#4514 Live From Friendship!

Summary

Podcast Summary: TBTL Episode #4514 - "Live From Friendship!"

Release Date: July 21, 2025

---

Introduction: A Friendship Celebration

In Episode #4514 of TBTL: Too Beautiful To Live, hosts Luke Burbank and Andrew Walsh embark on a live broadcast from Friendship, Wisconsin, marking the commencement of TBTLathon 16. The hosts express their excitement about deepening the friendship aspect of their long-standing professional relationship.

Notable Quote:

Luke Burbank [00:28]: "I've been waiting for this moment for months, and it's finally here."

Donation Matching: Doubling Listener Support

A significant highlight of the episode is the announcement of a generous anonymous donor who will match all listener donations made during the TBTLathon. This initiative aims to incentivize both new and returning donors by effectively doubling their contributions.

Notable Quote:

Luke Burbank [09:08]: "This unbelievably generous supporter of TBTL will match whatever you donate. So that's going twice as far."

Technical Hiccups: Headphone Issues

The live broadcast encounters technical difficulties due to missing headphone connectors, leaving John Sklaroff, a key staff member, unable to hear the conversation. Despite these challenges, the team maintains their humor and continues engaging with listeners.

Notable Quote:

Andrew Walsh [06:36]: "I look better this way, too. Absolutely."

Exploring Friendship, Wisconsin: The Billboard Experience

Luke and Andrew share their experience visiting a billboard featuring their own images, a result of their efforts to promote the podcast in the small town. The visit sparks curiosity and friendly interactions with local residents, highlighting the community's warm reception.

Notable Quote:

Luke Burbank [13:34]: "It was so damn goofy. It is so damn goofy."

Engaging with Callers: Max from Brooklyn and Michelle from Minnesota

The episode features interactions with callers:

• Max from Brooklyn discusses his role in the play "The Shark is Broken", providing insights into his portrayal of Richard Dreyfuss and the play's thematic connection to the making of the film Jaws.

  Notable Quote:

  Max [35:31]: "The play takes place while they're filming Jaws in 1974. It's about the downtime on the ship waiting for the animatronic shark."

• Michelle from Minnesota emphasizes the importance of early donations and introduces herself as the official cutlery sponsor for an upcoming picnic, ensuring attendees have necessary supplies.

  Notable Quote:

  Michelle [68:08]: "I would like to urge the TBTL listeners to send their donations in on Monday rather than waiting until Friday."

Local News Highlight: Adams Friendship Times Reporter

Andrew and Luke delve into local news stories from the Adams Friendship Times Reporter, a respected weekly newspaper known for its original reporting. They discuss two main headlines:

1. "Friendship man sentenced for choking friend": A serious incident contrasting the town's name, leading to humorous speculation about the use of the word "friendship" in the headline.

   Notable Quote:

   Luke Burbank [60:00]: "Friendship man sentenced for choking associate. That sort of also makes it sound a little bit..."

2. "Nakusa man sentenced for third OWI": Details the sentencing of a 71-year-old man for driving under the influence and his peculiar encounter with authorities after his truck ended up in a neighbor's yard.

   Notable Quote:

   Andrew Walsh [63:51]: "Do we have anybody on the line? That person I can see on has..."

Grocery Store Adventures: Young Staff and Unusual Encounters

The hosts recount their experience at a local grocery store, noting the young age of the staff and amusing interactions, including being offered a senior discount despite not qualifying.

Notable Quote:

Luke Burbank [53:40]: "He was staring at me, just goes, 'Are you... Do you need the senior discount?'"

Historical Insights: Adams County Historical Society

Hosted live from the Adams County Historical Society, the team explores the rich history of Friendship, Wisconsin. They showcase commemorative items like plates celebrating the town's centennial, featuring figures like Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin Pierce.

Notable Quote:

Luke Burbank [68:57]: "And it is such a cool little piece of history here. And I love that it's got Eisenhower on it."

Community and Future Plans: Upcoming Picnic and Equipment Upgrades

The episode concludes with discussions about an upcoming picnic in Friendship, emphasizing the importance of donations to cover essentials like plastic cutlery and plates. The team also humorously addresses their ongoing technical issues and plans for future topic discussions, including the dynamics within their Airbnb accommodation.

Notable Quote:

Luke Burbank [75:32]: "I want to talk about the entire domicile situation, about the layout of the Airbnb and what we're doing and where we're all sleeping..."

Closing Remarks: Strengthening the TBTL Community

In their final remarks, Luke and Andrew reiterate their gratitude towards the listeners and the generous donor, encouraging continued support to sustain the podcast. They also thank the Adams County Historical Society for their hospitality.

Notable Quote:

Andrew Walsh [76:43]: "If you can give, we appreciate it."

---

Conclusion:
Episode #4514 of TBTL: Too Beautiful To Live offers listeners an engaging glimpse into the hosts' live adventures in Friendship, Wisconsin. Balancing humor with heartfelt discussions, the episode underscores the importance of community support and friendship, both within the podcast and the broader listener base. From navigating technical glitches to immersing in local history, Luke and Andrew deliver a memorable broadcast that resonates with both long-time fans and new listeners.

Transcript

[Luke Burbank]

And we've become great friends.

[Andrew Walsh]

I mean, close. We'll just sit in the front room and we'll sit there. He'll walk, he'll go to the front door, kind of knock on the door.

[Luke Burbank]

And then sit down. Then I'll sit, then he stands, and he's out in the front. Then he'll come in, we just sit there and he'll stand and I'll sit. And then I stand and you sit. And then we're both looking at each other and we're just nodding like a couple of nodders.

[Andrew Walsh]

Right. Tbtl.

[Luke Burbank]

Okay. Ah. I've been waiting for this moment for months, and it's finally here. Yeah. Now, we've known each other for quite some time in the professional realm, I'd like to push things forward in the friendship realm.

[John Sklaroff]

What's the friendship realm?

[Luke Burbank]

Well, you've heard of a realm? Yeah. Yes. Well, this is like a friendship 1. A group of people basically getting together.

[Andrew Walsh]

Calling each other friends.

[Luke Burbank]

Well, I think I'm looking forward to cracking up.

[Andrew Walsh]

I hope I can, like, you know, totally crack up.

[Luke Burbank]

So I haven't, like, totally cracked up in a long time. Sure, it's done in the name of.

[Andrew Walsh]

Comedy, but is debasing ourselves really that hilarious?

[Luke Burbank]

This is not your mama's podcast.

[John Sklaroff]

This is too beautiful to live.

[Luke Burbank]

Well, all right. Hello, good morning and welcome, everyone, to a Monday edition of tbtl, the show that just might be too beautiful to live. Isn't that for techno geeks with spreadsheet? My name is Luke Burbank. I am your host.

[Andrew Walsh]

I heard about that thing on the.

[Luke Burbank]

AM radio coming to you today from beautiful downtown Friendship, Wisconsin.

[John Sklaroff]

This is special.

[Luke Burbank]

This is special where we have arrived at day one of TBTLathon 16. Banding together live from Friendship.

[John Sklaroff]

You're here to make friends.

[Andrew Walsh]

Making Friends is the name of this.

[Luke Burbank]

Show, by the way. It's episode 4514 in a collector's series.

[John Sklaroff]

Let the fun begin.

[Luke Burbank]

And of course, all week we will be celebrating TBTL and celebrating the tens of listeners.

[Andrew Walsh]

I just want to hug this show.

[John Sklaroff]

And never let it go.

[Luke Burbank]

And also, and I would say critically, we will also be reminding everyone that this is 100% listener supported podcasting. And, well, if we want to keep this whole thing rolling, we would love to get your continued, or maybe for the first time, financial support. That cash could really get me out.

[John Sklaroff]

Of a couple of jams.

[Luke Burbank]

In fact, something amazing and unprecedented is happening this tbtlethon, which we're gonna talk about coming up as an enticement to get folks who have maybe not had a chance to donate to the show before or used to, but have gotten out of the habit. Anyway. We will talk about that and so much more all this week from Friendship. We also will be taking your phone calls at 206-414-TBTL.

[Andrew Walsh]

Ahoyehoy.

[Luke Burbank]

That's 206-412-414-8285. We've also we're gonna roll out a new segment this week since we're in Friendship, Wisconsin at the Adams County Historical Society. We've got a segment we're gonna call Friendship in the News. I've got lots of news, starting with a very provocative headline in today's newspaper here in FriendshipAdams, Wisconsin. Of course, we'll also spend a lot of quality time with this guy, the longest running co bro of the show. I'm his best friend, also co boss, maybe best known for his depictions of the tall ships. He is Andrew Walsh. He is joining me right now. Good morning, my friend.

[Andrew Walsh]

Good morning, Luke. We're doing it.

[Luke Burbank]

It's happening.

[Andrew Walsh]

It's happening. We're doing it.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. And I have to say, well, I think you and I have done. We're on tbtl a thon 16. I'm gonna say you and I have worked on what, maybe like 14 or 15 of these. Like a lot of them. This could be a good thing or a bad thing. This is the most chill I've ever seen you when, you know, in the hours and moments preceding a thon kicking off. You seem to be in a very good emotional place this year.

[Andrew Walsh]

Are you familiar with CBD gummies? No, I'm just, I'm just joking. I'm not actually on CBD gummies.

[Luke Burbank]

I think I know where you can get some. There appears to be some sort of wacky tobacco shop right across the street from us where if you do need to get something, that's where you go.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah. So it's a. We've been fascinated by it. I don't know how much we want. So first of all, let me just describe what we are seeing right now. We are set up right here in the Adams County Historical Society on Main street in downtown Friendship. And we are looking out at a beautiful green lawn in front of a governmental building. Or is that a school right there?

[Luke Burbank]

I think it's the county like court administrative building. It's of course, just steps from Dan's Exteriors, where you can go from your windows, your sidings, your doors, your carpets. It's all available at Dan's Exteriors. Although that appears to be closed on Monday, as is a lot of this town. It turns out it's a small little.

