And That's Why We Drink – Episode 456

“Town Hall Friends and Costume Condom-gate”
Date: November 2, 2025
Hosts: Christine Schiefer & Em Schulz

Episode Overview

In this lively post-Halloween episode, Christine and Em dive into the weird, stressful, and comedic events of the season, including a now-notorious costume mix-up dubbed "Costume Condom-gate." They're in full story mode, alternating between lighthearted banter and chilling tales, including a local urban legend (Seven Sisters Road) and a true crime tragedy (the murder of Chelsea Bruck at a Halloween party). Fans get to enjoy their signature blend of humor and humanity, with personal stories, vulnerable moments, and a dash of community spirit.

Key Discussion Points

1. Spooky Season Stress & Pet Problems

[03:10–09:01]

Em’s Travel Angst: Em is deep in pet-parent stress, contemplating expensive options for boarding or transporting their large, hyperactive dog across the country.
- Quote:
  “Everything’s just double the price now... The whole mental stress of putting him under in cargo is—I mean…”
  — Em [04:39]
Christine’s Take: Christine empathizes, sharing her own trauma over a childhood experience with dogs in cargo, and the general emotional, financial, and logistical labor of having pets.
Projection to Listeners: They note others might be learning these hard lessons for the first time, joking it could persuade followers to “maybe not” get a dog just because of a cute Instagram post.

2. Post-Halloween Feels & Family Costumes

[09:03–10:40]

Halloween Hangover: Christine describes lingering Halloween enthusiasm (she’s prepping to be Grumpy Toad for her daughter Leona’s costume rotation), while Em admits to “keeping up” some Halloween ambiance for Christine’s sake.
- Quote:
  “I wanna encourage her not to feel like she has to do every... you know, the whole pattern or whatever...That you run this ship now, you know?”
  — Christine [10:04]
Group Costume Politics: Joking about kids’ determination, Christine anticipates Leona will either never do group costumes again or try to keep up trading roles for years.

3. Costume Condom-gate: Humble Pie

[10:50–17:39]

Em’s Dreaded Confession: Em sheepishly confesses that last week’s frustrations over a DoorDash shopper “mistakenly” delivering a condom costume were, in fact, Em's own doing. They mis-clicked and ordered it themselves.
- Quote:
  “I have to defend a man...”
  — Em [11:08]
- Quote (on realizing the mistake):
  “I was like, that can't be the right one, because I got something else… And then…I scrolled down and saw a condom.”
  — Em [16:03]
Christine’s Reaction: Christine revels in the comedy, happy to release the blame from an innocent shopper. Both revel in the absurdity and humiliation, with Christine asking for “testimony from the DoorDasher.”
Final Costume Outcome: Em ultimately gets a Dr. Frankenstein coat, dresses Hank (the dog) as Frankenstein’s monster. The latest failed Frankenstein costume? Off to Goodwill—alongside a giant condom suit.
- Quote:
  “It’s Renaissance pants and a condom.”
  — Em [15:14]

4. Small-Town Dynamics & Holiday Transitions

[17:40–21:00]

The hosts chat about Halloween’s sharp transition into Thanksgiving and then lingering Christmas moods, with Em finding it hard to let go and Christine admitting to seasonal depression post-holiday.
- Quote:
  “No, October is Halloween, November Thanksgiving, and then Christmas through January.”
  – Em [18:59]

5. Paranormal Story: The Haunted Seven Sisters Road (Nebraska)

[21:34–45:57]

