(Photo: Thepokermonk.com)
The poker vlogosphere seems to get more crowded by the minute, as anyone with a camera, bankroll, YouTube channel, and some poker skills can seemingly climb aboard.
However, one of the newer entries in the space, The Poker Monk, is not your typical poker vlogger, if there is such a thing. His given name is Robert Dewberry and his bio is rather interesting considering that he spent two decades working in show business. He's been in dozens of commercials and his IMDb page lists writing credits for "The Jeff Dunham Show" and "Talkshow With Spike Feresten."
Anxiety Central
Among poker players who are vlogging about their lives and poker sessions on a regular basis, none is more open and honest about their day-to-day struggles than The Poker Monk. That moniker was chosen by Dewberry because of the calmness and tranquility that monks are known for, a state of being that he is apparently striving to achieve.
One would imagine that Dewberry is nowhere near that serene state of consciousness at the moment, considering that his vlogs are replete with mentions of dealing with anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and obesity. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of talk about poker sessions and wins and losses.
But what really sets The Poker Monk apart from his peers is the brutal honesty in which he lays his troubles out in the open for all the world to see. That vulnerability and honesty is both refreshing and courageous, especially for those of us who also contend with some of those symptoms.
East Coast Vlogger
The Poker Monk is based in Charlottesville, Virginia and his vlogs include poker sessions at low stakes cash tables at casinos such as MGM and Maryland Live! His vlog portfolio is 14 deep and counting, as he slowly gains an audience.
I recently viewed two vlogs in his library, "Variance Sucks" and "Fat, Anxious, and Stuck in Traffic." As one can likely tell from the titles, as well as Dewberry's writing credits for comedy shows, he has a wicked sense of humor.
That humor is even more evident in his responses to comments from his vlog viewers. Incidentally, he tries to respond to each and every comment, no small feat that will become exceedingly more difficult as his viewership increases.
That viewership recently hit a modest milestone of 500 subscribers. While that total may pale in comparison to other YouTube poker vloggers, it certainly is a step in the right direction. Check out a couple of The Poker Monk's vlogs. You may become a fan.