[Andrew Walsh]

Town, but it's very bucolic. It's like a kind of like the downtown area here is about maybe one or two blocks, and it is just so charming. And also there is a. There's a smoke shop across the way and it's curious. I'm wondering what's going on in there, but I'm not going to ask too many questions.

[Luke Burbank]

No, no, we did not come to Friendship, Wisconsin to get anybody in trouble.

[Andrew Walsh]

No, we.

[Luke Burbank]

We came here to celebrate the friendships that have formed on tbtl, both between us, the staff, and you, the tens of listeners. Speaking of us, the staff, how about we introduce TBTL employee numero uno, Dr. John Sklaroff. I can tell that we are gonna be friends. Who is joining me right now? Good morning, my friend.

[John Sklaroff]

Good morning. I have to officially say I'm not a doctor. I'm married to one, but I'm not a doctor.

[Luke Burbank]

That does not confer. You don't like, inherit the title of doctor if you're married to somebody who's a doctor?

[John Sklaroff]

No, we kept our own last name.

[Andrew Walsh]

So she kept her title. That's a mist.

[Luke Burbank]

So her last name is Doctor? Yes, she's Doctor. Doctor. I would have definitely taken that if I were you. That's pretty awesome. Now, John, I want to say you've already done a great job today of playing along, because what the listeners don't know, but now I'm going to tell them is in this whole complex technical setup that Andrew, you mastered so beautifully. I mean, really and truly, thank you for sweating the details. Everything works great. I know that the YouTube feed is a little blurry. Do not adjust your set. That's just pretty much. We actually went around and unplugged the Internet at everyone's house in Friendship, Wisconsin. We're using all of the bandwidth and that's pretty much the best thing we can push out. We're hoping that you enjoy the kind of blurry, as Andrew would call it, potatoed versions of us.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah, it's kind of potato, but you.

[Luke Burbank]

Can hear us is the hope. And would somebody let us know in the comment section if this is coming through the audio loud and clear? Because that's going to be.

[John Sklaroff]

People are saying audio is good.

[Andrew Walsh]

Good.

[Luke Burbank]

That's the main thing. And honestly, I think this is my best look.

[Andrew Walsh]

I look better this way, too. Absolutely. Imagine, look at this blurry image and imagine if you cross your eyes a little bit I have hair.

[Luke Burbank]

Yes.

[Andrew Walsh]

That's amazing.

[Luke Burbank]

Yes, it's a pretty big upgrade for all of us. But so in all of that I forgot to bring a little connective item for my headphones. John also forgot to bring the same connective item for his headphones. Andrew wisely brought a backup, but only for one set. There was two sets of headphones in the sand and that was when Andrew carried us. And so basically I can hear the audio drops and if we get a phone call later, by the way. 206414TBTL Andrew can hear that John is just going on faith. John is able to hear us because we're all in the same room together and we can maybe relay anything that gets said by the callers. But John is kind of flying without sound. Today we have ordered some replacement headphones. Turns out Friendship, Wisconsin is not in the headphone district of America. So it is taking a little time. But hopefully by tomorrow's show we'll have full fidelity for you. But again, you did a great job of pretending that you knew exactly when that Jack White. I believe that we are going to be friends. Audio drop that introduced you ended.

[John Sklaroff]

Oh yeah. I'm happy to know as Jack White, I'm a fan.

[Luke Burbank]

Yes.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh, you didn't even know what.

[John Sklaroff]

No, I had no idea what was playing. Yeah, I could hear the audio from the intro music playing through your guys headphones a little bit. Other than that, I have no idea what's going on.

[Luke Burbank]

How are you feeling, John, about the Thawne and the. So far we kind of announced all the thank you stuff on Friday and then that sort of went live and I know people have already started donating and like how. As. As the person who keeps eyes on this stuff. How are you feeling so far?

[John Sklaroff]

I'm feeling really good. I know that the tens are very generous and kind and wonderful. The best people. So I feel good about that. We also have a bunch of folks who give monthly so that kind of helps keep the coffers stable. But this is the time. If you give once a year, if you haven't given in a few years, it would really keep the hairs on my head.

[Luke Burbank]

Yes.

[John Sklaroff]

And keep them from going.

[Luke Burbank]

Totally keep the topic on my scalp. It would keep the paint on my bald spot.

[John Sklaroff]

Right.

[Luke Burbank]

If we could, you know, kind of get a. Have a strong start to the week. Is it too. And I'm sorry, Wade. You'd think I would have cleared this with both of you.

[John Sklaroff]

No.

[Luke Burbank]

Can we talk about the matching thing? Just kind of put it out. There was that supposed to be. That was supposed to be un. Like sort of, you know, was that supposed to be revealed later in the week?

[John Sklaroff]

No, it's in the email that you.

[Luke Burbank]

Okay.

[John Sklaroff]

That you sent out.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, of course. That's why I knew it was okay to talk about it because I 100% sent that email critically. Okay. We have an incredibly. I mean, we have so many incredibly generous tens who have been supporting the show for all these years. Well, somebody who's choosing to remain anonymous stepped up and basically agreed to do this unbelievable thing, which is if you are somebody who's maybe never donated to TBTL before, like you've listened to the show and you thought, I gotta get around to that and you haven't, or maybe you're relatively new to it, or if maybe you were somebody that was donating a long time ago and then either circumstances or whatever just kind of had you sort of lapsed in that capacity, this unbelievably generous supporter of TBTL will match whatever you donate. So, like, if you've never been donating TBTL before and then you join at the like $6 a month level, that's going to get matched by somebody. So that's going twice as far. So this is a. The idea is that we would really love to incentivize some folks who haven't had a chance to donate or who used to donate a long time ago to kind of get back in the flow of things and to know that those donations are actually going to be doubled thanks to this incredible, generous, anonymous person.

[Andrew Walsh]

And I want to jump in here and just say a couple of things. First of all, I'm going to try to stay away from talking about the anonymous donations this week personally because I don't trust myself and I know who the person is and I'm really, truly scared that I'm going to say, yeah, don't say something, and I'm not going to say anything. But if I seem quiet on the topic, yeah, that is seriously. Why? Because it's like me in surprise parties or whatever. Like, I'm always scared I'm going to be the guy. So I'm going to let Luke handle most of that messaging. Having said that, I do want to say that the reason this was important to this person is because we are at a time right now, as many of you know all. All too well, that people have had to sort of change some of their giving habits in the current climate. People have had to kind of shift their priorities as far as what they're giving to some People have actually, you know, been victims of layoffs and other things that are happening in the country right now. So this show is here because of the unbelievable generosity of so many of our listeners. But that is also sort of shifting ground as well. And so if you're somebody who is in a position to keep the show going, that is not just good for the future of the show and for us, but also for the folks who had to send, like, you know, sometimes very heartbreaking emails about why they had to, like, kind of, at least for now, not. Not support TBTL anymore. And to those folks, we get it. We totally understand. There's no guilt and you never have to apologize. But if you are listening and you're somebody who can sort of pick up.

[Luke Burbank]

Pick that up if things are going relatively okay for you and you're like, yeah, I could, I could kick these guys 10 bucks a month to keep this thing going, there might be somebody else for whom things are going less well and they're gonna have to kind of step away and you might be kind of filling. Jumping into the breach there. So anyway, maybe we'll call that good on the sort of, you know, the fundraising element at the early part of the show.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah, sorry, I kind of got into that pretty early. I got real serious there.

[Luke Burbank]

I started that. But Andrew, it's because I think. I don't know if you are, but I am laboring under a newfound sense of responsibility as what I think of as being maybe one of the more recognizable faces in Friendship, Wisconsin.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh. Oh, that's right.

[Luke Burbank]

Because we went and we visited our billboard yesterday.

[Andrew Walsh]

How am I forgetting how. How am I forgetting that we're in a town right now that literally has a billboard with our goofy face and it's really big.

[Luke Burbank]

I thought that, like when we were looking at the kind of mock ups of it from the Lamar Advertising company, I kind of thought, you know, sometimes on the side of a building there'll be what I consider sort of a mini billboard. Like something that is, you know, bigger than a bread basket but not the full on size of like the Spiros billboard that really started this whole thing.

[Andrew Walsh]

In a relationship with Spiros.

[Luke Burbank]

Always, always. And so I kind of was thinking, well, maybe that's what we got. And even so that's just a cool. We're calling it a billboard. It's a cool gimmick. This is fun content. And then we were driving down. Is it Highway 21?

[John Sklaroff]

That is 21, yes. We're on 13 is Main Street. And then that is 21, we were.

[Luke Burbank]

Driving down Highway 21 and we had John did a little U turn. I don't know if that was strictly legal, but it was what we needed to do.

[John Sklaroff]

Why you gotta out me, bro?

[Luke Burbank]

To come back and approach our billboard from maybe a quarter mile away. And as we got closer to it, I realized, oh, this is.

[Andrew Walsh]

It's a real thing.

[Luke Burbank]

It's a legitimately huge billboard. And by the way, we have the prime position. We are the closest to the road there is. I think it's. What is it? Truck nuts.

[Andrew Walsh]

I think it says, tell them the bone sent you.

[Luke Burbank]

There is some real trucktober energy next to us. Which, by the way, I absolutely welcome. Think of all the other. Because there's two billboards. There's us, and then there's one next to us. Think of all of the things we could have gotten in that billboard that our neighbor.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah, that's a. I mean, like, the.

[Luke Burbank]

Fact that we got a trucktober ad is like, I'm here for it.

[Andrew Walsh]

I would have taken lovers.

[Luke Burbank]

You, Ooh, Wisconsin, Andrew is a little. A little spicy.

[Andrew Walsh]

That have been pretty fun.