Story Structure

Location: L Road, also called Seven Sisters Road, an hour south of Omaha, Nebraska.
- Quote:
  “This is in Nebraska. It’s an hour south of Omaha...the road is apparently also known as L Road.”
  — Em [23:21]
Origin Legend: In the late 1800s/early 1900s, a farmer’s son, in the grip of rage after a family fight, lures or drags each of his seven sisters onto separate hills and hangs them from trees.
- Christine, taken aback by the folklore’s brutality, questions the plausibility: “This sounds like something you don’t just do...on a whim.” [27:20]
- Em acknowledges the logistical improbability, but the folklore persists.
Aftermath & Hauntings:
- The road became feared for bizarre phenomena—animals balk, strange silences, electronic failures, odd lights, wind that can’t be heard, and reports of shadows with glowing red eyes. One week in 1960, multiple people reported red eyes in the hills to police.
- Investigators find equipment dying, mics and cameras failing, clothes being tugged by invisible forces, and car electronics, headlights, and radios malfunctioning.
- Quote:
  “People hear screaming of all volumes, both outside and inside their car. Oh, and sometimes it starts as soft voices outside the car that grow louder…”
  — Em [41:08]
- The most chilling: listeners hear screaming, sometimes from the back seat, and sometimes see faces in the mirror.
- The story aligns eerily with “The End” by The Doors, which once played spontaneously on a stalling car’s radio, echoing the story’s themes:
  “This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end, my only friend, the end…” [39:26]
Reality Check:
- No historical record of the murder, but the area did have public hangings, and families with sons and seven daughters did exist. Local lore may have merged various tragedies into the urban legend.
- Quote:
  “This county is one of the top counties to have the most public hangings in the 1800s.”
  — Em [43:48]
Modern Challenge:
- The road is a local test of bravery: “If you’re gonna do this...don’t drive alone. Never stop at the top of the hill. Keep your lights on. Avoid the road after midnight, and if you hear screaming, don’t look back.” [45:40]

6. True Crime Case: The Murder of Chelsea Bruck

[49:25–90:59]

Case Summary

Setting:
- Maybe, Michigan: A town of 600, where everyone knows each other, and Halloween parties are a major event.
- Quote (on small-town invites):
  “You can’t really have an event where it’s not like everyone in Maybe is a maybe for the event.”
  — Christine [51:10]
Victim:
- Chelsea Ellen Bruck, 22, youngest of five on a farm, beloved in her community.
- She painstakingly crafts a Poison Ivy costume (hand-sewed leaf leotard, red wig).
Incident:
- Massive Halloween party hosted by “Big Mike” Williams [53:53], with ~1,000 people—much more than planned for.
- Chelsea arrives, drinks, enjoys herself. After a minor injury, she loses touch with her friends (who had her phone and wallet), and ultimately leaves alone around 3am.
- Quote:
  “She asked several people for a ride home...finally left the party around 3am on foot and alone...”
  — Christine [60:44]
Disappearance & Search:
- Initially, family not worried (thought she was at a friend’s). By Sunday afternoon, alarmed by no contact; Monday, she’s reported missing.
- The whole community searches with dog teams, helicopters. Rumors and accusations swirl, including unfounded ones about Big Mike and satanic rituals.
Discovery:
- In March, her Poison Ivy costume and wig are found at a scrap yard.
- In April, her remains are found under logs at a construction site. Evidence shows she was severely beaten.
Investigation & Arrest:
- DNA on her leotard belongs to Daniel Allen Clay, local man previously arrested for unrelated larceny and accused of violent rape.
- Clay is arrested, gives varying stories—denies knowing Chelsea, then admits to “rough” (non-consensual) sex, blames her for wanting to be choked, then claims her death was accidental.
  - Quote:
    “He said, ‘Oh, I only notice people if they’re sexy. I only notice women if they’re sexy. I’m a little shallow like that.’”
    — Christine [82:34]
- Evidence and injuries refute “accident” (her jaw and eye socket broken, body hidden miles from costume).
Trial & Aftermath:
- Jury convicts Clay of felony murder and concealing a death; he’s sentenced to life without parole.
- Chelsea’s mother, Leanda, releases a statement emphasizing the importance of community vigilance (“Choices”).
  - Quote:
    “‘We have become a nation that lives in fear...If we see things that are not right or it looks questionable, please call 911...But how are we going to feel if we were right and didn’t call? You can’t change woulda, coulda, shoulda.’”
    — Chelsea's mother [88:59]
Host Commentary:
- Christine and Em tie the story’s lessons to community, safety, and the heartbreak of communal trust being shattered. They vent their disgust over Clay’s sleazy excuses and apparent lack of remorse.
  - Quote (on Clay):
    “I feel like that’s a trait of being a psychopath...there’s a lack of real guilt or terror or feelings. I don’t know, it’s just creepy.”
    — Christine [93:40]

