We all know that weed smoke and serious conversations are a great combination. Thanks to podcaster Thomas Araujo—aka Dope as Yola—this time-honored tradition is now going viral as the podcast host and cannabis entrepreneur reaches new heights with his hit show, “Dope As Usual.”
The program is available to stream via Spotify and YouTube. According to Araujo, these platforms have embraced a show which has already been a hit with its fans. He has decided to reward subscribers to the cannabis show with bonus, “unrestricted”, episodes on their website.
In spite of all these obstacles, the numbers for “Dope As Usual”, continue to be impressive. Currently, “Dope As Usual” has over 110,000 listeners on Spotify. It also boasts 373k YouTube Subscribers and more than 40 million hours watched.
Araujo says that he can trace his success with his podcast back to a YouTube series called Story Time, where he finally shared personal stories from his life before legalization.
Araujo has said, “I never spoke on camera for the first five of my life.” “‘Story Time’ was my first time doing that. People kept asking me to do more. “I got used to it.”
Marty O’Neill, his future co-host and producer of “Dope As Usual”, sent him a fateful DM proposing they create a podcast. O’Neill, a graphic designer who worked for podcasters Joe Rogan and Theo Vaughn as well as Adam Corolla, brought valuable experience into their partnership.
“I looked at his profile and thought, ‘You want to work with me? Araujo said with a chuckle, “I am just a pothead.” “These guys are really comedians.” He was being serious and this is how it all went down.”
Today, the two of them are enjoying robust success as one of Spotify’s top cannabis comedy podcasts and a major draw on YouTube as well—so much so that they’re finally expanding their small crew—even hiring a booking agent dedicated to “Dope As Usual.”
The podcast is only one of many cannabis-related projects that the aspiring entrepreneur oversees.
Araujo is also managing a THCA, a rolling paper company, a clothing line, a YouTube channel and a THCA. The ambitious schedule hasn’t deterred the stoner-interviewer from announcing a number of incredible guests including Steve-O, MTV’s Jackass, Mario Lopez of Saved by the Bell Ken Flores was a late comedian.
Even when guests on the show can’t consume—as was the case for both Steve-O and Lopez—Araujo says he’s happy to make exceptions if it means getting to talk to interesting people.
He claims that they have produced more than 50 episodes of sobriety for guests. When Tony Hawk was here, because Disney signed him, he could not smoke, and so we didn’t. Respect the time of others and their way of life.
Araujo is quick to answer when asked who he would like as a guest on “Dope As Usual”. Araujo says: “I would like to have a conversation with Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
He might be back.