[Luke Burbank]

But, like, we got out of the car and started walking towards the billboard, and all I could do was, like, involuntarily laugh. Like it was not even in my control. I just. I was totally in complete. Completely charmed by the whole thing.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah. And I think we caught some of that on video. And you guys were taking some good photos by the billboard. Are those out on our Instagram?

[John Sklaroff]

If you go to our Instagram stories right now, you can see you guys walking up to the billboard. There's also, for the folks that are Instagram users, there's a little highlight section. So I'm gonna be chronicling and saving things that we're posting in our stories all week, and those will live there permanently.

[Andrew Walsh]

It was. It was a pretty breathtaking experience, though. Like, this has been so theoretical for so long. That billboard. Even, like, I know that, like, it's. The thing should be that it's bananas that it's. Our faces so big on the billboard. We're standing below it. But I also, as the person who, like, knows nothing about graphic design, but had that on my computer and made that little thing and sent it to Lamar, our guy at Lamar, the billboard company. And name another billboard company, by the way, they've really done a great job.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, Ackerley Communications in Seattle. But I think they have sold to Lamar.

[Andrew Walsh]

Okay, well, there you go. But, you know, I was fretting. I'm just like, well, Is this what did I send? A. Not a PDF, but whatever it was, you know, a JPEG or a png. Like, is it big enough?

[Luke Burbank]

And like, do I look like I know what a dang JPEG is? Andrew?

[Andrew Walsh]

I feel like so many things where I'm. Where I have to submit some sort of art. It's kind of like, well, no, you didn't submit the right sizes or dimensions or extension or whatever. And I'm like, I don't know what I'm doing. I'm a podcaster. I kind of went into Tank Hill there a little bit. And this time we just weren't getting any feedback from Lamar. We sent him the art and it was like, yeah, everything's okay. And so I kept telling you, john, can you get our guy at Lamar just to just say add a boy? Like, this is good. This is working. And you forwarded me an email. He's like, yeah, it's fine. Stop working.

[John Sklaroff]

He was very like, yeah, all good, man.

[Andrew Walsh]

And I'm just like, you don't understand. This is a billboard. And then to be underneath it and to look up and it's so damn goofy. It is so damn goofy.

[Luke Burbank]

It looks good.

[Andrew Walsh]

But also I'm just like, this was just a little thumbnail on my computer a month ago, and now I'm standing below an actual honest to gosh billboard. It's mind blowing.

[Luke Burbank]

But this was the thing for me was after we got done admiring ourselves on the billboard and taking some photos, we then got back in the car and we popped over to the Quick Trip to grab a few things. And I know that it sounds like I'm just doing this to try to be funny. I'm thinking some people in the Quick Trip recognized us.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh, really?

[Luke Burbank]

We were just. People were. People were looking at us with a kind of a recognition in their eyes that I honestly am not used to. And it felt different. And I started to think, is it possible that because this is not a large town, the people of Friendship, Wisconsin have. They don't know what we're doing here, or they don't know who those people on the billboard are, but there's either that or everyone here is very nice.

[Andrew Walsh]

I do think that we got out.

[Luke Burbank]

Of the car, we had a bunch of, like, kind of food wrappers and garbage from a different Quick Trip that we went to, and we went to throw it out, and there was an employee of the other of the Quick Trip we were at, and she was doing the garbage. And I heard you ask if we could throw something away and she's of course. And just like.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

So pleasant and friendly. And then we. As we were going in, someone held the door for me and gave me like this huge smile.

[Andrew Walsh]

That was me.

[Luke Burbank]

And then. Unless you. Unless you somehow got very hot very quickly, Andrew. This was a whole other energy. No, but like. And then as we were making our way through the store, there wasn't one person in that store. We were only in there for like five minutes. But like, there wasn't one person that I encountered who did not flash a huge smile. And I don't know, maybe that's a Wisconsin thing. Maybe that's a Friendship, Wisconsin thing, specifically Adams County. Or maybe it's because the billboard men have finally come. The people have been wondering.

[Andrew Walsh]

Awaited our.

[Luke Burbank]

They've exactly. The prophecy has been foretold. The billboard boys are here.

[Andrew Walsh]

The billboard business boys.

[Luke Burbank]

The billboard business boys are here. And everyone is gathering around to touch the. The hem of our garment.

[Andrew Walsh]

People touching my hems.

[Luke Burbank]

Okay, that's.

[Andrew Walsh]

I didn't know why.

[Luke Burbank]

Luke, what have you heard? I haven't been ordering things from that website.

[Andrew Walsh]

Hems4hems.

[Luke Burbank]

Yes. Possible show title. About, I don't know, 19 minutes in. So I don't. I mean, it is going to be an interesting thing to sort of be in this town for a week and to be interacting with folks and to be going around to see if honestly one person references that sign or are you the guys from that sign? Because people have been subjected to it. People have been. Their eyes have been, you know, observing it whether they were even paying attention or not.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah. And I do. It's one of those things where we were talking about the type of billboard where we're like, this is so goofy. People are going to notice it. But also it is just a parody of like lawyer billboard on the kind of lower economic end of things. And so it also could be the type of billboard that you're just not noticing it because it just blends in. It just looks like any kind of billboard like that. You might have to pass it a couple of times and be like, what the. What the heck are they selling? We should have cranky board.

[Luke Burbank]

We should have put free packers tickets on it.

[John Sklaroff]

Who would be legally responsible for actually handing those out then?

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, we could have put free Vikings tomato tomahto. Can I tell you guys a little bit about the town of Friendship, Wisconsin?

[Andrew Walsh]

You could. Can I ask one follow up, though? Sure. That also, and I hope this is okay. It also sort of introduces another one of our friends here in town, but we are Here at the Historical Society. And our buddy Michael has.

[Luke Burbank]

Michael Gok.

[Andrew Walsh]

Michael Gock runs the place, essentially. I don't know what his official position is, but that's what I'm saying. He runs the place. He's the president. Anyway, he's been helping us out in all kinds of ways, including getting here on a Sunday night to let us in to set up and all of these things. Have we asked Michael if he knows about the billboard?

[Luke Burbank]

Well, here's what's. I'm gonna be honest with you. Yeah, I keep referencing it, hoping. Hoping that his eyes will light up with. With recognition. And that has yet to happen. I think I've mentioned it four times in passing. Like, in fact, I was like, when we got here yesterday, he opened the door for us, and I think maybe we were. Maybe it was five minutes after the appointed time or whatever, and he said some kind of joke about, like, oh, sorry to make you wait. And I said, we were just out admiring our billboard. Oh, yeah, no comment.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh, yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

Absolutely no response. And then when there were some phone calls going on early in the preliminary stages of trying to get this set up, I kept saying, we've also got a billboard out there. No interest, limited response. So I don't know if maybe he's the demo. Yeah, maybe there's another demo that is really into it, and maybe it's just not people who are history buffs.

[John Sklaroff]

Can I point out, when I came out here a couple weeks ago for the advanced scouting trip, I mentioned it, and he said something to the effect of, oh, I haven't gotten up there yet, so he knows they exist.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh, okay.

[John Sklaroff]

But also, I've gotten up there yet. It's not a big town.

[Luke Burbank]

No, I mean, there yet is.

[John Sklaroff]

It's a few. You know, it's like maybe a mile up the road. Do we think he's avoiding it?

[Luke Burbank]

It could be that kind of thing. Like when a friend, you know, puts out a. Puts out some music or something, and they're asking you, oh, did you get to listen? Oh, you know what? I've been crazy. My email's been being crazy.

[John Sklaroff]

Right, right.

[Andrew Walsh]

What's the equivalent of leaving us on read for a billboard mention?

[Luke Burbank]

I think it's exactly what's happening technically, a little history about Friendship, Wisconsin, because we are in the Adams County Historical Society, which, by the way, used to be a bank and is now where there's all this really great history about this town. 2020 census found that there's 648 people living here in Friendship, Wisconsin. Not a Huge town.

[Andrew Walsh]

You wouldn't say Metropolis?

[Luke Burbank]

Probably not. I don't know what the cutoff for Metropolis is, but it's probably north of 648, folks.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah, that scans the village.

[Luke Burbank]

Well, Michael calls it a village, so we could call it that. The village was founded in 1856 by immigrants from Friendship, New York. Are they immigrants? If they are just from a different town called Friendship that's in the same country.

[Andrew Walsh]

And why did we not call it.

[Luke Burbank]

New Friendship, New Friendship, New York, or New Friendship, Wisconsin? That has a certain ring to it. They picked this site because of the rapids that were in a creek so that they could dam the rapids and then they could have power for a lumber and a grist mill. I don't think I've heard the term grist and grist for the mill my whole life. I couldn't tell you what grist is.

[Andrew Walsh]

I don't know either. I had a cousin who had an issue with grist.

[Luke Burbank]

Actually, in the 1950s or the 1850s, I'm sorry. Many York staters settled in this part of Wisconsin. Also, the towns of Rome, Big Flats, Preston and Easton were named after places in western New York. So there was a big migration from western New York, like, you know, Rome, New York.

[John Sklaroff]

Rome. Well, Rome central New York, but yeah, on the way to western New York.

[Luke Burbank]

Okay.

[John Sklaroff]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I think Friendship, New York is more the Buffalo area that's solidly western New York. But yes, if you're pointing to me, Luke, coming from the Utica, moving to the Midwest, it's a very, very similar migration pattern myself.

[Luke Burbank]

Friendship was for decades and probably still is the least populous county seat in Wisconsin.

[Andrew Walsh]

And I looked this up. There are what, 78 counties in Wisconsin? Shockingly, a lot, A lot of. A lot of counties.

