The Ballad of Steven

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Laugh With Me

Episode: The Ballad of Steven
Host: Jeremy Odom
Date: April 7, 2026
Producer: Johnny Palermo

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Episode Overview

In "The Ballad of Steven," comedian and former grocery store manager Jeremy Odom takes listeners on a humorous, slightly cathartic journey into the world of bizarre workplace leadership. With his signature blend of sarcasm, storytelling, and self-deprecation, Jeremy explores what makes an infuriating boss tick—specifically, his own district manager, Steven. Through anecdotes and punchlines, he sketches out “Steven: The Boss,” lampooning corporate management styles, office dysfunction, and the reality of blue-collar frontline work. Listeners are invited to laugh with, not at, Jeremy’s misadventures and to see the universality of terrible bosses everywhere.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: The Humorous Workplace Gripe

• Jeremy sets up the episode as an opportunity for “workplace trauma turned to content because therapy has a copay” (04:18).
• He invites the audience to judge what’s fact and what’s fiction, hinting at the fine line between real and exaggerated stories in the workplace comedy space.

2. Introducing Steven: A Modern Boss Stereotype

• Steven, the district manager, is someone Jeremy has known of for years but only just started working under (08:03–09:30).
• Jeremy characterizes Steven as the quintessentially ineffective but ever-present superior: “He’s always got to tell you how long he’s been doing this. He’s been doing it for a good 20 years. 20 years of what, Steve?” (10:10)
• Steven’s claim-to-fame is a string of dubious job tenures, each ending mysteriously or unfavorably, leading Jeremy to joke: “Nothing says leadership like a man whose previous employers all sound like unsolved crimes.” (11:00)

3. Management by Tablet and Empty Promises

• Steven always appears with an iPad, which Jeremy mocks as a badge of clueless management:
  “He looks like a toddler gripping his tablet because he's earned screen time. Only a few more minutes, Stevie baby.” (12:30)
• Steven is obsessed with minor details (like dust on fuel pumps), failing to see bigger problems caused by labor cuts and general chaos.
  “Steve, you cut labor so bad, the cashier’s been running the registers, stocking cigarettes, cleaning the bathroom, and trying to stop a customer from microwaving fish.” (13:25)
• Steven’s favorite phrase, repeated in almost every crisis: “I’ll send help.” Which Jeremy equates to empty thoughts and prayers:
  “At this point, ‘I'll send help’ means the same thing as thoughts and prayers.” (15:35)

4. Classic Anecdotes & Recurring Frustrations

• Jeremy recounts a time he had a scheduled medical procedure and Steven pressured him to come in simply for Steven's peace of mind (06:35–08:00).
• A running joke compares the efficiency expected by Steven (“Can’t you get the truck done in 20 minutes?”—20:31) with the realities on the ground.
• Steven’s scheduling ability is hilariously mocked:
  “You schedule people like you’re throwing darts at a calendar. Monday, two people. Tuesday, nobody. Wednesday, somehow, 11 people all at once.” (22:00)

5. Corporate Jargon and the Art of Deflection

• Steven relies heavily on buzzwords and corporate speak without real solutions:
  “He says going forward, we need accountability, communication, execution. Sounds less like a meeting and more like the world’s worst superhero team.” (23:10)
• When challenged with direct questions, Steven delays, typically responding: “That’s a great question…” (24:40)
• Jeremy speculates Steven avoids responsibility by “driving around, listening to self-help audiobooks, and avoiding responsibility.” (25:10)
• Steven’s annual “failing upward” promotion is the cherry on top:
  “Steven gives me hope. If a man can survive entirely on buzzwords, tablets, and disappearing at the sign of responsibility, then maybe any one of us can achieve our dreams.” (26:00)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Nothing says leadership like a man whose previous employers all sound like unsolved crimes.”
— Jeremy Odom (11:00)

“Steven looks like a toddler gripping his tablet because he’s earned screen time. Only a few more minutes, Stevie baby.”
— Jeremy Odom (12:30)

“We don’t have time for dirt. Outside of all places, we barely have time for emotions. When those emotions do come out, they tend to get a little wild.”
— Jeremy Odom (13:40)

“At this point, ‘I’ll send help’ means the same thing as thoughts and prayers. We once waited four hours for the help Steve promised. Four hours! That’s not help anymore. That’s a hostage situation.”
— Jeremy Odom (15:35)

