Memories, Merriment, and the Buzz of Tomorrow

As the host of WDYM, I've seen some things – silverware skirmishes, uproarious tales from the rehab center, and the joy of connecting with listeners sprawling across 20 countries. But what truly had me grinning was our remarkable 64% growth, all thanks to Buzzsprout's magic touch. Celebrate with me as we stroll down memory lane, from the hilarious to the hair-pulling moments, capped off with the top five episodes that have had our community booming with laughter and empathy. It's a toast to the times we've shared and a snapshot of the everyday comedy that unfolds in the halls of what I fondly call "Butler County's finest."

Looking ahead, I'm brewing up something special for 2024 – the possibility of a co-host ignites a new spark in the WDYM universe.  So pull up a chair, we've got tales to share, and the future of WDYM promises even more laughter, camaraderie, and those delightful moments of "what do you mean?!

Email me! Thewdympodcast@gmail.com


Intro  by Kobeofei via Fiverr
Season 2 Artwork: Ishida1694 via Instagram

Transcript

Kobe 0:11

You're listening to the WDYM , the what Do you Mean ? Podcast . Now everyone gather around and listen to one of Hamilton's best podcasts . No research to back this up your host .

Michael 0:27

Michael Gillespie Welcome to the WDYM . I'm Yos Michael Gillespie and this episode is more of a chill laid back episode because we're going to be recapping some of the highlights of 2023 and to look at 2024 for the WDYM . This is my third year doing a podcast and I have to say that the continuing growth of my podcast is very encouraging to me , and a lot of it goes to the switch from Spotify or Anchor , which is now Spotify for podcasters , switching from them to Buzzsprout . Buzzsprout has helped my podcast grow substantially . Actually , I did a little numbers , did some crunching of the numbers , so to speak . My podcast has grown 64% since switching the bug to Buzzsprout . A lot of credit goes to Buzzsprout and the thing about it is I haven't even scratched the surface with Buzzsprout . Buzzsprout is so helpful when it comes to your podcast I don't even dig deep and figure out more when they have so much available for it . First and foremost , thank you , buzzsprout , for the help and growth of the WDYM . So now it's time to take it further in 2024 . But let's recap . Let's go back and look at some of the highlights , basically my top five episodes so far . Again , buzzsprout keeps all the stats and everything that is important to your podcast . They gave me all the stats that I had at the end of this year , where it shows me that my growth is 64% . I've been downloaded in 20 different countries 27 episodes , which is down from last season I think I had 40 to 27 . A grand total of 758 minutes spent on this season of the WDYM . So , while there is growth and improvement on the WDYM , there's still room to grow , so that's why I keep going . Having a podcast is absolutely fun , but there are certain ways to grow it . So , first and foremost , let's get the top five episodes of the WDYM , starting with number five , which was Tales from the Rehab Center . Listen to this snippet of the episode .

Michael 3:32

One of the last things that mostly all and I mean all my old residents , all the old residents every time we have , is that they want to keep my cups . This is this pisses me off so much . Okay , so Quick story is that we have a certain amount of cups . I only have certain amount of cups to give to everybody , right , but every majority of the Majority of the residents want to keep their cup , like this is the last drink they're gonna have from this cup . What is wrong with you giving my cup back .

Michael 4:07

That's what I always say hey , you know ? Hey , I see your coaxed all down down to ice and a little bit of coke . It's more water than I , more water than coke . Let me have a cup , but you can't . You can't have my cup . So , sir , let me get your cup . You can't have my cup , I'm just my drinking cup . What you ? What you gonna do with that ? I'm gonna , I'm gonna wash it from your nastiness . You've been putting your mouth on it . And then some of these residents , some of these residents want to spit in my cup . That's the worst spit , the spit look at this coming spit all in this cup . Huh , and yeah , I had had a spit , you know , I just drew it every time it don't even understand what hey this was ever spit in the drool .

Michael 4:49

Come on , mama , let's sit here . Give me my mom , give me my damn cup . That that is the truth , and even today it is still the same thing with the cups . It's like they want to keep every single cup that comes in a room , no matter if it's a , it's a normal cup , a coffee cup , anything . They want to keep the cups . And now it's even getting worse . Where it's the silverware ? Like , why are you keeping silverware ? We provide silverware Breakfast , lunch and dinner .

Michael 5:21

Why do you insist On keeping my silverware ? They're like well , I might have a snack in the middle of the night . I'm like what does that got to do with my silverware ? You , what kind of snack you don't get you on ? Eat cookies . You get a pudding . Nurses have spoons . Nurses and the aids have spoons . You do not need my silverware .