[Luke Burbank]

This is one of the things I really like about our friend Michael, who's our connection here at the historical Society. He just calls it as he sees it. He says county population growth stalled in the 1860s and did not resume until the 1960s, but not by much in Friendship. So we're still kinda. And then he says life was peaceful in Friendship. No one felt the need to build a lockup until 1907. Accused criminals stayed with the sheriff or were taken by wagon 40 miles up to Portage. Okay, and I wonder if he's heard something about me that he's specifying. If there is or is not a.

[Andrew Walsh]

Local jail spelled G, O, A L or J O. How is that?

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, you mean the British version.

[Andrew Walsh]

What is it? Is it British and old timey? Kind of yes, yes.

[Luke Burbank]

Being in the gall or whatever.

[Andrew Walsh]

I could see that. I could see that being spelled here like in. In stone above the arch.

[Luke Burbank]

Now, this is like the story of many American cities in my experience has to do with where did the railroad end up going. Like, if the railroad came to your place or came through your place, things boomed. And if it missed you by a certain number of miles, Sorry, Tacoma. When the. Exactly like Tacoma was supposed to be the San Francisco of the west coast, except the railroad went to Seattle or whatever, which then made just Seattle the Seattle of the West Coast.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah, it was weird. And San Francisco remains the San Francisco.

[Luke Burbank]

Of the west coast to this very day.

[Andrew Walsh]

The math is there. I'm just not smart enough to figure it out.

[Luke Burbank]

When the railroad arrived in 1911, it passed about a mile south of Friendship and a village grew around the tracks. Friendship Village could have annexed the property, but did not. Sounds like Michael wonders if that was the right decision. So they would have a government services, mainly a school. The railroad people incorporated the village and city of Adams. Had Friendship acted, it would have been four times as large as it is. Again, I feel like. I think for Michael, and I'm just kind of. I'll ask him when we get off the air. This is him saying, basically, friendship should have handed the ball to Marshawn. Like, this was a critical. This is a critical missed opportunity that led to Friendship being more or less a very, very small place and Addams veritably booming.

[Andrew Walsh]

But, and I'm being earnest with this question, is bigger, better?

[Luke Burbank]

I mean, I. I wouldn't say so. I mean, I haven't been to Adams, but I sure like how friendship turned out. This place is quaint as all get out.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah. And I think. I don't know if you mentioned this on the show or not, but when we were sort of looking for a place to, you know, we wanted to be in friendship proper, but we were looking for a place that had decent Internet. You know, we have almost nothing where we are staying in our Airbnb. And so that's how we ended up here.

[Luke Burbank]

But is there a way to harness flies?

[Andrew Walsh]

Yes, there are a lot of flies.

[Luke Burbank]

Could we network them together? Because if we could do that, it would have the fastest Internet anywhere in the world, our Airbnb.

[Andrew Walsh]

We do John tell you. Like, that's kind of my.

[John Sklaroff]

No, it's not. It don't.

[Andrew Walsh]

I left the door open too long. Don't be meant for one second to say something to you. And then you and I started talking. And then John's like, the door's probably open for like, four minutes or something.

[Luke Burbank]

30 seconds.

[Andrew Walsh]

John's in the Midwest, and he's like, you can't leave. I mean, you didn't say this, but I saw it on your face, like, hey, Seattle boy, you can't just leave the windows open here. Flies come in.

[Luke Burbank]

We have to, at some point, talk about this, just because it is going to be. First of all, I don't blame you at all.

[Andrew Walsh]

I felt really bad last year.

[John Sklaroff]

No, don't.

[Luke Burbank]

It was such a very, very brief moment of time. But I have to say that the. The fly situation in the Midwest is interesting and kind of something I'm not totally used to. When I was in Kansas two weeks ago and I was flying out of the Manhattan, Kansas airport, and I. I know you know, Kansas, Wisconsin, not the same place, but I'm going to kind of call this Midwest. I'm going to group it together. I'd never experienced anything like this in the waiting area. So, remember, that airport didn't even open until, like, 5pm which was totally something I hadn't also experienced before. But there was, like, I thought it was one, literally one fly that was just obsessed with me because it wasn't like, if you looked around in this. This was like you hadn't gone through security yet. You're just sitting around, kind of where you would check your bags and stuff. I. There wasn't, like, lots of flies, which is kind of like in our Airbnb. It's not like there is a. There's a swarm or a cloud. But I was just sitting in this waiting area, and what I thought was this one fly just kept landing on my arm, and then I'd brush it away, and then he'd go off, do something, come back. And I just thought, like, this fly.

[Andrew Walsh]

Is way too into me.

[Luke Burbank]

I seriously thought, is somebody that I know who's passed away, did they get reincarnated into this fly? And they're trying to talk to me.

[Andrew Walsh]

I love that that's where your brain went.

[Luke Burbank]

Like, is this. Because this fly is really trying to do something, trying to send a message. But this is the weirdest part. So then I go through security, I'm going through the tsa, and when they finally open it, and the guy who was very nice, the TSI guy, goes, did you bring that fly in with you?

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh.

[Luke Burbank]

And I was like, wait, you see?

[Andrew Walsh]

With a wing. Oh, you see it, too?

[Luke Burbank]

I'm like, you see it, too? And he's like. He's like, oh, yeah. No, they've been really bad this, this like month or this week or something. And it's exactly like the kind of flies that we have in our Airbnb, which is. It doesn't. It's not an overwhelming. It's probably five. Yeah. But they're just like when I got out of the shower this morning, I was like, there was two in the bathroom with me and they just want to sing.

[John Sklaroff]

They're perverts.

[Luke Burbank]

They just. Yeah, exactly.

[Andrew Walsh]

Way too into you.

[Luke Burbank]

Well, as I often say, lookin's free touching will cost you. But it was like it's weird because they're not, they're. They're not like the most annoying that they could be, but they're also not the least annoying they could be. They're just kind of there and kind of hanging out.

[Andrew Walsh]

Coexist.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, precisely.

[John Sklaroff]

So I said this last night and I'll say it again too. The flies I'm not worried about. It's the mosquitoes that here in the upper Midwest, especially like with all the water that really gets you.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[John Sklaroff]

And as someone, our friend Jen commented. Jennifer commented on YouTube. YouTube. We're also have to watch out for ticks if we're out and about too. So if we get like. I'm thinking about that. As we went to see the billboard.

[Andrew Walsh]

And we're walking through high, I was worried about snakes. I wasn't even joking when I said.

[Luke Burbank]

Look, should I have not have been bounding through like knee deep grass in my running shorts this morning and take.

[Andrew Walsh]

A picture of the lake?

[John Sklaroff]

Andrew can do a check for you later.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. Would you. Full body. I want a full body. I want a full body. Open sided MRI scan performed by you of my ticks.

[Andrew Walsh]

Do you know, do you know that I had a tick inside me once?

[John Sklaroff]

Inside you?

[Andrew Walsh]

Well, you know how they burrow in.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Andrew Walsh]

But the thing is, I don't know if you guys know this about me, but I don't go outside. Like how do I?

[Luke Burbank]

Well, and not in shorts typically.

[Andrew Walsh]

No, I mean actually at home I wear shorts quite a bit. But like I'm definitely not somebody who's going out into the wilderness. Right. I go outside, but I go to the AM pm. Where they keep my twisted teeth.

[Luke Burbank]

Exactly.

[Andrew Walsh]

That's nature to me.

[Luke Burbank]

Right.

[Andrew Walsh]

Not a huge.

[Luke Burbank]

It has lemon, it has threats.

[Andrew Walsh]

But ticks aren't one. Let me put it that way. But Genevieve is.

[Luke Burbank]

You like your chances with a motorcycle gang.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

Way more than what the ticks got you.

[Andrew Walsh]

My concerns were when Genevieve came home from a camping trip one Time, by the way. Okay, I'm gonna tell you the whole damn thing, by the way. Genevieve was out hiking with a friend and they were probably gonna spend the night. I think that's how it went. But then they end up coming home early, and so it ends up just being a one day hike sort of. And I'm surprised when Genevieve comes home and she's like, yeah, really? I don't feel well. My tummy is really messed up. I'm like, oh. Cause you ate those beans in the fridge that I told you not to eat that have been in there for a long time. And she's like, probably.

[Luke Burbank]

How about that? What was the other thing? Sour cream or something?

[Andrew Walsh]

There was some yogurt that we were discussing the other day. But anyway, so I'd never want anybody that I love to be sick. But I will say, if you have a tummy ache and it's because of the beans that I told you not.

[Luke Burbank]

To eat, kind of a W for you.

[Andrew Walsh]

So anyway, Genevieve comes home early from her camping trip and immediately just lays down in bed. Cause she's upset, you know, like, usually you get home from camping, you're gonna shower, you're gonna like, kind of luxuriate in being back from the wilderness. But she just lays straight on the bed and puts her hands on her tummy and just kind of falls right asleep or whatever. And then. And then later that night, I go to bed as well. And the next morning I'm taking a shower and I had a little blemish on me. It was on my leg, actually on my thigh. And I like start kind of picking up.

[Luke Burbank]

Was this recently?

[Andrew Walsh]

This was about. I'm gonna say I was in my Roosevelt apartment. This was like three years ago or four years ago. And anyway, so I start picking at. I get out of the shower and then I start picking at this thing that's a black blemish. I mean, this is kind of weird. What is this thing on my leg? And then I pull it all the way out and I go and I throw it in the sink. Like I'm somebody who's never dealt with tics before. I don't live that kind of life.

[Luke Burbank]

Did you make that sound? Did you make that ultra masculine sound because you recognized it was a tick or because it hurt to remove it?

[Andrew Walsh]

It did not hurt because that's the thing with me. Like, so much of this stuff is in my head. Like, getting blood drawn really doesn't hurt either. But if I know that I'm going in, I get to. If somebody had said, we're going in for a tick extraction here. I would have been a huge baby about it.

[Luke Burbank]

But instead, you didn't realize you were doing it.

[Andrew Walsh]

Picking at a skin thing. But then when it comes out, it's a bug, and I throw it into the sink.