“You schedule people like you’re throwing darts at a calendar.”
— Jeremy Odom (22:00)

“He manages from behind. Not behind the scenes. Not behind the counter either. Just… he’s always behind.”
— Jeremy Odom (14:35)

“Honestly, Steven gives me hope. Because if a man can survive entirely on buzzwords, tablets, and disappearing at the first sign of responsibility, then maybe any one of us can achieve our dreams.”
— Jeremy Odom (26:00)

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Key Segment Timestamps

• Theme Song (by Pepper Spray Singers): 02:31–02:54 / 27:35–27:58
• Episode Setup & Workplace Trauma Joke: 04:18–06:09
• Recounting the Medical Emergency Story: 06:35–08:00
• Steven’s Introduction & “20 years of what?”: 10:10–11:30
• Tablet Management & Racoon Bit: 12:30–15:55
• “I’ll send help” and Meeting Satire: 15:35–17:00, 23:10–24:40
• Corporate Jargon Satire: 24:40–26:00
• Closing Reflections on Bad Bosses & Hope: 26:00–27:35

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Tone, Style & Audience Takeaways

The episode’s language is irreverent, conversational, and self-aware—a blend of roast, therapy session, and blue-collar confessional. Jeremy constantly blurs lines between exaggeration and truth, daring listeners to decide how much is real. He encourages listeners to share the episode with anyone who’s had a boss whose main skill was “looking concerned while doing absolutely nothing,” solidifying the universality of his grievances.

For listeners:
Even if you’ve never worked retail, you’ll likely recognize “Steven” in your own workplace. Jeremy’s comedic venting is cathartic, relatable, and provides a morale boost for anyone suffering under baffling management.

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End of Summary

Transcript

[Serving Pancakes Hosts]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. On the Serving Pancakes podcast, conversations about volleyball go beyond the court. Today we have a little best friend compatibility test. Okay, how long have we been best friends? Since the day we met. As the League1 volleyball season heads towards its final stretch, there's no better time to tune in. You'll hear unfiltered analysis, behind the scenes stories and conversations with leaders making an impact across the sport. Whether you're following the final push of love season or just love the game, serving Pancakes brings you closer to the action and the people shaping the future of volleyball. Open your free iHeartradio search serving pancakes and listen. Now presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Peace to the planet, Charlamagne Tha God here. And listen. We are back. The Black Effect Podcast Festival is back in Atlanta on April 25th at Pullman Yard. Yeah, and the full lineup is nuts. We got the Grits and Eggs podcast, Deontay Kyle and Big Ice Cup Cat. We got Club 520 with Jeff Teague and the gang. Don't call Me White Girl. Mona will be there. Keep it positive, Sweetie with Crystal Renee. We got Reality with the K with Carlos King. And yes, drink champs will be in the building.

[Pepper Spray Singers / Laugh With Me Performer]

Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Plus, you know we going to have a lot of guests, so you need to join us. And we got the Black Effect Marketplace to pitch your podcast and everything you expect from the Black Effect Podcast Festival. Tickets are on sale right now. Go get [e-mail] podcast festival. Don't play yourself. Okay, pull up.

[Lori Siegel]

I'm Lori Siegel and this is Mostly Human, a tech podcast through a human lens. This week, an interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

[Sam Altman]

I think society is going to decide that creators of AI products bear a tremendous amount of responsibility to the products we put out in the world.

[Lori Siegel]

An in depth conversation with the man who's shaping our future.

[Sam Altman]

My highest order bit is to not destroy the world with AI.

[Lori Siegel]

Listen to Mostly Human on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Jay Shetty]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. My latest episode is with Noah Khan, the singer songwriter behind the multi platinum global hit Stick season and one of the biggest voices in music today.

[Noah Kahan]

Talking about the mental illness stuff. It used to be this thing that I was ashamed of getting to talk about. This is not common for me right now. I need it more than ever.

[Jay Shetty]

Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts, hit that intro.

[Pepper Spray Singers / Laugh With Me Performer]

Go. Laugh with me when the wrench passed you and the car won't laugh with me when the only sponsor is my broken heart we're hanging on this janky stream Two weird voices in the glow of a screen if the world won't sing then let it laugh with me.

