Bellied Up Podcast #170: Is Ethan Breaking Up With His Goth Girlfriend?

Hosts: Miles (“You Betcha Guy”) & Charlie Berens
Release Date: October 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively, small-town bar episode, Miles and Charlie belly up for their trademark blend of Midwest humor, friendly banter, and taking calls from real people grappling with all sorts of everyday dilemmas. Notable segments in this installment include: an update about the show's legendary traveling spear, a deep-dive with returning caller Ethan about millennial relationship woes (and living with a goth girlfriend for rent), and a wild story about cleaning a Vietnam vet’s hoarder house—complete with a live bear cameo.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. The Brotherhood of the Traveling Spear (00:01 - 04:41)

• Location: Station Number Six, West Dallas, WI
• The podcast kicks off with Miles and Charlie celebrating the arrival of a custom-forged spear crafted by listener Weston from High Falls Forge.
  • The bar’s owner, “Miles with an I,” helps unsheath the spear:
    • “Now me and Miles with an I have now touched the touch tips.” — Miles (03:07)
  • Admiration for Midwest craftsmanship and a plug for High Falls Forge’s Instagram follows.
  • The guys joke about co-parenting the spear:
    • “The brotherhood of the Traveling Spear.” — Charlie (03:26)

2. Ethan’s Bellied Up Relationship Update: Breaking Up for Rent? (06:41 - 31:54)

Ethan Checks In

• Returning caller Ethan brings signature candor and gallows humor as he updates the hosts on his relationship with his goth girlfriend.
• Ethan asks the hosts about their lives before getting into his own:
  • “Hey, you know what? I’m just booze cruising in life right now, man. One shot of whiskey at a time, you know?” — Ethan (09:44)

What’s Got Ethan Down

• He’s 23, feels too young and cooped up, but clearly appreciates his girlfriend’s support during tough times (like after his father died).
• The relationship is fraying at the seams due to:
  • Major differences in political views
  • His partner’s frequent emotional outbursts over small things
  • General drifting apart
  • “It’s just iffy. I don’t know. I’m... so young, you know. I gotta get out. I gotta do something.” — Ethan (12:05)

The Little Things (that become big things)

• Example: Ethan leaves tacos out, triggering a meltdown. He’s more easygoing about food spoilage and gets frustrated over escalations.
  • “Is that really warranted a door slam? ...Nothing grinds my gears more than that, dude.” — Ethan (15:22)
• His coping method: disengaging, going online, playing games (and jokes about “Benjamin”—likely meaning self-soothing or perhaps a pet/alter ego).

On Compatibility & Staying Together

• They stay together for practical reasons (shared rent at $1,200/month split down the middle).
• Both parties lack the desire for kids right now; Ethan cracks wise about future prospects:
  • “Red flags turn green. I need another to ruin my life.” — Ethan (17:46)
  • “You did make... this is the bed you made, you’re dating a walking red flag.” — Miles (17:49)
• Ethan’s on-again, off-again status with dating apps, and his comedic gripes about “having to lower standards.”
• Ultimately, Ethan is pretty transparent:
  • “Are they the right person for me at the end of the day? ...I don’t think they are. I think one more year and then I think that’s it.” (21:40)

Hosts’ Perspective

• Miles and Charlie reflect that this “relationship of convenience” is common and try to gently point toward moving on.
  • “It’s not a lease, dude. You can just stop doing it now.” — Charlie (22:09)
• Their good-natured ribbing helps Ethan maintain humor through frustration.

3. Ethan’s Oil Land & Tiny House Tales (23:05 - 26:45)

• Ethan explains his family background: sitting on undeveloped land with oil/rent potential, helping his sisters manage a shared inheritance, and dreaming up a “classy” tiny house resort/trailer park.
  • “You’re building a resort, essentially.” — Miles (24:49)
• He admits he’s not flush with cash:
  • “I don’t make enough money to hold over a house over my head...I have to have a roommate.” (26:24)

