Chad Prather interview on social media growth, viral videos, faith, and storytelling. How Chad Prather built a massive audience by turning authentic conversations into a powerful online platform.

In this episode of At The Mic with Keith Malinak, Chad Prather shares the real story behind his rise from pastor and missionary work in third world countries to becoming a viral social media voice and entertainer.

Chad breaks down the moment he walked away from a stable career to “be himself,” how simple phone videos turned into millions of views, and why authenticity—not strategy—was the key to building a loyal audience.

The conversation also explores deeper themes around identity, purpose, and leadership, including Chad’s framework of identity, destiny, and legacy, and how those principles shape both personal growth and parenting. From global humanitarian experiences to navigating modern media, this episode offers a grounded look at what it actually takes to build influence in today’s world.

If you're interested in social media growth, storytelling, leadership, or the mindset behind building a platform that lasts, this is a conversation worth hearing.

Chapters:

• 00:00 The Moment Everything Changed for Chad Prather
• 02:03 Growing Up in the South (And What Shaped Him)
• 04:56 Why He Walked Away From Pastoring
• 10:47 Burnout, Divorce, and Starting Over in Texas
• 16:13 The Decision to Quit His Job and Bet on Himself
• 20:00 Talking to His Phone… The First Viral Video
• 22:30 From Viral Clips to Sold-Out Shows
• 25:01 Building a Career Without a “Big Break”
• 28:33 Identity, Destiny, and Legacy (His Core Framework)
• 30:23 Why Most People Never Find Their Purpose
• 35:15 What Third World Countries Taught Him About Life
• 39:53 Can Hollywood Be Changed From the Inside?

Connect with Chad Prather: https://watchchad.com

Follow At The Mic with Keith Malinak for more long-form conversations exploring culture, media, and the people shaping it.

What counts as a sport, and how do we define a sport in today’s culture?

In this episode of At The Mic with Keith Malinak, Keith is joined by Zeynep Yenisey to explore the debate around what qualifies as a sport. From tennis health benefits, including research suggesting it can add years to your life, to the ongoing cornhole debate, the conversation examines where the line between real sports and recreational games actually exists.

As the discussion unfolds, the idea of defining a sport becomes more complicated. Some activities require endurance, discipline, and measurable skill, while others blur the line between competition and casual entertainment.

Beyond sports, the episode also explores viral stories, cultural commentary, ticketing controversies, and the growing influence of AI-generated music and technology on everyday life.

If you’ve ever wondered what counts as a sport, how to define a sport, or where modern sports culture is heading, this episode offers a thoughtful and engaging breakdown of the debate.

Childhood vaccines, VAERS data, and aluminum in vaccines are at the center of this deep dive with Dr. Jennifer Margulis.

In this episode of At The Mic: Thursday Deep Dive, Keith Malinak examines what the separate fact from fiction when it comes to childhood vaccines, VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) actually shows, how vaccine ingredients like aluminum are used, and why questions around reporting, transparency, and interpretation continue to surface in public discussions.

The conversation explores vaccine schedules, parental decision-making, informed consent, and how adverse event data is collected and understood. Dr. Margulis breaks down how VAERS works, what it captures, and where confusion or disagreement can arise when interpreting the data.

This episode focuses on understanding the systems, ingredients, and data behind vaccine safety discussions without oversimplifying the complexity.

🔗 Guest:

Dr. Jennifer Margulis – https://www.jennifermargulis.net