[Jeremy Odom]

How about that brand new theme song for Laugh With Me from the Pepper Spray Singers? Good work on that one, Johnny. Good work on that one. Getting the band together, putting together a banger. Welcome. It's a brand new episode. This is Laugh With Me, a podcast. Jeremy Odman, I'm your host. Mike check. Flickering sign in the hallway, stickers on

[Pepper Spray Singers / Laugh With Me Performer]

the door say try Jeremy pacing in

[Jeremy Odom]

circles jokes scribbled over last week's rent Johnny at the board half smile this is gonna pay that friend maybe.

[Pepper Spray Singers / Laugh With Me Performer]

Coffee stain on a thrift store T. Punch lines in a spiral notebook bus ride, broken earbuds practicing bits to a bus full of strangers Ball stage Tuesday midnight. Seven people to drink minimum. One guy scrolling his phone, One couple already leaving. Jeremy bombs burns, breeze forgets it closer stares at his sho. But that one woman in the back laughs so hard she can't move.

[Jeremy Odom]

Hey, it's Jo. And this is the only podcast where we turn workplace trauma in the content because therapy has a copay. Guys. We can't just be throwing that around every time someone makes you mad. Or Kenya is. That's actually. That's what therapist for right? Get that out there. It's all good. It's all good. We're gonna have a fantastic episode for you. Full effect, full of fiction. I'm gonna let you guys decide which is which. That's not really neither here nor there for me. I. I'm gonna put it out there and I'm gonna let the rascals of Laugh with Me decide what they want to believe here. But it's going to be good for me either way. It's always good to get. Get some tension off your. Off your shoulders, right? I was going to say off your chest. But that. That. That's probably signs of a heart attack. And Johnny, we sure shit don't want that, huh? Who knows? Maybe this will be our Emmy episode. Who knows, you know, if we're Golden Globe episode. That's what it is. I guess the Emmys aren't recognizing podcasts yet. But the Globes are. This just may very well be our Golden Globe episode. Who knows? Who knows which one is gonna be the one? That's not really up to me. But Johnny, I know you'll be the one producing it. And that's. That's what matters most. Welcome to Laugh With Me. If you're unfamiliar with what we do here, I mean, this is your first time listening, and I know for some this is gonna be. We have been gaining quite the audience here as of late. And if you are new to the show, I mean, it's. We're authentic, baby.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We put.

[Jeremy Odom]

