pm, you get to double up on two events, Sobble Community Day and the 10th Anniversary Party. With 4x Catch XP and Stardust all weekend, on top of quarter hatch distance and massive spawn volume from Sobble Community Day, it will be a very efficient window of gameplay that can yield massive results. As we move into July, the GO Pass brings Pokécoins and a Ho-Oh encounter, which can be hit or miss with Trainers. One thing that the GO Pass does well is keep Trainers engaged, and if coins are on the line, it could motivate many F2P Trainers to complete the first half of the pass to collect those coins. The Deluxe version of the pass steps up to 1,400 Pokécoins, which can translate into some great items in the shop. The Road of Legends will keep most Trainers very busy next week, as Niantic stays true to their annual pre-GO Fest: Global event that will likely wipe out a whole bunch of consumable items. It will be absolutely imperative to figure out your priorities between the Road of Legends and GO Fest: Global. Figuring it out can be a slippery slope, especially next Monday when the Raids will be completely ludicrous. If you fail to plan, you will surely plan to fail. After discussing how the temperature on X seemed oddly positive, due to the game being in such a great place (GBL not withstanding), the mobs finally found their prey that could allow them to bust out the pitchforks and torches again. We saw OG content creator, Mystic7 in the mob's crosshairs, as infographic G47IX posted how his honeypot laden graphic seemed to be Mystic ripped off. The community jumped all over it and seemed to air out years of pent of feelings about Mystic7, only to have him double down on his position. It's been a wild ride over the last week, and while things seem to have been settled between the two parties, the community is clearly not going to let this go that easy. We wrap things up with another guiding principal that can be applied to both life and Pokémon GO. We look at the phrase, “Comparison is the thief of joy” and how we can draw parallels on and off screen. In life, some comparisons can lead to feelings of sadness or depression. Feelings of wanting what others have is powerful, because it has the same power to motivate or demotivate you. When you make decisions based on what others think, you put yourself in the back seat, which will limit your ability to grow and prioritize your own well being. In Pokémon GO, comparison to others can cause FOMO, which can not only lead to being demoralized, but also can influence some poor decision making. I've seen plenty of Trainers go from, “Just one more Raid” to “I have to stop Raiding because I'm broke.” Finding balance in using your environment to empower your growth and motivate you to succeed can be challenging on your own. It highlights the importance of having a support system that can be a cheerleader for you, to keep you making the right choices that are in your own best interest. Sobble Community Day 10th Anniversary Party July GO Pass Road of Legends GO Fest: Global Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Chris and Jamal discuss how one great nomination can inspire hundreds more and how one questionable nomination can do the same. From footbridges and neighborhood signs to title formats and descriptions, they explore the ripple effect that shapes the Wayfarer map, for better or worse. They also discuss Niantic's latest contributor display update, whether Pokémon GO players actually care what a PokéStop is, and why eligibility shouldn't be confused with popularity. Niantic fixes contributor codename displays on Wayspots Should you leave your Wayfarer username visible? Do Pokémon GO players actually care about the Point of Interest? Why restaurant ratings don't determine Wayfarer eligibility The idea behind "Wayfarer See, Wayfarer Do" How good nominations inspire better submissions When community trends go too far (footbridges, pools, neighborhood signs, and more) Why titles, descriptions, and photos matter more than you think Helping new Wayfinders without encouraging abuse Tales from Canada Dad Jokes Wayspot(s) of the Week Coal of the Week And more! Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Chris Bell Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 24 June 2026 Published: 28 June 2026 Season 5, Episode 24 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 398: Be Present, Not Perfect Live Streamed on - 6/25/2026 Publish Date - 6/26/2026 First off we wanted to share a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who wrote in, shared feedback, and offered support after last week's episode! It is truly amazing to see the community come together and rally around each other. It means the world to us and we are proud to be a part of this incredible scene. We follow up on last week's topic, share some feedback, and look at the practice of being present, not perfect. It's a powerful sentiment and absolutely has parallels to Pokémon GO. In the gameplay space, it is all about IRL gameplay. With 6 new City Safari events being announced, the community will have a lot of opportunity to come together to celebrate the game. Adam and I will be attending the Boston City Safari, and we hope to have the opportunity to play along side of you! More info to come on our plans and what we have in store for the Chicago locals and inbound Trainers. We touch on our Frigibax Community Day experiences and look forward to Skarmory Super Mega Raid Day, two events that are better when played with the community. From Community Day's non stop gameplay to the volume and demand that Super Mega Raid Days present, we encourage everyone to get out to experience this game with others. We also look at how the Giovanni mechanic has changed and no longer arrives via balloon. This forces Trainers to get out there to track him down, adding difficulty, immersion, and some commitment to the process.While some Trainers and creators online hate everything about this change, we are all about it, as it encourages the exploration element of the game, and makes the hunt unique. IRL Events July Content Update GBL Update Road of Legends Frigibax Community Day Skarmory Super Mega Raid Day Flying Taxi Flying Taxi Taken Over Be Present, Not Perfect Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Jamal and Chris dive into one of the biggest philosophical debates in Wayfarer: Who gets to decide what's interesting? Using memorial benches as the foundation of the conversation, they explore how reviewers balance personal opinions against local significance and whether a nomination's value should be determined by the broader community or the people who know its story best. The debate over memorial benches and whether they deserve a place on the map. Why "selling the nomination" with strong supporting information can make all the difference. The importance of local context and why something meaningful to a community may not look impressive to outsiders. The difference between an eligible Wayspot and what some reviewers consider a "high-quality" Wayspot. Real-world examples of community leaders, coaches, athletes, and advocates whose stories transformed ordinary-looking benches into meaningful places of exploration. The discussion then expands into the concept of rogue reviewing communities and how local reviewing cultures can shape the map in dramatically different ways. Jamal and Chris examine the challenges created when some cities become extremely strict while others become much more accepting, and whether either approach is ultimately healthy for Wayfarer. How local Discords, Facebook groups, and community norms influence reviewing behavior. The pros and cons of "Need More Stops" communities. Why some cities become known for approving neighborhood signs, murals, trails, and local businesses. Whether it's worse for a community to approve too much or reject too much. The question: Do most Pokémon GO players care what a Wayspot is, or simply where it appears on the map? A spirited round of One's Gotta Go featuring kickball, dodgeball, four square, and tag. Wayspot of the Week featuring a memorial bench honoring Pokémon voice actress Rachel Lillis. Another Wayspot of the Week showcasing an artist-designed public bench that turns functional seating into public art. Coal of the Week highlighting why K-12 school nominations remain one of the easiest ways to earn a rejection. Whether you're a seasoned Wayfarer reviewer, a new submitter, or just someone who enjoys the philosophy behind what makes a great Wayspot, this episode asks a simple question with surprisingly complicated answers: Is a Wayspot interesting because you think it is, or because it matters to someone else? Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 19 June 2026 Published: 21 June 2026 Season 5, Episode 23 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 397 Live Streamed on - 6/19/2026 Publish Date - 6/20/2026 This has been a WILD week! Not just in game and on screen, but in real life too. Ken opens up about a serious health scare, and how it is a wake up call not just to take care of yourself, but also each other. With June being Men's Mental Health Month, it is an important reminder to understand how your mental health can have a direct impact on your physical health. Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear Ken share his feelings, and offer advice on how we can all do better at looking after on another. In-game, the news has been completely bonkers. The Road of Legends event is by far and away the most packed event the game has ever seen, even making the upcoming GO Fest: Global pale in comparison. With a ridiculous amount of Raid Bosses in rotation, some great bonuses, and the ability to EliteTM Adventure Effects, this will be one for the record books. We still have a few weeks before the event kicks off, but we make our first pass through the blog and call out the highlights. IRL GO Fests may be behind us, but JUne still has a lot of life left! We scan through the remaining events of the month including Frigibax Community Day, Skarmory Super Mega Raid Day, and Flying Taxi. We also had some updates to Daily Discoveries including clarifications about Friendship Friday, and a very cool direction for Scenic Sunday. Spotlight Hours also make a consistent return including the much missed Double Transfer Canty bonus. We also look ahead to what we know for July including Raichu Super Mega Raid Day and Sobble Community Day. Also, an upcoming partnership with Lego Stores in select Countries will bring us a Stamp Rally, and special Lego Background Pikachu, exclusively obtained at Raids in-store. Check the links for the Lego Store Locator and plan an outing! One last note from Ken - Thank you to our entire community for supporting Lured Up for 10 years. We love what we do, and we are so proud to be able to have such a loyal and engaged audience. Your presence in our streams, comments, and at IRL events is the fuel that keeps me positive and motivated. Take care of yourself, take care of those around you, and keep things positive. Your energy is valuable, and should be treated as your most important currency. Thanks again! Road of Legends Frigibax Community Day Skarmory Super Mega Raid Day Flying Taxi Flying Taxi Taken Over Updates to Daily Discoveries 10th Anniversary Party Lego Partnership Find a Lego Store Raichu Super Mega Raid Day Sobble Community Day Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Chris and Jamal discuss a recent wave of Wayfarer-related bans and the lessons every Wayfinder can learn from them. The duo breaks down several forum posts from players claiming they were unfairly punished, only for the truth to unravel through forum investigations, misplaced pins, AI-edited nomination photos, multi-accounting admissions, and a few cases of people digging themselves deeper with every reply. Along the way, they discuss why the Wayfarer forums often provide a more balanced perspective than social media and offer practical advice on avoiding the dreaded banhammer. The conversation also takes a detour into a classic Tales from Canada segment featuring a former airline captain who allegedly flew commercial jets for 17 years without the required pilot license. Chris and Jamal discuss how such a thing could happen, what it says about trust in verification systems, and why both Air Canada and Transport Canada are likely eager to move on from the story. The episode wraps up with a look at a stunning butterfly mural for Wastepot of the Week, an appeal-worthy hobby shop nomination featuring one of the best supporting statements they've ever seen, and a Call of the Week highlighting why accurate pin placement remains one of the most important parts of a successful nomination. Episode Highlights: Recent Wayfarer ban cases and what actually happened Multi-accounting, AI-edited photos, and misplaced pins Why forum investigations often reveal the full story Tales from Canada: The pilot who allegedly flew without a license for 17 years Wastepot of the Week: "Unraveling Border #2" butterfly mural Appeal success story from Des Plaines Hobbies Call of the Week: Airport map nomination gone wrong Dad jokes, hockey talk, and a birthday countdown for Jamal Quote of the Week:"If you're digging a hole, drop the shovel and walk away." Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Chris Bell Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 12 June 2026 Published: 14 June 2026 Season 5, Episode 22 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 396 Live Streamed on - 6/9/2026 Publish Date - 6/12/2026 To all the new listeners: WELCOME and THANK YOU for checking out LURED UP! We are back home from GO Fest Chicago and we are both in agreement that this was the best IRL GO Fest that we have ever attended. There is plenty to unpack to back up our sentiment, beginning with how the introduction of different gameplay “Districts” put you right into the gameplay, as soon as you stepped off the plane. It was an amazing feeling to have the event come to life as soon as arriving in Chicago, and the barrage of geo-based Timed Research kept Trainers tied to their games as the grind through a flurry of tasks. Even moving from the airport to our hotel kept us immersed in the game, making the gameboard come to life. If really make Trainers feel like they were looking at an in-game world map at their feet. The geo fencing of districts paired with associated Timed Research had players covering a serious amount of territory. If this is any indication of how IRL events can curate and shape real life gameplay behaviors, than this is just the tip of a very exciting iceberg. We had a full weekend of gameplay, including countless Raids and an insane amount of walking. Both of our Adventure Sync numbers were above 120km. In typical Lured Up fashion, we had stuff going on all weekend. On Friday nights we hosted our meetup at Monk's Pub, the same place as our 2019 meetup. You all SHOWED UP and we had double the turnout than we expected, and we are so grateful to have been able to spend time with all of you. Next year we will need a new venue! Saturday night was Adam's idea, with a Pokémon themed Pop-Punk night. All of the bands on the bill were incredible, with Midway Down headlining and absolutely brought the house down. It was so much fun to hang with the community in that setting. We will absolutely be incorporating live music/entertainment into our plans next year! Finally on Friday we met up with our good friend JT Valor for a final push of Raids at the end of the weekend. In typical Raid Train Fashion, we ended up picking up Trainers at every stop. It was VERY cool to see JT in action. He gives so much of himself to his fans and spends heaps of time with everyone. JT's combination of hardcore gameplay, travel, and approachability is PGO video content at its best. In typical live-service fashion, it seemed that about as soon as we stepped on the airplane to come home, new news was dropping about the events happening through the end of the month. We blast through the news and cover all of the new event info released post-Chicago. GO Fest Chicago Lured Up in Chicago Lured Up on Fox 32 Chicago 100 Thieves Team Leader Summer Quests Frigibax Community Day Skarmory Super Mega Raid Day Flying Taxi Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast #sponsored Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Jamal and Chris dive into the rise of what Jamal calls "spaghetti nominations" Wayspot submissions that live in the gray area between obvious slam dunks and outright rejections. The duo takes a nostalgic trip back to the early days of Wayfarer, when submitters had only seven nominations and every submission had to count. Comparing those days to today's abundance of nomination slots, they discuss how player behavior has changed, whether nomination quality has dipped, and if Niantic and Scopely have unintentionally encouraged Wayfinders to test the boundaries of eligibility. Along the way, Chris and Jamal review a variety of real-world nomination examples, including neighborhood entrance signs, apartment pergolas, decorative benches, utility box art, fountains, trail markers, business murals, community mailboxes, and even dumpster art. The conversation explores the difference between reviewing to approve versus reviewing to deny, the growing divide between map purists and gameplay-focused submitters, and whether Wayfarer communities are at risk of "going rogue" as nomination opportunities continue to expand. The episode also features Dad Jokes, Mom Jokes, a discussion about Go Fest, and a pair of fascinating Wayspots of the Week, including a Purdue University cyclotron model tied to J. Robert Oppenheimer. Stick Around For... ✅ The rise of "Spaghetti Nominations" and how hundreds of available submissions may be changing Wayfarer behavior. ✅ Chris and Jamal debate neighborhood signs, pergolas, benches, utility box art, trail markers, murals, and other gray-area nominations. ✅ A discussion on Scopely's impact on the Pokémon GO map and whether Wayfarer should stay out of game-specific decisions. ✅ Dad Jokes, Mom Jokes, Wayspots of the Week, and a preview of an upcoming discussion on what happens when a Wayfarer community goes rogue. Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 03 June 2026 Published: 07 June 2026 Season 5, Episode 21 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
