Introducing The Newest Bussin' With The Boys Member, Derrik Whitten | Inside The Bus

Summary

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Bussin' With The Boys – "Introducing The Newest Bussin' With The Boys Member, Derrik Whitten | Inside The Bus"

October 31, 2025

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Episode Overview

This inside-the-bus special welcomes the newest member of the Bussin’ With The Boys team, Derrik Whitten. The boys spend the episode getting to know Derrik and his journey—from content and advertising hustler in Pittsburgh to busing with the Boys in Nashville. The pod dives into workplace culture, tiers of sports fandom, legendary hiring stories, sunflower seed side quests, and, unexpectedly, deep-dive brewery rankings. The crew’s conversational banter is spirited, candid, and full of inside jokes, with an undercurrent of camaraderie and gratitude for the evolving Bussin’ family.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming Derrik: First Impressions & Contributions

• Derrik’s Arrival: Officially 39 days in, Derrik recounts his nerves about integrating into the Bussin’ crew, and the anxiety around sending out his first blog post.
  • “I was super nervous… [wondering], does everyone hate it or whatever… but no, it was good.” — Derrik (02:16)
• Content Contributions: The office needed more writing energy, and Derrik filled the gap, notably adding a blog dissecting fandom levels—sparking spirited debate among the boys.

2. Fandom Taxonomy: From “Casuals” to “Sickos”

• The Fandom Scale: The group discusses sports fandom archetypes among their crew, ranging from casual watchers to die-hard, emotionally invested “sickos.”
  • Categories mentioned include Casuals, Gamers, Gamer Plus, Die-Hards, Vols Fans, and the legendary “Will Comptons.” (03:04–09:33)
  • “You guys keep coming back no matter how bad it is. Like a student loan reminder.” — Derrik, describing Vols fans (09:24)
  • “Will Compton… the sickest, most die hard Steelers fan I could find. The Steel City wouldn’t hold a single match to the love that the Will Comptons have for their team.” — Derrik (09:33)
• Fandom Levels:
  • “Gamer” is coined as a middle tier: someone with great football knowledge, enjoys the sport, but not emotionally devastated by losses.
  • JP’s outlier Gamecocks fandom is immortalized by his childhood “Cocky Land” brochure, where South Carolina culture permeates every detail of make-believe life (12:24–15:04).
  • “There’s a difference between you guys with the college football fandom and being a Steelers fan. It ruins my day. But with you, it’s like—‘cool, on to the next year.’” — Derrik (05:15)

3. Legendary Hiring Stories & The Road to the Bus

• Derrik’s Journey:
  • Heavy background in social media, content creation, and agency life, followed by post-layoff hustle (Lyft driving, freelance, and relentless video creation).
  • Process was “unconventional as the job” (39 days of trial, fake-outs, and test assignments).
  • “I was making another piece of video, just about my day. That got me a job offer at Meta—which I turned down for this.” — Derrik (22:51)
  • “You guys have been great. 39 days have been so sick.” — Derrik (25:13)
• Interview Antics:
  • Test clips, strategy assignments while on vacation, and handling a “no bullshit” Will Compton after a marathon recording day.
  • “My whole family's like, so you’re, like, auditioning for a podcast?... It was never serious until now.” — Derrik (32:38)
• Others’ Pathways:
  • Mitch and JP share equally chaotic hiring sagas; the office has grown from a tiny crew sharing one desk in the bus to the present squad (38:16).

4. The “Seed Boys” Saga: Sunflower Seeds as Content & Culture

• Birth of the Side Quest:
  • Coop and Derrik become obsessed with cracking sunflower seeds at work, starting informal taste tests and ranking sessions.
  • “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t just rip a bag of sunflower seeds at work.” — Derrik (43:59)
  • The “seed boys” moniker is born along with a movement: multiple brands reach out, care packages are unboxed, and seed reviews become a fixture.
  • Seed culture even impacts dental health:
    • “The tissue in your cheek is like, white and rough… could it be from sunflower seeds? Probably.” — Coop (46:04)
• Potential for New Content:
  • Ongoing “seed side quest” may spin off into formal Bussin’ material.
  • “If I have a gift with content, it’s sniffing out opportunities like this. This is gonna go forever.” — Derrik (42:22)

5. Beyond the Bus: Beer, Breweries & Hobbies

• Derrik’s Brewery Ranking System:
  • A spreadsheet indexed on beer quality, food scene, venue space, and people. Top TN brewery: Smith & Lentz. Top nationally are Pittsburgh’s Trace Brewing and Cinderlands Brewing.
  • “I have my own system. It’s crazy... third top brewery on this list is Smith & Lentz at 16.5 out of 20.” — Derrik (52:46–54:57)
• Best Beer Scenarios:
  • Derrik’s blog post ranks top ten “beer moments,” including the “family member beer,” “airport beer,” the “pre-reception wedding beer,” and more.
  • “The number one beer of all time is the next beer.” — Derrik (75:41)
• Other Team Side Quests:
  • Members share hobbies: painting, golf, video games, creative writing.
  • Discussions on gaming as winter approaches, and aspirations for Bussin’ brewery crawls.

6. Friendship, Culture, and the Future

• Friendship & Community:
  • “Cocky Land” childhood memories lead to aspirations of community leadership, illustrated by JP’s political interest and connection-building.
  • “You guys are making Joey Aguilar edits. He’s up here making presidential campaign edits.” — Derek (17:29)
• Relationship Updates:
  • Jack shares a heartfelt story about asking his girlfriend out at a Billy Strings concert, symbolizing personal growth and new beginnings alongside job opportunities (65:43).
• The Bussin' Culture:
  • The boys reflect on the unconventional but earnest workplace they’ve built.
  • “Not to blow your tops off—you’re very cool people. Like, I can’t explain how cool it is to tell people… I’m one of the boys that’s busing.” — Derrik (28:09)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fandom:
  • “Die hards seem to teeter somewhere between serial killer and stalker.” — Derrik (08:24)
  • “You’re at your best when you’re two beers deep… Two is the perfect number.” — Derrik (70:00)
• On Content & Hustle:
  • “Thoughts from the Bench… We did shotgun races at tailgates against the Barstool guys… we just fucking grinded.” — Derrik (21:03)
  • “You have to go through… the ‘100,000 hours’ of podcasting, graphics, all the little shit… the second this opportunity came up I thought, ‘Oh, I know I can do the job.’” — Derrik (28:09)
• On Office Culture:
  • “When I walked back there… if one of us had a bad poop, everybody was smelling it… we were in the trench.” — Mitch (39:01)
• On Seeds:
  • “That’s what I was doing before we started this — hardcore seeds, bro.” — Coop (48:03)
  • “Chinook and Smackin’ are both low sodium… David’s has these little tiny seeds… they got comfortable at the top, but now the market's catching up.” — Derrik (48:00)
• On Brewery Experiences:
  • “They do a cold ship IPA… one of the few places I’ve found here, really good. Star Wars Day every year. Just a total vibe.” — Derrik on Fate La Force (55:04)
  • “Conviction days — if you’re convicted for something, you get PTO to go do it.” — Derrik (63:06)
• On Relationship Advice:
  • “On her worst days is how I could operate on, like, my just normal days. It’s nice to have a person like that.” — Jack (68:04)
• On Career Satisfaction:
  • “If I could sit at my desk and drink as many beers as I have seeds and still have my job, that would be the dream.” — Derrik (70:00)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• Introducing Derrik & Fandom Blog: 01:37–03:08
• Defining Fandom Tiers: 03:08–09:33
• JP’s “Cocky Land” Brochure: 12:24–15:04
• Derrik’s Career Journey & Hiring Process: 19:05–27:16
• Desk Item Ritual & Contract Story: 25:27–28:09
• Team's Hiring Stories: 34:15–39:26
• Birth of the “Seed Boys”: 40:17–47:16
• Hobbies, Brewery Rankings: 51:49–59:35
• Jack’s Relationship Side Quest: 65:41–68:03
• Derrik’s Top 10 Beers Blog: 73:38–76:03
• Closing Reflection: 76:07

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Final Thoughts

This “inside the bus” gives listeners an authentic glimpse into the Bussin’ With The Boys extended family, blending self-deprecating humor, deep dives into niche obsessions, and real stories of finding community after risks and setbacks. Derrik proves himself a natural fit; his appreciation for content, community, and “side quests” embodies the show’s ethos.

The best pod? The next one.

Transcript

[Derek]

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[Derek]

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[JP]

Kobe Bryant Jeff Gordon episode, episode 24 of the Inside the Bus podcast. And this one. You're probably wondering why didn't this episode happen sooner? Because you've probably heard this guy's name before. Whether it's in the busing world, whether it's in the bus scenes world, or whether it's in the for the dads world. We have our newest employee on this episode with us, Derek from the chat.

[Derek]

Thank you.

[Jack]

Solid intro.

[Coop]

Thanks man.

[Mitch]

Newest employee of two months already? Yeah, 39 days.

[Derek]

39 days was Friday.

[Mitch]

Yeah, that blog was incredible.

[Derek]

I was super nervous. Obviously we can talk about what actually happened, but sending it out. There was like a two hour gap before G hit the group chat of that blog. And you know you go through when you do any type of content like does everyone hate it or whatever. And then I was like I kind of, kind of with coupe a little bit on it and like I kind of with Will, I'm like, damn, everyone hate me on Monday, man. But no, it was good.

[Chef]

No, that was incredible.

[Jack]

This office needs a blogger, too. I feel like there's not.

[JP]

Yeah, we need more writing. And for those that don't understand what we're talking about, every Sunday night, we have a weekly schedule that gets sent out to us. And normally Ryan puts it together. Shout Out Ryan. But has everything that's going on. This past week, Derek added a blog to it where he was basically diving into the levels of fandom, because that's been a big argument at the bus. We have some sickos. We have some Die Hards. We have some Will Compton's.

[Derek]

Some casuals.

[JP]

Some casuals me. And he dove into it and it was beautiful.

[Mitch]

Right.

[Derek]

Take your name out of the casual thing because I didn't want it to be a shot, but I was like, you do love the Chiefs, but you don't do it enough for Clump to fuck with you.

[Mitch]

No, I just. I'm not one. I mean, we've said it before, but I'm not one. Like, it's not going to ruin my week. I just like watching football.

[Jack]

I think there's a name.

[JP]

I'll be back. I have something I need to grab pertaining to this.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Okay.

[Chef]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. You definitely need that.

[Jack]

We need to figure out a name to differentiate between the casuals of the world, like Matt Malone and then you. Because there's. I don't know, there seems like there's a little bit of a gap in which way which swings better for your.

[Mitch]

Yeah, I would agree.

[Jack]

Or fandom.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Chef]

Because I think fandom. Casual fandom with incredible ball knowledge and then just.

[Jack]

I think that could be it.

[Mitch]

I think my fandom is working the. The NFL hat that Coop has, like, that is me for the NFL football. Correct. But I. And like, I know we got a face swap. I know the end. Like, I do, obviously, playing college football and like, growing up and playing football. Like, I know the ins and outs of football. And like, when, like, sometimes Gio asked me a football question, I'm like, yeah, I can flex my ball knowledge. Ball knowledge. Like muscle. So, like, I am a. I think you're a gamer.

[Derek]

Think that my gamer's a good one. Yeah, yeah.

[Chef]

Gamer fills in a lot. Mitch cares more if he loses flag, which is gamer.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[Jack]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

I.

