Why I’m Learning Pokémon at 40

Check out the YouTube Version here:

I had friends who were obsessed with Pokémon cards — they’d trade on the playground, show off their shiny Charizards, and somehow always knew exactly which ones were “good” or “rare.” Meanwhile, I’d stand on the sidelines, nodding like I understood, while my own binder was stuffed full of Sailor Moon stickers and trading cards instead.

Honestly? I still don’t really know what to do with Pokémon cards. Even 30 years later, there’s this big part of me that feels major FOMO for never jumping on these cute little pocket monsters when everyone else did. There was only room for one obsession in my world back then — and I picked the girl with the long pigtails and the talking cat.

When Pokémon first came out, I was too busy pretending to be cool and grown-up, too broke for another hobby, and fully dedicated to Sailor Moon. Fun fact: I just unearthed my old 1,000-card Sailor Moon shrine from my basement last weekend. Nostalgia hits different when you find your entire childhood in a box, doesn’t it?

So, who am I now?

I’m Nicole — a Canadian streamer, lifelong collector of nerdy things, and someone who’s finally, properly discovering Pokémon for the very first time.

I picked up my Nintendo Switch in 2022 — late to the party, I know — and immediately fell in love with Let’s Go Eevee and Violet. But here’s the kicker: I didn’t have a clue how to actually play. Sure, I knew you throw the Poké Ball and squeal when something cute shows up — but when it came to battles, types, and what all the numbers meant? I was (and still am) “dumb AF” in the best, most enthusiastic way possible.

So why now, at 40? Because I’m deep into gaming these days. Because I’m a streamer now, and my Twitch community loves the chaos of watching me figure it out live. Because later this year, I’m finally going to Japan — and if I’m going to step foot inside a Pokémon Center in Tokyo, you better believe I want to know what a Gym Leader actually is.

That’s why I’m doing this — and not just halfway. I want to finally understand what makes a card valuable, how to spot a shiny in-game so I don’t accidentally run away from it, and why everyone lights up when they pull that one perfect card from a booster pack.

The Journey Begins — The First Stream & First Video

Find my first Haul video here (goes out Friday July 18)

So here’s the update: the first Pokémon stream? Already done! We kicked this adventure off by ripping open my first bulk haul live on Twitch — it was chaotic, hilarious, and somehow educational (mostly for me).

Now I’m dropping the first video in this series — a full breakdown of what this whole summer project is about, why I’m doing it, and yes, you’ll get to see exactly what pulls I got from that delightfully sketchy Amazon bulk buy. Did I score big or get scammed? Spoiler: a little bit of both.

My Plan for the Summer

All summer long, I’m turning this clueless Pokémon dream into a real adventure — part experiment, part nostalgia trip, part chaos stream for my community to laugh through with me. Here’s what you can expect:

The Games I’m Playing:
I’m finally tackling Let’s Go Eevee, Violet, Legends Arceus, Diamond, and Sword — and I mean properly this time. Not just running around catching cute foxes, squealing at every Eevee I see, and calling it a day. I’m on a mission to actually understand how this whole Pokémon thing works — from type match-ups to battle strategies to not sending my poor Pikachu into every fight where he’s wildly outmatched. (Seriously, buddy, I’m so sorry.)

I want to get to the point where I can look at a Pokémon and say, “Oh yes, Fairy beats Dragon!” instead of “What’s a Fairy type again?” I want to learn how to build a real team — not just my favourite adorable ones (okay, maybe mostly my favourites).

Legends Arceus is my open-world chaos experiment: I’ll be stealth-crouching through tall grass, pretending I know how to shiny hunt, and probably getting flattened by an angry Rapidash because I wasn’t paying attention.

Violet is my main story run for now — so expect plenty of accidental type disasters as I bumble my way through Gym battles. And the others — Diamond, Sword, and Let’s Go Eevee — are my chance to fill in the gaps I completely missed when I was busy collecting Sailor Moon stickers instead of Pokémon badges.

By the end of this, maybe I’ll actually be able to say I get Pokémon battles — and who knows, maybe even teach a thing or two to other clueless late bloomers like me. Or at the very least, faint Pikachu slightly less often. Progress is progress!

The Cards I’m Unboxing:
Every week, I’ll crack open a mix of legit booster packs and the sketchiest bulk lots Amazon can throw at me. I want to find out if there’s treasure in the trash — and yes, I’ll be your guinea pig so you don’t have to risk your coffee money on a suspicious “100 cards, 7 foils, trust me bro!” listing.

Expect plenty of commons in these decks, too — because commons are how every new collector grows their binder. Even the plainest Pikachu deserves a slot! As long as we don’t get fakes (I’m watching you, suspicious foil Gyarados with a crooked stamp), it’s all good.

So if you’re new to collecting, think of this as our messy, magical way to build up that collection together — one bulk lot at a time. Will we find hidden gems or overpriced cardboard confetti? There’s only one way to find out…

Weekly Streams & Pack Pulls:
Mondays are for Pokémon — that’s the golden rule around here. New videos drop, streams happen, and packs get cracked live. If you miss the chaos in real time, don’t worry — I’ll post Shorts so you can cringe (or cheer) on repeat, replay my confusion in slow motion, and maybe catch that moment I finally pull something shiny without realizing it.

