The viewer count kept climbing - 100,000, then 150,000, unprecedented numbers for a podcast in 2016. The chat moved so fast it became almost unreadable.
"Let me turn the tables a bit," Lucas leaned forward. "That farewell tour - what moments hit you the hardest? What do you miss most about the game?"
Kobe's expression softened, a rare vulnerability crossing his face. "Man, those final games... every arena, every city. People I've battled against for twenty years showing love. Even places where they used to hate me," he chuckled. "Boston fans actually cheered."
He paused, gathering his thoughts. "What I miss most? That preparation. 3 AM workouts, studying film, finding new ways to elevate my game. People see the highlights, but I miss the grind. Those quiet moments in an empty gym when it's just you and your craft."
"The game was my life for twenty years," his voice carried a hint of emotion. "But it was time. Now I'm channeling that same energy into new challenges - telling stories, building something beyond basketball."
Lucas and Jennifer sat in respectful silence as Kobe opened up. The chat raced by, donations piling up so quickly they overlapped on screen. The podcast staff exchanged excited glances - they were approaching record-breaking Twitch numbers.
Donation alerts kept chiming, the total climbing well into six figures within minutes.
"Speaking of farewells," Kobe cleared his throat, shifting topics. "You two are young, but have you thought about it? When does Hollywood's power couple take their final bow?"
Lucas gestured to Jennifer, who smiled thoughtfully. "Honestly? There's still so much I want to explore in acting. Different genres, challenging roles. I feel like I've barely scratched the surface. Maybe I'm greedy, but I want it all."
"For me," Lucas leaned into his mic, "acting is my world. It lets me live several different lives through these characters. Though if I ever step back, I'd probably dive deeper into music, maybe do some touring." He grinned mischievously. "Or you know, become a producer, settle down with Jennifer, make some babies-"
Jennifer's elbow caught his ribs mid-sentence, drawing laughs from Kobe and the entire production team.
The chat exploded at Lucas's comment:
"LUCAS X JENNIFER BABIES WHEN??"
"Even as a straight guy I'd marry Lucas ngl"
"Jennifer Lawrence living everyone's dream fr"
"Get yourself someone who looks at you like Lucas looks at Jennifer"
"Dude's handsome, rich, AND makes dad jokes? Life ain't fair"
After the laughter settled, Kobe steered the conversation in a new direction. "Lucas, I know you've been pretty vocal about Bitcoin. It's hitting what, $700, $800 now?"
"$830 as of today," one of the staff members called out.
"That's right," Kobe nodded. "And honestly, a lot of people, myself included, only started paying attention to crypto because of you. Some are saying you're partly responsible for Bitcoin and crypto blowing up."
Jennifer turned to Lucas with interest. He took a moment before responding, "Bitcoin was going to explode with or without me talking about it. Though maybe I helped speed things up a bit."
"You definitely did," Kobe's tone grew more serious. "I've been investing in it myself, following your advice."
"I remember," Lucas nodded thoughtfully.
"You're the expert here, Lucas," Kobe leaned forward. "Maybe share some advice for people getting into crypto? I've heard too many stories of people losing their savings in this space."
Lucas nodded seriously. "Look, cryptocurrency is revolutionary because it offers financial freedom outside traditional banking systems. But that same freedom attracts bad actors. There are so many scams out there targeting newcomers. You have to be incredibly careful."
"That's what got me at first," Kobe agreed. "Before you explained it to me, I couldn't tell the difference between legitimate projects and those meme coins popping up everywhere."
"Exactly," Lucas sat up straighter. "Bitcoin has real value - it's backed by a limited supply and complex mining process. But these random meme coins? Pure speculation."
"No fundamentals. Invest in those, you might as well be gambling. I can't stress this enough to viewers - do your research, understand what you're buying, and never invest more than you can afford to lose."
"Lucas Knight everybody, dropping investment wisdom," Kobe grinned.
Lucas shrugged, taking a sip of water. "Crypto and Bitcoin represent inevitable change. And there's nothing wrong with investing in the future."
"Speaking of change," Kobe's expression grew serious, "entertainment's evolving fast. People aren't just watching TV and movies anymore. They're following social media stars, streaming content. How do you see Hollywood and traditional acting surviving in this landscape?"
"It's wild," Jennifer said. "These days, anyone can become famous through social media. No more grinding through auditions or working your way up. Just post the right video at the right time, and suddenly you're a star."
"Vine especially," Kobe nodded. "These creators are getting treated like A-list celebrities. Did you see that campus video recently?"
"No, what video?" Lucas's interest peaked.
Kobe gestured to his staff, who pulled up the clip on the monitor. The Twitch chat watched along as footage showed Jake and Logan Paul being mobbed at a university.
"Really? Jake and Logan are here?" a student's voice gasped off-camera as crowds swarmed the brothers for photos and autographs, the scene resembling a Hollywood premiere more than a campus visit.