We put the real life out there and we try to find the humor with it. Humor with it. And that's what Laugh With Me is all about. Now, we could laugh at me. Okay, you could be saying, that fool. What's his problem? You can't. You can't say that about your boss. Look at that fool. And you. But you have all rights to do that as well, to laugh at me. But, boy, isn't it just more fun to laugh with? I sure think so. Johnny sure thinks so. That's producer Johnny Palermo on the ones and twos, brother. You just had a birthday. I just. I want to put that out there. Happy birthday, Johnny. He. He doesn't just. It was April 4th. He doesn't just have a birthday, though. He has famously had a birthday month. So we are in the midst of it right now. April is Johnny Palermo's birthday month. Happy birthday, brother. Well, we're gonna get right into it today. The Ballad of Stephen the Boss. That is the boss. That was. He's. He's my boss at the day job. Okay. And, you know, I. I'd say before we even really get into it, let's just rewind here. A couple of episodes ago, I told a story about my boss wanting me, even though I had approved day off, even though I had an approved day off for health reasons, to get a blood transfusion, frankly. And everybody was aware of it, and it was weeks in advance planned. We got to the day before, and he's just like, man, I really could use you coming into work. Not. Not because we had people call out and just. That's the only way we can keep the lights on. Nothing like that. No, this was strictly because he just would have felt more comfortable if I was there because there was possibly a chance that some folks from the corporate office were going to be walking, not just my store, but some other stores in the area. And, you know, it's. Obviously, you just want the best of the best in your store when that happens. And that. And that makes a lot of sense. I frankly would want to have been in the store if this potential walk was going to happen. Here's the Thing. I can't just be like, you know what? I'm not gonna get my blood that I very much need in order to make it to work all the other days, because you can't just reschedule that like that. Also, they sprung the walk on us with a day or two ahead, so it's not like, you know, we've known about it for a month or something. It's like, damn it, Jeremy, couldn't you reschedule that for another day? Not really my problem. My problem is making sure I'm healthy enough so I could show up to work. That's my problem. Either way, he wanted me there, and, damn it, I wasn't going. That's. That's for damn sure. That's for damn sure, Johnny. That's some if I've ever heard one. I cannot imagine telling somebody that. Come on in, man. Hopefully you're feeling good enough. If not, I mean, what. What do you want me to do? They ended up not walking, by the way. They ended up not walking the store. So I would have dragged my happy ass into the store, and for what? And they actually, the store look great. I mean, the team did a really good job, and everybody knew, all right, we need. Let's be ready, you know, you know, the. The song and dance and getting ready for corporate walkers, and it's. That's exactly what it was. Just big song and dance situation, and we got it figured out. It was all good. Anyway, that was a couple. A couple weeks ago. We talked about that, and I said, you know, we'll get into it later. We'll get into who this fella is. And, man, this guy's something special. This is a guy I. I knew of be long before him. And I either worked at this. At this company. No, we. We worked at another company, a grocery chain, years ago. We didn't work together, but we were in similar positions at one point before I went on to run stores. Then he. He must have left. I. I had no idea. I didn't really know him. I just knew of him. Then here we are. We meet up. I'm running the store, and then he comes in as my new boss, the district manager. And let me. It's been less than a year working with the fella, and it has been nothing but frustrations, frankly. But he's very consistent. He's very consistent in these things. So that's. That's fun because then you can start to get a read on a guy. It's not like he's, you know, wild card. I I'd rather have the consistency consistently bad than the wild card bad because then you just never know what's coming your way. Consistency, at least is something you can count on, right? At least you know where it's at. Well, today we're gonna get to know him a little bit. He's certainly not going to be a guest on the pot. I mean, in fact, I'd keep an eye out on the next A Laugh With Me ban list. I have a feeling his name may come up, which we all know what that means. That means you get to become a character on the pod. So we are definitely looking forward to the potential of that. I'm not. I'm not announcing anything here right now. I'm just saying the potential is there for Mr. Steven to become a future character after. After joining a band list. So we'll see. I think he's in the running. We'll just have to see what the audience reaction is to this one. But we're gonna get to know Stephen here just a little bit. And who is he? Who exactly is the district manager named Steve? Theodore Wagner. Well, Steve, he's just one of those guys. It's. He's always got to tell you how long he's been doing this. He's been doing it for a good 20 years. 20 years of what, Steve? That's what I always ask. 20 years of what? Avoiding eye contact, sending group texts, forwarding emails. He's got a lot of jobs. Everywhere he's worked before, something terrible has happened. Have you heard of people like this before? At one place, the CEO didn't like him. One his heart wasn't in it. One mysteriously happened to turn into a spirit Halloween. How does that happen? How does it just randomly turn into a spirit Halloween? He probably showed up like, what's going on here, Freddie? And somehow on the resume that translated into, you know what? Let's put this guy in front of 12 gas stations and put him in charge. Nothing says leadership like a man whose previous employers all sound like unsolved crimes. I mean, because I'm still. I'm still questioning a few of those. I have some insight on the first one, but I've got. Got some questions about. About those last two. I will give credit to Steve on this one. He does walk into a store like he owns the place. Not because he's confident, but because I don't think he quite knows where he is. He. He's always got sunglasses on and he's holding an iPad that probably has all the answers inside of it. You Ever see somebody carrying a tablet like it's capable of serving customers and making pizza? Yeah. That's not possible. Is this tablet and its endless list of checkpoints across off. Have the second cashier to jump on the register and clear this line. I'm gonna tell you right now, it doesn't. Steven looks like a toddler gripping his tablet because he's earned screen time. Only a few more minutes, Stevie baby. Only a few more minutes and you can have your screen time. Then he'll immediately start criticizing things like, why is there dust particles on the top of the fuel pumps outside? I always want to throw that one in there. Because, Steve, you cut labor so bad, the cashier's been running the registers, stocking cigarettes, cleaning the bathroom, and trying to stop a customer for microwaving fish in the customer microwave. That would smell so bad. We don't have time for dirt. Outside of all places, we barely have time for emotions. When those emotions do come out, they tend to get a little wild. Steve loves to tell people he was a district manager before. I mean, he says it about every 10 minutes. I was a district manager at my last company. Oh, yeah, And I used to own a treadmill. Neither one of us knows what we're doing now. Thank you, Johnny. Johnny, that. Actually, every time I sell a joke. Please help me out here. That wasn't a joke, buddy. The man manages from behind. Not behind the scenes. No, not behind the counter either. Just. He's always behind. Every problem is already. Every problem is already on fire before Steven even notices it. You tell him, hey, Steve, the coffee maker's leaking. And Steve will say, place a support call. Two days later, the coffee maker explodes. Water everywhere, staining water all over the store. And Steve will call you. Like I heard, there might have been a small issue with the coffee maker. Yeah, small issue, Steve. That's why we had to explain to customers why they needed to jump into the canoe just to get a slice of pizza. That's not good, man. That's just not good. Steve's favorite phrase, and I can't stress this enough, I'll send help. That phrase alone should be embroidered on a pillow in his office. I'll send help. He says it every single time. Steve, we've got one person working in the truck. Just got here. Oh, yeah, I'll send help. Steve, the registers have crashed. Oh, cool. I'll send help. Steve, there's a raccoon in the back room eating chicken strips and hissing at the Pepsi guy. Yeah, I'll send help. And then nothing. No help ever comes. At this point, I'll send help means the same thing as thoughts and prayers. We once waited four hours for the help Steve promised. Four hours. That's not help anymore. That's a hostage situation. Then Steve calls back, like, anybody ever show up? No Steve. Nobody ever shows up. Unless you count the raccoon. He's actually running the register now. He's employee of the month. And that's the thing. The beauty of a raccoon now being employed at your store is he doesn't require a paycheck or a vehicle to get to work. Just the rabies vaccine. A trash can to sleep in. I like that little guy.

