Bellied Up Podcast #176: "Wisconsin Trucker Hates Minnesota Drivers"

Hosts: You Betcha Guy (Myles) & Charlie Berens
Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this classic, barstool banter-filled episode, Myles and Charlie belly up to their signature "bar" to welcome live Midwest callers for some hilarious and occasionally heartfelt conversations. The main theme centers around state rivalries—particularly Wisconsin annoyance with Minnesota and Illinois visitors—and the everyday quirks of Midwestern life (like different types of "waves," trucker etiquette, and even proper Midwest harassment etiquette). The episode features standout segments including a fiery Wisconsin trucker upset with Minnesota drivers, the perennial "FIB" (F***ing Illinois Bastard) debate, and a guest lawyer sharing the glamorous (and not so glamorous) side of billboards. Sprinkled in are classic jabs, playful bickering, and the warmth you’d expect from local legends “bellying up” together.

Key Segments, Discussion Points & Timestamps

1. Midwest Winter Prep & Bar Origins (00:00 – 07:00)

• Myles and Charlie open with some Midwest autumn chat, emphasizing lake house closings, antifreeze tips, and the importance of siding maintenance.
• The hosts reminisce about building their podcast bar—a project that was supposed to take 4 hours, but wound up taking practically all day:
  • “What’s very funny is…we just had to put six bolts in…would have been done in 15 minutes, but instead it took us like six, seven, eight hours.” – Myles [05:23]
• The fake bar’s humble (somewhat pathetic) origins set the laid-back, self-deprecating tone.

2. The Spectrum of Midwest “Waves” (06:36 – 13:00)

• The duo discusses the unwritten etiquette of vehicle and social “waves” across the Midwest.
  • "You got the car wave, which is like 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock… that’s after you just cut off someone." – Charlie [07:01]
  • "When I’m on a gravel road, I’m giving them the two finger wave." – Myles [07:15]
  • “These are beer fingers high, Miles, these are the fingers you use to open a beer top.” – Charlie [07:53]
• They riff on the “white person on a hike” head-nod, the defensive “dad chin up” greeting, and the perils of being around “huggers” (shout-out to gin martini drinkers).
• Memorable moment: The guys pantomime various waves, exaggerating each character’s Midwest-ness.

3. [Ad Read Skipped]

4. Callers: "Wisconsin Trucker Hates Minnesota Drivers" (14:26 – 32:35)

Grady the Trucker Unleashes on Minnesotans

• Key complaint: Minnesota drivers are rude and inconsiderate in Wisconsin—destroying the “Minnesota Nice” myth.
  • “There’s just no decency on the road… there’s no Midwest nice from Minnesotans anymore.” – Grady [14:50]
• Deeper grievance: Minnesota cabin owners are buying up Wisconsin lakeshore, tearing down cabins, building “mansions,” and driving up property taxes.
  • “They’re driving the property taxes up… they’re tearing [cabins] down and building mansions.” – Grady [16:00]
  • "Who's more the number one fan on the Internet running his mouth about how great Wisconsin is? ...Charlie Berens, with all of his Wisconsin pride is making Wisconsin worse." – Myles [16:45]
• Wake boats also get singled out: “Wake boats are just tearing up the lake shores.” – Grady [17:56]
• Charlie and Myles riff on a “big, beautiful, cheesy wall” to keep the Minnesotans out, referencing Lambeau Leap as an entry requirement—“the only way you can get in is if you can get over the Lambeau Leap wall.” [20:51]
• Truck driver pet peeves: Cutting off trucks, not giving enough room, and “thumbs down” over the middle finger:
  • “If you’re just doing the ‘I’m disappointed in your driving?’ thumbs down, that means way more.” – Myles [22:26]
• Truck stop etiquette: New drivers are bad at backing up and need to practice more.
  • “Make sure you know how to back up and pull up straight…guys sit there for 15 minutes trying to do it.” – Grady [25:59]
• Most impressive backup? Grady details a dramatic, hilly reverse in Dodgeville, WI, with two dozers: “I threw the flashers on and let her rip…got her fast enough where they hit the Jake brakes going backwards.” [28:29]

5. Guest Segment: Injury Lawyer Billboard Wars (32:35 – 39:02)

• Russell Nicolay chats about his idea of a “perfect day” and the competition for the best billboard spots.
• The hosts dish out (questionable) billboard ideas, poking fun at over-the-top legal advertising:
  • “I want to start putting up billboards for you on top of other people’s billboards…just says don't go with stupid, arrow down…” – Charlie [35:27]
• Russell reveals some billboards have caused state troopers to get calls, like one that appeared on fire.
• Location trumps content for billboard envy.