This week, Chris and Jamal celebrate one full year since the Scopely/Niantic deal officially closed and ask the big question: Is this the greatest 12-month stretch in Wayfarer history? The guys break down nearly every major Wayfarer change from the past year, including: Web submissions The Wayfarer map Draft mode Upgraded nomination caps The new Wayfinder rating system Appeals cooldown reductions Ambassador announcements Roadmap updates Rural gameplay improvements and more. Chris and Jamal discuss how the Wayfarer team has handled community feedback, why Scopely's approach has surprised many players, and how modern Wayfarer may actually be entering its “good old days.” Also this week: Chris shares the forgotten Wayfarer tracking spreadsheet with Patreon members Portland officially remains weird Bigfoot apparently lives in the Pacific Northwest Old Gmail, AOL, MySpace, and Friendster nostalgia Hockey playoff talk Jackson's incredible 53-save lacrosse performance and a deep dive into how photo thumbs actually determine Wayspot images in Pokémon GO. Plus: Wayspots of the Week Coal of the Week Dad jokes for new dad Hank and classic Wayspotters banter throughout. Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Chris Bell Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 29 May 2026 Published: 31 May 2026 Season 5, Episode 20 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 395: Forward Progress Live Streamed on - 5/27/2026 Publish Date - 5/28/2026 We are less than 2 weeks away from GO Fest Chicago! This window of time is the funky period where some are getting ready to travel to GO Fest, while the majority of others are still ready to play and grind at home! We break down some of the details of the Chicago event as well as the Team Leader Summer Quests that we will have globally over the next few weeks. Being a live service game, Pokémon GO definitely doesn't have time to rest on its laurels, as Season 23 of the game has been unveiled. Forever Forward will be our next season, and by the look of the promotional video, Niantic is doubling down on their core value of exploration. From Trainers walking an adventuring, to images of remote Pokéstops, the game has positioned itself as a key motivator in keeping Trainers moving forward. We unpack what we know so far, and how GO Fest season will drive the first few weeks of the season, leading right into Global in mid-July. We also have our June Content Update, bringing back some Raid favorites like Necrozma and some Ultra Beasts. Frigibax has been announced as the June Community Day Pokémon, and we have a few events called out for the month. If IRL GO Fests are not in your future, there is still plenty to do in game and from home, which can be considered a long, winding road to GO Fest Global. We cover some random notes like the Pokémon Fossil Museum in Chicago and the release of Excavator Pikachu. This will likely be on all Chicago Trainer's bingo cards for the weekend. Pokémon GO has once again partnered with 100 Thieves to release some killer Mewtwo merch. We are hoping to get our hands on it, and ultimately give it away to the community. We also run through our announced Chicago plans so far, including our Podcast Community Mixer with the GO Cast Podcast and our Pokémon Pop Punk night. We hope to have even more news to share by next week, and GO Fest will be here before you know it! Finally we reflect on how it has already been a year since the Scopely acquisition. We discuss our experiences working with Niantic and how our confidence in their goals has only increased since Scopely came in. If their 1 year promotional video doesn't get you going, I am not sure what will! GO Fest Chicago Team Leader Summer Quests Forever Forward Forever Forward GBL June Content Update Frigibax Community Day Pokémon Fossil Museum 100 Thieves Lured Up at Chicago GO Fest Scopely - 1 Year Later Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Jamal is joined by special guest host Agent X as Chris is out this week, and the timing could not have been crazier. Just hours before recording, Niantic dropped a massive new Wayfinder rating system announcement that could completely reshape the future of reviewing, submissions, contributor rewards, and Wayfarer progression. Joining the roundtable are community members JQN, Keller, and Winston representing longtime Ingress veterans, newer Wayfarers, rural players, PvP grinders, and everyday contributors whose voices aren't always heard in the larger Wayfarer conversation. The crew dives deep into: the current state of Wayfarer, how the platform has evolved since OPR and Recon, misconceptions about bans and reviewing, S2 cells and map strategy, rural gameplay challenges, the loss of Recon in Ingress, and what motivates people to keep building the map years later. The conversation also gets surprisingly philosophical with debates about natural features, waterfalls, eligibility logic, reviewer behavior, and whether Wayfarer finally feels like it's moving in the right direction again after years of uncertainty. Plus: ✅ Check out Keller's Twitch! https://www.twitch.tv/kellers_pokemon ✅ New Wayfinder Rating System discussion ✅ The future of reviewing and contributor rewards ✅ Rural vs urban gameplay perspectives ✅ One's Gotta Go: Waffle House / Taco Bell / McDonald's / Wendy's ✅ Dad Jokes (of course) ✅ Incredible Wayspots of the Week ✅ One VERY deserved Coal of the Week Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Agent X Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 20 May 2026 Published: 24 May 2026 Season 5, Episode 19 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 394: That's a Lot of Raids Live Streamed on - 5/19/2026 Publish Date - 5/22/2026 Video podcast now available on SPOTIFY! The Community is split on how they feel about the sheer volume of Raids we will be seeing during GO Fest Global. With 50 or so different Raid Bosses, Trainers were feeling like they may not have the amount of opportunities to Raid a specific Pokémon as they would like. Plus, with Mega Mewtwo only showing up at Super Mega Raid eligible Gyms, some min/maxers are a bit annoyed with the deep roster. This led to Niantic announcing that each of the rotating, 3 hour habitats will have a specific Mega and 5 Star Raid Pool. Even with this news, some Trainers are still feeling like the Raids will be overwhelming to manage, especially if they really have their sights set on Mega Mewtwo. Coming off the heels of successful Community Celebrations in cities like Philadelphia and Washington DC, Niantic is bringing a major wave of Celebration events across the globe. New York City is going to be a blast and both Ken and Adam will be in attendance on Saturday! It's going to be an incredible day of gameplay and we hope to see you there! After the break we jump into some gameplay including Community Day Classic: Deino and the upcoming Falinks Super Mega Raid Day.For the latter, we put together a little Raid Guide and Battle Party, with a flying spec Mega Rayquaza coming in as the best counter. Be sure to tag us on social using #BattleParty so we can see what you are bringing, as well as your best catches! Looking ahead in the calendar we have a trio of weekly events being announced with the Team Leader Summer Quests. We will see events run through the IRL Go Fest window, each themed around a different Team Leader with different spawn pools for each. One thing worth noting is that the first of the three events takes place in what many presumed was another event-less week in May, but, SURPRISE! Niantic has blocked out the week, which reminds us of how great it can be when the game can actually surprise us. Sometimes, it's better to not know all the information up front! GO Hub: GO Fest Global Raids GO Fest Global: Community Celebration Community Day Classic: Deino Falinks Super Mega Raid Day GO Hub Mega Falinks Pokebattler Mega Falinks Team Leader Summer Quests Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Chris and Jamal dive into the latest updates surrounding Wayfarer, including improvements to the Wayfarer map and a deeper discussion about how the system actually works compared to what many Pokémon GO players think it should be. The guys break down a viral Reddit thread about rural gameplay frustrations, AI rejections, reviewer cooldowns, and the social psychology behind Wayfarer reviewing. Along the way, they discuss nomination quality, community misconceptions, and why not every location-based complaint is actually Wayfarer's fault. Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Chris Bell Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 15 May 2026 Published: 17 May 2026 Season 5, Episode 18 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
