<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<?xml-stylesheet href="https://rss.buzzsprout.com/styles.xsl" type="text/xsl"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:psc="http://podlove.org/simple-chapters" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<channel>
  <atom:link href="https://rss.buzzsprout.com/2603318.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
  <atom:link href="https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" rel="hub" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" />
  <title>Cruz Control: Navigating the Chaos, One Conversation at a Time</title>

  <lastBuildDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 10:39:40 -0700</lastBuildDate>
  <link>https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318</link>
  <language>en-us</language>
  <copyright>© 2026 Cruz Control: Navigating the Chaos, One Conversation at a Time</copyright>
  <podcast:locked>yes</podcast:locked>
    <podcast:guid>581d7c1f-3f05-577b-bbab-78c46fc9ba4f</podcast:guid>
  <itunes:author>AW &amp; AC</itunes:author>
  <itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>
  <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  <description><![CDATA[<p>Cruz Control is an ongoing, long-form conversation with Aaron Cruz. A man of many lives and disciplines. Aaron is a son, brother, father, and friend. A competitive bodybuilder and mixed martial artist. A nutritionist, iron worker, business owner, researcher, philosopher, archaeologist, and spiritual explorer.</p><p><br></p><p>Each episode moves between the physical and the philosophical, training, discipline, combat, and nutrition alongside spirituality, astrotheology, ancestry, and the search for purpose.</p><p><br></p><p>These are not interviews chasing headlines or hot takes, but thoughtful conversations about identity, resilience, and what it means to build a life with intention.</p><p><br></p><p>Cruz Control explores the body, the mind, and the spirit,<br>and how to navigate the chaos one conversation at a time.</p>]]></description>
  <generator>Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com)</generator>
  <itunes:owner>
    <itunes:name>AW &amp; AC</itunes:name>
  </itunes:owner>
  <image>
     <url>https://storage.buzzsprout.com/4l2e4vy5dqoepf7o7m0k7iagpqy4?.jpg</url>
     <title>Cruz Control: Navigating the Chaos, One Conversation at a Time</title>
     <link></link>
  </image>
  <itunes:image href="https://storage.buzzsprout.com/4l2e4vy5dqoepf7o7m0k7iagpqy4?.jpg" />
  <itunes:category text="Health &amp; Fitness">
    <itunes:category text="Mental Health" />
  </itunes:category>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Identity, Family, and Transition</itunes:title>
    <title>Identity, Family, and Transition</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this deeply personal episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz sits down with Kiki Solano for an open and honest conversation about identity, family, and the journey of transitioning from female to male. Together, they reflect on self-discovery, growing up, navigating today's world, and the challenges and rewards of understanding one another through change. Along the way, they explore how family relationships evolve, what it means to be seen for who you truly are, and the importance of curiosity...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>In this deeply personal episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz sits down with Kiki Solano for an open and honest conversation about identity, family, and the journey of transitioning from female to male.</p><p>Together, they reflect on self-discovery, growing up, navigating today&apos;s world, and the challenges and rewards of understanding one another through change. Along the way, they explore how family relationships evolve, what it means to be seen for who you truly are, and the importance of curiosity, communication, and compassion.</p><p>This isn&apos;t a political debate or a discussion of headlines. It&apos;s Kiki&apos;s experiences, perspective, and lessons learned along the way.</p><p>At its heart, this episode is about family, identity, and the courage to become who you are.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this deeply personal episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz sits down with Kiki Solano for an open and honest conversation about identity, family, and the journey of transitioning from female to male.</p><p>Together, they reflect on self-discovery, growing up, navigating today&apos;s world, and the challenges and rewards of understanding one another through change. Along the way, they explore how family relationships evolve, what it means to be seen for who you truly are, and the importance of curiosity, communication, and compassion.</p><p>This isn&apos;t a political debate or a discussion of headlines. It&apos;s Kiki&apos;s experiences, perspective, and lessons learned along the way.</p><p>At its heart, this episode is about family, identity, and the courage to become who you are.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/episodes/19378995-identity-family-and-transition.mp3" length="58454106" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>AW &amp; AC</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-19378995</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19378995/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19378995/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19378995/transcript.srt" type="application/x-subrip" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19378995/transcript.vtt" type="text/vtt" />
    <itunes:duration>4868</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>7</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Cops. Guns, and Color</itunes:title>
    <title>Cops. Guns, and Color</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode of Cruz Control, we tackle three subjects that are often discussed separately but deeply intertwined in American life: cops, guns, and color. Drawing from their different backgrounds and life experiences, Aaron and Arrington explore how race, law enforcement, and firearm culture have shaped their perspectives. Aaron reflects on navigating the world as a man of mixed heritage, while Arrington shares his experiences growing up and living from a different vantage point. This is n...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode of Cruz Control, we tackle three subjects that are often discussed separately but deeply intertwined in American life: cops, guns, and color.</p><p>Drawing from their different backgrounds and life experiences, Aaron and Arrington explore how race, law enforcement, and firearm culture have shaped their perspectives. Aaron reflects on navigating the world as a man of mixed heritage, while Arrington shares his experiences growing up and living from a different vantage point.</p><p>This is not a debate, and it’s not an attempt to provide easy answers. Instead, it’s an honest conversation about perception, personal responsibility, fear, trust, identity, and the experiences that shape how we see one another.</p><p>As with every episode of Cruz Control, the goal isn&apos;t to win an argument, it&apos;s to better understand the human experience through open dialogue, curiosity, and respect.