Michael 5:46

It's such a baffling thing when I'm short on cups , and so we're like what happened to silverware ? I have now implemented rule at my facility one of the greatest facilities in Butler County when you must roll 50 pieces of silverware For you before you leave the , before you check out on your shift . Today , I need my 50 pieces of silver . That's what I say , and this is the point is that if we're below 50 , I need to order more . See , that's why I do that . But it's like when I work and then like , if I'm in a server position and I'm like we're short silverware , like how we short silverware . So what I do , I do room rates . I bust in like the FBI , like the popo hey , mr Johnson , what's going on ? Hey , nothing . You know how you doing . Like I'm good , I'm coming to look around , I open a freezer in the refrigerator and everything , like I'm just coming around , look for some Cups of silverware is good luck , cuz there ain't none in there open the fridge and there's all my cups .

Michael 6:50

And the worst thing about it is that these residents want to keep food in their refrigerator and don't eat it . So the food that we prepare and this is in mind you , these people , stay for weeks and don't clean out the refrigerator . So when I do these room raids and and fine salads that hasn't been eaten , or Delhi sandwiches that haven't been eaten , guess what ? There is mold . It's mold all over the food and guess what it stinks . And who has to clean that up ? The service , cuz I'm not clean . I say , look here going get that stuff out of that refrigerator because that stuff is disgusting and they still do this to this day .

Michael 7:34

One of the biggest mysteries in the world is why do you insist on keeping my cups and silverware ? So that was the number five on my top podcast of 22 . One of the top , let's just say one of the top five stories on the WD YM . Number four is the hiring and firing of chef J . It's great . I used to work here a couple years back and now they brought me back . I said that's great and he said me from back . I said that's great and he's like yo . Can you see the floor ? And I'm looking down at the floor . Yeah , I see the floor . I said man , it is dirty . So , okay , oh , yeah and yeah , do you know about these enzymes , these chemical enzymes ? I Said no , no , no about these chemical enzymes . Ladies and gentlemen , I spent 30 minutes talking about these enzymes , about the floor . Right , I'm gonna let that sink in for a minute , 30 minutes .

Michael 8:32

In this first conversation , one of the first conversation we have about enzymes on the floor , I was like you know what about ? I'm gonna engage in the conversation . What's up with these enzymes , these enzymes on the floor ? You know the , the black lines and the bottom floor . They're not see you supposed to be black . I'm like , oh , what color are they supposed to be ? They're supposed to be white . I said , okay , I don't care . But you know , okay , you're excited about these enzymes . I could tell , yes , you put the enzymes on and it cleans it . If we do the cleaning that we're supposed to do , we're gonna do , it's gonna , we're gonna be marvelous because they're gonna think we're cleaning so well , right , okay , so he's excited about these enzymes . Okay , it's first conversation half hour , you don't took a half hour in my life . Okay , I gotta get back to work so I could hide underneath my desk , cuz you talked my ear off the first conversation we have . So , yeah , needless to say that his excitement for enzymes lacked in excitement for our residents . Man , I'll tell you what .

Michael 9:30

The idea of working with Chef Jay and then actually working with Chef Jay are two different things . I cannot believe how much of a difference the instructive version of Chef Jay was . What was the actual employee that Chef Jay was ? So one of the things that was a clear sign that this dude's trash was Cowboy . I've talked about Cowboy previously and I told you before Cowboy is a hard worker . He works his butt off for the residents . No ifs , ands or buts about that .

Michael 10:09

Cowboy's like , yeah , man , this guy does not work . I said what ? And again , this is during the time when he just arrived there and he's at one of my facilities , one of the best facilities in Butler County , mind you , he was working at one of these facilities and he just was not working as hard as Cowboy liked and he was straight up telling me just do this trash . There's no way this guy taught me how to be the chef that I am . So I'm baffled that you're saying this . He does not put in work , he needs to go . I'm like , wow , really . He's like , yeah , so , working with him at the facility , I noticed this dude was always on his phone , always on his phone . I'm like , how can you direct , give your attention to the residents if you're always on your phone ? Now , mind you , I understand that you might get a phone call from time to time and you know text messages sent the other , but that all could wait when you are trying to serve the residents and he just wasn't having it . So needs to say that Chef Jay is gone and he was not a good example of how to work , but I'll never doubt his instructing abilities , man . He was a great instructor , just not a good worker .