[Jack]

You're a gamer.

[Mitch]

I can get down with gamer.

[Derek]

Yeah, Fits, too.

[Chef]

You just got to be Clump.

[Jack]

I've always appreciated, too, that you. You kind of take the first step in being like, I'M a casual.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Jack]

And in the back of my head I'm like, you know, like, in a way you are, but, like, I feel like you're not giving yourself enough credit.

[Derek]

So.

[Jack]

Yeah, I think gamers are a good place to hang the hat for now.

[Mitch]

Yeah. Because I would get frustrated and annoyed because you guys were like, you guys, you. It was more so of a, like, Taylor said it best on the bus. He's like, mitch just likes football. Like, we get, we get mad at him because we think he doesn't like ball. But like, no, it's just like, I'm not going to. I just like football.

[Chef]

You like all ball.

[Mitch]

I like all ball.

[Derek]

That's probably the level you played at. Like, you played, you, you played in college, right?

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Derek]

So you just like it. You went to South Carolina, Oklahoma. Like, there's. That's the thing, that's what I tried to hit in the blog is there's a difference between you guys. When I came south with college football fandom and being a pro, like being a Steelers fan, it ruins my day. But we play and I'm like, cool, we can go give another. If there's a third Hayward brother, let's toss him a bag. Like. But you guys have a year in, year out college fandom that, like watching you with the vault, it's different. It's just flat, 100% different.

[Jack]

It's tough in a state, Tennessee specifically, where you have to live and die by football. You can, you can rep the Grizzlies, but obviously that's Memphis. But like we don't have obviously an MLB team, no NBA team. So like it, like, as a Steelers fan, like, you can rep the Sixers, you can rep the Phillies. Like you, you can kind of, if you're having a bad year, you can run what Pirates.

[Derek]

We do have the Pirates and the Sixers are Philly. But we, in your defense, we don't have a basketball team. So people picked Cleveland and Sixers until LeBron came along.

[Jack]

Then those just in markets. You have a fallback.

[Chef]

We'll get there.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Derek]

But yeah, it's a great point though. I like those.

[Chef]

Bottom casual gamer.

[Mitch]

I think it's Matt Malone. I think below, below Matt is Jared because he just doesn't really care. Like, he's like, Sundays are free days to me. Like, I don't have to. I don't watch football. So it's Jared. And then I would say we'd be.

[Chef]

Working seven days a week out here.

[Mitch]

I think I. And then I think Matt Malone and then I would almost say me and Cooper kind of in the same realm.

[Coop]

I feel like it's fair because like.

[Mitch]

You know ball but like it's not. But you're not like on there.

[Derek]

I love football.

[Chef]

Coop was on SUI after the Titans snuck his Cardinals.

[Mitch]

He's like, he's that way with the Cardinals.

[Coop]

Yeah, I am. Like maybe it's. I'm probably like a little bit above Mitch on like I do care.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[Coop]

It really doesn't re like I almost like I'm just used to watching the Cardinals suck. So like that's just part of my football watching experience. It's not like it actually doesn't ruin my mood as much as I.

[Derek]

But you'll get frustrated.

[Coop]

Yeah, I'll get frustrated. I do just like watching football. Like I don't care if it's my team.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Chef]

But if the cards were nice, you're gonna be like bought in all the way.

[Coop]

God, I hope so. I hope the payoff is worth your meme hit.

[Derek]

What like a couple hundred thousand? Was it mill for it? Yeah.

[Coop]

The Cardinals. I can post memes on Twitter and get 2.4 million views on them. Even though it's about the Cardinals sucking ass.

[Chef]

I'd say you're category funny.

[Mitch]

I think he.

[Coop]

I'm in a similar category to Mitch.

[Mitch]

Gamer plus gamer pl. He does get frustrated. Like if the Chiefs lose, I'm like, fuck. But if like the Cardinals lose, like he'll put out a tweet. He'll like dog the Cardinals where I like I'm not going to tweet about Chiefs necessarily.

[Coop]

I am that kind of fan where like I kind of sicko in terms of like when my team's doing bad, it's kind of enjoyable to kind of tease them and make fun of them.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Derek]

It's like tough love.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Coop]

Every year with the Cardinals. Every year I'm curious.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[JP]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

Finish this then.

[JP]

I want to. So Matt trying to submit myself to the highest level.

[Mitch]

Okay, Matt me or Jared. Matt me.

[Derek]

Coop.

[Chef]

So what is that goes does not care. Casual gamer gamer plus what's what would be your next level?

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Derek]

I'm trying to think. I genuinely. I know it's only been a week. It's been like three because the top one. I know what it is in the.

[Mitch]

Matt Malone category because he's got 17 different teams.

[Derek]

Let me swap it up because the thing was I named. I did not I named what Jack is in it. Like Vol's fans were basically their own cat. True being south here but I would like to identify A little bit more here because I have. What does it mean to be a fan? Is the name of it. And we look at casuals, Die Hards, Valves, fans and then Will Comptons of the world. And that is how I categorize basically the whole office. I like giving it out a little bit more and just. I mean I won't go too in depth, but yeah, casual. Some of them kind of get away from the office Troll Die Hards, they seem to teeter between serial killer and stalker. My favorite line there would just be is debated the sexual orientation of other homo sapiens who request the sacred scribbling of names from sweaty men with athletic accomplishments. Vol's fans. I would like to say I'm coining it. I don't know if you want it or not, but Mac or Jack mcstrate, man. Just so you know, it's.

[Jack]

I. I appreciate that.

[Derek]

Yeah, that's.

[Jack]

That's a good deep cut.

[Derek]

Yeah, I thought it was good there, man. So. And then yeah, you guys keep coming back no matter how bad it is. Like a student loan reminder. And then the.

[Chef]

The Will Compton, Sallie Mae shout out.

[Derek]

Sallie Mae, the sickest, most die hard Steelers fan I could find. The Steel City wouldn't so hold a single match to the love that the Wil Comptons have for their team. And then we dove into the fact that he berated Coop for not I can't win.

[Mitch]

I think.

[Chef]

I think you were prepared for glory if Nebraska lost that game.

[Coop]

Yeah. Part of me wants to be like, let's keep that under wraps, but we.

[Chef]

Can leave it there.

[Coop]

Yeah.

[Chef]

Just.

[Derek]

Just know.

[Mitch]

I would say like, well's not gonna watch this, but you're in the realm of like. I don't know if like Vol's fan is strictly Voss fans can be in that category because I would say you're.

[Jack]

I think almost. I think I might be in a level of his own.

[Mitch]

Like I was gonna say like in.

[Jack]

The Will Compton, the players he's friends with on Facebook from his old days. JP knows everything there is to know about South Carolina football. And just this, like, he truly embodies what it is to be a South Carolina.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Jack]

I would put JP above the sicko Psycho Valve.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Future governor.

[Jack]

He's in a lane, bro.

[Chef]

Is drinking with the head coach.

[Mitch]

Like Nick harbor asked for him. Asked to meet up with him rather.

[Jack]

Than like he's DMing with Ty Simpson after the game.

[Chef]

Like, ty, answer my DMs, please.

[Jack]

Of his own.

[JP]

I think that means a lot. That means a lot.

[Mitch]

Where Does Taylor fall into this?

[Jack]

Who maybe just right in the middle of the road because he's had experience playing, cut his teeth of the program, but never was a true fan until.

[Mitch]

Until they won the national championship.

[Jack]

And to his credit, he started being a fan that year. But even then, it felt a little. They had been rolling a little bit, so I don't know, maybe just kind of like.

[Chef]

It is funny to me when Coop knows more of Taylor's Michigan roster than Taylor knew his own teammates.

[Coop]

Yeah. Because his teams had me fighting for my life at middle school. L. Every day I had to know everything I was talking about.

[Mitch]

But. Yeah. So all of this to get to JP and his little Sharon tell or show and tell.

[JP]

Yeah. When I was home with Garrett, Garrett got to see my childhood house, which is an underrated moment because your adult very rarely get to see your childhood home.

[Chef]

It felt. I'll quickly say it was very homey. It was almost exactly what you would expect the hobby's house to be like. It was all time. So thank you.

[Mitch]

That is cool.

[JP]

Thank you.

[Chef]

Thank you.

[Derek]

And so our neighborhood is elite. By the way, did you see the.

[Mitch]

Tree he hid in for 12 hours?

[Chef]

No.

[Jack]

When he ran away?

[JP]

Oh, that.

[Coop]

Hey.

[JP]

Oh, yeah.

[Coop]

That's a good pool.

[JP]

Yeah, that's a good point there. I'll send you guys a photo. I'm home for things.

[Derek]

I've only ever made it to the edge of the driveway. I never got past.

[JP]

Yeah. I went to this tree, climbed up.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[JP]

I was like, they're gonna miss me, and I'm gonna watch them come out and look for me. And they never came out and look for.

[Derek]

For me.

[Coop]

I was just hitting my closet. Yeah.

[JP]

It's horrible. It's probably when I made this.

[Derek]

Buy it now. I'll show them. I'll go to college. Yeah.

[JP]

I'll create my own college. No. So this was on my little, like, dresser thing. And this was the first brochure I ever made in a web design class. So I had to be like, fifth or sixth grade. And I guess the assignment was just like, create a. Either a city or a town, school, something. Naturally, I pick something about South Carolina. I pick Cocky Land. And I don't know if y' all remember that, like, when you made brochures in school.

[Derek]

Oh, yeah.

[JP]

Learning that was the sickest thing ever.

[Chef]

Great.

[JP]

And we'll have to put a photo up because I have this random, like, text box.

[Jack]

Incredibly well maintained still.

[Mitch]

For real, for being 20 years old.

[JP]

So here now. Time. How do you feel? You open it up to find out.

[Derek]

I'll.

[JP]

I won't read the full thing, but.

[Derek]

I'll give you guys, I would listen to a podcast of you just reading this whole thing just for the record.

[JP]

Yeah, I mean we have dining, parks and facilities, entertainment, clothes and a calendar of events. Plus education. And this is not fully Homer either. Everything you need. Like I'm including another school in here. The food consists of mostly tailgating food. Hot dogs, hamburgers, bratwurst, subs, fruit wings. And then the water fountains are filled with Gatorade. And in every refrigerator of the rooms is Gatorade, water, juice, soda, Powerade and propels. And the last thing people would eat is shrimp. Now that's some good food. Parks and facilities All Gamecock facilities are open to the public from 7 to 12 and then 4 to 8 due to sport team practices. All the facilities have pools, concessions, basketball courts, soccer fields. And the city dump is where the Clemson fans live entertainment for entertainment. Everybody goes to all of the games. Football, basketball, soccer, swim meets, other sports and recreational sports. And yes, there are still movie theaters clothes. You could guess what they are. Everybody has a year supply of Gamecock T shirt, long sleeve shirt, pants, hoodies. And anyone who is found with a Clemson sweatshirt will be kicked out of the community calendar of events. Football season and then two times a year we go to Clemson community to trash talk them. And then throughout the rest of the year we watch everything else. Education since you when you're a little boy, you will attend some kind of school that has a connection to the University of South Carolina or another Gamecock school. When you're three years old, you go to preschool called for the young Gamecock and so on. By the time you are a senior in high school, you will have a choice to go to USC or Jacksonville State who are also the Gamecocks, each of which are free. So I made this when I was about 10 or 11.

