Brian Barczyk - Honoring a Herpetoculture Legend

To say that Brian and I were friends for 15 years would be an inaccurate injustice, and a dilution of the truth. Rather, our relationship was an enduring one. It has been tempestuous, tested, fractured, and then rebuilt, forged, and strengthened over time with tremendous effort on both sides. In the last 5 years of our friendship, we arrived at a place of deepest mutual respect, care, and trust, despite the differences which had at times divided us.. sometimes ferociously so.

Like so many others in our community, I first learned of Brian through SnakeBytesTV, and the pursuit of information which could educate me on Ball Pythons and their husbandry. At the time, YouTube was still in its infancy, and predominantly a home video sharing site, but Brian, who has always been a visionary, was able to see the potential in the platform and had taken the steps to build a production team, engage with his community, and commit to a weekly posting schedule. This degree of commitment to YouTube was unheard of at the time, and what Brian pioneered with his channel was truly nothing short of extraordinary.

Brian was the first to see any potential in me as a content creator, and approached me over a decade ago with his idea for my own show on the former AnimalBytesTV network. He was relentless in his insistence that I should share my passion with the world, and although it would take me a number of years before I was ready to take that leap for myself, Brian saw me first, believed in me first, and was proud of me first. He saw me at a time when nobody in the industry knew my name, and when I was a deeply introverted Animal Educator, bottle-feeding baby meerkats in my London apartment.

It was during this time that Brian visited London, and gifted me the immense honor of his time. He not only carved out time during his whirlwind trip to my home city, but he choked down the most awful spaghetti I have ever made (I was very nervous to be cooking for him), and put no time-limit on meeting my animals, playing with my meerkats, laughing at the sight of the caiman in my bathtub, and cooing over the skunk who lived under my bed.

Despite this wholesome beginning to our friendship, we would over the coming years encounter many differences, clashes of ideals and morals, and find ourselves at boiling point with one another on a number of occasions. It pains me to admit that Brian was one of the very few to ever be on the receiving end of my more vituperative nature. It will forever haunt me to recall the hurt in his eyes when he reached for me at a Creators event in Florida, and was met with my most venomous look as I turned my back on him… something I will always deeply regret.

But Brian was never one to allow himself to be pushed around, and he was never one to mince his words with me. Of the many people I have met within the reptile industry, and the very few with whom I have encountered any turbulence, he is the only who chose to push back and challenge me to my face. He was strong. He was never afraid to deliver a bite when I needed to be humbled, but always with honesty, and always from a place of caring deeply. The lessons he taught me, no matter how emotionally brutal they were at times, were necessary, and his honesty has always been a safe space for me. Brian saw very worst of my nature, and chose to cloak me in understanding and kindness anyway. It was this deep level of trust which permitted him to be one of the very few I have allowed to call me by my name, and not just as “Em”. My heart swells when I think back to AnimalCon last year. Even though Brian was on stage, in pain, exhausted, and staring out at a crowd of hundreds, he still saw me, waved at me with excitement, and exclaimed, “Emma!”. I will always be glad that to him, I was simply Emma. The awkward girl from London with the awful spaghetti.

I want people to know who Brian really was, beyond being a leader, strong, kind, and an inspiration. Brian was also a protector who kept watch over me from afar, even when I had my back firmly turned away from him. On the most difficult day of my life, in the final hours before I ran from an extremely volatile and terrifying situation for me, Brian, who I hadn’t spoken to for several years, reached out and comforted me in my hour of need. He reassured me that he would always be there for me, and that if I needed anything at all from him – a shoulder, access to a safe place, or help to get back on my feet, that I could count on him. That is the Brian I will always remember… the man who truly cared for so many, and who was proof that kindness and selflessness are some of the most powerful and enduring of traits anyone can have. Traits that can change lives.

Brian’s impact not only inspired my creativity and courage, but he did the very same for the careers of multiple breeders, reptile entrepreneurs, and content creators. He was a rare kind of soul who could see the potential in others, and generously nurture their belief in themselves. Where others would see competition, he saw collaboration and community. Brian broke through walls and created doors of opportunity. Furthermore, he held that door open for others. Allow that truth its own moment of respect.

I believe that one true measure of a man is in how well he treats those who cannot offer him anything in return. In this respect, Brian is infinite. Infinite.

Brian was… a magnetic force. His passion for animals was undeniable and radiated from him. His presence was so massive and tangible that one could always feel him, even in a crowded room. He had the uncanny ability to make every person he met feel special and seen, which is a rare, selfless gift that costs the giver a great deal of energy. He poured into our community and causes without reserve, or care for his own needs. I can think of no other person who had the sheer audacity to believe that they could bring together such a (often divided) community and unite it for an event like AnimalCon. Few would ever dare to bring a dream like The Reptarium to life, or hope to build another dream, like the Legasea Aquarium, when staring one’s own mortality in the face.

Brian is proof that our lives cannot be measured by the number of years we are lucky enough to live, but by the quality of the life experiences we choose to chase and embrace. It takes courage to live a life worth talking about for generations to come. To build something that lasts for the good of others, even long after we’re gone. His courageous decision to document and share his final battle should serve to remind us that a tomorrow is never guaranteed, and that each day is truly a gift. And though Brian is no longer with us in body, we can keep him close in spirit each time we choose to share our passion, each time we choose adventure over apathy, and every time we dare to turn a dream into a goal.

We keep Brian’s vision alive when we each do our part for the betterment and the future of our hobby. A future of collaboration over competition. A community where all are welcome to learn, to find belonging, to share in one’s passion for the animals we love, and where innovation and dreams are nurtured and encouraged, whether we aspire to be a breeder, a keeper, an educator, a leader, a creator, a pioneer, or, to be all of these things, as Brian was.

Brian truly was all of these things and so much more. We keep him alive when, in world where we are free to choose our impact, we choose to be kind to others, because “The only thing that matters is being good to people…” – Brian Barczyk, 2024.

My deepest sympathies and well-wishes are with every member of Brian’s tremendous team as they navigate this cataclysmic loss. And in particular, my heart goes out to the entire Barczyk family. My prayers are firmly with Lori, who has shown tremendous devotion and strength as an incredible wife and teammate. And to Noah, who we are all so very proud of for his courage and dedication to his father’s legacy. I pray for you hourly.

I will miss you more than I can possibly ever say, my friend. No matter how much time passes, I will still search for your face in every expo hall, and though my heart will break to remember that I will not see you again, my soul will swell with pride every time I see your positive impact. No measure of time sharing this community, this world, with you would ever have been enough, but I will cherish the memories I was lucky enough to make with you forever.

Thank you, Brian, for everything. You can rest now, and stay safe in my heart for all eternity. I will always love you. Always.