[Luke Burbank]

Did you get the head?

[Andrew Walsh]

I took a photo. I did. I got. I took a photo of it. I'm not even thinking tick at this point. I'm just thinking alien. Like, I don't know what I was thinking. I was just like, why was there a bug living in me? And then I think, should I be charging them rent? And should I be. That bug was living in my thigh rent free.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. Squatters, right?

[Andrew Walsh]

So anyway, I showed it to Genevieve, or I showed her the photo I took of it when I was in the circus.

[Luke Burbank]

You woke her up from her restorative sleep?

[Andrew Walsh]

No, this is the next morning. And she's like, oh, that's a tic. I'm so sorry. She probably, like, usually, again, you come home from camping, you clean up a little bit, but she was so under the wet. She didn't feel well, so she laid down immediately, and I'm the one who ended up with tics.

[John Sklaroff]

Can I posit a theory? Absolve Genevieve?

[Andrew Walsh]

No, of course not.

[John Sklaroff]

Yeah, so I'll do that. Anyway, so as a person who has dogs, we deal with ticks a lot.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah.

[John Sklaroff]

And I wonder, doesn't bingo go outside quite a bit?

[Andrew Walsh]

This is pre bingo.

[John Sklaroff]

Oh, pre bingo.

[Andrew Walsh]

Nice.

[John Sklaroff]

Well, then, Chevy salt.

[Andrew Walsh]

Nice try.

[Luke Burbank]

The theory is that you're saying a tick could jump from a dog to a person and burrow in.

[John Sklaroff]

Yeah, they could absolutely jump from a dog to a person. Especially if, like, they're on the couch next to you, cuddled up.

[Luke Burbank]

Tick.

[John Sklaroff]

And just kind of, you know, mosey on over.

[Luke Burbank]

Yikes. Okay, well, okay, so we got to watch out for ticks. We got to watch out for mosquitoes. I did notice that when I went out to the back deck of our Airbnb, there's, like, the largest, most like Costco industrial size can of deet.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh, really?

[Luke Burbank]

Like, I was like, this is being put to good use out here. Yeah. All right, well, hey, we are going to try to take some phone calls this week.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah, let's see here.

[Luke Burbank]

206. 414TBTL. Do we have anybody on the line? This person I can see on has.

[Andrew Walsh]

Been holding for 20 minutes.

[Luke Burbank]

Hello, welcome to TBTL A Thon 16. Who is this?

[Max]

Good morning, gents. It's Max from Brooklyn, currently in Delaware.

[Luke Burbank]

Wait a Minute, Max, who designed the. Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man. Chipmunk Tambourine Art. One of the greatest pieces of art in the history of tbtl. The same, Max.

[Max]

That would be me. Thanks, man.

[Andrew Walsh]

Incredible compliment.

[Max]

It was truly a joy to create that masterpiece, if I can say that myself.

[Luke Burbank]

You absolutely could.

[Max]

Which I did.

[Andrew Walsh]

You absolutely, kid. I was telling Luke and John today, I know this phrase is a little bit overused these days, but just talk about understanding the assignment. We're just like. We want a depiction of, like, something that really evokes the Chipmunks, but it's kind of us, and it's like. I wouldn't know where to begin with that. I just had the idea. Oh, we have. Oh, do we have call waiting? We have call waiting. Let me put on Do Not Disturb again there. But anyway, Max, thank you again. Like, you just. You took, like, this sort of like, barely formed idea in my head and just turned it into something that is absolutely perfect.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, it's really good. Hey, Max, are you in Delaware? Because you're doing yet another performance somewhere.

[Max]

I'm not. I'm actually on vacation.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh, nice.

[Max]

Just checking out Lewis, Delaware for the first time. Some friends invited us out.

[Luke Burbank]

How is Lewis, Delaware?

[Max]

It is currently beautiful. I am sitting on a porch doing some classic Luke, staring, and it couldn't be more glorious. The weather is, like, balmy. I've got trees with pink flowers, bikers going by. It's pretty great.

[Andrew Walsh]

Cyclists or are we talking like bikers? Like Pee Wee Herman style bikers?

[Max]

Certainly cyclists in this sleepy beach town.

[Andrew Walsh]

That's good, too.

[Luke Burbank]

Hey, Max, I have to say, I know it's a little after the fact, but congrats on being in the Shark is Broken. Like, that is such an intriguing piece of theater. And were you the sort of. Were you the Dreyfus character?

[Max]

I was literally the Richard Dreyfus in that production. And it's funny. So the past couple of weeks, because this, I just want to acknowledge, this has become a tradition for me. This is, I think, the. The fifth year running that I am the first caller on Monday.

[Luke Burbank]

Yes.

[Max]

For the Thon.

[Luke Burbank]

And we wouldn't have it any other way.

[Max]

And so neither would I. And so I, for the past couple of weeks, have been listening to the show and been like, what am I going to talk to the guys about? And I have two notes here. And I'm like, what are these notes?

[Andrew Walsh]

You don't remember your notes?

[Max]

One of the notes says Richard Dreyfus in parentheses, mentioned re Bill Maher.

[Luke Burbank]

Oh, yeah.

[Max]

I have no idea what conversation that was.

[Andrew Walsh]

Do you remember what that was?

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, I know exactly what it was. And I have to be honest, Max, I don't want to criticize your work as an actor or your method, but I'm surprised that in. In research for your role in the Shark is Broken. You did not. And I don't know if the YouTube channel is fully showing what Andrew's doing or not, but he is reenacting Richard Dreyfuss on a Bill Maher production. So Bill Maher has this. It's not real time. It's this much more boutique product where he just has people over to smoke a lot of weed and talk sitting on a couch, maybe in his basement. And it's sort of like a Bill Maher, even less filtered, I guess, than regular Bill Maher.

[Andrew Walsh]

That's what we need.

[Luke Burbank]

And one of the guests was Richard Dreyfuss. And what was notable about it was that I don't know if it was like, maybe he had too much indica. So he was in the couch, but then he was sliding. Maybe he had some down to cuff because he was sliding down the couch. Have you seen this footage, Max?

[Max]

I have. Although I will say in research for the role, I was keeping my research tapped at about 1976, I see, when he was still doing press. But I have seen that clip and it's pretty great.

[Luke Burbank]

It's amazing. It's like, what amazes me. And if you haven't seen this, just go on the Internet and just Google Richard Dreyfuss. Bill Maher is that. At no time did it appear that Bill Maher said, hey, you appear to be. Maybe Bill Maher was also so baked that he just thought, oh, Richard Dreyfuss is melting, and it's fine.

[Andrew Walsh]

Maybe he just thought, boy, that chair's getting big.

[Luke Burbank]

Right? Like, at no time does Bill Maher go, hey, my guy, you might want to sit up or something. But so this play. I know I want to get to your second note in a minute, but like, like, I have been fascinated with the idea of this play since it was on Broadway, because it's a play about the making of the film Jaws, right? Essentially, yeah, that's right.

[Max]

The play takes place while they're filming Jaws in 1974. And the cast is the three main actors. It's actors playing those actors. And it's basically about all of the downtime while they're on the ship. The orca waiting for the crew to fix the shark. That notoriously never worked.

[Luke Burbank]

Right.

[Max]

And so it's the sort of antics between these three guys and highly fictionalized, but it was a super fun project.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. It just sounds like such a genius idea for a play. And I'm bummed that I wasn't in New York at the time that you were doing it, but I was stoked to see that you were a part of it. Waiting for Shark Doe. Waiting for the Jaws. I. I know there's something in there I can't get there right now. I'm sorry. I have a lot going on, Max.

[Andrew Walsh]

But Jawsing for Godot. We'll figure it out. I have a. I have a question for Max, if you don't mind. Max, how do you feel about HBO going back to the name HBO and abandoning the name Max?

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. This had to be a blow for the Max. I am so.

[Max]

I'm so glad you asked me this, Andrew.

[Andrew Walsh]

Is that the other note on your.

[Max]

I am so thrilled that I don't have to go like that app that stole my name anymore. It's hbo, Max. There is a history in advertising, in marketing, of people using my name to explain how exciting and big and more it is. Yeah, I'm fine with that. But just saying we are now. You. You don't get to be you. Oh, let's put on Max. I'm like, that's neat.

[Andrew Walsh]

Don't.

[Max]

I'm not actually on that network yet.

[Andrew Walsh]

If I was on the network.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. You're working your way towards it. You're getting closer.

[Max]

Hey, let's put on Max and then I'm there.

[Andrew Walsh]

To associate you with that font is just an insult. Especially somebody.

[Luke Burbank]

You don't like that font.

[Andrew Walsh]

Andrew, great design sensibility. You should not be associated with that font and all that X with the little slight waves in it. I don't like. I don't like that at all.

[Luke Burbank]

I do think the fact that they changed it to HBO Wolkowitz.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

That felt personal. That felt actually like maybe even a worse thing for them to do to you. What was your second thing that you. That you were. You wrote down to talk to us about.

[Max]

The other thing. I know there was a conversation about tipping, and the thing that I was going to bring up was my compulsive nature brings me to do something called rounding out the cent. So if. If the, you know, bill is. If the cents on the bill are 63, I will, like, figure out the closest, you know, 20%, whatever, and then I'll do 27 cents on top of that so that I can write the zeros at the end so that it's a round dollar.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. Yes, absolutely. I do the same thing for the same reason. You know what I really like, and I. And I don't know if this. I think, Andrew, we talked about this a while ago when it comes to, like, sometimes in a grocery store, sometimes a restaurant where they say, do you want to round up?

[Andrew Walsh]

Yes.

[Luke Burbank]

And I know that you. You're saying that unfortunately in the grocery store example, sometimes that money is maybe not getting where we think it's going, or it's.

[Andrew Walsh]

Well, it might go where it wants, but I just. I don't totally trust it. And I know that it's a it advantage for the company because it's basically a tax break for them because they can count each of those as a personal donation that their company made.

