Bellied Up Podcast — Episode #183
"What NOT To Do At The Supper Club"
Hosts: Charlie Berens & Myles (“You Betcha Guy”)
Date: January 15, 2026
Episode Theme & Overview
This episode, recorded shortly after the Packers’ traumatic playoff loss to the Bears, embodies Bellied Up’s signature Midwest banter, comic venting, and real-life etiquette lessons. Charlie nurses his wounds as a Packers fan, sharing his pain with Myles—and callers add their tales of Midwest supper club mishaps, relationships, and navigating small-town bar culture. Signature segments include rants about football heartbreak, etiquette at the supper club, bass guitar showmanship tips, and a healthy dose of Midwest ribbing.
Main Topics and Key Discussion Points
I. Packers Playoff Loss: Midwest Grief Counseling (00:36–14:58)
- Setting: Charlie’s revamped Milwaukee bar-office, a nod to “The Office” fandom and Millennial culture (00:00–01:33)
- Packers’ Loss to the Bears:
- Charlie opens up about his emotional journey, therapy session, and the existential fandom pain post-playoff loss (01:44–07:58)
- Detailed recount of watching the game while performing at a charity event (03:18–04:26)
- Analysis of the game’s collapse: defense, offense, and special teams all underperforming (“trifecta of screwing the pooch,” 06:07–07:04)
- Myles needles Charlie about losing two “Super Bowls” in a season: the real Super Bowl and the Bears-Packers rivalry (11:02–12:13)
- Packer fan advice to Bears fans: “Don’t get your hopes up” (08:16–09:39)
Charlie (09:35): "Just don't count your chickens before your eggs hatch, and that's about it."
- Humor and Midwest-levels of denial: Charlie forewarns Myles not to try joining the Packers bandwagon in the future (“I will pecker kick you right off”, 12:11).
- Bright Spots: Myles attempts to help Charlie look on the positive side of the loss, suggesting “Now you can go on vacation, not have to worry about getting a TV connection." (13:31)
II. Football, Prize Picks, and Midwest Winter Wisdom (14:58–18:09)
- Prize Picks Picks: Charlie’s Bears grudge leads him to pick “Caleb Williams less than 231.5 yards,” spurred by annoyance (15:13–16:09). Myles puts faith in Puka Nacua catching a TD against the Bears (16:12–16:22).
- Winter Party Guest Moves: Quick tips on never showing up empty-handed: grab a Tippy Cow chocolate shake at the liquor store for quick Midwest cred (16:37–17:42).
- Surviving Milwaukee Winter: Tangent on treacherous parking lot conditions, car accidents, and the value of local legal support (17:53–19:03).
III. Caller: Surviving Supper Club Etiquette (19:03–46:00)
A. Sarah’s Supper Club Saga (19:03–43:05)
- The Incident: Sarah and her husband, out for a rare kid-free night, are seated at a six-top high-top table in the packed bar area without a reservation (19:14–19:53).
- Their cheese curds are interrupted by “two broads” (Sarah’s words), who claim seats, followed by more strangers attempting to join uninvited (20:13–21:19).
- Hosts’ Analysis:
- High-top tables in bar areas invite communal seating; the perils of “Midwest Nice” until personal space is breached (21:19–23:10).
- Charlie and Myles roast Sarah for occupying a six-top without guilt, speculating on bar etiquette and whether Sarah is “from Illinois” (22:24–22:58).
- Agree, however, that etiquette was breached when strangers attempted to sit elbow-to-elbow without consent (“I don’t want to be elbow to elbow with strangers…”, 23:25)
- Root cause: Not making a reservation—Sarah blames her husband’s distracted “hunting season” mentality (23:42–26:35).
- Marriage & Midwest Man’s Mental Calendar:
- Seasonal distractions: hunting, ice fishing, and summer fishing means only 4–6 weeks/year of full attention (25:08–25:52).
- Sarah admits she does more at home and just wanted to feel special (27:01–27:12).
- Midwest Nice vs. Minnesota Nice: Debates on whether inviting strangers to sit too closely was “too nice” (30:28–30:42).
- In hindsight, Sarah jokes about treating her table like the Last Supper: “Maybe I should have been more like Jesus…” (31:02).
- Pontoon Swingers Tangent: Charlie shares wild stories about accidentally ending up on a swingers’ pontoon—impromptu Midwest humor on accidental party invites (32:37–34:09).