Michael 11:35

So that was number four . Number three , number three didn't even have me in it , that's that's . That's the bogus thing . That's why this guy has to come off the top five list , because this one is called the midnight munchies . The midnight munchies is when my daughter had a sleepover for her birthday or whatever , and they like oh , you have a podcast . I said , yeah , I got a podcast , so can we make a podcast ? I guess you know , whatever , what do you want to do ? They did , roughly , I think , two and a half hours of podcasting of teenage girls talking trash about each other , of course , and it's one of the highest episodes . I mean . What else do I have to say about that ?

Kobe 12:25

Not Facebook . Is your dad an embarrassing dancer ? He's actually . He can twerk . My dad will dance ?

Michael 12:33

Of course I can . My dad will dance , my dad's so , yeah , he runs this podcast .

Kobe 12:39

Yeah , I miss dads , like the owner , but we're taking over because we're better .

Michael 12:42

Yeah , we are . Are you loud ? We're going to get him monetized .

Kobe 12:44

Oh okay , guys watch the monetized .

Michael 12:47

He's not an embarrassing dancer . He could be advanced . Shut up .

Kobe 12:50

Watch this like so many times that it's monetized and we get money .

Michael 12:53

Yeah , yeah , you should totally do that . It's a bet , it's a bet , it's a bet .

Kobe 12:56

Like keep it on repeat for your whole life . Yeah , yeah .

Michael 12:58

Are you surprised ? That didn't happen . That didn't happen at all , but they went on for a good two to three hours and listening to it and then , of course , doing the editing , was absolutely hilarious to hear how , how they are with each other . It was , it was , it was a eye opening podcast and it's in the top five because , you know , the girls probably said I can't get it . I can't do the podcast . You listen to podcasts and other high school or you know middle school kids like oh my God , there's a podcast .

Michael 13:35

You know I had to edit out names and all that stuff that wasn't . That was a pain in the butt , but yeah , that was my number three . Number two was top 10 most annoying Christmas songs and , being that this is now 2024 , you could probably guess without even me telling you what's the most annoying Christmas song ever . And my , in my opinion , but I know it's true . I know it's the most annoying song and you do too . The most annoying Christmas song At the WD YM and when .

Michael 14:18

I say that is how I feel when I hear it .

Kobe 14:21

Hey , hey , hey , hey , double hate Loos entirely .

Michael 14:29

There's no other than my ex-wife .

Michael 14:34

Every year , every year , and it's right after Thanksgiving , we don't , I mean really , it's right after Halloween . This song comes on every year and I think this is it's controversial . This might be her most popular song and her whole catalog . Mariah Carey , all I Want For Christmas Is you so easily the most annoying Christmas song on the earth . There's , no , there's no , no replacement for that , because it comes on every time and even she's in on it . She will make I think she's made an Instagram where she's dressed as a witch for Halloween and she's flipping through the calendar as soon as October 31st . As soon as she rips the page in November , she's in her Christmas outfit , starting that same intro . Props to her , props to Mariah Carey and my ex-wife . I'm a divorced , I'm a finished filing and divorced one time , so I get my money , but it's just amazing how annoying that song is .

Michael 15:40

So the number one episode of the WDYM is I make fun of old people and I enjoy it Still . To this day , I still do it . But yeah , mbutu , yeah , you heard that Mbutu was an African . So when he came in , he was real cool . He was a real cool African guy . He was like excuse me , sir , he be like . I do not eat red meat . I said , okay , no problem , I do eat chicken sometimes , but I do like fish . Do you have any fish ? I'm like Mbutu , I got fish for you . I got a whole bunch of tilapia .

Michael 16:27

So funny story about the top episodes of the WDYM . A lot of them that are related to work are from , or listen to , the people I work with . But here's a funny story that I was going to add to another story but I'll just go ahead and chime in and maybe go into details further . In another episode , the HR for my facilities plural . They heard that I had a podcast and they talked to my boss about me and the podcast and I thought it was funny that I got pulled in and they Nate calls me and says hey , buddy , you want to come down to the office real quick . I said , sure , you know whatever . He's like shut the door . I'm like shut the door , okay , whatever .

Michael 17:26

He's like yeah , you know you got a podcast . So , yeah , it's a great old WDYM , it's Hamilton's number one podcast .

Podcast Plans and Potential Co-Hosts

Michael 17:33

I'm over there in my head playing a song in my head . You know like yeah , you know it's Hamilton's number one podcast man , what's up ? He's like yeah , I know . Yeah , you mentioned some things about me too . I was like , yeah , I have , I ain't ashamed of it , you know what I'm saying . Well , yeah , you know , it's like HR knows about your podcast . I said , okay , I'm not trying to hide the fact that I have a podcast . I freaking have a sweater with a podcast logo on the back of it . I like my podcast , I'm proud of my podcast . Right , I was like , well , he's like struggling to tell me they were like for you not to name the facilities . I'm like , are you serious ?