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this episode of Cruz Control, we tackle three subjects that are often discussed separately but deeply intertwined in American life: cops, guns, and color.</p><p>Drawing from their different backgrounds and life experiences, Aaron and Arrington explore how race, law enforcement, and firearm culture have shaped their perspectives. Aaron reflects on navigating the world as a man of mixed heritage, while Arrington shares his experiences growing up and living from a different vantage point.</p><p>This is not a debate, and it’s not an attempt to provide easy answers. Instead, it’s an honest conversation about perception, personal responsibility, fear, trust, identity, and the experiences that shape how we see one another.</p><p>As with every episode of Cruz Control, the goal isn&apos;t to win an argument, it&apos;s to better understand the human experience through open dialogue, curiosity, and respect.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/episodes/19268203-cops-guns-and-color.mp3" length="44018818" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>AW &amp; AC</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-19268203</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 09:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19268203/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19268203/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19268203/transcript.srt" type="application/x-subrip" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19268203/transcript.vtt" type="text/vtt" />
    <itunes:duration>3665</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Behind the Velvet Rope: Bouncing, Myths, and Reality</itunes:title>
    <title>Behind the Velvet Rope: Bouncing, Myths, and Reality</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz takes listeners behind the velvet rope and into the unpredictable world of nightclub security. Drawing from his years working as head of security in strip clubs, Aaron reflects on violence, ego, control, loneliness, and the psychology of nightlife. What begins as a conversation about security work quickly becomes a deeper exploration of human behavior, how people act when desire, alcohol, money, and emotion collide. This isn’t a collection of wild s...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz takes listeners behind the velvet rope and into the unpredictable world of nightclub security.</p><p>Drawing from his years working as head of security in strip clubs, Aaron reflects on violence, ego, control, loneliness, and the psychology of nightlife. What begins as a conversation about security work quickly becomes a deeper exploration of human behavior, how people act when desire, alcohol, money, and emotion collide.</p><p>This isn’t a collection of wild stories. It’s a thoughtful conversation about masculinity, confrontation, power, and what working in chaos teaches you about people and yourself.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz takes listeners behind the velvet rope and into the unpredictable world of nightclub security.</p><p>Drawing from his years working as head of security in strip clubs, Aaron reflects on violence, ego, control, loneliness, and the psychology of nightlife. What begins as a conversation about security work quickly becomes a deeper exploration of human behavior, how people act when desire, alcohol, money, and emotion collide.</p><p>This isn’t a collection of wild stories. It’s a thoughtful conversation about masculinity, confrontation, power, and what working in chaos teaches you about people and yourself.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/episodes/19149515-behind-the-velvet-rope-bouncing-myths-and-reality.mp3" length="40483886" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>AW &amp; AC</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-19149515</guid>
    <pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 07:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19149515/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19149515/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19149515/transcript.srt" type="application/x-subrip" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/19149515/transcript.vtt" type="text/vtt" />
    <itunes:duration>3370</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Gods in the Sky: From Religion to Astrotheology</itunes:title>
    <title>Gods in the Sky: From Religion to Astrotheology</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[What happens when the beliefs you were raised with stop making sense? In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz explores his journey through organized religion, questioning long-held ideas and searching for meaning beyond traditional frameworks. From early faith to personal deconstruction, the conversation moves into deeper territory via Vision Quest. Examining belief, doubt, and the role of astrotheology in understanding ancient systems of thought. This is a conversation about faith withou...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>What happens when the beliefs you were raised with stop making sense?</p><p>In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz explores his journey through organized religion, questioning long-held ideas and searching for meaning beyond traditional frameworks. From early faith to personal deconstruction, the conversation moves into deeper territory via Vision Quest. Examining belief, doubt, and the role of astrotheology in understanding ancient systems of thought.</p><p>This is a conversation about faith without dogma and curiosity without certainty.</p><p>Of note, we will continue this conversation in future episodes. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What happens when the beliefs you were raised with stop making sense?</p><p>In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz explores his journey through organized religion, questioning long-held ideas and searching for meaning beyond traditional frameworks. From early faith to personal deconstruction, the conversation moves into deeper territory via Vision Quest. Examining belief, doubt, and the role of astrotheology in understanding ancient systems of thought.</p><p>This is a conversation about faith without dogma and curiosity without certainty.</p><p>Of note, we will continue this conversation in future episodes. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/episodes/18999195-gods-in-the-sky-from-religion-to-astrotheology.mp3" length="45245163" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>AW &amp; AC</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18999195</guid>
    <pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18999195/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18999195/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18999195/transcript.srt" type="application/x-subrip" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18999195/transcript.vtt" type="text/vtt" />
    <itunes:duration>3767</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Fueling the Machine: Nutrition, Discipline, and What Actually Works</itunes:title>