4. Vocations, Standup Comedy, and Instagram Reels Riffs (27:03 - 30:34)

• Ethan describes his low-ambition IT job (“booze cruising,” multitasking, dealing with old folks):
  • “You are the Google for people that don’t want to Google.” — Charlie (27:52)
• Brief foray into the idea of him trying standup, to which Charlie and Miles encourage him to crowdwork or rant on TikTok/Instagram instead.
  • “You got your first bit right there, Ethan, you know.” — Charlie (29:36)
• Notable quote:
  • “You can get live cop shootings and then you can follow it up with like some autism awareness program. I don’t know.” — Ethan on the randomness of Instagram Reels (29:48)

5. Griffin’s Hoarder Uncle, Unexpected Bears, & the Philosophy of “Seat Left” (35:08 - 54:06)

House-Cleaning Adventures

• Griffin recounts helping clear out his Vietnam-vet uncle’s hoarder house after a disastrous plumbing flood.
  • “Lawnmowers, weed whackers, chainsaws, brand new tools all ruined. Insulation falling from the ceiling. I found, I think, four or five snakeskins, couple rats.” — Griffin (36:08)
• Talks about working with his stubborn uncle and dealing with hoarded military rations (MREs), old tools (including lamenting the loss of a radial arm saw), and general chaos.

Live Bear Cameo

• While on the call, Griffin spots a black bear at the amusement park where he works:
  • “Apparently there’s a bear. Sorry to distract you, fellas. I work at an amusement park in the Smoky Mountains, and there’s a bear right outside.” — Griffin (39:01)
  • The hosts rib him for not calling safety.

On Family, Inheritance, & Odd Characters

• They discuss his uncle’s cranky personality, military past, and phrases like “A seat left is a seat left.”
  • “That’s philosophical is what it is.” — Charlie (47:29)
• Uncle’s legendary friend “Barf” and “Barfisms” earn Miles’ confusion and a round of laughter.

Reviving a Classic Car

• Griffin shares the aspiration to restore his uncle’s neglected 1967 Corvette Stingray:
  • “He got back from Vietnam. He got. He bought himself a 67 Corvette Stingray. And it’s been sitting in the garage untouched for about 25 years.” — Griffin (52:46)

6. Short & Sweet: Voicemail from Raven (58:44 - 59:57)

• A flustered caller, Raven from St. Louis, leaves a message, then immediately realizes he lost his nerve and hangs up. The hosts have a field day riffing:
  • “That pregnant pause, man. It’s almost like his wife just walked in the room...” — Charlie (59:15)
  • “Blink twice if everything’s okay.” — Miles (59:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On relationships:

  • “I hate to be that person to say that. Love this person, care for this person as much as they care for me… but I mean, like, just two separate different paths, you know?” — Ethan (11:38)

• On Midwest DIY pride:

  • “We like to support the local craftsmen out there…Made in the Midwest.” — Charlie (04:40)

• On millennials and housing costs:

  • “So you've heard of, you know, stay together for the kids? Yeah, they're staying together for the rent.” — Miles (22:46)

• On the randomness of life (and the show):

  • “You can get live cop shootings and then you can follow it up with like some autism awareness program. I don't know.” — Ethan (29:48)

• On family eccentricities:

  • “That’s Barf over there.” — Charlie (46:32)

• On practical wisdom:

  • “A seat left is a seat left.” — Griffin’s uncle (47:28)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp Start | Timestamp End | |-----------------------------------------------|:--------------:|:-------------:| | Traveling Spear & Craftsmanship Update | 00:01 | 04:41 | | Ethan’s Relationship Woes | 06:41 | 21:40 | | Ethan’s Land/Family Inheritance Story | 23:05 | 26:45 | | Ethan’s Job, Standup & Social Media Rant | 27:03 | 30:34 | | Griffin Cleans Hoarder Uncle’s House | 35:08 | 54:06 | | Voicemail: Raven’s Stage Fright | 58:44 | 59:57 |

Overall Tone & Vibe

The episode delivers classic Bellied Up energy: barroom warmth, no-bullshit honesty, and gut-busting laughter mixed with genuine curiosity about real struggles—be they messy breakups or cleaning up after stubborn old vets. Ethan’s segment is especially raw and funny, turning millennial malaise and romantic indecision into sharp self-aware comedy. Griffin’s bear story and hoarder yarns add a touch of the absurd, punctuated by recurring Midwest wisdom.

A must-listen for fans who love a blend of heartfelt advice, real world weirdness, and razor-sharp banter.

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