Michael 18:24

He said yeah they're so concerned that you're going to say something and they can get in trouble for it . Now I laugh , just like I did . Now I laugh and I'm like they're really worried about that .

Michael 18:39

He said yeah okay , they said it would be a courtesy His words it would be a courtesy if you didn't mention the facilities names . So that's why I always say Butler County's finest facilities . I always say that . Now I'm , like you guys , so worried about that when there's other Ways they can get in trouble for . But I don't mention that because one I'm always proud of , where I worked at this , was a sleazeball company and yeah , I would let them know . But no , we , we , we actually really do put in Work at the facility .

Michael 19:15

And , mind you , the episode , the whole episode , was I make fun of old people Because old people drive me crazy and I cannot be the only one . So that's why when I do these rehab stories , that it's funny . So that's the top five episodes of the WD . I am we got to get this midnight munchies off , that's , but that's bothered me , that that's on , that's in the top five . But I'm not even on the freaking episode , but but overall , that's again a thank you to the fans and everybody who listens to take time list to , to that list , to a list to me . I'm gonna be , you know , rant on blander , on da , da , da da about Everything . So you know , thank you again for listening to me . That sounded so conceited . Now that I heard that Plus , I do want to give a shout out to the Hamilton Bainton series that I spent a lot of time on this year the most fun I've had so far on the WD . I am talking about that rivalry that we have in football with the Catholic school in town . I still have one more , one more game the 2023 Hamilton vs Bainton series to do , but I wanted to Do some research and I'm gonna try to see if I can get a copy of the game so I can rewatch it , because when I watched the 2000 game where you know , good old Tommy Puma Did his thing again and again and again and again , which basically he beat Hamilton all by himself . But when I talk about that no more , the 23 , the 2023 game I was just gonna watch it again so I could remember what I saw , even though it was Not even a year old yet . But , yeah , that is something to look forward to in 2024 .

Michael 21:24

And speaking of 2024 , one of the things that I've been looking for this Coming up or this past year Was a co-host . Now I can talk and Talk like no problem , no problem . But when I listen to other podcasts . It's always the bouncing of the energy from the one person to the other . And the first person I thought of of being a co-host was a friend of mine I used to work with , named Hannah . Now Hannah was an aide at the rehab , the rehab center when I worked in and you know I was again mentioning that hey , I have a podcast . Oh my god , that's great . She was like really excited about I'm like you know , you know that's cool , like I'll keep and I always pitch . Like you know you know I could always . I always have another chair and another microphone . She's like , really . I said yeah , she's like well , um , I Been planning to do my own pocket , so Really what ?

Kobe 22:25

is it ?

Michael 22:25

about . She said it's the Trauma tree . I said , oh , she's already thought about this . I said she's already put this into into play . So , my guy , that's cool , you know . If you need some help , or you know if you want some hints , strategies , whatever , what not , you can always hit me up . Ladies and gentlemen , the trauma trio was freaking hilarious . I enjoyed all three episodes they had and now they're gone . So , so , out of respect of the trauma trio , I'm gonna play one of the sound best that they have from one of their episodes and , needless to say , this is this is what it sounded like , and fuck you like they're fucking a man .

Kobe 23:09

Yeah , agreed , like . What is that ? Let's see if I can make that noise really close to the mic , the one of the most disrespectful things .

Michael 23:23

The trauma trio gave it down . It's probably one of the most funniest things that they did when that happened . That was absolutely hilarious . So so , yeah , I thought about that and she was like you know , I do more thing and that was cool . So , you know , props to them and their short-lived podcast . The next person that that I kind of approached about the idea of being a cause is my friend Eric . My friend Eric and me have a lot of similarities .

Michael 23:55

One we were both raised together On nap drive and the stories we could tell just from that is pure magic . And the thing about Eric is that he's a talker like me and he's entertaining as hell . No-transcript Bangles between me and him would be hilarious , because I am , like I've said before , I'm , a divorce bangle fan . I like you . I just like you over there . Get away from me , you're not gonna hurt my . I'm just gonna be right next to me . I'm just gonna be right next to you , but I'm just gonna be right next to you . So I'm just gonna be right next to you . I just wanna be right next to you . I just like you over there . Get away from me . You're not gonna hurt with my . You're not gonna play with my feelings and emotions anymore and Do this to me no , no , sir , no ma'am , no ham , no bacon . We ain't doing that . No , I will not do that . But you know , as the recent success of the bangles go , so does so does him like he's a big Bengals fan . I didn't even know that , like I got a croissant . He wasn't a big Bengals fan , but I could see it now and and some of the some of the things that he does he's made . He's been online about it , talking about Joe . That's what he does and and One of the things that is probably Great for upcoming seasons , upcoming episodes that we both have military .