[Derek]

You were ahead of the game.

[JP]

I'd like to electric and hopefully, you.

[Derek]

Know, maybe this is a different. Which is like a different layer of everything.

[Chef]

Right.

[Jack]

Brochure fan and that. I don't love the name of that.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Jack]

But if you understand something there context of it. Yeah, again we need to work on it. But that's what separates JP is like. I don't know if I've ever witnessed a fandom quite like JP's with South Carolina.

[Derek]

Because it.

[Jack]

Like I said earlier just it fully embodies the whole state. It's not just. Yeah, you know, South Carolina football or like what it's. It's Everything. And I can really appreciate that kind of stuff.

[Chef]

My favorite part in the whole thing is the year. One year supply of Gamecock. Yeah. After that, that's all we got.

[JP]

You know, I thought I was cooking when I was on Clemson's head too. They're in the city dump. Go talk trash to him.

[Chef]

Now that's some good food.

[Derek]

Yeah. When you are three years old, you go to preschool, it's called for the young Gamecock and so on. This is, like, really impressive. Just so you know, like, on a. On a kid level, like, this is well done. You are definitely getting something in there. I'll give you your own rank because to your point, like, you are, if the Vols lose, if Bam lose, if these teams lose, you guys are sick and annoyed and, like, want blood and want people fired. JP's trying to build a better world. Like, there's something there. He's genuinely like. He's like, look, I understand, but like, okay, guys, we still got to go to Clemson this weekend and make fun of their fans. So, like, let's rally on the bus.

[JP]

We have a schedule.

[Derek]

Yeah, absolutely. What about your year?

[JP]

That's my submission. So great, bro.

[Derek]

I love it.

[Mitch]

Do with that as you will.

[Chef]

I will say, when we were walking around Columbia, we got out of the car for two minutes. JP, this is at 10:00am like, here we go.

[Mitch]

That's got to be so sick.

[Jack]

It was cool running for mayor or, or. Or some kind of city councilman. Dude, later on in your life, I feel like you're already campaigning without even this.

[Derek]

I mean, cocky. Land strong, bro. Yeah.

[JP]

I mean, AD there. I go through waves of being interested in politics, but I do, I love, like, the community building aspect. So I'm hoping that. I think there's going to be massive shifts in the political landscape over the next 20 years. And I'm hoping that when I am 40, 45, there's a different type of role out there that would fit more in to the things I'm into. Because I'd love to stand on the table for South Carolina as a state. And I just. It needs to be the right opening. It's funny because I actually, I do DM with a couple of representatives. I DM with a couple of representatives from the upstate just to get their. Their pulse on things.

[Jack]

They're probably freaking out thinking, man, he's only got so many more years, so he's on our code.

[Derek]

You guys are making Joey Aguilar edits. He's up here making presidential campaign edits. I love that. But I Mean, I've So funny. Like, way long ago, I had a buddy, he worked in Capitol Hill for a while. I ran his small town campaign. So he ran for a very small portion of our local government for it. And I helped run his campaign for him. And I will say, without a. A sliver of understanding who you are outside of this office, other than just becoming friends with you, you would do absolute numbers.

[JP]

Small town would be fun.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Because you could, like, hey, like, playground.

[JP]

Fully make change.

[Derek]

Shockingly. Yeah.

[JP]

Yeah.

[Jack]

I feel like Derek would be a great campaign manager.

[JP]

He would.

[Derek]

I love that.

[Jack]

And already just be forming in front of our eyes.

[Derek]

Yeah. Y.

[Chef]

For real?

[Derek]

Yeah. Some sick posters come out. I mean, we.

[Chef]

Right.

[Derek]

We got the seat boats there, man.

[JP]

We're just gonna get it.

[Derek]

I feel like small town politics, like.

[JP]

Pittsburgh is a place where people have a lot of pride into.

[Mitch]

Oh, yeah, Pittsburgh is.

[Derek]

It's. It's crazy too, because you get down here, and the first thing, like, when I got with people, they'd be like, oh, like you're in Nashville. And I'm like, yeah, let's go to, like, Franklin. And they'll be like, yeah, okay, that's Franklin. That's not Nashville. And like, I realized, like, it's very that way. Pittsburgh, you're 50 minutes outside the city. You're from Pittsburgh. Like, that's. That's just. It's this identity type thing. And like, even pa. It's just. I mean, I don't know if it's. I'm assuming it's that way over there.

[Mitch]

No, I say I'm from Philly, and the guys give me for it.

[Derek]

Okay, see, that's exactly because I'm 45.

[Mitch]

Minutes outside of Philly, and I'm like.

[Derek]

In my world, you're from Philly. Now I get it. I get it.

[Chef]

Because that's why when you came here, they were in Franklin, not Nashville.

[Derek]

Facts, bro. You gotta learn about. Yeah, you guys do different down here. I like it, but it's different.

[Chef]

How long have you been in Nashville?

[Derek]

I've been in Nashville. This was the start of year five for me at the beginning of this year, like, March. So four. Four years.

[Chef]

You move in the middle of COVID.

[Derek]

Yeah, I moved at the tail end of it. So Pittsburgh was still. I mean, we would. I got a bike in Pittsburgh. My buddy does a bunch of, like, bars, and we had all these restaurants we go to. So we got bikes to just come into the city and sit it outside patios and drink beer, basically.

[Mitch]

So sick.

[Derek]

It was. It was. Dope But Pittsburgh was shut down way before. So Pittsburgh was the city where you wear your mask, go to your table, take your mask off, and that was a common thing. I come down here and I'm like, oh, yeah, it's opening up. The world's opening up. And I'm like, oh, cool. Like, Broadway is like a zombie fucking apocalypse. Like, there are just people. And it was a weird transition of it, through it, but it was really cool because I felt like I got past that point. Like, I got past the COVID shit. I got past that part of my life and, like, as soon as I moved somewhere I've never been before, the world just opened up. So it's really, really cool.

[JP]

How come you moved?

[Derek]

I moved here for. So I was in advertising before this. I was a director of social media for an advertising firm in town called the Bunting Group. So I. God, dude, my. I used to sell, like, laminates, kitchen countertops, sinks, hinges, and took a huge pay cut to go into advertising. Stuck around there, got headhunted for just a social job with them and came down and was like, I'm. I'm basically burned the boats, like, not going back home. We're doing this. Luckily, obviously, fast forward a bit. But we got here, thank God. There were some times where I was like, I gotta go back home and, like, I gotta pack it up and. But I moved down for the job and I loved it. And it was. It was really kind of that moment of like, this is the life now. Like, this is what we're doing. It's crazy.

[Chef]

Yeah.

[JP]

And I was so.

[Chef]

I was.

[JP]

I forget what it was, but I was scrolling through your Instagram.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[JP]

And your period when you were like me, trying to explain to my girlfriend what I'm doing. Unemployed.

[Chef]

Those were great day.

[JP]

Whatever.

[Derek]

So appeal, like, to fast, like, go back a bit. When I was getting into advertising the first time, I was an account coordinator, so social was my way to get in. The second time, I basically sat at the bar with a buddy who's a video editor. And we sat there and he's like, I want to start my own agency. And I was like, that sounds lame. I was like, let's start a sports thing. And he was like, what is that? I was like, so we're going to call it Thoughts from the Bench. It's a blog and we make content. So we did that for, God, seven years. Blog, Twitch, streaming, our own podcasting, everything you could think of. We did shotgun races at tailgates against the barstool guys like Big Cat White Sox, Dave, we fucking grind that shit. And it was completely free. All the Twitch streams. That's how we got into Movember. That's why I'm so heavy into that. And so all that shit was where I would experiment for my advertising job. And so do the clients. They have the red tape. Everything in the advertising world is so ass, to be honest with you. Like, I like it. It got me here, but it's terrible. So I would take everything and come work it on my own podcast. And it would work there, and I'd bring it back. Well, what's the KPIs, what's the delivery like? Da, da, da, da. I'm like, no, it fucking worked, dude. It worked. So everything up to there, like, that's why I liked sending the blog and all that stuff. But those videos that you speak of, I was at that job, left that job for a video shop in town. I was their director of social Great guys. Just didn't work out. It was startup. Went back to the agency, and then they had their third round of layoffs ever, which happened in the same year. Shocker. And got laid off. And I was like, dude, I just bought my ring. So we're engaged now. I just bought my ring. We just moved into a new house. All this. So I was driving Lyft as much as a human could drive a car. I was picking up this freelance work, trying my ass off, and I was like, dude, I gotta get back into it. Because I had taken a huge gap off of making content for the blog stuff. Like before, bro, we were making videos. Like, I would blog three times a day.

[Sherm]

I would.

[Derek]

We did our Thursday show, which was two hours, which I stopped doing just for busing. I want to pick it back up, but stop doing that. So three clips a day, two blogs a week. We did a live stream. Monday night was a gaming show, so we did Twitch stream gaming. Tuesday night was a ranking show. We just ranked shit. Wednesday night was movie reviews. Thursday was my show. Friday was off. Saturday, we did a trivia show that I recorded the whole day. Sunday morning was gambling. And then after football, we did a recap show, all for free, in the back of a gym. The back of a gym. This utility closet where the only thing that's still there is my 2004 Golden T Arcade game that just stopped working when I moved here. I was pissed, bro. Full carcass, arcade, everything. I know this is super long. I'm so sorry to do this, but back into it. Yeah, I made these videos where I was basically Like, I have this salt of the earth, beautiful woman who is my fiance named Cat. And she was like, hey, like, you're good. She. She does. She's a nurse practitioner. She's like, we're okay. Just like, promise me you're gonna keep going. Like, figure it out. Like, I was like, I will watch this. Yeah. Yeah. And then I got Clump making me work on vacation, but no intro was super funny. My interview with you guys was the funniest day of my life. Jeremy's a crack, but I get through those videos where I was like, well, how do I explain to her what I do all day? So I made. I got up to, like, edition 19 before I got this job where every day I was making another piece of video and making another piece of video, just about my day. And it ended up. That got me a job offer at Meta, which I turned down for this. That got me a job offer with an agency in Kentucky because they were like, hey, we see your portfolio is tight. We see that you have a good attitude about this, and we see that, like, the place that laid you off clearly, like, had issues. It wasn't a you thing. And so making those videos, like, I have a cousin who's the professor of marketing at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and he's the one that helped me get a lot of my freelance clients that I still have today. But he was like, bro, he's like, keep making. He's like, just keep making something. So I'll just make these stupid fucking. Here I am taking the trash out videos. Here's. I made burgers for three weeks straight. Different burgers. I got a Blackstone that my dad drove down. I made three straight weeks of different types of burgers. And I was like, it. Here's the jalapeno cheese curd peanut butter burger I made today. It's fucking ass.

[JP]

Day 18.

[Derek]

But now, man, content. That's why, like, when this happened and Clump replied back. First time he replied back, I thought he was fucking with me. I didn't know. I was like, this guy's not the director of digital. Yeah, this in the picture. I was like, is that Plank? He's like, yeah.

[Mitch]

That's how I was when Will reached out to me too, too.

[Chef]

Yeah, dude.

[Derek]

But it's, you know, being it every. You guys have been great. 39 days have been so sick. So it's been. It's been a.

[Chef]

It feels way longer than 39 days, for sure. Yeah. Because what that.

[Mitch]

When.

[Chef]

When would you first walk?

