Podcast Summary: Bellied Up — “The Most Interesting Lady in Colorado” (#187)

Hosts: Charlie Berens (A), Myles "You Betcha Guy" (B)
Date: February 12, 2026
Location: Maddie’s Bar, New Berlin, Wisconsin

Overview

Episode #187 of Bellied Up, recorded at Maddie’s in New Berlin, features Charlie Berens and Myles "You Betcha Guy" catching up over drinks, discussing Midwestern life woes and hilarities, and taking live calls from listeners. This week brings standout Midwest banter, relatable tales of small-town bureaucracy, and a memorable, multifaceted caller: Bethany from Colorado, who may just be the most interesting lady in the state. The episode explores themes of homeownership headaches, the challenges of being ‘Midwest Nice’ in small communities, and the journey toward self-acceptance and authenticity.

1. Opening Banter: Homecoming, Meat Sweats & Midwest Guts

Timestamps: 00:00 – 11:16

• Charlie and Myles return to Charlie's hometown bar.

  • Charlie reminisces about growing up in New Berlin, praises the bar’s Old Fashioned, and jokes about creating a Lambeau Field–like outdoor experience:
    • "I would have touched tips and tails with you, Miles. I for sure would." (00:22)

• Meat sweats & food regrets:

  • The hosts recall a steak dinner that left Charlie sweating, sleepless, and battling wild dreams, while Myles’s "iron stomach" stayed unbothered.
    • "That ribeye just started boxing with my guts, and it was causing so much heat that I was just sweating, sweating up a storm." —Charlie (03:23)
    • Myles jokes about being so tough inside because of years of Midwest eating.

• On dental hygiene practices:

  • Friendly ribbing over flossing and brushing intensity leads to classic “you brush too hard/too soft” debate:
    • "You got a floss every now and again, Miles? ... Not all." —Charlie (09:17)
    • "I do it once a year when I go to the dentist." —Myles (09:20)

2. Call #1: The City Code Conundrum (Joe from Wisconsin)

Timestamps: 16:00 – 41:18

Situation Recap

Joe, a Southern transplant to the Midwest, is grappling with the local historic society/city planner (one grumpy official handling both). He feels targeted after converting a rundown corner house into the best home on the block, but repeatedly encounters slow permits, unexpected rule enforcement, and a request to remove trees. He wonders if he should keep playing nice or finally push back.

Key Moments & Insights

• Resentment builds over perceived slights:

  • "There were a hundred different locations that they could park the excavator. But he chose my yard." (18:54)
  • Excitement at improving the house is met with bureaucratic obstacles and slow communication.

• Host perspectives on Midwest attitudes toward authority:

  • "Everyone's knee jerk reaction is to dislike authority if it's inconvenient... So people either don't think about [city officials] or... they don't like that." —Charlie (28:43)
  • Myles jokes about “flooding the zone” by encouraging many neighbors to request projects as a distraction technique.

• Role-play with the caller to practice persistent, polite conflict resolution (27:15 – 29:54).

  • Myles humorously acts as the gruff city official: "That file's about a thousand pages long... you're the one with the illegal driveway, the illegal trees..." (27:32)

• Advice on navigating small-town politics:

  • Leverage relationships. The mayor may be helpful — maybe even over dinner and a few drinks:
    • "Maybe you and your wife take the mayor out to dinner, and then you casually bring this up halfway through, make sure he's had a couple drinks..." —Charlie (30:46)

• On the perils of power:

  • "Anytime you give anyone authority, 50% of those people will be a prick with their authority, and 50% will be cool." —Charlie (36:09)
  • Caller is advised to play “the long game," set ego aside, and use over-niceness and strategic relationships to get what he wants.

Notable Quote

• "Power turns a man strange." —Charlie (39:32)

3. Call #2: Bethany, the Most Interesting Lady in Colorado

Timestamps: 42:46 – 74:43

Context

Bethany from Denver calls seeking tips on being “grumpier,” wanting to tap into her inner hardass “Beth,” a break from her default “Bartender Bethany” persona. What unfolds is a freewheeling conversation uncovering her kaleidoscopic life as a botanist, painter, chess tutor, bouncer, and her adventures in love.