But wait — there’s more. If the stars align and I somehow get my work done early, you’ll also get secret bonus Pokémon streams sprinkled in throughout the week. Legends Arceus will be my dedicated Thursday night chaos game — so if you want to watch me run around an open world while mispronouncing every Pokémon name, that’s your night.

And because I can’t help myself, Wednesdays are my “Secret Stream” wildcard — if I finish my writing and adulting on time, you’ll get a surprise Pokémon session midweek. Bonus stream, bonus booster pack opening — maybe even bonus squealing when I pull another shiny Eevee I didn’t know I needed. It’s a little treat for anyone who likes their Pokémon with a side of “Will Nicole actually show up or get buried under work?”

So, Mondays are guaranteed Pokémon Days — but if I can get my shit together, you just might get a Wednesday or Thursday surprise, too. The chaos never stops — it just hides until I press “Go Live.”

The Big Kickoff — What I Pulled

For that first bulk haul we opened:
✨ 2x Deluxe Battle Decks
✨ 1x Charizard Scarlet/Violet pack (snagged from EB Games on June 27)
✨ A 100-card assorted deck from Amazon (allegedly with 7 foils and rares — lol)
✨ A 60-card Amazon pack that “guarantees” a GX/V/VMAX/VSTAR, 5 holos, and 5 rares (sure, okay)
✨ And a 50-card pack promising 5 foil Japanese editions — because if I’m going to get scammed, I want it to be dramatic. Spoiler: it was… fine.

All of that is in the first video, so you can see exactly what I pulled and how confused I was by half of it.

Other Side Quests & Chaos I Might Try:

✨ Visiting my first local card shop — and resisting the urge to buy every Eevee plush in sight.
✨ Playing Pokémon Go again — and probably wandering into traffic trying to catch something.
✨ Trying weird Pokémon snacks and ranking them — taste tests are research, right?
✨ Building a “trash deck” from my worst Amazon pulls to see if I can win with pure dumb luck.
✨ Painting cards and coins live on stream.
✨ Organizing my card collection live on stream. (These will be chill, no-mic streams. I’ll sort by type, favourites, holos, and playability — stay tuned for the video on why I’m doing it this way.)

What’s Next & How to Follow Along

Mondays are officially Pokémon Days now — that’s when you’ll get fresh videos, blog updates, and weekly Pokémon streams on Twitch. Right now, I’m deep into Pokémon Violet and I’ll be working through the rest:

✨ Let’s Go Eevee (my OG fave, played properly this time)
✨ Sword & Shield
✨ Diamond & Pearl
✨ Snap (yes, endless Pikachu butt photos — you’re welcome)
✨ Arceus (my secret Wednesday/Thursday chaos game — if I get my work done, we’re hunting shinnies)
✨ And when Pokémon ZA drops? I’m there, mispronouncing every new name they throw at me.

Pack pulls happen every stream, right at the end. Real packs, sketchy Amazon lots — you’ll see it all.

The Big Finale — Japan!

All of this summer chaos is building toward my ultimate Pokémon dream trip — the big nerd pilgrimage I’ve been waiting my whole life for. Zero regrets, maximum squealing.

I’m going full trainer mode, trust me:
✨ I’ll be visiting the Pokémon Centers in Tokyo and Kyoto, hunting for plushies too big to stuff in my carry-on and snapping pics with every oversized statue I can find.

✨ The Nintendo Store is also on my hit list — both in Tokyo and Kyoto — because you know I can’t resist even more merch, games, and those exclusive goodies you can’t get anywhere else.

✨ If I’m lucky enough to score tickets, I’m hoping to snag a seat at a Pokémon Café, so I can sip a Pikachu latte while my wallet quietly weeps.

✨ And of course — it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t open booster packs in the most dramatic places possible. Pack opening in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto? Absolutely. Pulling a shiny while sitting on the steps at Fushimi Inari? Peak chaotic energy.

✨ I’ll also be on a mission for singles — yes, I’m turning this into a side series: I want to find the sparkliest Eevee card I can get my hands on in Japan. Then the sparkliest Leafeon, the sparkliest Charizard, and whatever other ridiculously holographic cards strike my fancy along the way. I’ll be hunting them in local card shops, tiny hole-in-the-wall stores, even the back alleys of Nakano Broadway if that’s what it takes.

✨ Expect booster packs to pop out of vending machines, gacha capsules, and any sketchy corner that promises a shiny prize — because half the fun is seeing where the next pull adventure takes me.

It’s not just a vacation — it’s my personal “Pokémon Master: Chaos Tourist Edition.” There will be squealing, plushies, arcade gacha, probably a few impulsive plush purchases that push my luggage to the brink, and at least one meltdown at the airport when I realize I’m 10kg overweight — and nope, the plushies aren’t staying behind.

So, Are You In?

Whether you’re a Pokémon veteran or a clueless newbie like me, I hope you’ll stick around for the chaos. Mondays are for videos. Streams are for screaming. And Japan? That’s the dream. Let’s catch ‘em all — or at least try.