[Derek]

So it would have Been.

[Chef]

Is that July?

[Mitch]

Were you here with the interns?

[Derek]

No, no, the interns had been hired. And so I went to the beach in July which is why I said to clump because they had me editing clips for my audition for my contra try into it. And so did then it was like I started my. What was supposed to be a six or five week trial contract made it to week three which is when I stopped bringing in to my desk so I can have a desk.

[JP]

Another great what day?

[Chef]

Great thing.

[Derek]

That was what day I'd said it to you. Cuz it was like, I think it was like the start of week three.

[Jack]

Yeah. Cuz I remember bringing it up and you're like, yeah, well it's actually over. I got offered a full time job. Like yes, that's how we found out.

[Derek]

That's one of my favorite moments.

[Jack]

I would explain that for anyone who does understand what we're talking about as well.

[Derek]

Yeah, I would bring in. So I like go through X and I was like, all right, I gotta start, like I gotta do something because you guys were awesome. But I was like, I need to start showing what I can do. And I was like, first thing I can do is just be like get your gimmicks going. Like I love bits. Like I handed out the cards today. A fun fact trivia. Like that shit just makes me happy. So every day I would bring in a new item for my desk when I got a desk and so this would pop up. A Kendama TJ White bobblehead, the Kobe Bryant magazine. And so I remember one day I looked at G and I said G, could I interest you in being interested in my desk item? And he was just like, yeah, sure. And from there it started slowly becoming a thing to then I think it was, it was one of our first conversations. You were like, hey dude, what'd you bring in today? And I was like, you know man. And I bid it. I said, hey bro, I did not bring something in. And I could feel genuine disappointment from you, which is hilarious.

[Jack]

Just like, man, like I feel like this was like where me and you were really about to just connect. And then it really, in about five seconds you figured out you got hired full time for the better. Truly. I like, I don't know why. I think today I've been feeling a little emotional. I'm like feeling, I'm like, dude, I'm so stoked that you got hired. Yeah, you've been such an amazing addition.

[Derek]

Thank you.

[Jack]

Yeah, your personality is super bright and like it just brings Just a new good vibe and energy and. Yeah, this with the. The cards today, like you wore in Arkansas, pull over the day before Tennessee plays. And, like, you immediately put on, like, you know, a. Some Tennessee logo you'd print off from the printer.

[Derek]

I tape the.

[Jack]

Out of it and then put something on my desk where it was like, an apology. And it was like, one free volunteer moment. It was like. Does not include, like, moving or something.

[Derek]

Else, which is a great. So, yeah, it had the. The dog over top of an Arkansas Pagan. Said, free for one volunteer moment does not include moving into or out to of houses, apartments, or living complexes, which was just great.

[Jack]

I mean, it was. It was a very well done card, too.

[Derek]

Thank you.

[Jack]

You just, like, wrote with Sharpie on, like, this piece of newspaper. But, like, obviously you and JP have a knack for this brochure thing.

[Derek]

He was ahead of me before him.

[Chef]

Yeah.

[Jack]

Whenever JP's ready.

[Derek]

But, yeah, no, it was funny. Yeah. Jack's like, well, what did you bring in? And I was like, in my brain, I was like, I could be like, oh, dude, you could. And I could be. Well, I could be hype. And I could be like, no, no, here's why I didn't. But I was like, nah, dude, keep it. And I was like, you know what? I didn't bring something in today, man. And he was just like, oh, dude, what? Like, what the. And I was like, well, that was for my contract. I got hired full time. And he's like, what the fuck? He was like, that's how we're gonna find out. And Jack, like, he's like, g. Did you know he got full. J.P. did you know he got full time? And just, like, this whole, like, dude, it was a great moment. And there's so many of those little moments. Like, it's so funny because you guys are from the outside perspective, like, not to blow your tops off. You're very cool. Like, you're very cool people. You are on bus in. You running for president. No, but, like, you have this presence about you guys that is like, we are. This is the group. Like, I can't explain to you how cool it is to tell people. I'm. I literally said to my mom, I was like, no, I'm one of the boys that's busing. Like. And she was like, what the does that mean? I was like, no. Like, I'm. I'm like, one of this thing that is this. And it's super cool because, you know, I've done mine. The words of my buddy Josh, my hundred Thousand hours of podcasting, 100,000 hours of graphics. Like, I've done all the little shit that the second this opportunity came up, I was like, oh, no, I know I'm gonna do the job. Well, it's about getting you guys to, like, buy into me as a person too. That's an important part of what you have built here.

[JP]

Definitely.

[Mitch]

For sure.

[JP]

What was. So you said the interview process was hilarious and stuff. Whoa. What stood out? Yeah.

[Derek]

So really genuinely, what stood out was, was me kind of fumbling at myself. Not a bad way. But I, you know, got the call or the email from Klump. And I remember because I had like, the meta thing was a contracted to run. They're rolling out on Meta. So 2026, all ads creative will be made by AI. So it's this well known thing. They had contacted me to lead a team of creatives to run AI generated ads through our own eyes to say if it's going to be good or not. And I was like, all right, cool, that's meta. And then there was another gig at an agency that I was getting through the final. It would have been remote with one week in Kentucky. Like, it was cool. And then I get the email from Jeremy Columbus, just like, hey, like, want to talk to you. Had the first call and I'm just like, this dude is so, like, it's not a disrespectful. He's goofy. Like, clumsy goofy. He's a dude, right? And so he's like, yep, did that. And then next interview, he. I, like, didn't hear from him for, like two days. And I'm like, all right, this could be a bit like, anybody can make a bus in Gmail, whatever. And he's like, yeah, I'm gonna bring. Well, he was like, I'm gonna bring Chef on. And so the next interview, Chef comes on, and I'm asking a couple questions, and Chef's answering them, like, really well in a good setting. And clumps. Get it. And then clumps, like, yeah, man, your homework really is to watch the latest episode, which I had already gotten, like, halfway through, like, huge fan. And so I was like, yeah. And he's like, cut some clips of it. So I'm cutting and I cut about three clips. And I'm talking like, he said, if you can send them tomorrow, that'd be sick. And I'm like, fuck, dude, I don't even got Adobe Premiere right now.

[JP]

Yeah.

[Derek]

So I signed up for a free week of Adobe Premiere. And I was like, let's do this shit. Cut the clips. Sent him in. There was, like, one issue with the jump. Cut him and I talk through. Then he goes, awesome, man. I'll reach out soon. Another three days goes by, and I'm like, now I'm getting in my own.

[Jack]

Head because I don't know who's about to, you know?

[Derek]

Luckily, my buddy Josh got me his. I was like, thank God. But no, because I didn't know Chef. I didn't know Sherm. I knew who Will was because of Barstool and Will. I didn't know Will, and I didn't know this Jeremy guy. And I'm just like, dude. Like, I don't know if they liked it. I'm sitting there, like, twitching, like they hate this. And so Clump comes back and like, yo, that's sick. We want you to cut three more clips. And he goes, I know you're. This is Thursday. He goes, I. Dude. So we had a conversation about it, but he's like, I need you to cut these clips. I know you're leaving for the beach Saturday morning at 8am I was going to Myrtle beach, shout out, S.C. and he goes, I want you capital of the world. I have the worst record of mini golf there, but I've played all the courses. It's great. I was like, yo, bro. Like, yeah. He's like, I want you to cut a clip for Will's Instagram, cut a clip for Sherm's Instagram and cut a clip for the. For the dad's Instagram. He's like, you'll be running or cutting clips for all of them. Haven't done it yet.

[Sherm]

You don't even do it. I still remember Clump tell me that. I was like, club. We put every. Like, we don't specify for people's accounts. It was like, we're just gonna make them do it.

[Derek]

I was like, all right. Yep. Well, I did. I, like, longest like to get in, so stayed up till about two in the morning cutting them because there was a glitch, error because I downloaded the YouTube video, and it ke up. Did that. Send it in.

[JP]

Just insane. Anyways, like, yeah, just download it from YouTube, bro.

[Derek]

I'm like, that's.

[Chef]

The link is crazy.

[Derek]

Yeah, he. I mean, get there. I'm at the beach, my family's. Yeah. If you're Clump and the whole. My whole family's like, all right, so you're, like, auditioning for a podcast. And they knew I did my whole thing, but it was never serious up until now. Like, it was never A job. So Clump calls me. He's like, hey, bro, can you cut clips today or no? Can you put together a social strategy? And I was like, yeah, I do that in my sleep. Cranked it out in like two hours on the beach with my fiance with margaritas, which was great. Day goes by. Send it. Next morning, 8:35, I'm on the golf course. Hey, man, can you talk soon From Clump? Yeah, bro. Like, just let me know. I'm golfing, but I got you this. Don't text me back till the next day at like 10, bro. I'm like, I'm sitting. I'm like, hey, guys, can you make sure? Yeah, my phone's plugged in. Thank you. I'm supposed to get a call that I was on, like, the. Hey, dad, don't use the phone. My friends are gonna call. And I have Ethernet. Like, that's literally where we were. And so then the next, he's like, yeah, dude, we want you to. To come in. Like, yeah, you're getting it. And I talked to Clump eventually about it because my first day was Breca. So my interview day was when you breck it was. And they're just moving parts and I'm like, dodging balls getting thrown and, like. And so I get in there and Clump comes in. The strategy went well. I walked Will through it, like, same as if I was doing it for one of the bank clients we had back in the day. And I find out later that week that Clump's like, oh, no. That was like an insane ask. He's like, you hit every check mark. He's like, I. You'll never have a day. Hard as that. Interview process at Boston. Yes, please.

[Sherm]

Missing a big point. He came in at like one o' clock in the afternoon. Breca went for some reason. We had like, oh, it was a big recording day. So he gets there. We asked him to get there at 1. We sit down, me, Sherm and Clump. We're having a great time talking to him. We're like, well, we should be done. Will should be done really, really quick. Like, you know, any minute now, two and a half hours go by and they just finish up that. Which is like unforeseen circumstance. And Will's in. Like, you could tell Will just had a long day. When they do these big recording days for people that don't know, it's like you just go and go and go.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

So Will sits down and I can see the look on his face where he's like, in that mode where it's.

[Mitch]

Like, don't talk to me.

[Sherm]

No. Yeah. Kind of like a no bullshit mode. Derek handled himself really well, because I know in that spot. I remember my first day as an intern. I was very nervous, and I think that would have definitely thrown me for a loop, but, like, insane circumstances that he went through. Very impressive.

[JP]

This might have been another time, but did you have to be somewhere, like, get on the road that day?

[Derek]

Not that day. There was the other day. So we had that day where I told them I had nothing that day.

[JP]

Yeah.

[Derek]

So me, Chef, and Sherm literally sat there and we watched all of my old ads on my portfolio. Like, there's a brewery in town called Black Abbey, and I did this ad called the Patron Saints. My favorite thing I've ever done. But it's all, like, when you go to the bar, like, the girls are best friends in the bathroom, there's a patron saying to the bathroom bestie. Like, all this. So we watched all that. We watched old serve, pro ad shit like that. And so then Will comes in, and I. I did ask. I asked Chef and Sharm like, yo, is Will. Because I have this Persona of Will of his barstool days. Booze, ponies, like, all that. I'm like, is he always a little cold? And they're like, it's a little bit of a test, but it was a long day, and so cool. The next time I came in was for a recording, and I brought my buddy rj. So that was when I was like, oh, we kind of got to go. And RJ just sat. Got you in the room the whole day. And I was like, how was your day, rj? And he's like, they're all really cool guys. I just watched TV and smoked, and I was like, oh, cool, man. Like, so if you just. If you noticed him going outside and coming back in, shout out my boy, rj. But no, it was just. It was funny for that. And then coming in and just like, yeah, I mean, everyone's obviously been. Been great for. But it's so funny. And you're right. It does feel like it's been a year already, which is great. I love it.