    <title>Fueling the Machine: Nutrition, Discipline, and What Actually Works</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Everyone eats. Almost no one agrees on how. In a world full of conflicting advice, nutrition has become more confusing than ever. In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz breaks down what actually matters, cutting through diet trends, misinformation, and extremes to focus on the fundamentals of fueling your body. From consistency and discipline to mindset and performance, this conversation explores how nutrition impacts not just how you look, but how you live. This isn’t about perfection; ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Everyone eats. Almost no one agrees on how. In a world full of conflicting advice, nutrition has become more confusing than ever.</p><p>In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz breaks down what actually matters, cutting through diet trends, misinformation, and extremes to focus on the fundamentals of fueling your body. From consistency and discipline to mindset and performance, this conversation explores how nutrition impacts not just how you look, but how you live.</p><p>This isn’t about perfection; it’s about building something sustainable.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Everyone eats. Almost no one agrees on how. In a world full of conflicting advice, nutrition has become more confusing than ever.</p><p>In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz breaks down what actually matters, cutting through diet trends, misinformation, and extremes to focus on the fundamentals of fueling your body. From consistency and discipline to mindset and performance, this conversation explores how nutrition impacts not just how you look, but how you live.</p><p>This isn’t about perfection; it’s about building something sustainable.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/episodes/18951073-fueling-the-machine-nutrition-discipline-and-what-actually-works.mp3" length="36010395" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>AW &amp; AC</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18951073</guid>
    <pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18951073/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18951073/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18951073/transcript.srt" type="application/x-subrip" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18951073/transcript.vtt" type="text/vtt" />
    <itunes:duration>2998</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Desert Stories: Palm Springs Origins and the Tahquitz Canyon Witch</itunes:title>
    <title>Desert Stories: Palm Springs Origins and the Tahquitz Canyon Witch</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[What does it mean to be shaped by the desert? And the stories it holds? In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz reflects on growing up in Palm Springs and how the landscape, culture, and isolation helped shape his mindset and identity. The conversation then turns to one of the Coachella Valley’s oldest legends: the Tahquitz Witch. A powerful Cahuilla shaman, said to have turned dark and been banished to the San Jacinto Mountains. Blending personal history with archaeology and myth, this e...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>What does it mean to be shaped by the desert? And the stories it holds?</p><p>In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz reflects on growing up in Palm Springs and how the landscape, culture, and isolation helped shape his mindset and identity. The conversation then turns to one of the Coachella Valley’s oldest legends: the Tahquitz Witch. A powerful Cahuilla shaman, said to have turned dark and been banished to the San Jacinto Mountains.</p><p>Blending personal history with archaeology and myth, this episode explores the line between story, truth, and what ancient legends might reveal about human nature.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What does it mean to be shaped by the desert? And the stories it holds?</p><p>In this episode of Cruz Control, Aaron Cruz reflects on growing up in Palm Springs and how the landscape, culture, and isolation helped shape his mindset and identity. The conversation then turns to one of the Coachella Valley’s oldest legends: the Tahquitz Witch. A powerful Cahuilla shaman, said to have turned dark and been banished to the San Jacinto Mountains.</p><p>Blending personal history with archaeology and myth, this episode explores the line between story, truth, and what ancient legends might reveal about human nature.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/episodes/18881512-desert-stories-palm-springs-origins-and-the-tahquitz-canyon-witch.mp3" length="38693064" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>AW &amp; AC</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18881512</guid>
    <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18881512/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18881512/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18881512/transcript.srt" type="application/x-subrip" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18881512/transcript.vtt" type="text/vtt" />
    <itunes:duration>3221</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Meet Aaron Cruz: Strength, Spirit, and the Long Road In</itunes:title>
    <title>Meet Aaron Cruz: Strength, Spirit, and the Long Road In</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Who is Aaron Cruz? And how did he become the man behind the disciplines? In this opening episode, we lay the foundation. From family and identity to work, belief, and the contradictions that shape a life, this is an unfiltered introduction to the ongoing conversation. Not a highlight reel, an origin story. ]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Who is Aaron Cruz? And how did he become the man behind the disciplines? In this opening episode, we lay the foundation. From family and identity to work, belief, and the contradictions that shape a life, this is an unfiltered introduction to the ongoing conversation. Not a highlight reel, an origin story.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who is Aaron Cruz? And how did he become the man behind the disciplines? In this opening episode, we lay the foundation. From family and identity to work, belief, and the contradictions that shape a life, this is an unfiltered introduction to the ongoing conversation. Not a highlight reel, an origin story.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/episodes/18849767-meet-aaron-cruz-strength-spirit-and-the-long-road-in.mp3" length="35569581" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:image href="https://storage.buzzsprout.com/2s0qli87ovc3vah4wrj8ir4iqnld?.jpg" />
    <itunes:author>johnarringtonwilliams@yahoo.com</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18849767</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18849767/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18849767/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18849767/transcript.srt" type="application/x-subrip" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2603318/18849767/transcript.vtt" type="text/vtt" />
    <itunes:duration>2961</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
</channel>
</rss>