Key Moments & Insights

Creating Grumpy Alter-Egos

• "First of all, you need to get your RBF going. That’s your resting Bethany face. And it’s not actually the resting Bethany face. It’s the resting Beth face. It’s the face you make when a stranger calls you Beth." —Charlie (45:14)
• The hosts coach her through ‘Beth’ role-play, encouraging a split between her public persona and inner toughness (46:07).

Colorful Life Resume

• Bethany juggles jobs: after-school teacher, botanist, contract painter, and venue door bouncer.
  • "You are the most interesting woman in Denver." —Charlie (53:14)
  • "So you’re a painter who’s also a botanist, who’s also a chess teacher, who also is a bouncer." —Myles (53:06)
  • She clarifies her role is mostly ticket scanning, but she has closed many bars alone: "I've held down a lot of bars by myself..." (54:12)

The Denver Dating Scene

• Bethany candidly discusses her bisexuality, noting the universal difficulties of dating in Denver, especially with “Peter Pan boys who just want to hang out with their dogs and their moms” (56:03).
  • Humorous riff on recent exes who seek their mother’s validation in relationships.
• Exploration of lesbian dating dynamics and “baby gays”:
  • "No one wants to train like a baby gay." —Bethany (61:05)
  • "At a certain age, you can't train a baby gay... how to act and be confident." (61:14)

On Identity, Independence, and Romance

• Bethany reflects on her journey from rural Texas evangelical roots to a women’s college in Missouri — “LUGs: lesbian until graduation” (64:18).
• She seeks to reconnect with her grittier, self-sufficient side post-college:
  • "I miss that grumpy little badass that just put herself through college." (65:30)
• Hosts gently tease and offer to help draft her dating profile, emphasizing her desire for someone who shares hands-on skills and an appetite for life:
  • "So if I'm getting this right, if there are any women listening to this podcast who are lesbian in the Denver area, Beth is looking to date you... as long as you can do something." —Myles (67:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On lesbians as builders:

  • "They're always making something. Butch the builder... and the ones in Denver have at least three dogs." —Bethany (62:05)

• Reflecting on rural upbringing:

  • "I grew up in rural Texas... very evangelical Christian, very sexist." (63:29)

• Playful and real talk about sexuality:

  • "What's it like being one of them bi[sexual]s?" —Charlie, parodying "dad at a bar" question, leading to a surprisingly open discussion. (60:11)

4. Episode Close

Timestamps: 74:43 – End

• Charlie and Myles reflect on the frankness of the calls, double down on their own “genuine curiosity,” and crack wise about swapping roles with their producer, Jared.

• The hosts urge listeners to visit Maddie’s Bar, tip their bartenders, and send out well wishes to Bethany — and all the Midwest’s most interesting people.

Highlights & Timestamps (Select)

• Banter about Lambeau viewing experience, Charlie sweating out ribeye: 00:22 – 04:58
• The Flossing Debate: 09:12 – 10:24
• Caller Joe on Midwest City Bureaucracy: 16:31 – 39:32
• Midwest Power Corrupts? 36:09 – 39:32
• Bethany's 'Beth/Bethany' Persona Shift: 45:14 – 47:02
• Bethany’s Multihyphenate Resume: 53:06 – 53:14
• Denver Dating Critique, 'Peter Pan boys': 56:03 – 57:23
• LUGs (Lesbian Until Graduation): 64:18 – 64:27
• Bethany’s Dating Wishlist: 67:13 – 67:45

Memorable Quote Recap

• "Power turns a man strange." —Charlie (39:32)
• "Sometimes I think Jared should just take my job." —Charlie (75:33)
• "They're always making something. Butch the builder… and the ones in Denver have at least three dogs." —Bethany (62:05)

Tone

Irreverent, hilarious, and heartfelt — the episode offers a true slice of Midwest community, brimming with self-deprecating humor and genuine curiosity. The hosts are playful, occasionally brash, but always looking to help callers find empathy, practical advice, and a good laugh.

For Listeners: Why Tune In?

• Real, unfiltered Midwest advice on bureaucracy, relationships, and being yourself.
• Two creative, funny hosts who mix heart and humor in every segment.
• Callers who bring unique, relatable, and often surprising stories from all around the Midwest and beyond.