[Mitch]

Just did you talking through your hiring process reminded me of mine and, like.

[Chef]

How you truly thought you were getting punked. Yes, I know.

[Mitch]

You know, like, yeah. Like, I got a text from Will. I'm like, he's like, is this Mitch Carsey? I'm like, yeah. He's like, it's Will Compton. And I'm like, well, I'm Just sitting next to Will.

[JP]

We just taking the photo. Like, yeah, say this, say this.

[Mitch]

And I like looked up the area code. I'm like, it's from Missouri. I know Will's from Missouri. And he said it's Will. It's Will Compton picture for reference. And it's like it's his LinkedIn photo from his caught like his senior year of college. I'm like one of the greatest. Yeah, it was like, like this is like I literally went home like yo, I think Will Compton texted me, but I don't know. But then so like how you said you were waiting for a couple days. I was waiting for like two or three weeks. I mean I was bombarding JP with emails.

[Chef]

Will texted you versus club text. Yeah, there was at least days of club was a week.

[Derek]

But it was all pumps was intentional. Do you think Wills was intentional?

[Mitch]

Like what when he made you wait that long? No, it was from. It was more so from you and Will.

[JP]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

But you guys were also just at Green Bay, right? And like when I think you may have gone somewhere else.

[JP]

I think so.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[JP]

And there was like another person in the interview process too. And yeah, essentially it was just Will and I kind of trying to do it while also doing the other stuff.

[Mitch]

Like also having a shit ton of stuff to do campaigning. But yeah, I was like I. I think I've sent JP like 10 emails.

[JP]

Like hey, yeah, I wish I had something more for you.

[Jack]

At that time. I bet was about the size of how many people we have in this room.

[Mitch]

No, it was us three and Blossom.

[JP]

But like even boss was kind of like there sometimes it's literally just the three of you.

[Derek]

Blah, crazy.

[Mitch]

It's part time. And then Will and Taylor, I mean.

[Chef]

When you walked in and just saw us. Well, I know we've talked about many times but sitting at the desk the same table. I was like in the bus working.

[Jack]

Do we even have this side yet?

[Mitch]

No, no, this was still rocket.

[Chef]

He actually sat at the desk in the back of the bus to work and we shared this table.

[Derek]

Damn. Yeah, the come up's crazy.

[Mitch]

Anyway dude, it was.

[Chef]

I literally watched like.

[Mitch]

Yeah, it was, it was two. It was two tables like that back to back. And then like it was like a tea. Yeah, I had the, the tea and like we worked by that bathroom in the back on the other side. And if one of you. One of us had a bad poop, everybody was smelling it like it was. We were in the trench. No, for real. But yeah, when I walked back there.

[Chef]

Was like, oh, it's basically sounds like everyone's hiring process was interesting.

[Derek]

Unconventional as the job.

[JP]

Yeah, I was long as crap. I had to make a make a vlog out of some clips they sent me while I was also trying to legit make rent. And I was in Florida. My first day, I had to upload a full episode from my laptop in Florida. The episode was late. Will blast me on Twitter. It was crazy.

[Derek]

Damn.

[Jack]

JP's first day in office was Dave Portnoy's episode.

[Chef]

Yeah, our first time having Dave.

[Derek]

Oh my God, the kid.

[Chef]

The.

[JP]

At South Carolina, when I was talking to one of the classes, they asked like, how to like, face failure. And I told them. I was like, well, kind of at my job. When you mess up, it gets blasted out to everybody, so you have to do it head on. And I use that example of them of Will being like, we just hired somebody. But apparently he can't get the episode out on time. So like Everybody let a hovey 34 know. And I was like, so basically, I guess the best way to face it is to bring back bullying. And that got a few laughs. But, you know, college is different nowadays.

[Derek]

PC shit, man. We can change that with this campaign.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We can.

[JP]

And that's why we're here.

[Derek]

Come on down to Cocky.

[JP]

Speaking of campaigns, you and Coop have been on a campaign, started a little.

[Coop]

Bit of a seed campaign.

[JP]

I like Coop taking.

[Mitch]

Yeah, yeah, go ahead, Coop.

[Coop]

I mean, I don't. I don't remember how they noticed. Do we want to say the. The name?

[Derek]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chef]

What about when start?

[Derek]

Well, the.

[Chef]

The journey of.

[Derek]

Yeah, tell it from the beginning, I feel like.

[Coop]

So I guess midway through this year I just started cracking seeds at work, like every day, just doing it. And I posted a tweet about it, like, whatever. David's the standard sunflower seed brand. And I like tweeted like I found my people because someone else tweeted about it. That was like mid year. And then you get here, you like seeds, and we're just like cracking them and then we clump. Wanted to order smack in a sunflower seed brand that they do a lot of promotion on. TikTok, maybe you've seen them, but they have a lot of flavors. So we just ordered a ton, like a bucket full of them. And so me and Derek started ranking them on the wall and I posted the picture on Twitter. And then like a week or two later of the posted rankings, they reached out like to my tweet directly, I think.

[JP]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Oh yeah. They commented right underneath it commented on our rankings.

[Coop]

And then, you know, back and forth in DM a little bit. And they sent us a care package. And so we got that, and we have a video that we will be releasing soon. A reaction to them, which is fun.

[Derek]

It's in. It's in. It's in Coop's computer, so we'll get it out the balls in my skipping, too. It's funny. We. So I started to take a little bit over the streams, and we're sitting at that table, and it's me, Jared, chef, and then coupe on the left side. And we are all, like, sharing two bags of David's, which. Or no of a bigs and two hidden bags. Ranch, bro.

[Coop]

Might have not have been enough for a stream.

[JP]

We are full on dugout over there.

[Coop]

We're sitting. We're sitting behind the table, like, we're.

[Derek]

At the ballpark ripping dud. And so we. We started on David's, and then I was like, like, yo, may I put you on? And we switched to bigs, which is Hidden Valley. And so we're ripping them, and Jared is, like, at the computer coup chef me. And he just goes, y' all know you can buy your own individual bags, right? Just like this guy. He's not a seed, boy. So we started doing that, and then Chinook reached out and sent us a little care package.

[Coop]

Yeah, Chinook reach out too.

[Derek]

It's become a. And that's the one thing I'll say, like, if I have a gift of, like, content sniff out opportunity like that. Like, this is a thing that we're gonna. We're gonna go with forever.

[Coop]

It happened so fast, too. And special shout out to Chinook as well, because they're partnered with. We don't have a lot of baseball fans here. Some of y' all might know who he's. Bobby Witt Jr. One of the best players in. In baseball. And they sent a signed baseball of Bobby Witt Jr. Because he's. He's partnered with them, which I thought was, like, a really cool.

[Derek]

I said, hold on. Yeah, bro.

[Coop]

It's on my desk. Bobby Witt signed baseball.

[Chef]

He plays for the Rangers.

[Derek]

He.

[Chef]

The Royals.

[Sherm]

Royals.

[Chef]

Was he the guy that made that diving catch when we went to the St. Louis game? Yeah, that's why I know that name.

[Coop]

He. He's one of the best.

[Odoo Advertiser]

Baller.

[Derek]

Baller shorts. So sick.

[Coop]

Shortstop. Fun fact. He also went to the same high school as Max Crosby.

[Chef]

Oh, so boys.

[Derek]

Yeah, bro. Sea Boys is strong. I stole that from.

[Coop]

He didn't go to college to play. He went to the Same high school, Colleyville in dfw.

[Derek]

So we had a car ride. My buddy that does, like, events in Pittsburgh, we were going to Philly to do one of his. He did this hotel event for the Kipton Hotels, and so it's called Clocked Out. And we took it to the Philly one, and we had me, his videographer, another guy that was just rolling with us, and then the dj, all in a sprinter van. I bought six bags of seeds, and me and the DJ pound through them. On the way there, my one buddy was like, just a couple Seed boys, chipmunks in the back. And so Seed boys has stuck with me for, like, I love them, and just sit there and do it. In the tweet that Coops talk about, that started it said, don't let anyone tell you that you can't just rip a bag of sunflower seeds at work. It's like, yeah.

[Coop]

And I was in the middle of ripping a bag of sunflower seeds at work.

[Chef]

Ripping through bags.

[Jack]

You know who else has been really ripping through them as of late? That boy JP I've been seeing him.

[JP]

Oh, yeah.

[Derek]

Chinooks is brand, bro.

[Coop]

I thought you were about to say G, because G brought some.

[Jack]

I feel like everyone is on them.

[Coop]

G brought some to the zoo.

[Derek]

Yeah, I did tigers last night.

[Chef]

I had some at the zoo. I was cracking some. I love that we're saying cracking, too. I was cracking some on my drive to South Carolina on Friday. Yeah.

[JP]

He was like, I brought some seeds for you because they all got the Chinook ones.

[Derek]

Oh, yeah. That's the first thing you said, though, because I remember we went to. It was. Taylor was doing it, too, because we bought the bigs, and Taylor ran through one of my bags, and I was like, yeah, you know is what it is. What's that?

[Chef]

You can't bring, like, just one portion of something. It'll be gone.

[Derek]

Yeah, let's go.

[JP]

I didn't know they lived that long.

[Derek]

That's. Yeah, that's a nice place. There's a hole up there he ripped through. Not to, like, put it, though. It could have come from the hole. He ripped through a bag or whatever. And I basically stopped at a Bucky's, and I was like, yo, let me see what flavors they have there. And they had Chinook, and so I bought a couple of them, and I just was like, I'm not bringing these in yet. I just. I bought, like, lemon pepper. Didn't love it.

[Jack]

Yeah.

[Derek]

And I. We come in, and we're like, yo, Biggs. And JP goes, have you guys ever heard of Chinook? And I'm like, fuck. That could have been such a bonding moment with jp. Fuck. But we got Chinook. And you got your bag. Jalapeno Ranch.

[JP]

Jalapeno Ranch. Another flavor.

[Coop]

Another funny story about the seeds is I went to the dentist a few weeks ago. Yes. And she. After she cleaned my teeth, the. The hygienist, she's like, do you. I thought this was a wild question. She's like, do you, like, dip or do those. Those Zen pouches? I'm like, no, I. I don't. She's like, well, the tissue, like, in your cheek on the left side of your mouth is, like, white and kind of, like, rough. Like. Like, it's been, you know, like, it's. It's distressed. I'm like, oh. She's like, like, so you don't. She's like, you don't. She's like, you don't.

[Derek]

What are you talking about?

[Coop]

But she's like. She's, like, questioning me. And I'm like, could it be from sunflower seeds? And she's like, yeah, it could. The salt and the sodium.

[Derek]

I was like.

[Coop]

I was like, yeah, well, I just basically rip seeds from 9am I'm nine to five, so.

[Derek]

Nine to five.

[Coop]

Seed ripper every day.

[Jack]

What'd she say about that?

[Chef]

You have to change your mind.

