So you just got back from Europe, how was that man? 




Cole:

Yessir. It was like the most brilliant shit I ever did. It was way more like transformative than I expected. 

You know– I thought I was just gonna go out there like trip and do some yoga and like you know get grounded, but it was like so much deeper than that.

Taught me so much about, like, just being human, and like, loving the Earth and everybody that’s on it. So it was like— I came back loving myself a lot more and forgiving myself for, you know, just wrong that I’ve done, either to myself or others. And, I got to a point where I was like, ‘OK, cool, like, I faced all these demons, and now, like, I can make amends with myself. I can hopefully one day make amends with some people who I’ve wronged—or, you know, if the time comes, time and place, you know, that.




S:
Right 




Cole:

It was just all about healing, and I feel more well-rounded as an individual now. So I’m like— I’m really glad I did that experience. It was, like, scary, you know? Like, to go somewhere across the world just by myself— a lot of people don’t do that. 




S:


Was that your first time being out of the country?




Cole:

I’ve been to Mexico before, but it was with a partner— it was like a girl I was with. So that was my first time traveling out of the country alone. Only my second time traveling alone— the other time was to Colorado to visit a friend. But this was definitely, like, a way bigger jump from that, you know?




S:
Word up. If you could— you don't have to go too much into it— What  is something that you learned from that experience that you feel like most people in every day life are missing?




Cole:

That you can, like, literally love a perfect stranger. Because— so it was, like, a group of us, and I was like the baby. Everybody else was probably, like, late 40s and up— except for one other guy who was, like, 30. But they were all very wealthy people, and I didn’t know a single thing about them or why they were there— like, what they were healing from, right? So they’re all, like, perfect strangers. And, like, you get to the airport and you’re meeting them all for the first time, and you’re like, ‘Who the fuck are these people? Like, what? I don’t know if I’m gonna vibe with them,’ you know— all those, like, human things that we think. And, like, our ego kinda keeps us from this purely loving thing.




But literally by the end of, like, the five-day experience— because we all went essentially through hell and back together, you know— I was like, ‘These people I didn’t know five days prior? I have genuine love for them. I have a connection with them, and even a place to visit in Europe.’ They were also so kind. And, like, it just shows me that you can literally give somebody love for free.




Like, something I learned and took away is this: we love our friends and family, and we try to treat them the best we can— but why don’t we just treat everybody that way? It doesn’t even matter if you’re ever gonna see them again. Like, just a smile at somebody, or to just tell somebody you love them— you don’t know how much they might need that shit. And, like, it just heals the world when we act that way.




So I was like— I think that’s the most important thing I learned from it: to be kind to the world, to the Earth, because it’s been good to us, you know? So yeah.




S:


man that's fucking beautiful yo 




Cole:

I know 




S:


That's beautiful. I'm glad that you got to experience that 





Cole: 

It's crazy 




S:


I was just talking with Chris yesterday. I pulled up to PARC, and we were just talking. I was like, ‘Yo man, with all the shit going on in the world, we really just need to show each other love. We need to support each other—just like that.’ I don’t even think it’s about giving people money or anything like that. I think it’s really just about making people feel like—

They belong. Or even more than that—making people feel like they exist.

A lot of times, we’re in our own little bubble so much that—like you said—we’re conditioned from when we’re kids. And when we grow up, we carry that conditioning. There’s this invisible bubble in our minds, like, ‘Mind your business. Don’t bother anyone. Don’t let anyone bother you.’ But really—it’s not like that.



We’re sensitive.

Even the people who’ve been through hella shit, they’re still human, still carrying all that conditioning. And we all just want love.

A smile. A ‘Yo bro, what’s up?’ A ‘Yo, that T-shirt’s fire!’—like, just little shit like that. It makes you feel good.





Cole: 

Exactly, yeah. And nobody’s gonna crash out on you for that, right? I think especially in the city we live in, people are afraid to lend a hand or just be a friend to somebody—because there are some shiesty people out here. But at the end of the day, you can still give love and keep it pushing.

You don’t have to be best friends with everybody—but you can show love to everybody. It doesn’t cost a thing.

