Laugh with Me – “I Saved a Turkey”

Host: Jeremy Odom
Date: December 16, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this energetic and storytelling-filled episode, comedian and host Jeremy Odom shares two of his wildest recent experiences: “saving” a wild turkey from a busy street and dealing with an unexpected workplace incident involving the police. With his signature blend of sarcasm, wit, and relatable humor, Jeremy turns the everyday into the hilariously absurd, offering candid insight into grocery life, Thanksgiving clichés, and the bizarre moments of modern work culture.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Getting “Filled Up” for the Holidays

• Jeremy opens the episode recounting his recent iron infusion (02:38–04:50), delivered with his trademark self-deprecation:
  • He thanks the nurses (“These nurses in particular, super kind. They said I smelled good...I was wearing Chanel blue. For those wondering, had I showered right before? No. No, I did not, actually.” [03:09])
  • Makes a gas station joke about “filling up the tank” for the holidays, clarifying he’s not doing it for work but for “the people.”
• Jeremy pokes fun at the minor rituals of improving his health, setting a playful and conversational tone for the episode.

2. The Real Turkey Rescue Story

Segment Start: 04:51

a. Debunking Thanksgiving “Turkey Saving”

• Jeremy rails against the common refrain, “I saved a turkey this year,” when people simply mean they didn’t eat turkey at Thanksgiving:
  • “You not eating a turkey at Thanksgiving absolutely didn’t save...all the turkeys that we eat, it’s all been taken care of the year prior...your prior turkeys. Turkeys go to the stores.” (05:32)

b. A Wild Turkey on a Busy Road

• Vividly paints a scene: a “six-lane road” with a crazed turkey pacing the median amid shopping chaos.
• Playful speculation on the turkey's motives:
  • “I wouldn't think the turkey was trying to go shopping. Although now I think about it, it is that time of year. You just really don’t know.” (06:21)

c. Becoming the Hero

• Breaks down his heroic intervention in comedic, step-by-step detail:
  • Pulls over at a side road, navigates a ditch, then darts across traffic.
  • Is briefly encouraged by a truck pulling onto the median, but it turns out they’re just strapping down wood from Home Depot—“I usually just pull my pants up for that. Am I right, Johnny?” (08:25)
• Realizes the turkey is much larger and more formidable up close than expected:
  • “When you walk up to it, I mean, turkeys are bad. It was quite the animal here. And I started to think, yeah, I’m not swooping up this turkey because...it's just gonna start pecking at me or something.” (09:24)
• Ultimately, he gently herds the turkey to safety:
  • “Boom. I chased the turkey across the street. We both get over safely. That turkey couldn't have been more appreciative...I’m not calling myself a hero, okay? That’s not me. I’m not doing that. But people are doing that. People are calling me hero.” (10:14)
• Climactic self-parody:
  • “I’d like to think once this episode comes out...there might be press releases. I don't know, Johnny.” (10:50)

d. Reflecting on the Experience

• Shares his philosophy: “When you have the opportunity and you're in the position to do the right thing, you should do the right thing.” (11:13)
• Playfully claims superiority over those who skip turkey at the holiday: “I say, that’s some bullshit. I, I don’t think you saved anything. I, in fact, saved the turkey’s life, okay?” (11:41)
• Imagines the rescued turkey telling its own story “out there right now in Omaha, just telling its story to its other animal friends.” (12:08)

e. Memorable Quotes

• “I’m not calling myself a hero, okay? That's not me...But people are doing that. People are calling me hero.” (10:26)
• “When this turkey is saying, hey, here’s what happened to me this week, this turkey is going to say, gobble, gobble.” (13:02)

3. Workplace Woes: Police Called at Work

Segment Start: 13:17

a. The Setup: From a Family Event to Overtime

• Jeremy sets up a work fiasco after being called in unexpectedly due to staff shortages—already in a bad mood for having to skip a family Christmas event due to weather.
  • “People are calling out. Next thing you know, Jo's gotta jump in action and go work on a Saturday night when I'm supposed to be off.” (14:14)

b. Employee Drama

• An employee mocks him for having to work on his day off (“First of all, no, that's not funny...So we have some back and forth. You know, I’m the boss...you can finish this.” [15:00])
• Employee storms into his office, starts copying phone numbers, and then threatens to call the police because of Jeremy’s “tone.”