[Coop]

She's like. She's like, I've never. She's like, I've never seen this. She's like, I've never seen that before. Like, that is so interesting. And then she's like, like, oh, I'm glad. Like, I'm glad it's seeds and not tobacco.

[Jack]

I'm like, you're not my mom.

[Coop]

Also, like. But then I followed up, and I was like, also. Is this gonna be, like, a problem, though? And she's like, maybe, like, super long term, but, like, there's no gum damage. I'm like, all right, I'm gonna keep ripping seeds. I was like, maybe a problem. Maybe I'll switch sides.

[Chef]

You guys put your seeds on the same side every time.

[Coop]

Every time.

[Mitch]

Now you gotta mix it up.

[Derek]

I've had to switch.

[Chef]

I tried to switch while I was driving, bro. It was a disaster.

[Derek]

That's what I'm saying.

[Coop]

That's why you probably have white.

[Chef]

No, I'm not there yet.

[Derek]

Yeah, I feel. I mean, get there.

[Mitch]

You'll get playing baseball and ripping seeds all the time. Yeah. I mean, you just kind of get used to.

[Chef]

Well, the best part about baseball is they'd have the bucket in the dugout. I would just get a handful, put them in my back pocket.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

So you. You guys would have, like, a full bucket of just one of the.

[Coop]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chef]

One of the dads.

[Derek]

Key baseball. Yeah, it's just the bucket that we have down there. But you empty. Yeah, but they're just. I mean, those are just OG Flavors, like seeds. Yeah, brother. We got cheeseburger now. We got loaded nachos.

[Coop]

Yeah, they sent us a ton of cheeseburger.

[Chef]

If you want to send Coop and Derek more seeds, that'd be amazing, because.

[Derek]

We'Ve looked up some brands maybe.

[Chef]

Is there anybody that you.

[Derek]

You're. I mean, Biggs is the one, but they don't got an X account. They got an Instagram. David's Red Flag. My thing with David's is that's the one that will destroy everything in your mouth.

[Chef]

Salt is intense.

[Derek]

They can, you know which one disrespect David.

[Coop]

Yeah. And that's what I was doing before we started this.

[Derek]

You're an animal for that.

[JP]

Yeah, yeah. That's what I was doing before I.

[Coop]

The hardcore seeds, bro.

[Derek]

Chinook and smacking, they are both low, so they're low sodium. Big. My big issue with David's. They're little tiny seeds. Like Dave. They got comfortable at the top of a market that really has now started to catch up to them. And we, you know, we're in the ground floor, bro.

[Coop]

We're scratching the surface, Right.

[Derek]

Because David's. They got little tiny seeds. All the other ones, I mean, big.

[Chef]

Smacking, specifically backyard barbecue. That thing is. That was almost my dinner last.

[Coop]

The garlic parm.

[Derek]

All right.

[Mitch]

I mean, yeah, y' all are sleeping on this.

[Derek]

The cinnamon or no cinnamon Churro Maple Brown Sugar's elite.

[Mitch]

But I'm. I'm a sweet boy.

[Chef]

That's true.

[Derek]

He has been Cinnamon churros.

[Coop]

Number.

[Derek]

I've been on the pepper.

[Coop]

I literally. It's like I'm shoving pepper into my mouth.

[Derek]

Like, raw pepper went from salt to pepper.

[Mitch]

Maybe. I guess that. I mean, we all. We all have our side quests. I don't know if it's a joint side quest for the both of you.

[Jack]

Just more seeds.

[Derek]

Just when I heard you guys talking about side quests, I do have question. Is it one that you're, like, promising you're doing, or is it more just kind of like a thing? Because I think making that official. Sick.

[Mitch]

It's kind of like your side content. Like, my side content is flag golf.

[Jack]

Mine's painting. I have done nothing about It.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Jack]

But I can feel it. My bones, man. Like, my mom is a pain.

[JP]

You just made a sale for her. Two tails.

[Mitch]

Make it to midnight for him. And then we need to get Coop to start doing some streaming stuff.

[Coop]

And I just have not been on the game as much, and I say that I've been saying that for, like.

[Chef]

I would like to get back on the game, get my. My hand muscles warmed back up before God.

[Coop]

It's almost gaming season. The winter, like, all right.

[Jack]

A little colder.

[Mitch]

I feel like gaming. I feel like gaming season. Seasons once football's over.

[Chef]

Dude. I don't know if I downloaded skate wrong.

[Jack]

I saw on my marketplace or my friends list, it was like. Like, Gary, like, downloaded it, and I was like, damn, he downloaded. But I never saw you actually in.

[Chef]

I went in and it was like, the trial or some.

[Jack]

Yeah, it's an early access.

[Mitch]

That's what it is.

[Derek]

Oh, Skate made me so mad because of it.

[Chef]

I literally made my guy and just rode for, like, five minutes.

[Jack]

You probably on.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

You have to.

[Jack]

Challenges is tight.

[Mitch]

Takes you, like, 15, 20 minutes to get off.

[Jack]

One of my gripes with skate is the. Probably the best place to skate in that game is tutorial island. And you cannot access it, but go back. No, but there's a whole city with, like, four different sectors in it, and it's four different, like, cities within a major city. But got you anything that's a free game.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[Jack]

And you have that much to do in it. I'm all on it. And I think I mentioned this in a couple episodes ago, but just to feel something for a video game at my old age of about to be 31, that is such a massive win. I just, like, crave that, like, man, when I get home, I'm gonna make dinner and I'm gonna play that game until I go to sleep. And it does not happen a lot anymore. So that's a fun feeling this week. So I'm nervous that we're, like, hitting these.

[Mitch]

Yeah. That's how. That's how I am with nascar.

[Derek]

What's the first game you felt that with?

[Jack]

Call of Duty four. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Call Me four was seventh grade for me. Yeah. Modern Warfare. It just changed my life with video games. And it also was a really big moment in how to share things. I had two younger brothers, so at the top of the pecking order, it's like, obviously, I'm playing first.

[Chef]

Yeah.

[Jack]

But then once the younger brothers start aging and they're, like, going to mom while I'm like, you Know on an epic kill streak. Mom's coming. She's like, after this game, James is up, and I'm like, fine. And then she's like. And then Joey's up, and I'm like, okay, this is too.

[Derek]

You're gonna get cold.

[Chef]

Yeah, I'm gonna get cold.

[Jack]

But, yeah, call of Duty 4 is a big one for me. I. I want to go back kind of into your life outside of seeds and working. What is. What is Derek like to do? Yeah, well, I'm very curious as myself, and I know the listener is too.

[Derek]

Yeah. I mean, genuinely, it's. It's funny because, like, I feel a little bit lost from it. Like, the things that I've done in my life. The number one thing is I have had. Which we did. I'm not ever gonna say we stopped. We paused doing it for the last seven, six or seven years. Every Thursday from six to eight, I have done a live stream podcast called Two Beers Deep. And I stopped it to emphasize on our streams, but also just like, hold on, I need to focus on this to hit it. So love podcasting. Like, that is my highlight. Favorite thing ever. I have. I believe it's at 85 and 85. Ranking of a brewery system. So beer is always been a part of my life, like, in terms of just being around the bar scene. I worked in a restaurant, grew up with breweries, did social for breweries. So I have a list and it's all across the country. So from Hawaii, I have some in Seattle, some in Philly, some obviously a ton in Pittsburgh, Nashville, Chicago, Detroit, like, all these. So ranking breweries. I have my own system. It's crazy. I have a spreadsheet.

[Jack]

Can you. Do you have a power ranking of just Nashville?

[Derek]

Absolutely.

[Jack]

Because I'd love to hear that. Breweries for me, chef's all day one.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[Jack]

Because I. I love it. Just like a domestic, like beer. And obviously at breweries, you're not going to have just like, you know, a Coors Bud Light.

[Derek]

You know, Bud Light.

[Jack]

I know you're listening. It's a Bud Light.

[Mitch]

I used to work at one. I used to work at a beer distributor. So, like, I've got really big into IPAs. And then two, I used to work on a TV show that would go to different breweries. So that got me big into. So I'm a. I'm a big IPA guy.

[Derek]

It. It's funny, almost Bud Light guy. Yeah, Bud Light pa. And it is this big, like, crazy part. So to that point, you're like, okay, I like Light beer. I don't really know if a brewery. I would still like breweries 100. But I would say you. You have to. And obviously you're going to know about it. Have to go to Smith and Lens.

[Jack]

Yeah.

[Derek]

So Pilsner is one of the reasons. So, for example, like, you can see the best in Nashville.

[Jack]

I would agree.

[Derek]

But you can see, like, how crazy. And the scoring system, it's on an xl, bro. And it's all filtered. I got manifest and I'll share it out. I give the link to everybody. It's beer space. Food scene.

[JP]

People is the model.

[Derek]

Beer is pretty standard. It's. It's. Do you hit all the fl. Like, for example, bearded or Black Abbey in Nashville just does their beers. They don't really do specials. They do some collabs here and there. They did one called Dancing Mannequin that was good. But, like, how good is the beer that you do? Do you have all the flavors? Is your Red L A Red Ale? Do you experiment? Do you try some space? Is the place that you're in? Do you just do it? Well, there's some breweries that. This would be the whole area. Okay, cool. Is it set up well? Do I feel comfortable in it? Is it a sick venue? Food scene? Can I bring food? Are there food trucks? Do you serve food? Because not all breweries need to have it. Smith and Lens Pizza puts them right now. Smith and Lens is my third top brewery on this entire list. And then people. People is the people that work there, the people that are there, the people that sit at the bar, the community around it. How close are you to it? If there's somebody at the bar that's just being a jerk to people, your people score goes down, which I know is not the brewery's fault, but, like, that's. That's what you're attracted. And so the top ones I have from Tennessee, Smith and Lentz right now is third. They come in at a total score of 16.5 out of 20, which the highest is 17.6.

[Jack]

Other 20 scale rate.

[Derek]

Yeah, because each 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 on it. Fate La Force. Have you heard of that?

[Chef]

No.

[Derek]

Fate La Force is. It's gas. First and foremost. It's in Wedgwood, Houston. So do you know when you come to those train tracks and you make a right in the. There's never. Never. Yeah, make a left. You go past that apartment building, go up the hill.

[Jack]

Wait, is it the place where that sandwich spot is?

[Chef]

It's at the top of the hill by El.

[Derek]

Forno Yeah, it is the brewery next to El.

[Mitch]

I have been there. That place is a vibe.

[Chef]

It was called Iron Something.

[Derek]

No Fate La Force, but there is probably an iron. There's a something there f open about two years ago.

[Chef]

I'm just going to pause you. When I went to grab Jack, I just.

[Jack]

I just got skinned.

[Derek]

I heard a noise and I wasn't. Failovers is sick. They do a cold ship ipa which is one of the few places I found here really good. They do Star Wars Day every year. Just a total vibe. The people are awesome. Love going there. When they had the craft brew convention in town, I bumped tickets off my buddy who makes a canned drink in PA and they had a bunch of parties and that was at one of them, which was unbelievable.

[Mitch]

I'm trying to get in this.

[Derek]

Dude, it's my favorite. Bearded Iris is sitting here at 11 homestyle is the greatest beer I think that I've had.

[Jack]

That is IPA without a doubt.