And people don’t think about that.
One issue I kind of solved in myself was this thing around not being present for people. That goes for anybody, really. We’re on our phones so much. But being off social media as much as possible over the past two months has taught me a lot about presence.
These books I’ve been reading talk about just being there—existing in the moment—and giving your full, undivided attention to whoever or whatever is around you. That presence? It heals suffering.
I was off my phone for five days—just one with nature—and bro, I locked eyes with a stray cat. Like, I was there. I wasn’t thinking about anything else.



S:


Man. I love I love having staring contest with cats.




Cole:

They're gonna win every time, 




S:


They're sassy dude they're fucking sassy like— 




Cole:

Yeah, you know that—but I think like, yeah, we need to be more present for each other. You know, like not checking our phones while we’re in the midst of a conversation. Like, putting our phones down and looking up. I’ve been doing that a lot lately—just sky gazing over the past couple months, right? Like, like…

Looking up.

We find ourselves always looking down at our phones, man. And like—they taught me in school that the reason people used to pray with their heads down was as a sign of submission, so they could get their heads cut off. Like, literally. And now we’re all out here with our heads down all the time… it’s like we’re offering ourselves up. So it’s just like—don’t lose your head. Keep it up.




S:


Dead ass. Have you ever met someone where—you’re sitting there, head down on your phone—and it’s like they could just chop your neck?



Cole:

Yeah, yeah yeah people do that. Yeah, that's real. 




S:


It's freaky.



Cole:

I think like—one of the biggest takeaways is realizing how addicted I was to my phone. Even now, even being off it, it’s still a habit. Like, you gotta pick that shit up just to check it—even if there’s nothing on it.

And it’s like… I don’t want to be more cryptic or distant, you know? That’s not the goal. My goal’s the opposite.

We don’t gotta be on the internet to exist.

People need to realize that shit too.




S:


Yeah… we exist more on the internet than we do in real life.













S:


So your name is Cole.

I’ve only met like… two other Coles in my life.

Where does your name come from?

Is it significant to you?




Cole:

You know what’s crazy—I used to not like my name, ’cause I never knew anyone else with it. So I thought I was weird, right?


Like, as a kid, I’d be like, “How come there’s no Coles? I must be fucking weird, bro.”

So I used to wish I had a different name.




S:


You wanted other people to have your name,




Cole:

Nah, I don’t know… I just felt out of place because nobody else had it. You know what I mean?

Like—I knew a bunch of Michaels, or names like that. And I’d be like, “Why don’t I have a normal name?”

But actually, it came from my mom’s grandmother’s maiden name. So—my great-grandma. That was her last name.


Cole:

Yeah, my grandma's name was Colleen.



S:


That's freaky.




Cole:

Yeah—so like, it actually does have a lot of significance for me. And I’m really proud to carry it now.

But when I was a kid, I used to be obsessed with Billy and Mandy.

One of my best friends’ name was Andy, and his older brother was named Billy. And I thought that was the bee’s knees, man.

You know how when you’re a kid, the older kids just seem so cool?

So I used to tell people my name was Billy.

And my uncle—to this day—still won’t let it go. He still calls me Billy like it’s my real name.




S:


Billy is a bad ass name man.




Cole:

I know, right I should've chose it as my name 




S:


Yeah—if you got that name, you’re definitely into some shit, man. You’re doing something.

Personally, I didn’t know any Billys growing up. But every Billy I ever heard of?

They were out here beating motherfuckers up and shit.



Cole:

And I was bad too, so I felt like Billy was kinda like my alter ego as a kid. Like, I was like—yeah, I’m dumb as hell and I’m mischievous, so Billy feels like me.

But now I understand the power of my given name. I’m really proud to wear it

Every time it becomes a talking point. People are like, ‘Whoa, that’s such a powerful name.’

It’s kinda rare, too. Like, you’ll see it as a last name more often—but as a first name? I think I’ve met maybe… less than ten Coles in my life. Or like, maybe just barely over ten, if that.

So yeah—I’m proud as fuck of my name now.




S:


That's how I feel about meeting people with the same birthday as me. I'm like yeah dude.




Cole:

No, that was a really good question actually bro that was really good. I fuck with that question. 




S:


Yeah, cause I was wondering, man—if you cared about your name.

Cause I know some people, especially musicians, don’t really vibe with their first name. Like, I’ve met folks who don’t like their name at all, so they end up going by something else.

