Podcast Summary: Laugh With Me

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

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.

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)

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)

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

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.

End of Summary