[Serving Pancakes Hosts]

On the Serving Pancakes podcast, conversations about volleyball go beyond the court. Today we have a little best friend compatibility test. Okay, how long have we been best friends for? Since the day we met. As the League1 volleyball season heads towards its final stretch, there's no better time to tune in. We really are like yin and yang, vodka and tequila. You'll hear unfiltered analysis, behind the scenes stories and conversations with leaders making an impact across the sport. Today we have Logan Lednecki.

[Jeremy Odom]

I feel like our fan base in

[Serving Pancakes Hosts]

general is very connected.

[Jeremy Odom]

Just like a comforting feeling getting to play at home.

[Serving Pancakes Hosts]

Whether you're following the final push of love season or just love the game, Serving Pancakes brings you closer to the action and the people shaping the future of volleyball. Jordan Thompson had that microphone. Oh, God forbid we make mistakes or cuss at our coach. Like when talking. Open your free iHeartradio app search serving Pancakes and listen. Now this has been Serving Pancakes and we'll catch you on the flip side, okay? Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Jay Shetty]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. My latest episode is with Noah Khan, the singer songwriter behind the multi platinum global hit Stick season and one of the biggest voices in music today. Noah opens up about the pressure that followed his rapid success, his struggles with mental health and body image, and the fear of starting again after such a defining moment in his career.

[Noah Kahan]

It's easy to look at somebody and be like, your life must be so sick, man. You have no clue. Talking about the mental illness stuff, it used to be this thing that I was ashamed of. I'm just now trying to unwind this idea that I have to be unhealthy physically or in pain in some emotional way in my life to create good music. If someone says that I did a good job, I'm like, yeah, I'm good. Someone says, That I suck. I'm like, I suck. Getting to talk about this is not common for me right now. I need it more than ever.

[Jay Shetty]

Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lori Siegel]

I'm Lori Siegel, and on Mostly Human, I go beyond the headlines with the people building our future. This week, an interview with one of the most influential figures in Silicon Valley, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

[Sam Altman]

I think society is gonna decide that creators of AI products bear a tremendous amount of responsibility to products we put out in the world.

[Lori Siegel]

From power to parenthood, kids, teenagers.

[Sam Altman]

I think they will need a lot of guardrails around AI. This is such a powerful and such

[Lori Siegel]

a new thing, from addiction to acceleration.

[Sam Altman]

The world we live in is a competitive world, and I don't think that's going to stop even if you did a lot of redistribution. You know, we have a deep desire to excel and be competitive and gain status and be useful to others. And it's a multiplayer game.

[Lori Siegel]

What does the man who has extraordinary influence over our lives have to say about the weight of that responsibility? Find out on Mostly Human.

[Sam Altman]

My highest order bit is to not destroy the world with AI.