This week Jamal and Chris kick things off with a brand-new intro before diving into some real-world Wayfarer conversations, from Raid Hour stories to a hilarious (and slightly questionable) discussion about fake nominations and why anything bought off Amazon is an immediate no-go. They break down the announcement of Wayfarer Ambassador Cohort 5, highlighting six new ambassadors from around the world and what makes this group stand out from grinders with massive review counts to community-focused guides helping others level up. The conversation evolves into a deeper discussion on what truly makes a great ambassador, including the importance of balancing experience with approachability, the value of “translators” who can simplify criteria, and the ultimate test: would you send a brand-new Wayfarer to this person for help? They also explore Niantic's potential shift toward a staggered ambassador system, comparing it to a hockey line change to preserve institutional knowledge while bringing in fresh voices. To close things out, the guys jump into a fun “One's Gotta Go: MLB Expansion Cities” debate featuring Charlotte, Nashville, Portland, and Montreal, plus the usual mix of Wayspot of the Week, Coal of the Week, and community shoutouts. Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ One's Gotta Go - Gaming Edition ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 06 May 2026 Published: 11 May 2026 Season 5, Episode 17 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 393 Live Streamed on - 5/5/2026 Publish Date - 5/8/2026 Listen to this episode ad free on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor We are very excited to welcome LandorAlpha back to the show! We have known Joe for many years and have been a major fan of his from the beginning. His dedication to creating content that combines entertainment and information with incredible production value and a positive focus has earned him the respect of many core Trainers in the community. He covers the game with a positive lens, focusing on gameplay, community, and of course, the grind. We start of by learning about his approach to content, and how he has recently added a community focus to his gameplay experiences, which in our opinion, is the perfect compliment to his content style. Capturing the community experience, along with creating memories off camera, brings an organic feel and a relatable perspective. Like us, Lando feels that the future of this game is in the hands of new Trainers, which is why being there to foster a great experience is so important. You wouldn't expect it after watching some LandorAlpha content, but he is creating part time, as he still works full time outside of his content. This brings a unique motive and workflow that makes you think and consider things differently. When TikTok was off the app store for a few days, it was a direct blow to his content. This created an epiphany of understanding that while you may be creating the content, it is the platform that holds all the chips. Enter, Spawn Point, LandorAlpha's weekly Pokémon GO Newsletter. A project that not only provides valuable info to Trainers worldwide, but one that is completely owned an operated by Joe. This security is important and shows the street smart approach to protecting content. We relate to this and admire how he has rolled this project out, making it exceptionally easy for Trainers to sign up. The newsletters provide complete game and event information for the week, while also aggregating all relevant and important links in a single place. After the break we talk GO Fest and how the IRL experience is like no other. Looking back on some of our favorite GO Memories and GO Fest stories. We rate our favorite park and city experience cities, and start the hype train for Chicago. Make sure you connect with LandorAlpha on all of his platforms, and be sure to subscribe to the newsletter! LandorAlpha's Links - https://landoralpha.tv/ Subscribe to LandorAlpha's Newsletter - https://landoralpha.beehiiv.com/ LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com | Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/LuredUp Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Lured Up Podcast 392 Live Streamed on - 4/9/2026 Publish Date - 5/4/2026 We spent some time with Ashlee the Artist to discuss the state of the game, different gameplay styles, and of course, Wayfarer! We did in to her history with the Pokémon franchise, and how a career in digital marketing transfers skills to content creation. Ashlee shares what her favorite ways to play the game are, and how understanding gameboard mechanics create a better environment for everyone to play in. The importance of Wayfarer is present in most of Ashlee's content. We discuss how Wayfinders end up having “Wayfarer” goggles on at all times, and when out doing some standard grinding, everything can be a potential Wayspot. She highlights how a single Wayfinder can have a dramatic impact on a location. It speaks to how important Wayfinders are to the overall game board experience, and how more Trainers should get involved in the process. This episode will be the first in many of guests coming on to Lured Up this Spring! Stay tuned for more details and dates! LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Jamal and Chris dive into one of the most debated updates yet... AED PokéStops in Japan. They break down what AEDs are, why Niantic may be adding them to the map, and the real-world impact this could have on player awareness and emergency preparedness. From clear pros like life-saving visibility and more stops… to concerns around safety, crowding, and unintended behavior, this one sparks a serious debate. The conversation also expands into a bigger topic—should the Wayfarer map be global, or shaped by local communities? And is this even a Wayfarer issue at all… or just another example of the Pokémon GO team doing their own thing? Plus: A quick but important nomination tip: don't mention “Wayspots” in your submissions A breakdown of generic infrastructure signs (and why they're not eligible) Wayspot of the Week featuring a creative upcycled bench and a massive mural Coal of the Week highlighting obvious pin abuse All that, plus hockey talk, dad jokes, and the usual chaos. Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Chris Bell Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 29 April 2026 Published: 3 May 2026 Season 5, Episode 16 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 391 Live Streamed on - 4/28/2026 Publish Date - 5/1/2026 Listen to this episode ad-free on our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor This week we dig in to an interesting juxtaposition in the Pokémon GO Community. It seems the divide between sentiment towards the game is widening. One one hand you have the Trainers that spend a lot of time on platforms like X. They may not have or do not engage with their local Campfire Communities so much of their PGO social interaction is actually para-social. This crowd has been sharing feelings of being unsatisfied with the state of the game. With monthly content updates going from a full disclosure of the month's events to having as few as one announced, is festering feelings of boredom and stagnation. Talks of the game feeling dead and not exciting will show up in most PGO feeds on X, even without searching it out. On the other hand, you have exceptionally robust in-person communities with active Campfires and plenty of meetups. In NJ we are seeing meetups increase in both frequency and turnout. Trainers are engaged and active and the vibes are always excellent. So how could both of these completely opposite takes exist at the same time? On paper they seem as if they are talking about completely different games? There is plenty to unpack and we do our best to find validation where it is warranted. From a news perspective, we have a TON to get through as we speedrun through the May calendar. We have Entei Shadow Raid Day this weekend, followed by the Spring Marathon and Community Day Classic: Deino. Phalanx Super Mega Raid Day takes us up to GO Fest Japan, making this month still pretty packed with action. We also had some fresh news from Niantic about a new branching Timed Research that Trainers will get for free during weeks without an in-game event. Things like Skill, Exploration, and Raiding will all be options to pursue in this new Research. While we don't expect the rewards to be anything crazy, we do think this will be a nice push to supplement some Evergreen Week gameplay. The big news of the week is all about the debut of Mega Mewtwo at GO Fest. It will set a new precedent for split Mega Evolving Pokémon, which will soon require require specific Mega Energy for each evolution. We now have a ton more info about GO Fests including the rotating spawn pools by type during extended, 9 hour event gameplay days. Things are beginning to look incredible and we are still over a month away. We are so ready for GO FEST! Mega Mewtwo GO Fest Global Updates May Content Update GO Pass: May Entei Shadow Raid Day Spring Marathon Community Day Classic: Deino Falinks Super Mega Raid Day Pokémon GO Map Play! Pokémon Orlando Statement Firestar73 Statement LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Justin is joined by guest host Lane for a wide-ranging episode of Special Conditions covering the collector side, the player side, and the “wait, what just happened?” side of Pokémon TCG. Lane shares what it's like working at a card store during modern product drops, while Justin talks Collect-A-Con pickups, Arcanine binder goals, and the continued explosion of Pokémon 151 prices. Then it's time to look at the post-rotation format. The crew talks Okidogi single-prize decks, Festival Lead, Dragapult's early dominance, upcoming Regional Championships, and the rise of “Slop Box” — or as Lane puts it, Good Stuff: The Deck. They also dig into Chaos Rising preorders, Pokémon Center queue survival, and why getting product online still feels like its own competitive format. Finally, Justin and Lane discuss the Orlando Regional controversy, the difference between the Pokémon TCG and Pokémon GO incidents, and why competitive Pokémon rulings keep spilling into the wider gaming conversation. 