"Look at that," Kobe pointed as the clip ended. "Social media's created this whole new category of celebrity. So I'll ask again - what's the future look like for traditional Hollywood in this new world?"
"Social media and the internet have fundamentally changed how information flows," Lucas settled back, speaking with quiet authority. "People's attention is split between movies, politics, viral videos, everything. Their attention span gets shorter and shorter, and Hollywood's definitely feeling that impact."
He paused thoughtfully. "Though Hollywood's still powerful, still far from losing its grip, social media is reshaping the entire landscape of entertainment."
The room fell quiet, absorbed by his analysis. "But this isn't the death of traditional entertainment. Smart actors and artists can leverage social media for free promotion. The irony is - it's never been easier to get famous, yet never been harder to stand out. Success depends on luck, finding your niche, or bringing something genuinely new to the table."
"Dropping knowledge bombs as usual," Kobe laughed, shaking his head.
Jennifer grinned. "After that Ted Talk, I'll just say 'what he said.'"
As their discussion continued past the ninety-minute mark, the viewership held steady at 320,000. The podcast had claimed Twitch's top spot, with even prominent League of Legends streamers pausing their games to react.
"Yo, Lucas Knight actually knows his stuff," one streamer commented to their chat.
"Did not expect this level of insight from a Hollywood actor," another added.
"Man's breaking down social media better than most tech analysts."
Their reactions and commentary created a meta-layer of engagement, further amplifying the podcast's reach across the platform.
"Let's tackle something deeper," Kobe's tone shifted. "Family relationships."
The room grew noticeably quieter.
"I've had my share of family tension," Kobe continued carefully. "But Lucas, your situation's different. Have you ever considered trying to rebuild those bridges?"
Jennifer instinctively leaned closer to Lucas, her hand finding his - a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by the viewers.
"Honestly?" Lucas exhaled slowly. "Some bridges stay burned. They pushed me out when I had nothing. Now that I'm successful, they might notice me, but that's not real family. That's just... opportunism."
"Man," Kobe shook his head. "Having followed your story, seeing how certain people treated you... it's tough to watch. Can't blame you for maintaining that distance."
"On the bright side," Lucas's expression lightened, "I've got a great relationship with my brother."
"That's good," Kobe nodded. "Though I've got to say - looking into your background, certain influences... let's just say I'm glad you turned out nothing like 'him'. That guy's reputation in the industry speaks for itself."
"Well," Lucas's smile turned playful, "lucky I got my mom's genes. Looks and everything."
The tension broke as laughter filled the studio.
The chat exploded with not-so-subtle references:
"We all know who they're talking about 👀"
"Vince really fumbled having Lucas as a son"
"Imagine disowning your kid then watching them become Lucas Knight 💀"
The mood lightened as Kobe steered them toward more entertaining topics, pulling up clips of Lucas and Jennifer playing basketball. "So about those court skills..."
---
"Speaking of behind-the-scenes," Kobe turned to Jennifer, "I heard Lucas has a reputation for helping out during emergencies. Something about a storm?"
"Oh yeah," Jennifer lit up. "During that massive storm on set, he was out there helping the crew protect equipment. But want to hear something better?" Her eyes sparkled. "One night during filming, he convinced me to sneak out and watch the Perseids meteor shower."
"How romantic," one of the staff members sighed dreamily.
The chat went wild:
"KATNISS AND PEETA IRL"
"Lucas really said let's watch shooting stars in the middle of the night"
"They're actually perfect together"
"What about Mockingjay Part 2?" Kobe asked. "Fans are dying to know."
"It's happening," Jennifer assured. "We just need some time to get everything right."
As the podcast wrapped up, they'd maintained over 300,000 viewers for nearly two hours - a testament to the genuine chemistry between all three stars.
Within hours of the podcast ending, headlines blazed across entertainment sites:
"Lucas Knight & Jennifer Lawrence Break Twitch Records on Kobe's Podcast"
"Mamba Podcast Makes History: 340K Live Viewers"
"Hollywood Meets Sports: The Interview That Broke The Internet"
Entertainment news segments cycled through clips, with particular focus on the family discussion. Though Lucas never mentioned names, media outlets ran with the story, prominently featuring photos of Vince Knight in their coverage.
Myla Knight took to Twitter: "Funny how someone claims to be pushed out when they chose to leave. Some people love playing victim."
The replies flooded in:
"Maybe don't kick out your teenage stepson next time"
"The receipts are in that diary sis"
"Your tweets aged like milk since 2011"
Beyond the drama, the two-hour podcast's staggering earnings caught everyone's attention. Industry analysts estimated it generated over $2.5 million or even more in revenue through donations, subscriptions, and sponsorships—an impressive feat achieved in just two hours. The podcast's success ignited immediate interest, prompting a wave of announcements from celebrities and influencers eager to launch their own podcasts.