[Lori Siegel]

Listen to Mostly Human on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Norah Jones]

Hey, I'm Nora Jones, and I love playing music with people so much that my podcast called Playing along is back. I sit down with musicians from all musical styles to play songs together in an intimate setting. Every episode's a little different, but it all involves music and conversation with some of my favorite musicians. Over the past two seasons, I've had special guests like Dave Grohl, Leve Mavis Staples, Remy Wolf, Jeff Tweedy. Really too many to name. And this season I've sat down with Alessia Cara, Sarah McLachlan, John Legend, and more. Check out my new episode with Josh Groban. You related to the Phantom at that point?

[Jeremy Odom]

Yeah, I was definitely the Phantom in that.

[Norah Jones]

That's so funny.

[Pepper Spray Singers / Laugh With Me Performer]

Each day with me, each night, each morning,

[Norah Jones]

say you love me, you know? So come hang out with us in the studio and listen to Playing along on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jeremy Odom]

Steve is so disorganized, it's unbelievable. He carries around his little. His little tablet everywhere. Not because he wants to write down useful things, because he thinks a tablet is what managers hold when they don't know what's happening. He'll note everything, though. Fix Ice machine. Call maintenance. Schedule an interview. Find out why morale is low. Steve, morale's low because you're typing in. Find out why morale is low while standing directly in front of us. His tablet has never solved a problem. His tablet's basically an edge, a sketch with lower standards. I think if you opened up the tablet, every page would just say, need to circle back. Circle back to what, Steven? You never got to the point in the first place. Steve doesn't understand how the job works. He says things like, can't you get the truck done in 20 minutes? 20 minutes, Steven. The truck's 1200 boxes. Industry standard is 50 cases per hour. This isn't Fast in the Furious gas station edition, I can tell you that. Thank you, Johnny. Then he always says stuff like, why isn't the schedule done? Well, because you changed the budget and expectations six times since Tuesday. You schedule people like you're throwing darts at a calendar. Monday, two people. Tuesday, nobody. Wednesday, somehow, 11 people all at once. There's not even a room for 11 people in the store. It's no longer a gas station at that point, just a flash mob with cigarettes. Steve will give instructions that just make no sense. Jeremy, I need you unload the truck, train the new employee, clean the bathroom, fix that coffee maker, stock the cooler and cover register, and I'll say, with who? He said, you. Okay, Should I also perform a kidney transplant in aisle 4? I did play a doctor once in a sketch. Steve talks like every problem can be solved with just working harder. We just have to hustle. We are hustling Steve. The cashier moved so fast yesterday. She clocked in on Monday, clocked out on Thursday. I've seen it happen. Steve's the kind of manager who only repeats what corporate says. Corporate sends an email that says, improve customer satisfaction. Then Steve comes in like he invented customer service. Team, we need to improve customer satisfaction. Wow. Incredible leadership. What's next, Steve? You gonna tell us water's wet and cigarettes are bad for your health? Then somebody will ask, how do we improve customer satisfaction? And Steve will say, we need to think outside the box. Well, what box, Steve? The cigarette box? The donut box? The box of complaints we're sending you every six months. Then corporate says, reduce the labor costs, so Steve cuts hours. Then sales drop because nobody's there. Then Steve's confused. That's like throwing your steering wheel out the window, and they're wondering why the car won't turn. I will say, about those customer service or those customer satisfaction scores. They do tend to go up and down depending on the labor situation that's 100% connected to it. Right? But here's the thing. You want to really know what Steven's guidance to us was to do anonymous surveys. All the employees do anonymous surveys. That way we can get. Because, you know, employees aren't supposed to fill out surveys. And it'll flag us, right, if it's an employee filling out a survey. But if you do it anonymously, we can get them good scores up. That'll help them, right? I got a feeling his bonus might be tied to those and that's why they're so important. I'm just guessing. I don't. I don't really know. I'm just guessing. Mr. Steven man, he loves conference calls. He loves those meetings. Oh boy, does he love meetings. Because in a meeting, nobody can prove he doesn't know anything. He'll stand in front of the whiteboard or on the phone and say, going forward, we need accountability, communication, execution. Sounds less like a meeting and more like the world's worst superhero team captain Accountability Communication Boy and their sidekick, Execution man, whose only power is sending out an email at 4:55 on Friday where nobody will read it. Then somebody asked a real question, Steve. How are we supposed to cover all these shifts? And Steve will say, that's a great question. You know what? You know what that's a great question means, Steve? If Steve needs 15 seconds to think of a way to leave, that's what that means. He'll just sit and pause. That's a great question. Anyway, I have another story to get to another store. Steve is always headed to another store. I don't think there is another store. I think it just drives around listening to self help audiobooks and avoiding responsibility. I picture him in the company car parked behind a Burger King practicing corporate phrases in the mirror. 100 days of summer review. The point per my last email. You know, nobody's ever said per my last email and then been invited to a party. It's gotta be true. The craziest part. Steve keeps getting promoted every year. He somehow falls upward. And that's truly amazing. Most of us make one mistake at work and we're apologizing for six months. Steve could accidentally set a gas pump on fire and corporate would be like, you know what? This guy has leadership potential. Honestly, Stephen gives me hope. Because if a man can survive entirely on buzzwords, tablets and disappearing at the first sign of responsibility, then maybe any one of us can achieve our dreams. Maybe next year I'll become a district manager. Yeah, I don't know what that means either. I'll just show up once a month, ask why the coffee maker's broken, promise, help, and vanish off into the sunset. Oh, man. If you've enjoyed this episode, send it to somebody who's ever had a boss whose main skill was looking concerned while doing absolutely nothing? And then remember, always, if your manager says, I'll send help, just start training that raccoon. Oh, the Ballad of Steven. That was fun. Stephen. I'd say, no offense, but man, do I ever. Do I ever mean all the fence in the world? Man, I've had some bad bosses. I really have. Some that have frustrated me to the point of having to take an anxiety medicine. I, I have, I've had people that have caused so much stress and that's. Maybe that's on me. Maybe I need to figure out how to handle the stress just a little better, right? But that's, that was the pinpoint of starting right there. I've had bosses like that, but the difference is I believed in them and I trusted them and they knew what they were doing. I don't deal well with stupid and. Well, I'll let you think about that one, Stephen. Thanks for listening. This has been Laugh With Me, a podcast with Jeremy Odom for Johnny Palermo in his birthday month. I'm Jeremy Odom.