[Luke Burbank]

What I like about this whole system is that I feel like. I feel like I'm running the Gates Foundation. I feel like I'm one of the world's greatest philanthropists, and it costs me sometimes 7 cents. Like, I'll be at the Safeway by my house, and they'll ask me if I want, like, round up for junior diabetes. And I'll go, absolutely. And they'll be like, thank you so much. And I'll be like, that is the best ROI I could get on 9 cents. Like, it just feels so low impact to me, and yet it seems like I'm being really generous.

[Andrew Walsh]

You know, what I always do is Goodwill. Now, I'm guessing you don't do a lot of shopping at Goodwill these days, but I like to pop in there, see what they got going on every now and then, maybe buy myself an oversized T shirt to play darts in. Who knows? But you round up and it's very specifically. It kind of stays internal. It goes to the Goodwill education thing. So it kind of trains the people who work at Goodwill and gives them, like, opportunities to get into the job force. And one time I was. I was like, kind of, you know, checking out at the register, and this woman who I'm going to put her maybe in her 60s or something like that, she had a long line behind me, but she just started telling me about how great the program was for her and everything and how she went through it, and now she's going to be a manager and all this stuff, and I was like, oh, that really? And I don't think that she was selling me on it. We just started chatting, and I was like, oh, okay. This is something very tangible to me.

[Luke Burbank]

I'm glad to hear that, because I do think, think Value Village is a scam.

[Andrew Walsh]

I've heard that. Because they're a for profit company. Right.

[Luke Burbank]

And if you. I don't know how widespread that place is. Do they have Value Village in. In. In Delaware that you've seen, Max?

[Max]

I haven't seen.

[Luke Burbank]

Okay.

[Andrew Walsh]

Anything like that.

[Luke Burbank]

Might be just a Northwest thing, but they basically. Yeah, they're a for profit company that. That basically does everything they can to kind of confuse the issue of if they are for profit or nonprofit.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah. It's basically like going into a goodwill. So you just sort of assume. You don't.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. And they. And they've actually been sued by Washington and lost over these exact practices. Because what they basically do is get a bunch of people to donate things thinking that they're donating it to a charity and they're not. They're donating it to a private business that will then just resell the stuff. Now they do have. There is a person trying to take down Value Village from the inside, and that is my mother, Susan Burbank, who one time found $20, I believe, in a pair of pants or a purse, some item at Value Village that she had no intention of buying, and she took the money. And that was an issue between her and my father. I know my dad thought that was maybe not okay. My dad's also a person who pays taxes on the money I pay him to work on my house, which I think could be.

[Andrew Walsh]

In other words, you're not filing that with the irs. He doesn't have to.

[Luke Burbank]

No, he's. I actually, it's probably could be a tax break for me because I'm paying money to someone that is then being taxed. But all that is to say, my mom now often goes to Value Village and just goes through every single pocket in the joint. We should all do this 100%. This is. This is how we will take back some of our power and finances from the Value Village Corporation. All right, Max, listen. I think we have kept you from your vacationing for long enough. Anything else you want to throw at us here on. And I would love that. You're in the inaugural caller. Yeah, go for it.

[Max]

Yeah. One quick thing. I'm just gonna grab Richard Dreyfus to make a quick pitch for you and just say everyone out there listening should absolutely donate to the tbs. This podcast could not be more exciting. Listen to the celebrities they get on here.

[Luke Burbank]

I didn't know you did an actual Dreyfus. That's so good. I thought that, like, maybe you just, like in the play, you inhabit the Idea. I didn't know it was a full on Dick Dreyfus impersonation and that's really good. Is that why you got the role?

[Max]

I mean, it was part of the audition, so.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

That's really good, dude.

[Andrew Walsh]

Max, Max, Max. Next. Do the shark. I lost him. That was a terrible splash.

[Luke Burbank]

Splash.

[Andrew Walsh]

All right. Sorry about that. I put you on the spot. That was amazing.

[Luke Burbank]

That's really impressive, dude. Yeah. Can you like voice memo that to us and we'll.

[Max]

Good luck with the thon.

[Luke Burbank]

Okay. Max. Max, will you voice memo us some Richard Dreyfus? Thawne, I know you're on vacation and you also drew the art for whatever.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[John Sklaroff]

And he donates.

[Luke Burbank]

It's a lot. It's a lot to ask of one one guy. But if you are inspired to throw any Richard Dreyfuss related thon imaging down like on your phone, just send it to us. We'll play it this week. Because that's really good. We want to get that in full in higher fidelity.

[Max]

You got it.

[Andrew Walsh]

That's awesome.

[Luke Burbank]

Thanks.

[Andrew Walsh]

Email me. Max, you know how to get me.

[John Sklaroff]

Can I just jump in with two quick things? One listener, Cecilia, said in the chat that because the audio quality, it looks like you're looking through a rainy window. Which I thought was an interesting perspective.

[Luke Burbank]

The video quality.

[John Sklaroff]

The video quality rather than potato. I think that's a better way to look at things. And the other cue is. I feel very much like that meme of like your best friends are out in the field playing like this. I don't know if you know the Squidward meme.

[Luke Burbank]

Oh, cuz you can't hear.

[John Sklaroff]

Max, I heard you guys cracking up and like you're having time of your life. And this is my fault because I forgot my adapter piece.

[Luke Burbank]

Well, I forgot mine as well.

[John Sklaroff]

No, but I. You're the.

[Luke Burbank]

You're playing.

[Andrew Walsh]

Well, tomorrow I'm giving it to John.

[Luke Burbank]

No, that's fair.

[John Sklaroff]

I just like was like sitting here, it's like, oh, I bet Max is saying something really funny.

[Luke Burbank]

Did an absolutely spot on Richard Dreyfus impression.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

Okay. Well, Max. Thanks, buddy. Appreciate you. If you're still there.

[Andrew Walsh]

No, Max. Max is gone. But I will say he had some choice words for you.

[Luke Burbank]

I forgot. John, I'm so sorry. No, no, apologize.

[John Sklaroff]

It's my own.

[Luke Burbank]

I totally forgot that you weren't hearing any of that.

[John Sklaroff]

It's my own doing. It's my own doing. I just.

[Andrew Walsh]

But I mean, what are we going to do? I mean, should. What would we have done different in that Situation. Like, just told John everything that Max.

[John Sklaroff]

Was saying that you guys. Max said this.

[Luke Burbank]

Okay, so Max. Max is in Delaware. Okay, so this is the fifth thon in a row where Max has been the first caller.

[John Sklaroff]

Oh, wow. Good for him. Consecutive streak. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cool.

[Luke Burbank]

Okay. Max stopped his Richard Dreyfus research at about 1976 because that was the era that he was doing Jaws in.

[John Sklaroff]

So he missed he pre. Mr. Holland's opus.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, yeah. He didn't get into that era of Dreyfus because that was not germane or not relevant.

[John Sklaroff]

I really appreciate the play by play.

[Luke Burbank]

The shark is broken.

[John Sklaroff]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

And it's a play about all of the time that the three actors are spending together. Richard Dreyfuss. Is it Quig? Who's the. You know. And then Quint played.

[Andrew Walsh]

Quint.

[Luke Burbank]

Is it Quint?

[Andrew Walsh]

The guy is the character? I think. Are you trying to think of the actor's name?

[Luke Burbank]

No, I don't know that guy's name, but. And then. And then also, you know, Roy Schneider, I think, is the other guy Scheider.

[Andrew Walsh]

Is it Schneider? Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

I don't know. Anyway, those three guys. The movie, the play is about all the time that those three guys are just spending on the set on the boat waiting for the shark to get fixed because the animatronic shark was always broken. Was one of the main things about Jaws.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah, I think we. I think. Oh, and then I made a really funny joke where I tried to make him imitate the shark. Yeah, it just went off.

[Luke Burbank]

And the phone line. The phone line cut off. So it was really kind of bad. But then we just heard the end of it where Max said splash.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

Which is a really funny joke, actually.

[John Sklaroff]

I really appreciate you two giving me the recap immediately after all the listeners.

[Luke Burbank]

Just for the conversation, I think I might cancel the order for those headphones.

[Andrew Walsh]

This is better.

[Luke Burbank]

I think this is actually better broadcasting than what we were doing. How about a Top Story? Hello and welcome to Top Story. All right. We are here in Friendship, Wisconsin, and we thought we would take a look. This was actually. Andrew, you get total credit on this because we were in the grocery store last night. We were picking up some things. Oh, can we talk for a quick moment about the grocery store? Yeah, we were in the grocery store. And you thought to grab a copy of the local newspaper here in town.

[Andrew Walsh]

Looks like it's a weekly maybe.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, it's called the Adams Friendship Times Reporter. The Adams Friendship Times Reporter. And you threw that into. Into my bag. And anyway, we've got a story from there, we'll talk about in a minute. But we got into that grocery store, like, I don't know, maybe 20 minutes before it closed on a Sunday night. And you could tell that the teen staffers were kind of ready to be out of there. There was kid sweeping literally under my feet in the produce department.

[Andrew Walsh]

He kept kind of looking over his shoulder at us, and I just assumed it was because he saw the billboard.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, well, that's. Listen, just because you think everyone's looking at you doesn't mean you're wrong. But I was like, you know, we were trying to kind of get our stuff and I guess get out of there. But then we all checked out in sort of different ways. You went to self checkout? I had the most stuff of any of us, I think. And so I went through, like traditional checkout. Cause I didn't feel like trying to. I didn't want to learn what Wisconsin self checkout looks like. Like, is it different?

[Andrew Walsh]

It's. There's a lot more cheese. I'm sorry for that joke. I couldn't think of anything. No, it was basically do an impression.

[Luke Burbank]

Of the cheese splash. So John went through, I think. Did you go through self checkout or the regular?

[John Sklaroff]

Yeah, I just followed.

[Luke Burbank]

So in other words, I was the only person who went through regular checkout, which is why you didn't have this experience. I forgot regular checkout exists in Wisconsin. It still does in badger country. So like the.

[John Sklaroff]

You mean in bugging country?

[Luke Burbank]

That's right. I don't mean to bug ya. The. The checkout. There was a, you know, a kind of a teenage kid, and. And I got up there and I had all this stuff, and I just said to him, like, reflexively or instinctively, I guess more reflexively, I said, I'm gonna need some bags for this. Because of course I didn't bring a, like, reusable grocery bag here to Wisconsin with me. And so he just looked at me like I had not two, but like. Like four heads.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh, really? Like judging you for not bringing your own bag?

[Luke Burbank]

No. No idea what. I'm gonna need some bags. No idea why saying, I'm going to need some bags would ever need saying.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh, yeah, of course you need bags. In other words, of course they have those old plastic bags here that I haven't seen. I grew up with those plastic grocery bags. If you put too many of them on your fingers, it'll cut off circulation.

[Luke Burbank]

One of the grocery bags was already wrapped around the neck of a seagull. It comes pre. Pre seagull. Wrapped.

[Andrew Walsh]

That's right.

[Luke Burbank]

That's how much they do not of two flying flips about the plasticification of the world. It was when I said to the kid I'm going to need bags. It was like I said to him, I'm going to pay you with money. Like he could not. In the history of this kid working at this grocery store, no one has ever specified they're going to need bags.

[Andrew Walsh]

And let me tell you this about those style bags too. It's even just putting the plastickiness aside, I am so used to having good tote bags now the kind with a flat bottom or using the paper bags that they have which also have a.

[Luke Burbank]

Flat bottom, flat bottom bag, you make the grocery world go round.

[Andrew Walsh]

One of my favorite things to do is to pack my own groceries in my bag. Cause I have a system, right? But it's based on the fact that things can set down properly when you have these bags that come to a taper. I didn't know what I was doing. I really, I was so instinctively. Sorry to hit you. Instinctively bummed like when I was like, wait. I had this whole. I take out my groceries out of the basket in this way where I know I'm gonna start stacking them up and then like I can't stack them up up. It's just going to be a sack at the end of the day.

[Luke Burbank]

So that wasn't actually the, the part of the interaction that left me the most dispirited. It was at the end when he said to me, as the kids would say dead ass and said, do you have, do you need the senior discount?

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh wow. No way.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah way. Am I a Wisconsin old?

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh my God.

[Luke Burbank]

I have never been asked that in my life.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh my God.

[Luke Burbank]

I've gotten AARP mailing sellings for years. I think that's more just them trying to expand the customer base. I put that on them. I have never been asked with, unironically with. And you know, again, we've lots of listeners who are, I think, you know, currently receiving the senior citizen discount and loving it. And by the way, when it is time for me to get that, I will also avail myself. Yeah, but I'm not, I mean, you're.

[Andrew Walsh]

Gonna remember your first time though.

[Luke Burbank]

It was my friend. It wasn't gentle. Yeah, it was not gentle. It was just. He's staring at me, just goes, are you. Do you need the senior discount? And I go, first of all. I was horrified. But I said, well, how old do I have to be?

[Andrew Walsh]

And he said 60 now you're 49.

[Luke Burbank]

I'm not that far. I'm not that far away from 60 is the thing. I'm a decade.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

I'm a decade away from 60. I think what was horrifying about it was not that he offered it to me, but that I realized, yeah, that's not. He's not wildly off base point at this. This point.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

Like, I'm not 30 and he's offering this thing that kicks in 60. He's offering a thing that. A thing that kick.

[Andrew Walsh]

Also.

[Luke Burbank]

Here's what it is. He was 17.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

Anybody who's over 25 looks at the. At that point we become like a. Just a sort of a, you know, what we look like to him. It's like he's watching the YouTube feed of this broadcast right now.

[Andrew Walsh]

Just a blurry, blurry area that could.

[Luke Burbank]

Be of any age.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[John Sklaroff]

I should also say they were very helpful and kind of. They noticed one of the bags as we were walking away had a hole in it and like, double.

[Luke Burbank]

That was a good catch.

[John Sklaroff]

So they were, they were like, well.

[Luke Burbank]

He was treating me with the respect you treat your very senior elders.

[Andrew Walsh]

When I was doing the self checkout, you know how they have people standing around like, in case you need help with anything. One of them made sure they asked me if I was over 12 because I couldn't have gotten a discount if I was under 12. I was like, no, no, no. I'm well over 12 years old.

[Luke Burbank]

I was going to try to give you the free cookie from the bakery.

[Andrew Walsh]

We almost. They gave me.

[Luke Burbank]

They gave me.

[Andrew Walsh]

They gave me a dumb dumb lollipop.

[Luke Burbank]

They're calling you sport.

[Andrew Walsh]

Or wait, no, they called me a dumb dumb.

[Luke Burbank]

Would you like a free cookie, sport?

[Andrew Walsh]

I'm gonna ask you another thing. I know we gotta get into the top story here, but speaking of the youth of the people who were working at the grocery store, I feel like the workforce here, generally speaking, has been very young at both of the quick stops. Is that what they're.

[Luke Burbank]

Quick trip.

[John Sklaroff]

Yeah, right. Wisconsin nights will have your head.

[Andrew Walsh]

At both of the quick trips. I was stunned at how young both of the. Maybe it was luck of the draw. But I had two people who seemed like they were young children.

[Luke Burbank]

I got a kid whose name was Edison spelled with a. Yeah. Oh, that name was invented eight months ago. Imagine. Think of Thomas Edison. But then let's throw a why in there.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah, why? Because we said, what's your why?

[Luke Burbank]

That's a big thing these days. Hey, okay, okay. You're doing it but what's your why?

[Andrew Walsh]

Wait, you mean if you're acting. What's your why?

[Luke Burbank]

It's just. It's a. It's one of those kind of motivational, inspirational things like you're. You're asking. I can. I'll tell you somebody who has definitely said that they figured out their why, and it's Russell Wilson. It's the kind of thing that it's. It's not. Not. It's not just. It's really a Dan Hedaya principle. I know you can get the job, but can you do the job? I know that you are doing the job. You're doing the thing. But have you asked yourself why you're doing the thing? What is your why?

[Andrew Walsh]

Right. Right.

[Luke Burbank]

W H y why? I'm Terry Gross. I'm sorry.

[John Sklaroff]

It was right there. Don't apologize. You have to do it.

[Luke Burbank]

Can we talk? Speaking of media, can we talk about this article that you found, Andrew, please?

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah, so we were checking out at the grocery store and I noticed this little newspaper, so we bought it.

[Luke Burbank]

And there's nothing I love more than a good local newspaper newspaper. And I'm going to give them huge credit here for the Adams Friendship Times Reporter. There's a ton of original reporting in here, sometimes local papers. And I understand why this is because, of course, the. The media landscape is collapsing around us. But sometimes you'll see a paper that'll just be either only advertisements, like, it's not even a. It's just hot tub ads.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

Or one that is just maybe mostly Associated Press or other, you know, clip services, wire services that are just reprinted somewhere. This paper has a ton of local original reporting, which I love. Including this headline, Andrew, that you found last night before.

[Andrew Walsh]

Okay, sorry to be dramatic here, but before we say what the headline is, I just want to say this trip has been more than months in the planning. We had the idea to come to Friendship over a year ago. We just weren't telling the listeners about it as we tried to figure out if it was feasible. We loved the idea of coming to a place called Friendship because of everything that represents regarding us and the show and the listeners and everything. And then we get the local Friendship newspaper and I will just describe this before you reveal it, Luke, as the last headline I ever thought I would be reading in the Friendship newspaper. So that's the setup for this, Andrew.

[Luke Burbank]

We were actually back at the Airbnb, I think, and we were all sort of like, munching down on whatever random stuff that we had had for dinner and. Oh, by the way, I forgot to play the Friendship in the News.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

Friendship in the News theme Friendo. I've got lots of news. It's time for Friendship in the news.

[Andrew Walsh]

Perfect.

[Luke Burbank]

This does not sound like an intro that I made in eight seconds right before the show.

[Andrew Walsh]

You turned to me like you wanted something. I wanted to support you there. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to do the echo tomorrow. When you do that, I'll say news.

[Luke Burbank]

Let's practice that. Okay, let's try that again. Just because I really want to nail this tomorrow. I feel like today is already a lost cause with it, but. Okay. You ready?

[Andrew Walsh]

Yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

So, hey, Andrew, you know what it's time for? I'll call it Friendo. I've got lots of news. I think it's the fade in that really hurts the emphasis. It's time for Friendship in the news.

[Andrew Walsh]

News, news, news, news.

[Luke Burbank]

Is that Tina from Bob's Burgers?

[Andrew Walsh]

Is that better? Me doing the news? I was doing the echo of you.

[Luke Burbank]

News, News.

[Andrew Walsh]

Well, okay, fine. Are we giving critiques now? I thought it's on the critiques.

[Luke Burbank]

I would like to have John do it, but he can't hear the audio.

[John Sklaroff]

Friendship in the News.

[Luke Burbank]

He's no help to us Anyway, Andrew, we were standing around kind of eating our like dinner at about 9:30 at night, all sort of out of gas. But you were leafing through the newspaper, the local paper, and you just sort of stopped and said, well, here's a headline. Friendship man sentenced for choking friend.

[Andrew Walsh]

That seems to go against the ideals of the village of friendship.

[Luke Burbank]

I can't tell if this is the greatest headline writing or maybe some headline writing that needs to go back to J school because you are using friendship and friend. I know, in the same headline. Which I think typically the thought in journalism is you want to. You don't want to use the same word twice in chum.