00:49 Lane Joins Special Conditions 04:47 Pokémon Market Shifts Beyond 151 09:52 Justin's Arcanine Binder Quest 14:00 Chinese 151 and International Exclusives 21:00 Post-Rotation Deck Testing 28:18 Dragapult and the Early Meta 41:38 Slop Box vs. Good Stuff Decks 50:15 Orlando Ruling Controversy
This week, Jamal and Chris dive into a packed episode discussing whether Wayfinders are running out of quality POIs, and how location plays a major role—dense cities may be tapped out while growing suburbs still offer opportunity. Jamal shares a massive run of 19 approvals (17 live in-game) in under a week, sparking a debate on “stretching criteria” and the future of nominations. The conversation shifts to S2 cell strategy, where both agree it's not cheating—unless you're manipulating pin placement outside the rules. They break down the difference between smart optimization and abuse, and Jamal introduces his “Confessions of a Cell Optimizer” segment, explaining how he maximized a local area into a fully optimized cluster. They also explore the idea of “remove and replace” as areas redevelop, debating whether outdated Wayspots should be removed immediately or left until replacements are ready. In lighter moments, the episode features a “One's Gotta Go” gaming debate (PS5 vs PC vs Switch vs Mobile, with Xbox catching strays), standout Wayspots of the Week featuring incredible murals, and a clear Coal of the Week example highlighting what not to nominate (a PRP tree). As always, the episode wraps with community shoutouts, patron love, and the reminder: “What's a few meters between friends?” Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ One's Gotta Go - Gaming Edition ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 24 April 2026 Published: 26 April 2026 Season 5, Episode 15 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
This week, Chris and Jamal kick things off with some fun tangents—from time being a construct to bold sports predictions and a dose of nostalgia with upcoming movie announcements—before diving into Wayfarer news, including reports of missing Wayspot images and how the community can help fix them. In Topic #1, the guys take a deep dive into sports fields, breaking down how to properly maximize nominations through smart pin placement, understanding S2 cells, and why “a few meters” can make a big difference. They also debate dugouts, scoreboards, and how far is too far when it comes to maximizing a single complex. In Topic #2, it's time for Wayspot Madness 2026, where the community bracket delivers surprises, upsets, and a Cinderella run—culminating in restaurants taking home the title over libraries. The episode wraps up with Wayspots of the Week, including a long-fought restaurant nomination success story and a perfectly framed mural submission, plus a Coal of the Week that highlights the importance of quality photos. Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Chris Bell Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 17 April 2026 Published: 19 April 2026 Season 5, Episode 14 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 390 Live Streamed on - 4/14/2026 Publish Date - 4/17/2026 As we make our way out of the first of two, “no-event” weeks in April, this would be the perfect time to start talking about GO Fest prep. Nothing will be worse than showing up to GO Fest unprepared. We run through our best recommendations for both on and off screen prep. When it comes to in-game prepping for an in-person event, you will likely be spending some real cash, so it will be important to identify a budget that you feel can carry you through a weekend of serious gameplay. Look for deals and take advantage of boxes that have the items you care about. Start thinking about ball maintenance and stockpile A LOT of balls. Depending on your gameplay, you will likely have plenty of opportunity to restock. Your effort now will pay off during GO Fest when you don't have to spend any energy on it during the event. Utilizing the tag system will help you stay organized and manageable. Finally, make sure you plan your Park Experience gameplay to fit your needs and style. Remember that the bulk of your weekend gameplay will happen outside of the Park, so you will want to be as efficient as possible. Off screen prep is extremely important. From things like sunblock to having comfortable shoes and extra socks, there is plenty to think about now to get prepared. Battery packs, charging blocks and cables, and even things like phone coolers can be important over your event weekend. If you run hot you can consider a neck cooler, which offer a silent and hands free way to drop your overall body temperature. Don't forget about food, and remember that things will likely be more expensive than you're used to. Finally we run through the current event announcements that take us into early May. Sustainability week will have us on the new Pokémon and Shiny Costume hunt. This weekend brings Replay: Rioulu Hatch Day. Next week we have another event week off, but you will need to save your energy for the GMAX Battle Day coming next weekend. Keep Training Trainers! Tinkatink Community Day Sustainability Week Replay: Riolu Hatch Day Pokémon GO x MLB Lechonk Community Day Learn the Metro System Neck Cooler Power Banks Phone Cooler LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Jamal and Chris kick things off with a lively discussion around “Don't Blame Emily,” diving into whether AI rejections are really the problem—or if nominators have gotten complacent. They explore how faster approvals and shifting reviewer dynamics have changed submission quality, and why adapting your nominations still matters. The conversation expands into the impact of the Ingress community stepping back, and how that shift may have affected overall map standards in today's “need more stops” era. From there, the guys reflect on how building Wayspots can transform local communities, turning quiet areas into active social hubs. In Topic #2, Jamal and Chris tackle the debate of cleaning vs policing the map, discussing local control, global enforcement, and when removing Wayspots goes too far. It's a thoughtful look at balancing map quality with player experience. Plus, a fun One's Gotta Go: BBQ Edition, some classic dad jokes, and standout submissions including two awesome murals and a not-so-great high school nomination for Coal of the Week. Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ One's Gotta Go - BBQ Edition ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 08 April 2026 Published: 12 April 2026 Season 5, Episode 13 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 389 - Unsportsmanlike Live Streamed on - 4/7/2026 Publish Date - 4/10/2026 What a wild week in the Pokémon GO Community. While PvP isn't something we typically dig too deep into on the show, this weekend's drama from the Orlando Regionals was not only shocking, but has the community rallying. We saw Firestar73 claw his way through the losers bracket to an incredible final table run, where he defeated Nighttimeclasher, or so it seemed. Shortly after the match, Firestar73 was handed a loss for an unsportsmanlike celebration, which gave the championship to Nighttimeclasher. This is not sitting right with the bulk of the community, and many are speaking out. First things first, there was nothing unsportsmanlike about his celebration. He tossed his headphones on the table, gave a fist pump, and immediately extended his hand to shake Nighttimsclasher's hand. After a few short moments, Firestar73's dreams were crushed, and Play!Pokémon is yet to make a statement. When things like this happen, they don't fade away quickly, instead, they fester, amplify resent, and damage the brand. Orlando actually had a few controversial