[Derek]

And it's. It's so crazy because it is an ipa, but it's an ale, but it's not quite an ale. It's juicy, but it's hazy. Every time someone comes in, I hand them one of those. And right now Bearded Iris, they're at a 15.8, which is great.

[Coop]

Do you have a Southern grist on there? That one hits close to home.

[Derek]

Southern grist, the reason they are not higher. So they're 18th right now. And chef and I talked about this. I have not accounted the ranking for the restaurant in East. And that restaurant smacks is very. I know it does. I just have not updated.

[Jack]

But they're right next to me and Garrett as well.

[Derek]

My issue with them is. And it's not an issue with them, but they just. They knock hazies out of the park. Hazy's are a fad and if that's all you're doing, I just want to see. But they do have some sick ass beer over there. And then another one Tenfold, if you guys have ever heard of Tenfold, it is out. I forget the name of the area. Just a little bit outside of town. There's like a party foul out there. They do gluten free pizza. So if my fiance's gluten free. Amazing. They just hit all of their beers to a beautiful point. They have a stage outside. Every time you go, there's dogs running around. Donaldson. Yes. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that one rips and it just. Dude, I mean Barique Brewing, if you've ever heard of that. Barique Brewing Is next to. So Titan Stadium and all that industrial park. Before you get to the nights in, it's in one of those loading docks. And I literally.

[Chef]

That's where little Harpeth used to be.

[Derek]

Yeah, dude. So I pulled up and it's just loading dock everywhere. And then a wooden door that looks like I'm going to Narnia. And you go in it's hole in the wall. They're the only place here that does cast brewing. So they brew the beer, they put it into an oak cast or a whiskey cask.

[Chef]

Sorry, Mitch.

[Mitch]

No, I felt the same exact way. I felt like, what does that mean?

[Derek]

But I go back into it. They. If you go in, they just have barrel, like, oak cask barrels everywhere. And what happens is Black Abbey had this for a little bit. Jameson will note their barrels, how many rotations they do, and then they ship those barrels to a specific number of breweries. So Black Abbey for a while was a Jameson partner. And you make the beer and then age it in that. They age their beers and they do a good job with like cherry tart sours and things. But they do cask beers, and so they'll let it age in the cask and sit there. It just deepens the flavor. It's just sick. Like, it just. It makes it different.

[Mitch]

This is so sick.

[Chef]

What about. I'm thinking the Jackalope is near us. Yeah, Monday night.

[Mitch]

Yeah, Monday night.

[Jack]

Outdoor scene.

[Chef]

I was just gonna say.

[Derek]

I want to know.

[Mitch]

Number one, there's one in. Oh, I'm thinking of fat Bottom.

[Chef]

I'm trying to think of another.

[Derek]

Yeah, I'm getting antsy for number one. So to go through.

[Chef]

What's the one under the bridge? Hippies in California.

[Coop]

Tennessee.

[Derek]

Tennessee Brewers. So to go through, which I can't. I don't know why I can't.

[Mitch]

What was number one again?

[Derek]

Number one in Tennessee.

[Mitch]

Oh, sorry.

[Derek]

I'll talk about one and two because they're. They're there. Number one in Tennessee. I'm so sorry. Number one in Tennessee. One and two are from Pennsylvania.

[Mitch]

Hell yeah.

[Derek]

I'm so sorry.

[Jack]

Number three. Are they in the country?

[Derek]

In the country?

[Mitch]

Are you. Is. Is this. Are these two. How many have you been in Pennsylvania?

[Derek]

Oh, gosh. So, like, it's more Western pa. All Pittsburgh. There's. So I have Saucony brewing out towards you a little bit, but that's more Poconos. There's Pocono brewing in here. I have. There's a couple in Philly. And I'll tell you flat out, dude, it's not their fault. Forest in Maine is one on here. I went during COVID So it is. They have a low score due to space and food. Because we just got to go talk about some of the other Tennessee ones in here. Marble Fox, if you guys have ever heard of Marble Fox.

[Mitch]

Yes.

[Derek]

They took over for Jackalope in the Gulch. So they're across from Finn Dougall's.

[Mitch]

Yeah, McDougalls. And like that two hands.

[Derek]

Yeah, they. They do a really good IPA.

[Mitch]

I never see anybody in there.

[Derek]

I used to go in because I'd go to that. Scouts paying for parking sucks. So I'd park at the brewery, get free parking for a beer, walk over to my haircut, and go home.

[Coop]

Do you have. What's it called, Chef? The one that Zool. Do you have Zool on there?

[Chef]

No.

[Derek]

And I know Zul just bought.

[Coop]

Yeah, they bought Southern Grizz.

[Chef]

Yeah.

[Derek]

I have not. Because Southern Grizz hasn't changed technically to what they are like East Nashville Brew. Crazy Gnome is a sick one. In East. They just got a brand new spot. Have you been. No. Okay.

[Chef]

I was worried that they went out of business because it's not there anymore. A barbecue place moved in.

[Mitch]

Yep.

[Chef]

It smells incredible.

[Derek]

Do you know Sinkers, the distributor over? So there's a covered bridge, and if you go through it, you get the sinkers, you make a left before it. Crazy Gnome bought a large space out there. So I. I used to know one of the bartenders who was.

[Chef]

Gallatin.

[Derek]

Yeah, Right off Gallatin. Super sick.

[Chef]

The old El Fuego.

[Jack]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Like, right, right.

[JP]

That bridge so tapped in, dude.

[Derek]

So I will say. Hold on. I do have.

[Coop]

I do feel like I'm learning a lot.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Southern Hop in Merle's Inlet, South Carolina, is 38th on the list right now.

[Chef]

Have you been to any in Birmingham, Alabama?

[Derek]

I have not been to. They've got.

[Chef]

They've got a couple. They've got a couple down there like Avondale. Good People, I got.

[Derek]

Yeah, good people. Good People's a good brewery. I've never been. No. I have Seattle, Oklahoma City. I have Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philly, Savannah, Georgia was a good little spot, but you got in. Yeah.

[Coop]

Which one? Okc.

[Derek]

Okc. I have Prairie Artesian Ales. I have Lively brewing, and then one of my favorite ones is Stone Cloud.

[Coop]

Okay. Stone Cloud's big.

[Derek]

Stone Cloud is sixth on my overall list.

[JP]

They.

[Coop]

They put a Stone Cloud in Stillwater. They put one in Stillwater right after I graduated, bro.

[Derek]

That rips Angry Scotsman. Rips Ola. Brew in Hawaii in Kalukona rips Kona Big Wave.

[Chef]

Is it?

[Jack]

Yeah.

[Derek]

That's the ones Kona's pizza rips Abi.

[Chef]

Yeah, ab to push a beer.

[Derek]

Kona Big Wave also went to one in Texas and Waxahatch Kona slaps. I will say the two that are at the top of this list are. If anybody knows me, not a shock. They're both in Pittsburgh. So extremely biased. But here's kind of what I've been forcing Clump to do when we go for the draft. I'm. I'm forcing him to let everyone go. I have no idea if we go can make that happen. And I'm forcing him to let us all stay there for a week for me to show you guys around. Probably not going to happen. Where's that? Pittsburgh for the Drift.

[Mitch]

Oh hell yeah.

[Chef]

It's going to be amazing.

[Derek]

Number two on the list in the country is a brewery called Trace Brewing. Trace Brewing is done by a gentleman. He used to. His name is Adam Sorma. He's their head of like their marketing. He drove a mini bus around forever and just gave people tokens and like to different breweries. It's awesome. And then Cinderlins Brewing in Pittsburgh is my number one in the country. They have a Crunchwrap Supreme 2 story. It used to be called a spaghetti factory. They gutted it. Yard games, downstairs balcony upstairs. It rips.

[Chef]

Have you, have you ever made your own beer?

[Derek]

Yeah, man. I have the kid at home. I bought it for my agency. We had this thing called conviction days which is if you're convicted for something, you get PTO to go do it. I went and bought it. All I mistimed is this past Christmas. I missed time when I was leaving to go home.

[JP]

Hang on. Convicted days.

[Derek]

Conviction, conviction, conviction. You're convicted about something. Conviction.

[JP]

So one of their buzzers, what does that mean?

[Chef]

You have more to tell us.

[Coop]

You feel really strongly about it. Right.

[JP]

What would be an example for me?

[Derek]

I thought I was like line of I'd cocky land you didn't go to. Now the conviction is like you're doing. Conviction is a strong feeling about something. So I'm convicted to come in here and do the best work I can do. It's a driving force. I'm going to do everything I can. Not convict. Yeah, that's con and young Jeezy.

[Jack]

I'm learning so much.

[JP]

Yeah.

[Derek]

I have root beer though. Yes. I brewed it up. My whole apartment smelled like malt for like six months. It was this past Christmas. Messed up when I was driving home by a week, so it wouldn't have been ready. And if I would have left it, it would have gone bad. Poured it out. It was the best smelling beer I've ever poured out. But I have the kit.

[Chef]

I tried to make one in college. And what is it like before the last two weeks? You put yeast in. Didn't do that. Went to go check on it after the two weeks, and there was like this layer of. At the bottom. I was like, okay, maybe that just, like, happens or whatever. Drank it.

[Coop]

Drank.

[Chef]

So, so sick.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[Chef]

And like, insanely buzzed.

[Derek]

That's bacteria. It was, bro.

[Chef]

It was insane.

[Coop]

Insane.

[Chef]

I just remember being like, oh, my God, I'm gonna pass out. And literally woke up and was like, that couldn't have been good for me at all. And then looked it up and yeah, I was like, oh, missed. Probably the most important.

[Mitch]

So were you just, like, throwing up and stuff?

[Chef]

I mean, I, like, felt sick. It was more of just like a hot, like, flash and like a hard buzz, like just in my head and truly just laid down and then woke up like a couple hours later.

[Mitch]

Damn.

[Jack]

Did you meet Shannon yesterday or at the. The girl that I brought?

[Derek]

I don't know. No, no. I only got to say hi to you for a second because I was with the niece and nephew and they pulled us in.

[Ryan Seacrest]

She's.

[Jack]

She's originally from PA and they live in Philly, but her brother's a brewmaster. Like a small place.

[Mitch]

What's it called? Where in PA is she from?

[Jack]

Bethlehem. Yeah, it's in Fishtown. Yeah, yeah, that's like the humble parlor, but I don't know. It's a small one.

[Derek]

Nice. That's in Philly, right? Fish?

[Mitch]

Yeah, fish. It's kind of like in a. It's like northern. It's kind of near, like, the drug area.

[Jack]

Also some breaking news, so to say. First time I asked Shane to be my girlfriend.

[Coop]

At the zoo Saturday.

[Derek]

No. At the zoo.

[Coop]

Let's go.

[Derek]

Let's go. Side quest. Yeah.

[Jack]

That honestly kind of is my. My side quest. I did say the beginning of the year, getting married. I don't know if that's gonna happen before December, but it's on. You felt very confident about it. I took Shannon down to Huntsville for Billy Strings concert. It was her first time. She's been enjoying the music. She knows how much I love it. And she was, like, jokingly, in the first few weeks that we had kind of been seeing each other, she was like, I'm not saying, like, you're going to ask me to be your girlfriend. But if the time ever comes, she's like, I don't want it to be some grand gesture. And so we're sitting there. Billy is playing, like, a very beautiful love ballad. And, like, I have my arm around her, and it's like the whole place is lit up red. I'm like, this would be an ideal moment to whisper like, do you want to be my girlfriend? But I'm remembering she didn't want that, even though in my head, like, I feel like she still would have. So I don't. But we're sitting outside the show afterwards. The Orion Amphitheater is an amazing venue. If you ever have the opportunity to go, I would highly encourage it after the show's done. Outside of the venue, they have, like, essentially, like, a small space where a band plays, and they have, like, they're serving beer and stuff for, like, a few hours. We're kind of sitting on this staircase behind it, and I. They're playing Cortez the Killer, an awesome Neil Young song. It's one of my favorites ever. And I'm just, like, feeling this moment. I'm, like, having so much fun like, that she's just never been in it shoe with me. And I go, man, like, they were sitting on 10 stairs. I go, this would be. She watched me play skate a lot ago. This would be an awesome 10 set to hit on skate. And she laughs. And I just go, do you want to be my girlfriend? And she literally was like, no way. You just did that. And then like, she was like, well, yeah, but, like. And then. So I, I, you know, it was fun.

[JP]

But that's awesome.

[Chef]

Such a good story being awesome.

[JP]

Because if. Because if she didn't laugh with the tent staff or didn't understand, you don't ask.

[Jack]

Let's get out of here.

[Derek]

I'm glad you asked, though, because when I met my fiance, we had that thing of, like, I did ask her, and I have other friends who. The guy was like, dude, you asked her. And the girl was like, yeah, you haven't asked me, and what are we doing? So I'm glad that you asked, because I feel like that's always a conversation of people who's like, does it just happen, or do you. I like the moment I'm with you.

[Jack]

And I guess we are doing relationships advice. I'm not one to be giving it, but very grateful to. To have met Shane. And she's awesome. She's such.

[Derek]

Yeah, she's dope figure.

[Jack]

And she's just. I, you Guys know me and have known me for a while, and, like, I can fluctuate with my moods. She keeps me very in the middle, which is great. And, like, on her worst days is, like, how I could operate on, like, my just, like, normal days. So it's just nice to have, like, a good. Just, like, person around.

[Chef]

So.

[Jack]

Yeah, I don't know why I kind of dove down the trouble, but the next time y' all me, I'm excited. Loves beer.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Jack]

Like, her brother, she did graphic design. And so before she was really working, she was designing beer labels for her brother's, like, brewery, which is super cool.

[Derek]

That's the dream.

[Jack]

And so I. I know that he's got that and, you know, kind of the same general location. I know the Pirates are. Are. You know, it's not.

[Derek]

Hey, you're good, man.

[Jack]

My bad.

[Derek]

I give no digs to anybody. That's like, oh, you're from pa. You must love Joel Embiid. And I'm like, other side. It's like six hours that way. But no, that's sick, dude. Congrats, man.

[Mitch]

A question.

[JP]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

Are you going up there for Christmas?

[Jack]

Probably not, because Jimmy is coming from Hawaii and coming back here, so that's, like, a tough one. Her parents don't live there anymore. Her parents are retired now and live. Forget some retirement kind of community in Florida for Myers somewhere. Yeah.

[Mitch]

Let's say, because I was. The reason I asked is I won. We could link up.

[Derek]

Carolyn.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Derek]

If we do.

[Jack]

Possibly I. I would like to go up and check out her brother's, like, brewery and stuff at some point.

[Derek]

That's sick.

[Jack]

So we'll. We'll see how it goes. But, yeah, next time we're all hanging around, she would love to hear and see your scale because that's not what I expected you to say. Was your hobby, right?

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Jack]

And, dude, I feel like I'm just learning today.

[Derek]

Yeah, There are other hobbies, but that's the one that, like, I made a spreadsheet for.

[Jack]

Wait, so if you had to go one v one.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[Jack]

Seeds versus beer.

[Derek]

Oh, it's not close. It's beer. And the reason.

[Mitch]

Well said.

[Derek]

Like, it's not like I love. I. Here's how I word it. If I could sit on my desk and drink as many beers as I have seeds and still at my job, that would be the dream, too. No, beer has. It's funny is like when I was doing thoughts in the bench stuff. Me and my co host on our podcast, two Beers Deep. We say it because you're at your best when you're two beers deep, you can stop drinking and still get home and be fine. Have a good night. Or that's the peak when you have the third one and the night keeps going. Like, two is the perfect number. And so we started doing that because during our pre pro, we'd have two beers out of the six pack and then have some more there. But we do. We did vlogs of it going to breweries, and it's just. It's a different thing because it's all encompassing. Like, if we get to go tour a seedery, that would be sick. But just touring the breweries and. And meeting the people and the stories and like, her brother. Like, I have a. One of my best friends went to college with a guy who got kicked out of his fraternity, who moved to Denver and opened up a brewery, and he's just sent me merch just because we've DMed and been like, hey, this is sick. He's had a new one now, and I can't remember the name of it, but it's just like a weird, thickest thieves community that I feel like I'm just like a reporter on the outside of it. Yeah, dude. Just a beat writer for beer.

[Chef]

I remember when we need a beer, boys, like, craft beer popped off. And the labels are what drew me in first.

[Derek]

The labels are sick. And I. I'm not on my phone. I have a blog that I would love from back in the day to show you guys.

[Chef]

Do you have off the top of your head, like, your top three beer canned design.

[JP]

While you think. We're also at an hour, 10 minutes on the podcast, so just keep that in mind if.

[Mitch]

Yeah. How are we out of battery with those?

[Chef]

I. Well, that's looking too. The reason I ask is because I've always thought, like, the voodoo ranger ones are sick.

[Jack]

Coming out with a new ipa, really fruit. Or like a tropical ipa.

[Mitch]

The logos is. Or the way the can looked is how I would pick. I would just like, oh, that one looks cool. I'm gonna try it.

[Jack]

Like, I got duped by that a lot, though.

[Derek]

For sure.

[Chef]

Oh, yeah.

[Jack]

22 years.

[Mitch]

100.

[Jack]

This is awesome. Like, it does taste like shit.

[Chef]

What's the moment?

[Derek]

You want this down the milky one?

[Chef]

Monkey Magic. Is it magic?

[Derek]

Oh, there's. They have golden monkey and Sour Monkey. Yeah, those are great. I. I'm a sucker.

[Mitch]

That one's. That one's brewed by me.

[JP]

Monkey got me too.

[Derek]

Yeah, Golden Monkey's crazy.

[Mitch]

That one's brewed in downingtown siesta key.

[JP]

Of can that I actually kept. And I'm not even a big beer drinker, but the can looks so sick.

[Chef]

Dude. It is.

[Derek]

There's one called Lacto Cooler. There's a brewery called Voodoo. Not Voodoo Ranger, but Voodoo that I interviewed their graphic designer just one day for our pod. And it is the. I can't remember Slimer from Goosebump. And they have it on the can and it's holographic on the can so it shines. I'll. I'll get them to send him.

[Chef]

I thought it was cool because obviously it. I feel like within the craft beer community is a bunch of people that have like artistic ability.

[Derek]

Crazy, dude.

[Chef]

And so for them to get to.

[Derek]

Show it on their tattoo artists without a needle at this point, like most beer guys want to be tattoo artists is how I've always met. And the other thing about it, we used to go for Black Avenue when we did their marketing and just look at turnip trucks and look at the cans and just see. And I'm like, well, ours aren't selling because they're sticker. And you can see the sticker and it looks weird compared to these cans that are all matted. Then you got like. And you're looking. There's just so much intricacies to it. And it all comes down to the weight of it, the amount of money. Are you going to store it all? Like all these logistical things that luckily that's why I'm a fan of it, not a part of it. Because it's crazy, but it's sick.

[Chef]

Yeah.

[Derek]

A lot of cancer, dude.

[Jack]

I know we've talked about doing an inside the bus vlog for golf. Weather's kind of turn a little bit.

[Derek]

Who knows?

[Jack]

Potentially we could do a little brewery crawl. Bring the leader of the pack with us, take us to his stop in Nashville and go.

[Derek]

We'll rent one of those brew hop the green trolley buses and just go around and I'll. I'll die on the way home and still be a happy man. Like that's.

[Mitch]

That'd be dope.

[Derek]

I have a blog here that I read for clump one day that is titled Top 10 Beers to have that I would love to get your guys opinion on. This is from I believe 2020 20. So I'll go fast on it. I wrote a scenario where I was just like, these are my top 10 favorite beers. 10. The First Family member beer. Nothing quite hits like the first time your cousin or family member offers you a beer for the first time. Legally of course. 9. The oh my God, there's one beer left.

[JP]

Beer.

[Derek]

Have you ever thought damn amount of beer. And magically one appears in the bottom of the fridge. Somewhat up above is looking out for you. Wow, there's a beer.

[Mitch]

8.

[Derek]

The PTO beer. Whether you have PTO or not, cracking a cold one while sending out the last email before a long vacation really starts the vacay off on the right foot. This one is. It's climbed up the rankings. Now the hotel balcony beer. Whether it's a new city or just celebrating the one that you love, something about pretending to be rich and famous, that just hits home. Six. And this is controversial. The airport beer at six. Easily the most underappreciated beer, but everyone has it is an Internet mogul. Where's she off to? Hawaiian shirts in October. He must be going to Sweden drinking beers at 6am Mitch. 5. The first one at the reception bar beer. Every single wedding reception has ended in a hangover. But nothing is more refreshing than the first beer. After you watch your loved ones say I do. Big points if you're the one that says this rounds on me at the open bar.

[Jack]

Yeah, classic.

[Derek]

Number four, the before going out Shower beer.

[Jack]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Music is a must, but I didn't want to just add shower beer. It has to be about a build up. Top three. The new city beer. New breweries and establishments are half the fun of traveling, but cracking the beer in a new city feels adventurous. Number two, the weird day. Drinking beer. Starting off or staring at a 30 rack on a Saturday morning, Nothing compares to it. Not birds or alarm clocks can wake you up faster. Coffee can't compete. The world is your oyster and the number one beer of all time is the next beer. I'm a sucker for a good cliche, but nothing is as good as your next beer.

[Jack]

That's awesome. I wasn't aware of how good of a rider you are, man. Yeah, you really bring us in like we're there. I can taste them.

[Derek]

I have Bud light on my 300 pages on my blog website of just my first one is called F. James Harrison. And I didn't put it out for a week because I was like what if he reads it and kill kills me? But I put it out because he had gone to the Patriots that day. So you're still alive.

[Mitch]

I don't think there's barely that. That may have been the best way to end off a pod.

[Coop]

Yeah, seriously.

[JP]

Because what's the best pod?

[Mitch]

The next one.

[JP]

Oh my God.

[Chef]

Campaign.

[Jack]

And we'll see you next quarter century.

[Mitch]

And we'll see you next week.

[Chef]

Oh, my gosh.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Derek]

Ah, greetings from my bath festive friends.

[Ryan Seacrest]

The holidays are overwhelming, but I'm tackling.

[Derek]

This season with PayPal and making the.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Most of my money, getting 5% cash back when I pay in four.

[Derek]

No fees, no interest.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I used it to get this portable spa with jets. Now the bubbles can cling to my.

[Derek]

Sculpted but pruney boy.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Make the most of your money this holiday with PayPal. Save the offer in the app ends1231.

[Chef]

See paypal.com promoter terms can be redeemed for cash and more.

[Derek]

Paying for subject to terms and approval. PayPal Inc. And MLS 910457 running a.

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