c. The Police Show Up

• The punchline: “He’s like, I called the police. What do you mean for? What did something happen? Yeah, you. You happened. I don’t like the way you're talking to me.” (16:10)
• Police arrive bewildered. Classic exchange:
  • Cop: “Sorry you’re having to deal with this. This is not an emergency.”
  • Jeremy: “I am not your HR department.”
  • “I totally get it, dude. So I apologize to him for wasting his time. Like, why did we call the police? Why do people today think that you just call the police?” (17:04)
• Reflects on modern workplace and cultural weirdness, referencing a viral story of someone calling the police at Subway simply because no employees were visible.

d. Aftermath

• Employee leaves a “very colorful message on the HR department's voicemail,” and is eventually let go.

e. Memorable Quotes

• “The police are not your HR department.” (17:30)
• “Why would you ever think that you could just run amok, leaving all these voicemails, just yelling, and then call the police, all because you didn’t agree with the way somebody was talking to you?” (18:12)

4. Cultural Commentary

Segment Start: 18:30

• Shout-out to “The Black Guy Who Tips” podcast, highlighting the changing social climate since 2020.
  • “We were just talking about how, like, things have changed since 2020, since COVID...the world shuts down and then people start to get out a little bit and they just lose their minds.” (18:40)
• Observes a decline in basic respect and social skills: “I just don't know how we can get back to being respectful people and thinking and listening. But...we are not there right now in 2025.” (19:10)

5. Promotions and Listener Updates

Segment Start: 19:50

• Promotes his guest appearance on “The Black Guy Who Tips” and teases upcoming guests Rod and Karen on “Laugh with Me” (20:10).
• Mentions his sports betting podcast “Where’s the Line?” (WTL) and encourages listeners to check it out.

6. End-of-Episode Banter & Signature Style

• Touches on his exhaustion and sense of comic futility:
  • “I don’t know if I’m rapidly turning into a very old senior citizen or if I’m turning into a toddler. I don’t know which one I’m turning into faster. But I tell you what, I don’t get a nap. I get grouchy.” (21:40)
• Calls the week “God’s work” and closes on a cheeky note about “filling up with that iron.”
  • “Once I’m filled up, man, I can go, I can go a little bit. That’s the show. We’ll get you next time. Thanks for listening.” (22:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• “These nurses in particular, super kind. They said I smelled good...I was wearing Chanel blue. For those wondering, had I showered right before? No. No, I did not.” – Jeremy Odom [03:09]
• “You not eating a turkey at Thanksgiving absolutely didn’t save...Turkeys go to the stores.” – Jeremy Odom [05:32]
• “I’m not calling myself a hero, okay? That's not me...But people are doing that. People are calling me hero.” – Jeremy Odom [10:26]
• “When this turkey is saying, hey, here’s what happened to me this week, this turkey is going to say, gobble, gobble.” – Jeremy Odom [13:02]
• “Why would you ever think that you could just run amok, leaving all these voicemails, just yelling, and then call the police, all because you didn’t agree with the way somebody was talking to you?” – Jeremy Odom [18:12]
• “The police are not your HR department.” – Jeremy Odom [17:30]
• “I don’t know if I’m rapidly turning into a very old senior citizen or if I’m turning into a toddler. I don’t know which one I’m turning into faster. But I tell you what, I don’t get a nap. I get grouchy.” – Jeremy Odom [21:40]

Key Timestamps

• [02:38] – Start of the main segment; Jeremy’s iron infusion story
• [04:51] – Introduction to the turkey rescue segment
• [10:14] – Jeremy rescues the turkey, comic self-aggrandizement as “hero”
• [13:17] – Shift to workplace story; police called by employee
• [17:30] – “The police are not your HR department” segment
• [18:40] – Commentary on post-COVID culture, podcast shout-out
• [19:50] – Guest/Podcast cross-promotions
• [21:40] – Grouchy without naps; humorous life reflection

Tone and Style

• Conversational & personal: Jeremy’s language is candid, self-deprecating, sometimes sarcastic, but always relatable and accessible.
• Anecdote-driven: Each segment builds from real-life, often absurd events, turning mundanity into well-crafted, comedic narratives.
• Reflective & satirical: While lighthearted, Jeremy uses humor to call out societal behaviors and workplace absurdities, injecting moments of genuine commentary amid the jokes.

Summary

This episode highlights Jeremy Odom’s knack for transforming everyday troubles into laugh-out-loud anecdotes, from a turkey rescue on a busy street to surreal workplace drama. While poking fun at both himself and the world at large, he explores modern life’s quirks with wit, unfiltered honesty, and the perspective of someone who’s spent time on both sides of the grocery counter. Listeners leave entertained and perhaps a little more grateful for both wild turkeys and patient police officers.