rulings, making Trainers question not only the integrity of the tournament series, but also the overall demeanor of the sport. If Pokémon GO was to ever share the stage with other competitive games, this is not the way to do it. Could these rulings sterilize future events and squash the excitement? We hope not, however things are not looking good. After the break we rip through the news and talk about how April still has plenty to offer. Even with two weeks of vanilla spawns, the calendar is still healthy as we learn about the event slate that will carry us into May. We are also speculating on how Memories in Motion got its name, as we are seeing 2 more Replay events with Riolu Hatch Day and GO Bigger. Is this the new normal for the middle months of a season, or is it unique to April? Time will tell as we get through the rest of the month! Be sure to let us know your feelings about the Orlando Regionals situation, we are eager to hear from you! ItsAXN Tweet about Orlando Firestar73 Nighttimeclasher Hungrybox GO Hub IGN Coverage Ethan Chen - Junior's TCG FishNugget4 - TCG Guest Lineup A Shockingly Good Time GO Pass: April Sustainability Week Replay: Riolu Hatch Day Replay: GO Bigger Steeled Resolve Steeled Resolve: Taken Over April Content Update GO Pass April Fashion Raid Day Replay: Riolu Hatch Day An Egg-cellent Adventure Sustainability Week Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Chris and Jamal dig into how to build your Wayfarer toolbox and set yourself up for success—whether you're brand new or a seasoned Wayfinder. Inspired by real-world onboarding strategies, they break down practical ways to improve your nominations through better photos, stronger supporting information, and cleaner titles and descriptions. They also discuss how to gain momentum in Wayfarer by doing consistent reviews, making meaningful edits, and learning from others through reviews and forum discussions. The goal? Build confidence, avoid common mistakes, and create higher-quality submissions from the start. Along the way, the guys touch on GO Fest excitement, community discussions around removals and reviewing behavior, and a preview of next week's spicy topics. Plus: Building Your Wayfarer Toolbox (photos, supporting info, titles & descriptions, tools) Gaining Momentum (reviews, edits, and learning from others) Community Talk (removals, Reddit vs forums, and reviewer behavior) Wayspots of the Week (including a creative transit-themed sign & a powerful multi-story mural) Coal of the Week (what NOT to submit) Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 3 April 2026 Published: 5 April 2026 Season 5, Episode 12 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
This week Jamal and Chris dig into the current state of Wayfarer and ask the big question: has the system become too easy—or is it finally working the way it should? They break down the shift from strict “gatekeeping” to a more open, fast-moving system, and debate whether community-driven approvals are helping or hurting overall quality. The conversation then moves into one of the hottest topics right now: local vs global reviewing. Does local knowledge still matter most, or is global reviewing the key to speed and fairness? The guys also tackle the rise of “voyeur removals” and whether players should be removing Wayspots in areas they don't even play in. They wrap up the discussion by exploring what the “Wayfarer standard” really is today—and whether different players are playing by completely different definitions of that standard. Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ One's Gotta Go - Potato Edition ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 26 March 2026 Published: 29 March 2026 Season 5, Episode 11 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 388: Pokémon GO Anonymous Live Streamed: 3/24/2026 Publish Date - 3/27/2026 Listen to this Podcast ad free on Patreon! We jump head first into this episode's deep dive as we explore some of the symptoms of gaming addiction. Pokémon GO does have some systems in place that make it difficult for players to disconnect. We discuss the line between being an avid hobbyist and someone obsessed or addicted. From not wanting to stop playing, to over spending, to neglecting responsibilities, having this game in our pockets could be a slippery slope. We also take a look at the topic of how the game has been heralded to have therapeutic qualities. It's no surprise that this game can be a great platform to use while exercising, exploring, or in some cases, escaping. We look at how escapism and addiction can cross paths, by posing the question of how being locked out of the game for 24 hours would make you feel. For most of us, it would be a pretty rough day. We want to hear your perspectives on the topic, and encourage everyone to join the conversation. Let us know how the game makes you feel, and if you ever have concerns that you are putting the game ahead of your responsibilities. Our live chat did an incredible job of opening up and sharing stories. We would love to hear more of them. After the break we recap the last week of gameplay. We had the conclusion of the Bugout as well as Water Research Day this past weekend. The April Content update has been released, and we will be sing the return of many legendaries, but the release of a few new Pokémon. Will next week's A Shockingly Good Time event satisfy our Spotlight Hour fix, or will the flood of Pikachu lose its spark a few days into the event? Let us know your thoughts! Video Game Addiction Hanke CNBC Interview 2019 Class Action Lawsuits Bug Out Replay: Water Research Day GMAX Pikachu A Shockingly Good Time April Content Update Sustainability Week Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Chris and Jamal kick off Episode 218 of the Wayspotters Podcast with some personal updates, including Chris preparing to start a new job and celebrating his son making a lacrosse rep team. After the catch-up, they dive into the latest Wayfarer and Niantic news. The big topic this week is the pause of Operation Portal Recon (OPR). Chris and Jamal discuss Niantic Spatial's announcement that OPR has been temporarily shut down and share their speculation about why it happened. Reports surfaced showing large-scale cheating, bots, and automated portal submissions creating thousands of fake reviews and portals. They explore how the abuse may have overwhelmed Niantic's ability to manage the system, why OPR may stay offline for a long time, and what the future could look like for Ingress mapping and community review. They also talk about what this pause could mean for Ingress players and the long-term health of the portal network, including concerns that without new portals the game could feel stale and lose player engagement. On the Wayfarer side, the hosts highlight a major quality-of-life improvement: web submission drafts. The new system allows Wayfinders to create and store multiple nomination drafts, review photos and descriptions at home, and submit them later once everything is polished. Chris and Jamal explain why this could improve nomination quality, reduce “coal” submissions, and help reviewers overall—while noting the limitation that submissions still require available nomination slots. The episode wraps up with Wayspot of the Week, featuring a striking globe installation in Dublin and an abstract art installation in Rockford, Illinois, followed by Coal of the Week, showcasing a great nomination ruined by using a watermarked photo pulled from a website. Overall, the episode explores the evolving future of Wayfarer, the challenges of community-driven mapping systems, and how new tools might improve the quality of Wayspot nominations going forward. Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ Tales From Canada ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Chris Bell Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 5 March 2026 Published:8 March 2026 Season 5, Episode 10 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 387 - Clutch Your Pearls Live Streamed on - 3/17/2026 Publish Date - 3/19/2026 We switched up the show format this week as the community news was too good to hold off on discussing. Social media was on fire thanks to a hit piece style tweet from a non-credible source was viewed over 20 million times. It shared the horrors of Niantic building a network to train automated pizza delivery robots using data collected through Pokémon GO. The pearl clutching and fauxrage was rampant with so many feigned gasps of air coming mainly from X. We look at the actual article that sparked interest in Niantic Spatial's dealings from the MIT Technology Review. We discuss how Niantic's vision for a complete 1:1 digital to IRL map of the world has always been the goal. Could we have known that pizza delivery robots would be amongst the fist to benefit from the map? Of course not but it is amazing to see Niantic's vision start to be realized. The VPS is an amazing tool and LLM that Pokémon GO, Ingress, and Wayfarer have always been a part of. Wayfinders and keepers of the Gameboard have been enthusiastic about being a part of this process. Anyone saying they had no idea that this GPS based game is tracking our GPS data is simply feigned ignorance. We run through some wishlist ideas that we have for the game, where the gameboard and environment is the focus. From persistent AR instances to the introduction of HMs allowing you to traverse different terrains, the gameboard truly is paramount to our experience. The question is, with Niantic Spacial separating from the Niantic brand which was acquired by Scopely, will we ever see the technology behind the VPS be utilized in PGO going forward. Finally we recap the last week of gameplay including the Pokopia Event and Scorbunny Community Day. We have some new Event announcements and nao everything out on our Google Calendar. Newsforce Hit Piece MIT Technology Review Dexerto Article Niantic Spatial VPS Pokopia Event Scorbunny Community Day Fashion Raid Day April Community Day Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How Card Show Vendors Actually Make Money | Special Conditions 200 Episode 200 of Special Conditions is a real behind-the-table conversation with two guests who live the hobby from the vendor side. We're joined by Zach and Niche from the New England card scene to talk about how they got started, what made them fall in love with vending, and what the card show grind actually looks like once you're the one buying, pricing, trading, and trying to keep inventory moving. This one isn't about fake guru advice or hobby mythology. It's about the stuff that actually matters: why repeat customers matter more than squeezing every percentage point, why sticker prices and presentation change the whole buying experience, and the mistakes you only make once if you're lucky. The stories about bad buyouts, early inventory mistakes, and learning how to price for negotiation make this one especially good for anyone who has ever thought about setting up at a show. On top of that, the episode wanders exactly where a good hobby podcast should: Whatnot growing pains, 151 spikes, Prismatic frustration, Japanese cards, oddball collectibles, and the kind of side quests that happen when four cardboard degenerates get talking. It feels like hanging out at the table after a busy show — which is probably why it works so well. 00:00 Intro + guest setup 01:30 How Adam knows the Zachs 06:00 Why card show vending is a volume business 06:45 Whatnot selling, shipping headaches, and singles 13:30 Buying strategy: moving cards 15:30 Dallas spend vs New England spend 17:15 Pricing philosophy at shows 18:45 Big trades, slabs, and hot table stories 29:00 Could Pokémon ever do serialized cards? 32:30 151 spikes, Prismatic, and current market talk 40:00 How both guests got started in the hobby 45:00 Biggest mistakes new vendors make 48:00 Why sticker prices matter 55:00 Show layout, traffic flow, and vendor setup 01:00:00 Slab guards and deal friction 01:10:00 Growing as a vendor 01:20:00 What actually belongs in the showcase vs binders 01:27:30 Rapid-fire advice for new vendors 01:42:30 Why Pokémon's community keeps people in the hobby 01:46:00 Final thoughts + where to find everyone
This week Chris and Jamal dig into a packed episode full of Wayfarer news, hot takes, and a lot of common-sense discussion. They cover the fix for the Pokémon GO nomination spacebar bug, the nearby map issue, Niantic Spatial pausing OPR and retiring Overclock, and the arrival of Wayfarer nomination drafts—an update they both see as one of the biggest quality-of-life improvements Wayfarer has had in a long time. The main topic asks a bold question: what if Pokémon GO removed the ability to nominate POIs in-game and pushed all nominations through the Wayfarer website instead? What starts as a spicy hot take turns into a thoughtful conversation about better onboarding, higher-quality nominations, clearer expectations, and reducing the constant confusion from players who think they are nominating PokéStops instead of submitting Wayspots to Niantic's larger database. Chris and Jamal weigh the pros and cons, from better education and fewer junk nominations to the risk of losing casual contributors and slowing map growth. They also talk about whether Wayfarer may be entering a post-backlog era, with eMiLy filtering out more coal, review areas feeling wider, and nominations moving faster than ever. From there, they jump into a fun “One's Gotta Go” debate featuring Pokémon, Mario, Call of Duty, and EA Sports, before wrapping up with two great Wayspots of the Week and a Coal of the Week that serves as a reminder that even a beautiful mural is still ineligible if it sits on K-12 school property. https://community.wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/t/whats-the-point-of-having-pokemon-go-if-my-nomination-wont-show-up-in-game/108679 Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ One's Gotta Go ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 12 March 2026 Published: 15 March 2026 Season 5, Episode 9 Contact Us wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710 Support the Show Patreon: patreon.com/PokemonProfessor Website: wayspotters.com Follow! Instagram: @wayspotterspodcast Twitter/X: @wayspotters TikTok: @imakewayspots YouTube: @WayspottersPodcast Twitch: twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/niawayfarer German Wayfarer Discord: discord.gg/ThTZCZH5 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836 Solstice:
Lured Up Podcast 386: The Highs And Lows Live Streamed on - 3/10/2026 Publish Date - 3/13/2026 The 30th Anniversary Event is a perfect example of how the changes being delivered by the game can impact Trainers differently. Even with the basic wild encounter pool during an event can be dissected in countless ways. We saw Legendaries in the wild for the first time, but super low catch rates and super high flee rates, the experience was soured for some. March has been really strong so far, and the upcoming events look to continue the trend. Pokopia, Scorbunny and the Bug Out will keep us busy for a few weeks, while Pikachu will join us at the end of the month. We are also seeing more GO Passes, which aren't that much different from the amount of Event Tickets that we were previously seeing. We will need some month over month data to really determine how the shift has impacted our spending habits. The GO Memories campaign is underway and Niantic is looking to hear your best stories and memories made through Pokémon GO. We live for this stuff, and can't wait to dig into some of the stories that are shared. Also, you can win an all expense paid trip to any of the three GO Fests! Be sure to share your favorite GO Memories with us! Finally we dig into how the game is evolving and changing with Memories in Motion. The Scopely Effect is becoming more and more noticeable, but we can't tell what the Community thinks just yet. Multiple GO Passes a month sounds scary at first, but once you realize that it is the same frequency of cost as the now retired event tickets, you can see that the value is actually greater. We have PLENTY to unpack here! 30th Anniversary Event Pokopia Celebration Scorbunny Community Day Bug Out A Shockingly Good Time GMAX Pikachu Max Battle Day GO Memories Monk's Pub Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Lured Up Podcast 385 GO Tourist Trap Live Streamed on - 3/3/2026 Publish Date - 3/5/2026 The last week of gameplay has been some of the best Raiding the game has seen. With multiple chases and backgrounds, this week was either a collectors best dream or worst nightmare. One thing was for certain, and that was how both the Road to Kalos and the GO Tour itself were set up to accommodate spending. We both had a different approach to the event, but we both felt the pressure of spending throughout. March is shaping up to have some great events. Blogs have been released covering the next three weeks of gameplay. This comes after last week's March Content Update felt very light on info. The 30th Anniversary Event brings an ambitious amount of Pokémon to the gameboard, with plenty of availability for Legendaries. After the anniversary event we get a one-two punch from the Pokopia Celebration Event and the Bug Out! The schedule may be structured, but it hasn't slowed down at all. Details for each of the IRL GO Fest events has been released and Mewtwo and Zeroara are leading the charge. The event will switch up the habitat style for this event, and even offers a stand alone city experience ticket. If the Early Bird ticket sales are any indication, this year's GO Fest is going to be sold out across the board. We end the show with a discussion about how the Road to Kalos trained us to be prepared to spend, only to be followed up with an even bigger weekend of Raiding. We discussed the Scopely Effect last week, and we think this may be another side of that coin. It looks like a future “Global” events could be increasingly more demanding on our wallets! Kalos Tour: Global GO Pass: March 30th Anniversary Event Pokopia Celebration Bug Out Festival of Colors Replay: Water Research Day GO Fest Early Bird GO Fest: Chicago GO Fest: Tokyo GO Fest: Copenhagen GO Fest: Global Ticket Comparison Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2026 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Lured Up Podcast 384 - The Scopely Effect Live Streamed on -2/24/26 Publish Date - 2/27/26 Happy Pokémon Day! This episode is releasing on a very important day, and we hope everyone has an excellent time. Niantic has given us an incredible amount of information, not just about events, but about the new Season and some significant changes that are coming! We start with a recap of the last week of gameplay including The Lunar New Year Event and the kickoff to the Road to Kalos. If you have been feeling like things have been building towards something, you have been feeling correctly. We will be seeing major changes to event and scheduling structures, a move away from event tickets to GO Passes, and some fun QOL updates like the ability to catch evolved form Shinies in the wild. Memories In Motion will be the potential dawn of a new era, with all of the announcements kicking off with the start of the new season. ITL Kalos Tour gave us a preview of the new Mega System. Link Charges have caused a stir online, however we feel strongly that they are a massive win for Trainers as a no cost option to Raid. The March Content Update has been met with mixed reviews. Niantic's new strategy seems to give us even less news than before, which was already a sore spot. With the top secret debut of Mega Dragonite, it does feel good to be pleasantly surprised.This all feels very calculated, and we will keep a close eye on it over the Season. Our final discussion takes a macro look at the upcoming changes. For better or worse, the Scopely Effect is beginning to take shape. Is the Community ready to embrace the change, or will they form a resistance? Time will tell, and we are exceptionally here for it all. Lunar New Year Road To Kalos Early Bonus Road To Kalos New Mega System Memories In Motion March Content Update Scorbunny Community Day Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Lured Up Podcast 383 - The Long Way Live Streamed on - 2/17/2026 Publish Date - 2/20/2026 The love in the air is starting to disperse, but not before we recap the Valentine's Day event and our Raid and Max Battle double-feature over the weekend.After SerAmanda's voicemail last week discussed how were to get just a single Spinda encounter (or so we thought), we were all pleasantly surprised that we had Spinda galore. It opens a great conversation about how harsh the community can be when if comes to Niantic sharing info, and how it actually feels really good when they can pull off a surprise. Therian Anamorus and GMAX Meowth kept us busy and spending money, even though Furfrou and Luvdisc tried to take the spotlight. It was an interesting weekend of activity, but one that brought the community together twice, which is never a bad thing. The Lunar New Year event runs through Saturday and gives us all a chance at Shiny Gimmighoul and a whole lotta luck when it comes to gifting and trading. Kalos Tour IRL is taking place this weekend and we have additional info on the event and a little bit of new info for Global. Ken and Adam will both be out on the grind during Kalos Tour, so make sure you stop to say hi if you see them! GO Battle League has been completely rebuilt from the ground up and this could be the update that the Battlers have been demanding for years. I think we should all put in some time behind the wheel before jumping to conclusions, however the early sentiment seems to be that some of the long standing issues with the system have been addressed. Let's check back in on this during next week's episode! Finally we have a fun discussion about how spending time on the toilet can be a great catalyst for gameplay. We run down our top 5 things to do while we are on the toilet! Make sure you contact us to share your toilet habits! We want to hear from you! Valentine's Day 2026 Therian Enamurus Raid Day GMAX Meowth Max Battle Day Lunar New Year New Kalos Tour Info GBL Update ItsAXN GBL Update Video LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Lured Up Podcast 382: We Love This Game Live Streamed on - 2/9/26 Publish Date - 2/13/26 Love is in the air during the Valentine's Day Event! We start by recapping the last week of gameplay and how Oricorio Catch Mastery overlapped with the Carnival of Flamigo. This type of double event format gave Trainers flexibility over the day to play when they could, without creating FOMO. Let's hope that this is something they do again in the coming seasons. Valentine's Day weekend brings us Raids and Gigantamax Battles as we take on Therian Enamorus and GMAX Meowth. Taking a look at GO Hub and Pokebattler, we put together some parties to take them on, with some usual suspects and some unique Pokémon making appearances. Between event tickets and consumables, this will likely be an expensive weekend for the hardcore. We had an update that no one asked for, but many are happy is here, with GO Snapshot getting a significant update. Partnering with Pokémon's 30th Anniversary campaign, “What's Your Favorite” looks to create some social buzz by having Trainers share pictures of themselves with their favorite Pokémon. The interface is easy to navigate and the features are pretty cool so we recommend giving it a try! Niantic will be hosting Community Celebrations across the globe including in Washington D.C.! Ken will be attending so if you plan on being there, send us a message! He will be giving out codes and stickers throughout the event! Our final discussion is a recap of some critically important settings and features that you may not even know about! Did you know that there are two different ways that the game measures walking distance? Do you know if you are running at 30Hz or 120Hz refresh rate? We hope you can find something to take away from our discussion and start using today! Carnival of Flamigo Oricorio Catch Mastery Valentine's Day 2026 Therian Enamurus Raid Day Therian Enamorus Battle Party GO Hub Therian Enamorus Battle Party Pokebattler GMAX Meowth Max Battle Day GMAX Meowth Battle Party GO Hub GMAX Meowth Battle Party Pokebattler What's Your Favorite Community Celebrations Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2026 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Lured Up Podcast 381: Three Flamigos Live Streamed on - 2/3/2026 Publish Date - 2/6/2026 Last weekend brought us a double header with Vulpix Community Day and DMAX Ho-Oh Max Battle Weekend. This weekend brings Carnival of Flamigo and Oricorio Catch Mastery. Double dipping may be the best way to get the most out of the game. With next season's Saturdays being blocked out, we think it safe to assume there will be some weekends with overlapping events. We have two annual events making their return this month with Valentine's Day and Lunar New Year. Adam thinks that with Enamorous and Luvdisc not being in the announcement, that there will be more info coming. Lunar New Year will be your next chance for Shiny Gimmighoul, which will likely lead the charge of the event. It's been a while since we last visited Reddit to find some interesting Pokémon GO posts. We picked some of our favorites and enjoy the sweet vibe of Reddit and how it is so different from X. We look back to the old avatar aesthetic, the Meowth Balloon, and hear two great stories from the community. Finally we wrap up with a discussion on game-work-life balance and how we are currently approaching the topic. We share what we are doing right and wrong in the daily battle to find balance. We also want to hear from you! What are you succeeding or failing at when it comes to balance in your life? Into The Depths Community Day: Vulpix & Alolan Vulpix Ho-Oh Max Battle Weekend Carnival of Flamigo Oricorio Catch Mastery Valentine's Day 2026 Lunar New Year Old Avatars 6 Year Gym Defender Meowth Balloon 50 POI in 25 days LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Grab some merch: https://crowdmade.com/collections/professornetwork Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Stay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account! Hosts Ken Pescatore Adam Tuttle Writer and Producer Ken Pescatore Executive Producer Xander Show music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Lake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) Tetracase GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0 Break Music National Park Mikel & GameChops GameChops - Poké & Chill http://smarturl.it/pokechill https://twitter.com/mikel_beats Outro Music Vast Poni Canyon CG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix) GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beats https://soundcloud.com/glitchxcity Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo. #pokemon #pokemongo #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices