Bonus #133 - Live Call Show Vol. 26 [PATREON PREVIEW]

Summary

Stavvy's World Episode: Bonus #133 - Live Call Show Vol. 26 [PATREON PREVIEW]
Release Date: June 19, 2025
Host: Stavros Halkias
Description: A podcast where you can hang out with your pal Stav. Every week, Stavros Halkias and his friends help you solve all your problems. Wanna be a part of the show? Call 904-800-STAV, leave a voicemail, and get some advice!

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Episode Overview

In this bonus episode of "Stavvy's World," host Stavros Halkias and his co-hosts, Don Coos and an unnamed Speaker 1, engage in a lively and candid discussion with a caller facing significant personal and financial challenges. The episode delves deep into the caller's struggles with job loss, financial instability, and the repercussions of impulsive gambling decisions. The hosts provide unfiltered advice, blending humor with tough love to navigate the caller's predicament.

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Caller Introduction and Initial Problem

[00:31] Don Coos:
"Okay, I'm excited for this one. This is an awesome gambling question. Don Coos, are you there?"

[00:39] Unnamed Speaker 1:
"Yo."

[00:39] Unnamed Speaker 2 (Caller):
"Howdy."

[00:40] Don Coos:
"What's up, man? Tell us a little about your problem. But, you know, we're excited. We're off a hot three casino in a row run on tour, and. Yeah, what's. What's your..."

The caller introduces himself as an outsourcing manager for a marketing team who recently lost his job due to tariffs imposed by "Donnie T," presumably referencing former President Donald Trump. These tariffs increased the cost of outsourcing, leading to layoffs within his team and ultimately affecting him personally.

[00:51] Caller:
"Dude. Yeah. So, like, two weeks ago, bro, I worked as, like, an outsourcing manager, like, for, like, marketing team. So a lot of the things that I would outsource come from overseas. So recently, you know, Donnie T kind of put some. Some tariffs that made my job a... [leads to job loss]"

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Impact of Job Loss and Financial Struggles

The caller elaborates on the adverse effects of losing his job, including the inability to pay off recent car-related expenses and the immediate financial strain it has caused.

[01:19] Caller:
"Put in some hot water. Good amount of my team kind of got let go, and shit kind of sucked because I had just, like, done work to my car. I had just paid off the insurance for my car. Like, a lot of car shit came up."

He mentions selling old clothing items to manage finances and receiving a severance check, which he decides to gamble with in hopes of easing his financial woes.

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Gambling Experience and Consequences

Seeking a temporary escape and a chance to double his severance, the caller shares his experience at the Guitar Hard Rock Casino in Broward County, Florida.

[03:27] Caller:
"So I sold that, I got a severance check and I had a buddy kind of who was visiting from out of town and we went, we hit up the Eiffel Tower of Broward County, Florida. Guitar Hard Rock Casino."

He admits to limited gambling experience, primarily in blackjack, and recounts his bets and outcomes.

[03:44] Caller:
"I do know how to play blackjack."

[04:01] Caller:
"The highest hand that I put in, the highest hand that I put in that I made something off of was like $250."

[04:07] Caller:
"I like a good like 370 [referring to a significant loss]."

Despite some initial wins, the caller ultimately loses a substantial portion of his severance, exacerbating his financial strain.

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Exploring Financial Options

Faced with ongoing financial responsibilities and the aftermath of gambling losses, the caller outlines three primary options for managing his situation between now and the end of August.

[05:12] Caller:
"The first option is... I kind of want to have like a summer break. I kind of really don't want to like do shit besides like go to school and maybe get like a part-time job. Yeah, I just fixed my car. Do like delivery or something like that."

Option 1:
Pursue an HVAC certificate while maintaining a full-time job, balancing work with education responsibilities.

[06:12] Caller:
"The second option is I don't do shit but have like a part-time job and go to school and then spend two weeks and go to like Columbia and get my wisdom teeth taken out."

Option 2:
Work part-time while attending school and allocate time for necessary dental procedures in Colombia.

Option 3:
Combine Options 1 and 2 by getting his wisdom teeth removed and then traveling to Europe in August to fulfill a personal dream of watching a Premier League soccer match.

[07:33] Caller:
"These like three options that I sort of have to spend between now and like the end of August."

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Hosts' Responses and Advice

Unnamed Speaker 1 and Don Coos respond with a mix of skepticism, humor, and blunt advice, challenging the caller's proposed plans and emphasizing responsibility over impulsive decisions.

[08:30] Unnamed Speaker 1:
"Dude, what the fuck? What do you have fucking terminal cancer? What you need to fulfill your life. How old are you?"

[08:37] Caller:
"Oh, I'm like 26, bro. I turned 26 in June."

[08:39] Unnamed Speaker 1:
"You don't fuck. Then shut the fuck up about Your summer break. You're not a fucking child, dude. You fucking lost your job. What the fuck are you talking about?"

The hosts severely critique the caller's Option 3, labeling it as immature and irresponsible given his age and financial situation.

[09:18] Unnamed Speaker 1:
"It's over. Your life sucks. Like every grown man's life. Get a little weak here and there."

[10:05] Caller:
"No, I have family over there I've already gone to."

Undeterred, Don Coos introduces Option 4, a high-risk strategy encouraging the caller to bet everything on black in roulette.

[12:02] Don Coos:
"You do have an option for which I wouldn't usually condone this, but after the end of the tour, I'll say, see what you can make happen at the casino again. You know, don't put all your eggs in that basket, but maybe you could buy yourself another month or two with a lucky hit at black."

[12:38] Unnamed Speaker 1:
"So, look, dude, you want to have a vacation, I'm not going to stop you. [...] But do me a favor as. Stop talking about your summer break. You're 26 years old."

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Final Recommendations and Conclusion

The hosts ultimately advise the caller to focus on securing stable employment and educational advancement rather than relying on gambling or expensive trips to resolve his financial issues.

[13:13] Unnamed Speaker 2 (Caller):
"The beam was shining bright that night. Yes, sir."

[13:21] Don Coos:
"Good luck, Don Coos."

The episode concludes with a reinforcement of the importance of taking responsible steps towards financial recovery and personal stability.

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Key Takeaways

• Financial Responsibility: The episode underscores the importance of managing finances prudently, especially during times of unemployment and financial uncertainty.

• Impulsiveness vs. Planning: The caller's experience highlights the pitfalls of making impulsive financial decisions, such as gambling with a severance check, instead of seeking structured solutions.

• Host Dynamics: Stavros and co-hosts demonstrate a no-nonsense approach, blending humor with harsh truths to motivate listeners to take control of their situations.

• Support Systems: The conversation touches on leveraging family support and education as pathways to overcome financial hardships.

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Notable Quotes

• [00:31] Don Coos:
  "This is an awesome gambling question."

• [04:07] Caller:
  "I lost $370."

• [08:39] Unnamed Speaker 1:
  "You don't have terminal cancer. You don't have to do shit besides work."

• [12:02] Don Coos:
  "Maybe you could buy yourself another month or two with a lucky hit at black."

• [13:13] Don Coos:
  "Good luck, Don Coos."

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Conclusion

In this bonus episode of "Stavvy's World," the hosts tackle a real-life dilemma involving job loss, financial instability, and the allure of quick fixes through gambling and expensive trips. Through candid discussions and tough love, Stavros Halkias and his co-hosts emphasize the importance of responsible decision-making, education, and steady employment as the pillars of financial recovery and personal growth.

Transcript

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[Don Coos]

Okay, I'm excited for this one. This is an awesome gambling question. Don Coos, are you there?

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Yo.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Howdy.

[Don Coos]

What's up, man? Tell us a little about your problem. But, you know, we're excited. We're off a hot three casino in a row run on tour, and. Yeah, what's. What's your.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

We're big on gambling these days.

[Don Coos]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Dude. Yeah. So, like, two weeks ago, bro, I worked as, like, an outsourcing manager, like, for, like, marketing team. So a lot of the things that I would outsource come from overseas. So recently, you know, Donnie T kind of put some. Some tariffs that made my job a.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Little.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Let'S say, put in some hot water. Good amount of my team kind of got let go, and shit kind of sucked because I had just, like, done work to my car. I had just paid off the insurance for my car. Like, a lot of car shit came up.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Sure.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

And I wasn't really doing too hot before I got, like. I kind of needed this job, however.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

So you got fired. You said. You said it. You phrased like, a lot of my team let go. You. You. A, made it seem like you were some kind of senior manager, and B, made it sound like other people got let go. But anyway. But you. You lost your job as well.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Yeah, 100%. It was just more like I would have to reach out to a lot of, like, fulfillment companies, like in China and, like, in Vietnam. And then when the tariffs came up, like, our prices were going up day by day.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Right.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

And then it got to a point where. Where my department specifically did, like, the quality checking and inventory for these. For these things that were, like, kind of, like imported in. And now instead of the way the company has shifted is that instead of quality checking and folding in inventory, they send it straight to the consumer. Okay, so the warehouse position.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

So you work for temu.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

No, it was a Wayfair situation. Those beds.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Gotcha.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

But essentially, long story short, I had, like, a bunch of like old clothes that like, you know, like supreme and some like palace stuff and just things that were taking up space I wasn't really wearing anymore. So I sold that, I got a severance check and I had a buddy kind of who was visiting from out of town and we went, we hit up the Eiffel Tower of Broward County, Florida. Guitar Hard Rock Casino.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Oh yes. Oh, yes.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

And one thing about those casinos, especially like the Hard Rocks in South Florida, they don't really have like, like $5 tables. And I've gone gambling like once prior to this, but I do know how to play blackjack.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

So you're playing $20 hands of blackjack.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

We're like looking at like starting at 20 and then rolling it up to like about. I think the highest hand that I put in, the highest hand that I put in that I made something off of was like 250.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Okay. And what about the one you didn't that you lost?

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

I like a good like 370.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

370 hand. Damn. Okay, so, okay, so you're, you're out there, you're like, time to double up this severance check. And what happened, buddy?

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

So I came up. Awesome.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Okay.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

I genuinely. Although that was a really big hit, I got pretty lucky for like, I would say the first. It was like, it started ebbing and flowing and then really like ramping up. And then I lost $370. But okay, I kind of came out of it with enough money to kind of pay off my debt. It wasn't, it wasn't like a crippling amount, but it was definitely an amount that I definitely wish wasn't there whilst getting laid off.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Yep.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

But we've gone out of that. I'm up a little bit and I'm kind of looking at these like three options that I sort of have to spend between now and like the end of August.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Okay, and what are these options?

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

So the first option is. So right now I'm trying to go to school for H Vac or for air conditioning.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Love that. Smart.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

I can do that and work a full time job. I'll just have to do the H Vac at night.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Okay.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

The difference with that or the. I guess the issue I have with that is that I kind of want to have like a summer break. I kind of really don't want to like do shit besides like go to school and maybe get like a part time job. Yeah, I just fixed my car. Do like delivery or something like that.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Okay.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

But the thing is, since losing my job, I Now don't have health insurance or dental insurance. And I got like four wisdom teeth. I got to go. So what I'm kind of looking at is option two.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Is I don't do shit but have like a part time job and go to school and then spend two weeks and go to like Columbia and get my wisdom teeth taken. Taken out.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Oh, wow.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

And then come back. And that would run me up until like maybe July. The reason why August is such a, like, like a deadline, for instance. That's realistically when I'd be done with school.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

You'd be done with school in August.

[Don Coos]

Be done with H Vac.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

So I actually already went to school for H Vac. It would be. I went for an apprenticeship and also a father or. My father's an immigrant. He does H Vac. He has his own company. What I'm looking to go to school for is more of a certificate rather than a license to do H Vac. It's more of a certificate to kind of do the calculations for how much air conditioning a commercial building would need.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

I see. Okay. So.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

So yeah, I'm sorry. Please.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

No, no. So those are your two options. Is there a third one?

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Yeah, so the third one is. Well, so I go to. So let me finish the option too. I get my wisdom teeth taken out in Columbia and I come back with them fully healed around maybe July. And then I would get a part time or a full time job while going to school as well. That would kind of put me in a position where I get to enjoy half my summer not really doing shit.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Okay.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Besides just like going to school and having free time and then you know, kind of going back to the reality and getting a 9 to 5 and going to school at the same time. Okay, now the third option, which I've looked into and try to weigh out the best as possible, is that if I work a part time job and go to school with the amount of money I still have now, for the most part, everything is pretty kosher. Knock on wood. If nothing happens, that money is going to right places. No more $370 hands of blackjack. I could go to Europe at the very beginning or middle of August, okay. And fulfill a lifelong dream of going to go see my favorite soccer club play in the premier league.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Dude, what the fuck? What do you have fucking terminal cancer? What do you need to fulfill your life? How old are you?

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Oh, I'm like 26, bro. I turned 26 in June.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

You don't fuck. Then shut the fuck up about Your summer break. You're not a fucking child, dude. You fucking lost your job. What the fuck are you talking about? Like, if you had aggressive leukemia, I would say go see fucking whoever, whatever. Arsenal. I don't know what fan you are. Tottenham. I don't know what. I don't know what your lifelong dream is, but you're not dying. You're not a child. Life sucks. You have to work summers. Man, look, these wizards. First of all, I had my wisdom. I'm 36. I just got my wisdom teeth taken out. And it doesn't take two fucking weeks to get your wisdom teeth to heal either, motherfucker.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

No, the whole trip would be like two weeks.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Right, right, right. So, look, I don't know what the fuck.

[Don Coos]

Get some beach time in.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Of course, of course.

[Don Coos]

Look, maybe some.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Yeah, yeah. Now, I don't know what the. I love how your fucking plans for unemployment are. There's three options to. Two of them involve vacations, essentially. So, look, dude, you want to have a vacation, I'm not going to stop you. It sounds like you got to get these wisdom teeth taken care of anyway. Hopefully, you have it on good authority, you know a dentist or you know someone who knows a dentist. I hope you don't get your. You know, you go to get your wisdom teeth taken out, you wake up in a bathtub with your spleen gone. Hopefully you know what the fuck you're doing in Colombia.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

No, I have family over there I've already gone to.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Okay, then.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Like a shady situation where I'm going on the Colombian version of Craigslist looking for someone to rip my wisdom teeth out in their living room.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Perfect. Perfect. So, look, then. Then I guess this is a two birds, one stone situation. I would say keep it a little tight on the vac, but you're there. Take a couple days for yourself, whatever. But do me a favor as. Stop talking about your summer break. You're 26 years old. It's. That's one of the most pathetic things I've ever heard a grown man say. It's over. Your life sucks. Like every grown man's life. Get a little weak here and there. Where you are right now. You got your head on straight H. VAC Certificate. Go to Columbia, get your fucking wisdom teeth taken out. You have plenty of time for your lifelong dream of seeing a fucking, you know, seeing a team play. You're fine, dude. You'll be in an even better situation next year when you have an actual job. You've saved actual money. You could take a couple weeks off that's the other nice thing about blue collar work. You can sort of, you know, decide if. If you're working for yourself or your dad's company or whatever. You know, I appreciate low level nepotism like this. H Vac nepotism. I. You're. I have no problem with H Vac Nepo babies. If that means you work hard, get a certificate, take fucking take two weeks off next year and go to fucking, you know, go. Go see whoever the fuck your favorite team is. I'll allow Columbia because you're going to go get with your wisdom teeth taken out. But that's the only reason I'm allowing it. Okay? So don't fucking come over here like you're this sob story about your fucking your. Your summer break because you got laid off from being a middleman at Wayfarer. You're. You're. You're good, though. I like where your head's at. It's just very funny that somebody with such a good plan could also to talk about their summer break so much. But.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Yeah, dude, hey, bro, cure yourself and bring it a little bit to the present.

[Don Coos]

You do have an option for which I wouldn't usually condone this, but after the end of the tour, I'll say, see what you can make happen at the casino again. You know, don't put all your eggs in that basket, but maybe you could buy yourself another month or two with a lucky. With a lucky hit at black.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

You know what? Okay, option number four. Four. You bet it all. You bet it all. You put all your money on black at the roulette table. If it hits, you go to Colombia, you go to Europe, then you go to hvac school. All right, take option. You know what? So I'm telling you, either option two or option four. That's what I'm voting for.

[Don Coos]

Well, I'd say if you want to get ahead, always choose red. Oh, if you put it on black, they. They always take it back.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Okay, man, you heard it from elders. Dude, you want to get a head? But on red, put it on black. Always take it back.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

No, absolutely.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

He does. Already. This is a man who's up. He's. He. He took the Broward County Hard Rock for all their worth, man. He gets it. He doesn't need to hear from you, eldest. All right, man, go get that mouth fixed.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

The beam was shining bright that night. Yes, sir.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Go get that mouth fixed and get your certificate, man.

[Don Coos]

Good luck, Don Coos.

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