Sometimes it’s deeper, and sometimes it’s just like—’Yo, my name’s Larry and I don’t like that shit,’ you know what I’m saying?



Cole:

Yeah, I feel like… I don’t know—on that subject, I remember listening to a Young Thug interview way back. And he used to hate his name, Jeffrey.

Like, he made a whole thing out of it. But then he decided to start wearing it proudly, and that’s when he dropped the Jeffrey album—started wearing dresses and all that.

And honestly, I think subconsciously, that had more influence on me than I realized. It inspired me to embrace my own name as I got older.

’Cause yeah, there was a time in my life when I just didn’t give a fuck. I was too deep into drugs and chaos—I didn’t care about anything, let alone my name. I was like, ‘Whatever, my name’s my name.’

But now that I’ve grown, I really understand the significance of names. And I genuinely thank my mom for giving me mine. It means something. It’s definitely a big deal.



S:


Fuck.
So like—for those who don’t know—where are you from? And do you think it matters where you’re from?


’Cause I’ve always had this weird disconnect with that question.

I’m from Saint Robert, Missouri originally, but growing up, I never felt connected to it. Like, I wasn’t one of those kids proudly repping it—I was just like, yeah whatever, I’m from Saint Robert.

And the thing is—for anyone within a 30-mile radius, that meant something. But outside of that? Everybody’s like ‘Where?’

So for me, it never felt like a big deal. It wasn’t like saying you’re from St. Louis or LA or somewhere that carries weight.

I never felt like where you’re from defined you. So I’m curious—how do you feel about that?




Cole:

Yeah, it’s funny… I liked what Yeat said on TikTok the other day. Somebody asked, ‘Where are you from?’ and he goes, ‘The world.’


I fuck with that answer.


But the real answer?
I was born in St. Louis. Raised for the first four years of my life in a small town called Centralia, down in Southern Illinois. That’s where most of my family’s from—that’s where my bloodline’s rooted, as far as I know.


I haven’t done the whole ancestry deep dive or anything, but that area—Southern Illinois—is what really made me, 
I guess.
Even though I’ve spent most of my life here in St. Louis.


But honestly? I don’t think it really matters where you’re from. Like, I went halfway across the world and still found places that reminded me of home.

And the people out there? They didn’t know a damn thing about St. Louis.




Cole:

“Where are you from? Like, St. Louis, huh?”

I’m like—you don’t wanna know, man.

No, but I am very proud to be where I’m from—St. Louis.

It’s rough, but it’s beautiful. Like, the most beautiful people have sprouted from here.

It’s like 2Pac said—long live the rose that grew from concrete where nobody cared, you know?



I see so much of that here in St. Louis.


And I’m so proud of a lot of the people that come from here—the people I know, the people I haven’t met yet that are doing great things.




Myself included, you know?




And wherever anybody’s from, I’m proud of them too. But like—definitely—I think it’s a shared feeling with a lot of people from here that we’re very proud to be from St. Louis.




Like, we wear it on our sleeves.




Because it’s not an easy place to be.




The energy here can be very, very heavy—especially with what’s going on right now.




And I feel so bad… and compelled to help the people affected by the storm.




You

Yeah 




cole (314)

Because I think that was almost God's way, like bringing us together, so we can be even more powerful as like a city cause I'm seeing a lot of 




You

Great 




cole (314)

unification around this you know nothing humble us more than like a natural tragedy. You know there's 




You

Yeah 




cole (314)

manly tragedies all around us because he goes get. Get in the way and we kill her Rob steal from each other you know like but when the Earth is like shut up, you know you listen 




You

Yeah, he does nothing you can do about it, but you know that 




cole (314)

Oh, there's nothing but but help each other recover from it and it's beautiful to see like I have a close friend of mine from childhood in high school And his families business on the website was affected, and they immediately jumped to action and like instead of like sitting there, and like oh my God, our business you know, they kept using it as a place of meeting and refuge for people who needed help with like clothing include water, toilet paper or anything like that email In it, I think it's just it's really humbling to like know him and have friends to shout out to Carbon 




You

Yeah 




cole (314)

I was able to donate to him yesterday, thankfully fortunately, I'm in the position to be able to do that and I trust that you know he'll use the money that I sent and use it for good purpose to help people who need it so I wanna get more boots on the ground and you know just help clean up and shit like that. You know work the whole thing so