Social Media Star Conner Burks on the Grind, Giving Up Alcohol, and Hitting Rock Bottom (NEW YORK CITY)

The Found Generation with Troy Farkas

Conner Burks never imagined he'd get to this point.

From 2018-21, he sleepwalked through a miserable existence working overnight shifts at ESPN while living in dreary central Connecticut one thousand miles away from his beloved Atlanta. Frustration with his life's course was exacerbated by the pandemic, as ESPN demanded he produce radio shows in the office every day while the rest of the world waited out the dangers of COVID-19 from the comforts of their homes.

But in August 2021, the trajectory of Conner's life completely changed.

On today's episode, one of my best friends and I discuss the following from the Financial District of Manhattan:

• Cold open (00:00)
• Advice to his depressed younger self (01:45)
• Career ascension and getting recognized in public (05:55)
• Falling in love with mixed martial arts during COVID (12:22)
• Love/hate relationship with social media (25:30)
• What if we were always honest with each other? (34:38)
• Love/hate relationship with living in New York City (41:52)
• The city he dreams of living in (50:32)
• His recent work trip to Manchester, England (52:05)
• Why he gave up alcohol for one year (59:45)
• Movember (01:10:13)

Conner Burks is the producer of the very popular YouTube show, The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. With 25K followers on X, he has quickly become one of the most beloved characters in combat sports entertainment. Before joining Vox Media, he worked at ESPN Radio from 2018-21.

To support Conner, consider donating to his Movember link here.

To purchase my new book, "Surrender: A Guide to Living Your Best Life in Your Twenties," visit this Amazon link.