Notable Quotes & Moments

On Pets and Life Expenses [03:39]:
“It’s a breathtaking amount...I can’t even breathe.”
— Em
On Group Costumes [10:16]:
“She will never do another group costume after this. She’s like, I put my work in, right?”
— Em
On Accidental Condom Costume [14:46]:
“Which means I must...I don’t know how that—I know that on DoorDash for food, I have clicked like, bowl of soup. And then all of a sudden, soup shows up with my order.”
— Em
Seven Sisters Road, on Feeling the Haunted Land [29:32]:
“The land just feels wrong. You can’t explain it, but it’s heavy. Like, it remembers.”
— Local, via Em
On Chelsea Bruck’s Case — Community Involvement [51:10]:
“If there’s an event in town, it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone in town will assume they’re invited.”
— Christine

Recommended Listening Timestamps

00:00–02:27 – Ads & Interstitials
03:10–09:01 – Pet Travel and Life Updates
10:50–17:39 – Costume Condom-gate
21:34–45:57 – Seven Sisters Road (Paranormal Story)
49:25–90:59 – True Crime: Chelsea Bruck
- [60:44] – Details of Chelsea’s Last Night
- [72:56] – Discovery of Costume & Remains
- [78:38] – Clay’s Arrest & Interrogation
- [88:59] – Chelsea’s Mother’s Statement

Tone & Style

The episode zips between irreverent, self-deprecating humor (Costume-gate) and deep empathy for victims and their families. Banter is warm, supportive, and achieves both laughter and real emotional weight.

Final Thoughts

The duo masterfully balances levity (Halloween mishaps, family antics) with sincere storytelling, providing historical background and social context for both ghostly and criminal tales. The accidental DoorDash condom is a perfect example of their self-roasting style, while the Bruck case underscores their sensitivity and commitment to honoring victims.

For full details, personal connections, and the best moments, listen to:
“And That’s Why We Drink” Episode 456: Town Hall Friends and Costume Condom-gate.

And That's Why We Drink – Episode 456

“Town Hall Friends and Costume Condom-gate”
Date: November 2, 2025
Hosts: Christine Schiefer & Em Schulz

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points

1. Spooky Season Stress & Pet Problems

[03:10–09:01]

Em’s Travel Angst: Em is deep in pet-parent stress, contemplating expensive options for boarding or transporting their large, hyperactive dog across the country.
- Quote:
  “Everything’s just double the price now... The whole mental stress of putting him under in cargo is—I mean…”
  — Em [04:39]
Christine’s Take: Christine empathizes, sharing her own trauma over a childhood experience with dogs in cargo, and the general emotional, financial, and logistical labor of having pets.
Projection to Listeners: They note others might be learning these hard lessons for the first time, joking it could persuade followers to “maybe not” get a dog just because of a cute Instagram post.

2. Post-Halloween Feels & Family Costumes

[09:03–10:40]

Halloween Hangover: Christine describes lingering Halloween enthusiasm (she’s prepping to be Grumpy Toad for her daughter Leona’s costume rotation), while Em admits to “keeping up” some Halloween ambiance for Christine’s sake.
- Quote:
  “I wanna encourage her not to feel like she has to do every... you know, the whole pattern or whatever...That you run this ship now, you know?”
  — Christine [10:04]
Group Costume Politics: Joking about kids’ determination, Christine anticipates Leona will either never do group costumes again or try to keep up trading roles for years.

3. Costume Condom-gate: Humble Pie

[10:50–17:39]

Em’s Dreaded Confession: Em sheepishly confesses that last week’s frustrations over a DoorDash shopper “mistakenly” delivering a condom costume were, in fact, Em's own doing. They mis-clicked and ordered it themselves.
- Quote:
  “I have to defend a man...”
  — Em [11:08]
- Quote (on realizing the mistake):
  “I was like, that can't be the right one, because I got something else… And then…I scrolled down and saw a condom.”
  — Em [16:03]
Christine’s Reaction: Christine revels in the comedy, happy to release the blame from an innocent shopper. Both revel in the absurdity and humiliation, with Christine asking for “testimony from the DoorDasher.”
Final Costume Outcome: Em ultimately gets a Dr. Frankenstein coat, dresses Hank (the dog) as Frankenstein’s monster. The latest failed Frankenstein costume? Off to Goodwill—alongside a giant condom suit.
- Quote:
  “It’s Renaissance pants and a condom.”
  — Em [15:14]