[Pepper Spray Singers / Laugh With Me Performer]

Laugh with me when the wrench pass due and the car won't start Laugh with me when the only sponsor is my broken heart we're hanging on this janky stream Two weird voices in the glow of a screen. If the world won't sing then light and laugh with Me

[Serving Pancakes Hosts]

on the Serving Pancakes podcast. Conversations about volleyball go beyond the court. Today we have a little best friend compatibility test. Okay, and how long have we been best friends? Since the day we met. As the League1 volleyball season heads towards its final stretch, there's no better time to tune in. You'll hear unfiltered analysis, behind the scenes stories and conversations with leaders making an impact across the sport. Whether you're following the final push of love season or just love the game, serving Pancakes brings you closer to the action and the people shaping the future of volleyball. Open your free iHeartradio app. Search serving Pancakes. Pancakes and Listen. Now presented by Capital One, founding partner

[Jeremy Odom]

of I Heart Women's Sports Piece of the Planet Charlemagne.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The God here. And listen. We are back. The Black Effect Podcast Festival is back in Atlanta on April 25th at Pullman Yard. Yeah, and the full lineup is nuts. We got the Grits and Age Podcast, Deontay Kyle and Big Ice Cup Cat. We got Club 520 with Jeff Teague in the gang. Don't call me White Girl. Mona will be there. Keep it positive, Sweetie. With Crystal Renee. We got Reality with the King with Carlos King. And yes, Drink champs will be in the building. Plus, you know we gonna have a lot of guests, so you need to join us. And we got the Black Effect Marketplace, the picture podcast and everything you expect from the Black Effect Podcast Festival. Tickets are on sale right now. Go get [e-mail] podcast festival. Don't play yourself. Okay. Pull up Foreign.

[Lori Siegel]

I'm Lori Siegel and this is Mostly Human, a tech podcast through a human lens. This week, an interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

[Sam Altman]

I think society is going to decide that creators of AI products bear a tremendous amount of responsibility to the products we put out in the world.

[Lori Siegel]

An in depth conversation with a man who's shaping our future.

[Sam Altman]

My highest order bit is to not destroy the world with AI.

[Lori Siegel]

Listen to Mostly Human on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Jay Shetty]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. My latest episode is with Noah Khan, the singer songwriter behind the multi platinum global hit Stick season and one of the biggest voices in music today.

[Noah Kahan]

Talking about the mental illness stuff. It used to be this thing that I was ashamed of getting to talk about this. It's not common for me right now. I need it more than ever.

[Jay Shetty]

Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.