- Glasses Roasting: Sarah roasts Charlie about perpetually dirty glasses (“…remind me of special needs kids in school…just want to help,” 37:12). Charlie: “These glasses are dirty because I’m so squeaky clean.” (39:13)
- Sarah’s “Closet Karen” Confession: She recounts the time she scolded a 10-year-old for shooting at wild turkeys near the highway (43:17–44:19).
- Serious Note: Sarah opens up about chemo treatment and hair loss, leading to a discussion of wigs, resilience, and finding humor amid hardship (45:10–48:54).
- Wrap-Up: More roast exchanges (Sarah: “I think I’m a closet Karen at times.”, 43:05) and a final, mutual appreciation.
Sarah (37:12): “You remind me of like the special needs kids in school. You just feel bad for them...”
Charlie (39:13): “The irony of it all is that my glasses are dirty because I’m so squeaky clean.”
B. Stage Presence Advice for a Young Rockstar (50:27–69:09)
- Andrew, bassist for “Beyond Ultimate Rock Party” (BURP) calls in:
- 21-year-old, youngest in an 80s cover band (50:34–53:21)
- Wants advice on stage presence: “I need to be more than just a stale face and... be able to rock out a little bit…” (53:21)
- Advice from Myles & Charlie:
- Develop a trademark: Keep the wife-beater look, get a “BURP” tattoo (54:11–55:32)
- Use bass solos as comic relief moments—go big only occasionally, surprise the crowd (56:39–57:11)
- Incorporate unique dance moves, walk into the crowd, and connect with audience for big impact (57:26–60:16)
- Channel comic relief: “Be the guy in the wife beater,” turn limitations into a signature (54:49–54:49)
- Myles recommends watching Sum 41’s "In Too Deep" for guitar tricks, and to line dance with the bass for comic effect (58:55–60:16)
- Burp Band Branding: Segment on band names, logos, and harnessing social media (52:26–53:07)
- Ultimate Rock Life: Andrew’s willingness to get the hosts’ faces tattooed on his arm for a sponsorship, and the hosts’ shock (67:56–68:14)
Charlie (54:49): “You need something that makes you always unique, something identifiable. So when people come see you again, they’re like, oh, I like that guy in the wife beater…” Myles (61:54): “Just when they think it’s winding down, crank it back up again.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Charlie’s Packers Therapy:
"I'm filled with shame. I'm filled with regret. I'm filled with a lot of emotions here, Miles." (05:28) - On Communal Supper Club Seating:
“…the bar area, traditionally speaking, has kind of an open seating…If you’re going to the high top…that invites a crowd.” (21:45) - Midwest Psychology:
“You got about four to six weeks of mental clarity on a Midwest man. And even then, he’ll fill the time in the garage.” (25:41) - Sarah’s Last Supper Reflection:
“Maybe I should have been more like Jesus and treated it like the Last Supper.” (31:02) - Charlie’s accidental swinger boat ride:
“The thing about pontoon boats: Not all pontoon owners are swingers, but all swingers do own a pontoon.” (32:21) - On stage presence in a band:
“You need a hook and a crutch is what they call it...” (54:49) - Iconic Midwest self-deprecation:
“Every white person wedding—if they don’t play ‘Love Shack,’ what a shame.” (70:30)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:36–14:58 — Packers loss, grief, and comedy coping mechanisms
- 19:03–46:00 — Sarah’s supper club etiquette call (and rabbit holes: Midwest marriage, swinger pontoons, Karen confessions, glasses roast, cancer/chemo talk)
- 50:27–69:09 — Andrew/BURP: Young bassist crowd-pleasing advice, music scene, and tattoo pledges
Episode Tone & Style
The hosts maintain their signature blend of dry, good-natured Midwest humor, friendly ribbing, and genuine empathy. Callers are greeted like neighbors at the bar; storytelling is loose, with meandering anecdotes that circle back to relatable themes. The roast-and-response banter is authentic, and even the toughest jibes end with some warmth.
For New Listeners
This episode offers a crash course in Midwest culture: sports heartbreak, etiquette at the supper club, the perils of “Midwest Nice,” marriage and hunting season dynamics, accidental run-ins with swinger culture, managing self care, and navigating the DIY music scene. It features distinctive “bits,” sharp roasts, and occasional unexpectedly heartfelt moments. If you haven’t listened, this summary will give you the full flavor, from nut-shots on TV to cheese curds and bar band bass solos.