4. Small-Town Dynamics & Holiday Transitions

[17:40–21:00]

The hosts chat about Halloween’s sharp transition into Thanksgiving and then lingering Christmas moods, with Em finding it hard to let go and Christine admitting to seasonal depression post-holiday.
- Quote:
  “No, October is Halloween, November Thanksgiving, and then Christmas through January.”
  – Em [18:59]

5. Paranormal Story: The Haunted Seven Sisters Road (Nebraska)

[21:34–45:57]

Story Structure

Location: L Road, also called Seven Sisters Road, an hour south of Omaha, Nebraska.
- Quote:
  “This is in Nebraska. It’s an hour south of Omaha...the road is apparently also known as L Road.”
  — Em [23:21]
Origin Legend: In the late 1800s/early 1900s, a farmer’s son, in the grip of rage after a family fight, lures or drags each of his seven sisters onto separate hills and hangs them from trees.
- Christine, taken aback by the folklore’s brutality, questions the plausibility: “This sounds like something you don’t just do...on a whim.” [27:20]
- Em acknowledges the logistical improbability, but the folklore persists.
Aftermath & Hauntings:
- The road became feared for bizarre phenomena—animals balk, strange silences, electronic failures, odd lights, wind that can’t be heard, and reports of shadows with glowing red eyes. One week in 1960, multiple people reported red eyes in the hills to police.
- Investigators find equipment dying, mics and cameras failing, clothes being tugged by invisible forces, and car electronics, headlights, and radios malfunctioning.
- Quote:
  “People hear screaming of all volumes, both outside and inside their car. Oh, and sometimes it starts as soft voices outside the car that grow louder…”
  — Em [41:08]
- The most chilling: listeners hear screaming, sometimes from the back seat, and sometimes see faces in the mirror.
- The story aligns eerily with “The End” by The Doors, which once played spontaneously on a stalling car’s radio, echoing the story’s themes:
  “This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end, my only friend, the end…” [39:26]
Reality Check:
- No historical record of the murder, but the area did have public hangings, and families with sons and seven daughters did exist. Local lore may have merged various tragedies into the urban legend.
- Quote:
  “This county is one of the top counties to have the most public hangings in the 1800s.”
  — Em [43:48]
Modern Challenge:
- The road is a local test of bravery: “If you’re gonna do this...don’t drive alone. Never stop at the top of the hill. Keep your lights on. Avoid the road after midnight, and if you hear screaming, don’t look back.” [45:40]

6. True Crime Case: The Murder of Chelsea Bruck

[49:25–90:59]