Michael 25:19

We both are veterans of the United States military . Now , when I say that , you may be like , oh , you know , thank you for your service . That's up and which we yes , yes , you're welcome for the service is the honor to serve and I will serve again . Right , but there are stories that need to be told about being in the military and , trust me , I plan on getting to that in the future and probably season three of the WDYM and To hear some of the stories that he has has to be funny , has to be funny hands down .

Michael 25:50

So hopefully , as this episode goes out , that he would like to do it again . I don't , I don't push the issue , I don't force the issue . You say you want to do it and just a . You know where I'm at . If you really want to do it , we could do it , I'm all for it . So Eric on the podcast would be awesome .

Michael 26:14

Another person who would be awesome for the podcast is my friend , crystal now crystal , if you , if I could describe Crystal , she is a ball of energy , times to a gink , a dama , a spirit bomb ready to explode . She has so much energy that it will be wonderful for Wonderful , for people to experience the energy she has and again , the back and forth banter that we had now rewind . How I know crystal . Crystal and I've been friends since eighth grade , you know , back when before is called middle school , is called junior high , and she has so many stories to tell , so much energy to have and a good , good look on life , so to speak , and what I tell her is like your energy is so infectious that it should be on the podcast . It will be great for you to tell your story , tell your opinion and share that energy with numerous people around the world . That's the best part of you . It's like she's like yeah , you're right , I agree . I just want to curse . I like hold on CK , you can't be just .

Michael 27:28

This is a family show and Every time you curse I gotta do spend another half hour editing . I don't know if you , I don't know if I want to do that , so you have to make it a G show . He's like , well , that's dumb . I said look hill , look hill . I said in order to get a bigger reach , of further reach , you have to keep it clean , because you don't know who's driving in the car and you drop an F bomb and all that stuff and nobody wants to hear that . They want to hear what you have to say .

Michael 27:58

So I try to encourage her . Hey , if you tone it down and Speak your game , which I know she can , the world's , the world's the limit for her and the energy that I give her talking to her , I Guarantee you guys would love it . But it's just that , hey , I've invited the people . I've been said hey look , I always have a chair and a microphone . Extra chair , microphone is up to you . I'm , it's always here . If you want it , come get it . I'm down if you're down . If we could do all that . So that's the goal for 2024 . As far as Local goals like small goals , so to speak what I would like to do is make my numbers grow even more .

Michael 28:42

So , therefore , I they have these I don't know what you call them like Podcasts , like comic-cons , but for podcasts where you mingle and talk and interact with people , to have podcasts , because the thing that , again that I go with bus route I think we have this Facebook page and you see people in the top 10 percent , top 50 percent numbers that are just 20 times bigger than mine , right and Less episode . Some people have less episodes than I but have like , so , so much more Than what I have . And that's what I aim for and it's like , again , I don't tap into the potential of bus sprout , but I Want to tap into making the podcast bigger . So that's the goal for 2024 is to get to be able to like , go to these podcast events , talk to other people and , you know , social mingle , you know , get it out there so I can increase my numbers for 2023 and make them bigger for 2024 . So the question is , like , as I wrap up this , this episode , is that Do I ? Because I always like to change things up like , like , from season one to season two , I changed my intro , but I keep my , my outro , the generic outro that's on the broadcaster pro , for some reason . I like that and I keep it . But it's like Maybe I should get an outro , but I don't even know where to go as far as an outro or what to think of . So that's one of the things that I'm thinking about for season three Of the WD . I am also do I change this ? I Love this , I Love it , I love it . So that's probably gonna stay . Maybe I should make it , maybe make a rock and roll , that's it , make a rock and roll version of the new intro and all that stuff . But , um , there's things to work on . Hopefully , when season three rolls around , I Can have some new things on here and all that stuff , maybe maybe have that co-host that I want . With that being said , let's bring this episode to an end With the old generic , old , generic outro . But I still love it because it's free .

Michael 31:08

2024 for the WDYM . What does it happens in ? In store for me and for you ? I'm your host , michael Gillespie of the WDYM . Thank you , guys for tuning in . Enjoy 2024 . Hope it's a good year for you . I hope it's a good year for me . I hope it's a good year for everybody . With that being said , I'm out . Boy Scout , girl Scout , happy New Year , peace .