6. Central Illinois Farmer: The "FIB" Debate (39:03 – 57:40)

• Jay from Illinois calls to argue that Wisconsin unfairly lumps all Illinoisans together as FIBs, when "it's really just Chicago people" who cause trouble up north.
  • “I think we can all agree that Chicago is the downfall of the state…it’s gotta be the Chicago folks…that give us good old boys a bad taste in your mouth.” – Jay [41:10]
• Charlie and Myles defend the tradition, arguing that Packers-Bears rivalry is the lifeblood of Wisconsin fandom.
  • “We need to call you guys FIBs; we need this rivalry…it's what fuels us.” – Charlie [43:30]
• Jay flips the script: “Why does Illinois have so much real estate in your guys’ brain?” – Jay [46:18]
• The conversation grows playful and personal: Jay once lived in Wisconsin as a dairy breeder; Charlie gets sidetracked into bull semen logistics.
• Memorable moment: The attempt to coin a derogatory Wisconsin acronym (“WAP”) falls apart spectacularly, leading to some of the episode's best self-mockery.
  • “Could you call us a WAP – Wisconsin Asshole Prick?” – Charlie [52:22]
• Jay’s closing message: Turnabout is fair play, and “really, the best we do is just make fun of Iowa.” [53:54]

7. Jay’s Family and NICU Story (55:25 – 56:38)

• Emotional tone shift as Jay reveals his son, a NICU survivor, encouraged him to call, capping the episode with Midwest warmth and connection.
  • “My son will just love that. Huge fan of you guys…and he’s a children’s hospital NICU unit survivor also…” – Jay [55:25]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We literally just had to put six bolts in and that would have been done in 15 minutes, but instead it took us…six, seven, eight hours.” – Myles [05:23]
• “When I’m on a gravel road, I’m giving them the two finger wave.” – Myles [07:15]
• “There’s no Midwest nice from Minnesotans anymore.” – Grady [14:50]
• “Wake boats are just tearing up the lake shores.” – Grady [17:56]
• “I wake up every morning, piss excellence. Just get out of the way.” – Grady’s closing PSA [29:52]
• “Honestly, I feel like a thumbs-down weirdly hurts more...it means way more.” – Myles [22:10]
• “The only way you can get in [to Wisconsin] is if you can get over the Lambeau Leap wall.” – Grady [20:51]
• “Location, location, location.” – Russell Nicolay [37:19]
• “We have to call you guys FIBs. We need this rivalry, okay? It’s what fuels us.” – Charlie [43:30]
• “Why does Illinois have so much real estate in your guys’ brain?” – Jay [46:18]
• “My son will just love that…he’s a children’s hospital NICU unit survivor also…” – Jay [55:25]

Episode Highlights & Listener Notes

• Warm, Playful Midwest Rivalry: At its best, the episode is a perfect mix of ribbing, nostalgia, and compassionate teasing about what makes Midwesterners tick.
• Authentic Callers: Grady presents the archetypal Wisconsin trucker voice (gripes, pride, and dry wit), while Jay brings a thoughtful perspective from rural Illinois.
• Hosts' Chemistry: Myles and Charlie’s ballbusting is never mean-spirited; the show feels like eavesdropping on two old friends in a tavern.
• Self-Deprecating Humor: Whether failing to build a bar or an acronym, the guys always embrace their own flaws and foibles.
• Unexpected Heart: The return to Jay’s personal NICU story is a gentle reminder of the real lives behind the banter.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Midwest cabin & bar chat: 00:00 – 07:00
• Midwest “waves” bit: 06:36 – 13:00
• Grady the Wisconsin trucker call: 14:26 – 32:35
  • Grady's rant on MN drivers: starts at [14:35]
  • Lake property/MN cabin owners: [16:00]
  • Wake boat discussion: [17:56]
  • Truck stop etiquette and notable backup: [25:59] and [27:58]
• Injury lawyer billboard chat: 32:35 – 39:02
• Jay the Illinois farmer & “FIB” debate: 39:03 – 57:40
  • Bears-Packers rivalry discussion: [43:01]
  • Bulls and bull semen tangent: [47:14]
  • “WAP” nickname fail: [52:22]
  • Jay & NICU story: [55:25]

For listeners:
This episode is a microcosm of Midwestern life—part loving roast, part genuine connection. If you love regional quirks, bar banter, and seeing rivals find common ground, you’ll feel right at home bellying up with Myles, Charlie, and their rotating cast of regular folks.