Case Summary

Setting:
- Maybe, Michigan: A town of 600, where everyone knows each other, and Halloween parties are a major event.
- Quote (on small-town invites):
  “You can’t really have an event where it’s not like everyone in Maybe is a maybe for the event.”
  — Christine [51:10]
Victim:
- Chelsea Ellen Bruck, 22, youngest of five on a farm, beloved in her community.
- She painstakingly crafts a Poison Ivy costume (hand-sewed leaf leotard, red wig).
Incident:
- Massive Halloween party hosted by “Big Mike” Williams [53:53], with ~1,000 people—much more than planned for.
- Chelsea arrives, drinks, enjoys herself. After a minor injury, she loses touch with her friends (who had her phone and wallet), and ultimately leaves alone around 3am.
- Quote:
  “She asked several people for a ride home...finally left the party around 3am on foot and alone...”
  — Christine [60:44]
Disappearance & Search:
- Initially, family not worried (thought she was at a friend’s). By Sunday afternoon, alarmed by no contact; Monday, she’s reported missing.
- The whole community searches with dog teams, helicopters. Rumors and accusations swirl, including unfounded ones about Big Mike and satanic rituals.
Discovery:
- In March, her Poison Ivy costume and wig are found at a scrap yard.
- In April, her remains are found under logs at a construction site. Evidence shows she was severely beaten.
Investigation & Arrest:
- DNA on her leotard belongs to Daniel Allen Clay, local man previously arrested for unrelated larceny and accused of violent rape.
- Clay is arrested, gives varying stories—denies knowing Chelsea, then admits to “rough” (non-consensual) sex, blames her for wanting to be choked, then claims her death was accidental.
  - Quote:
    “He said, ‘Oh, I only notice people if they’re sexy. I only notice women if they’re sexy. I’m a little shallow like that.’”
    — Christine [82:34]
- Evidence and injuries refute “accident” (her jaw and eye socket broken, body hidden miles from costume).
Trial & Aftermath:
- Jury convicts Clay of felony murder and concealing a death; he’s sentenced to life without parole.
- Chelsea’s mother, Leanda, releases a statement emphasizing the importance of community vigilance (“Choices”).
  - Quote:
    “‘We have become a nation that lives in fear...If we see things that are not right or it looks questionable, please call 911...But how are we going to feel if we were right and didn’t call? You can’t change woulda, coulda, shoulda.’”
    — Chelsea's mother [88:59]
Host Commentary:
- Christine and Em tie the story’s lessons to community, safety, and the heartbreak of communal trust being shattered. They vent their disgust over Clay’s sleazy excuses and apparent lack of remorse.
  - Quote (on Clay):
    “I feel like that’s a trait of being a psychopath...there’s a lack of real guilt or terror or feelings. I don’t know, it’s just creepy.”
    — Christine [93:40]

Notable Quotes & Moments

On Pets and Life Expenses [03:39]:
“It’s a breathtaking amount...I can’t even breathe.”
— Em
On Group Costumes [10:16]:
“She will never do another group costume after this. She’s like, I put my work in, right?”
— Em
On Accidental Condom Costume [14:46]:
“Which means I must...I don’t know how that—I know that on DoorDash for food, I have clicked like, bowl of soup. And then all of a sudden, soup shows up with my order.”
— Em
Seven Sisters Road, on Feeling the Haunted Land [29:32]:
“The land just feels wrong. You can’t explain it, but it’s heavy. Like, it remembers.”
— Local, via Em
On Chelsea Bruck’s Case — Community Involvement [51:10]:
“If there’s an event in town, it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone in town will assume they’re invited.”
— Christine

Recommended Listening Timestamps

00:00–02:27 – Ads & Interstitials
03:10–09:01 – Pet Travel and Life Updates
10:50–17:39 – Costume Condom-gate
21:34–45:57 – Seven Sisters Road (Paranormal Story)
49:25–90:59 – True Crime: Chelsea Bruck
- [60:44] – Details of Chelsea’s Last Night
- [72:56] – Discovery of Costume & Remains
- [78:38] – Clay’s Arrest & Interrogation
- [88:59] – Chelsea’s Mother’s Statement

Tone & Style

Final Thoughts

For full details, personal connections, and the best moments, listen to:
“And That’s Why We Drink” Episode 456: Town Hall Friends and Costume Condom-gate.

wavePod

E456 Town Hall Friends and Costume Condom-gate

Powered by Wave AI

Summary

And That's Why We Drink – Episode 456

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points

1. Spooky Season Stress & Pet Problems

2. Post-Halloween Feels & Family Costumes

3. Costume Condom-gate: Humble Pie

4. Small-Town Dynamics & Holiday Transitions

5. Paranormal Story: The Haunted Seven Sisters Road (Nebraska)

Story Structure

6. True Crime Case: The Murder of Chelsea Bruck

Case Summary

Notable Quotes & Moments

Recommended Listening Timestamps

Tone & Style

Final Thoughts

Summary

And That's Why We Drink – Episode 456

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points

1. Spooky Season Stress & Pet Problems

2. Post-Halloween Feels & Family Costumes

3. Costume Condom-gate: Humble Pie

4. Small-Town Dynamics & Holiday Transitions

5. Paranormal Story: The Haunted Seven Sisters Road (Nebraska)

Story Structure

6. True Crime Case: The Murder of Chelsea Bruck

Case Summary

Notable Quotes & Moments

Recommended Listening Timestamps

Tone & Style

Final Thoughts