[Andrew Walsh]

Would it be better if it was friendship man Sentence for choking chum.

[Luke Burbank]

Choking associate. That sounds like something else. Was he near a Goodness we are not live.

[Andrew Walsh]

Strike that.

[Luke Burbank]

Friendship man sentence for choking associate. That sort of also makes it sound a little bit.

[John Sklaroff]

What. What if you go the negative? Like unfriendly encounter in friendship or something like that.

[Andrew Walsh]

This is New York Posty.

[Luke Burbank]

There you go. Topless. What is a headless man found in topless? Topless bar. The famous New York Post headline. I like that. I like. That's where you're going, John. Kind of like, yeah, unfriendly activity unfolds in friendship or something. And of Course, this is a. You know, this is a story of somebody who. Who choked their friend, which was not something that anybody should do. This person is now being sentenced for this. It sounds also like they've got some anger issues. You pointed out in this article, Andrew, other things that have happened to this particular fellow who. Who it sounds like, let's see. He was upset with one of his friends. According to the criminal complaint, he got angry at one of the participants in whatever this social event was and put a chokehold around his neck until the victim. While the victim was resting against a truck, the victim unfortunately passed out. Looks like they're going to be okay. In another incident, this same person got angry at a family member for not giving him a ride to Cottonville. Yeah. According to the criminal complaint, he picked up a tote full of toys and threw it, damaging the tote.

[Andrew Walsh]

So we're picturing a tote here being a kind of a plastic Storables solution.

[Luke Burbank]

Sounds like the toys. I don't know if they were. Are you guys familiar with Labubus? Are you familiar with the phenomenon that.

[John Sklaroff]

Is the Labubu stuffed animal kind of thing?

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, it's like a stuffed toy that's. Now it's sort of the Beanie Baby of the moment. I don't know if there were Labubus in the tote. It was noted in the article and presumably in the police report, that the tote was damaged when the tote of toys was thrown. And then he later punched his truck with his fist in anger, raising the question, as you did last night, John, why didn't he drive his own truck to Cottonville instead of asking a friend.

[Andrew Walsh]

No, I think this is. I think that is there are two his in there. So I think the thing is he.

[Luke Burbank]

Powers the friend's truck.

[Andrew Walsh]

Punched the friend's truck. Yeah, I think that's the.

[Luke Burbank]

Assuming that could have led the headline, Friendship man punches friend's truck in Friendship.

[Andrew Walsh]

In Friendship. Exactly. Yeah. So I do think that at first it sounded like he punched his own truck. I'm like, why is that a crime? Like, I don't want to get all like, you know, don't tread on me here, but I should be allowed to punch my own truck. It's my truck.

[John Sklaroff]

The other big article, Please don't punch the rental car.

[Luke Burbank]

The other big article, Nakusa man sentenced for third owi. And we've figured out that OWI here in Wisconsin means driving under the influence, obviously very unsafe behavior. Obviously a terrible idea. What was jumping out about this article, though, was that this person, 71 year old, Nakusa man, his truck came to rest in somebody's yard at about, it sounds like 6:30pm on this particular day. Now what the article kind of details is that the people that lived in the house where the truck came to a stop, it sounded like they were. And you know, you could sort of read this however you want as far as if they were making the right call or not, but it sounds like they were trying to keep this issue within this person's family. Initially it says that they first got ahold of his cell phone and they called somebody in his family, I think said like, come pick up your guy.

[Andrew Walsh]

But I know that this is a needless detail, but my initial reaction was like, how did they use his cell phone to call somebody? Because I'm always used to lock screens.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah, well, this guy was 71 years.

[Andrew Walsh]

Old, so maybe a cell phone maybe.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. Yeah. Oh good. Interesting thinking. I hadn't thought about that. Yeah, so the, by the way, this was near the town of Rome, which we've already mentioned was imported here from the state of New York. So the folks in the. Again, these people seemed remarkably chill about a guy driving into their yard at 6:30 at night who appeared to be inebriated. Tried to again handle this informally. The family members, they got on the phone said, we're gonna go ahead and Recommend you call 911.

[Andrew Walsh]

Yes, exactly.

[Luke Burbank]

So that's, you know, you could call that rock bottom. You could call that, you know, setting appropriate boundaries. But they did call 911 and then the residents, let's see, officers were told that the Strand, this person arrived in their yard about 6:30pm and had been there for about an hour. And this is again, I love the reporting in this paper because it's very understated. The residents provided this person with a pair of pants. That's just midway in the story that he was pantsless during this whole event.

[Andrew Walsh]

It's implied. We need to, we need to follow our own journalistic diligence here. We don't know for sure that he was pantless, but we do know that they offered him a pair of pants for whatever reason. I guess we can maybe he's pants possibly. Oh, that is actually a really good point. It might not be that he passed.

[John Sklaroff]

Out at 6:30 at night.

[Andrew Walsh]

He might not have been.

[Luke Burbank]

Now would you consider that? But here's the important question. This is why you donate to tbtl everyone. Because we start off in one place and we go all over and then we end up at what I Think is a very important and salient detail is peeing your pants, Soiling them. I think soiling exclusively means number two in your pants as far as I'm concerned.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh, that's interesting. When somebody soil.

[Luke Burbank]

What is the color of soil?

[Andrew Walsh]

When people say soil, I think what you're saying right away, but intellectually it seems like I would argue that it would be any.

[Luke Burbank]

It's not great either one that you've.

[Andrew Walsh]

You've soiled your pants.

[John Sklaroff]

Either way, you've lost.

[Luke Burbank]

If, listen, if I. If you told me you soiled yourself, that would exclusively in my mind mean you had had a number two accident. And I've done that. So I know what I'm talk about here.

[John Sklaroff]

Yeah, you are the expert in the field. So aside from. So aside from saying peeing your pants, like what?

[Luke Burbank]

Wet himself?

[John Sklaroff]

Wet himself?

[Luke Burbank]

I would say wet himself is more specific.

[John Sklaroff]

Yeah, that's. Listen, I'm not saying you're wrong. I just. I like soil.

[Luke Burbank]

I'm wondering if we've buried this conversation deep enough in the broadcast that nobody from the Historical Society is still listening. Therefore not getting us pulled because we just got the equipment working and it'd be a shame if we had to go do it from, you know, the restaurant down the street.

[John Sklaroff]

We'd have to go Cottonville. We have to catch a ride to Cottonville.

[Luke Burbank]

You better take me to Cottonville or I'm throwing this tote full of toys at a wall or something.

[Andrew Walsh]

I mean, it's worth noting that I don't think these two particular stories that we have chosen to represent.

[Luke Burbank]

They do not.

[Andrew Walsh]

Or the culture.

[Luke Burbank]

Absolutely not. What they represent, though, I like is a sort of a kind of a dispassionate. But it would sound like accurate form of journalism going on in this newspaper. And I really mean that. Like reading this newspaper over the last from last night when we got it has been very delightful. And I hope that it continues on for. For a long time. I hope it lives a thousand lifetimes.

[Andrew Walsh]

I noticed that the one we bought yesterday is from. That's what these headlines come from. So I'm guessing it's a weekly, which means I think we might have a fresh newspaper on Wednesday. That's right. I'm just guessing. I don't know.

[Luke Burbank]

Love it. One last thing here.

[Andrew Walsh]

Do we have.

[Luke Burbank]

Should we try to take another photo?

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh, yeah, we have somebody. I forgot. We've had somebody on hold here for about 10 minutes or so.

[Luke Burbank]

Hold on.

[Andrew Walsh]

Ahoy hoy.

[Luke Burbank]

Hello. You are on tbtl a thon 16. Who is this? Ahoy hoy. This is Mitchell called mickshell from a mere one state away over there in Minnesota. Hi, how are you?

[Andrew Walsh]

You?

[Michelle]

Oh, I'm fine. How are you?

[Luke Burbank]

Great. Sad we're gonna miss you for the picnic on Friday. But. But you know, it sounds like you have a wait. Nope.

[Michelle]

When your kiddo comes to town, you gotta hang around.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

I'm sorry. I was calling to say two things.

[Luke Burbank]

Yes.

[Michelle]

One was that Luke answered an email from me this year, which was a miracle. And second was. Can you tell us about the plate? The video is coming and going. And we can see this Friendship, Wisconsin plate.

[Luke Burbank]

Oh, I love that it's even cleared up just enough for you to make that out. Because when we walked in here to the Adams County Historical Society, I immediately zeroed in on this, Michelle, which is. It was celebrating the. Would it be centennial hundred years. The centennial of the town of Friendship, Wisconsin. And it is a beautiful plate. It has a picture of Dwight Eisenhower on it because he was the president. I don't believe he came here. He didn't whistle stop over here, but. And then it's got a picture of Franklin Pierce, who I'm guessing was president when the town of Friendship was established.

[Andrew Walsh]

Oh. The only president from New Hampshire and by all accounts the one of the worst president.

[Luke Burbank]

Oh, okay.

[Andrew Walsh]

Am I right about him being a bad president? I'm not sure.

[John Sklaroff]

I think so. I think he was a relative of the Bush family too, or something.

[Andrew Walsh]

Or.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. And then you've got. I believe that there's a lake or a river that's. I'm going to say this, Michelle, you might know how to say this. It's like Roche a Cree. Roche acree. It's R O C H E A C R I. And it says Roshakri vacation land. And I've seen that Rosha Cree everywhere around here. I think it's. I think it's a park or a lake or something that everybody really loves around here.

[Andrew Walsh]

Can I hold that up to the camera?

[Luke Burbank]

That's what I was gonna say. Can one of you who's not me walk it over to the camera? And we should probably have John do it since he can't hear Michelle anyway. But yeah, we're gonna. Now, Andrew. Okay. It looks good from where I'm sitting, but of course we are not monitoring. That's good. I'd move it even a little bit closer. And then we're gonna wait. Michelle, are you watching this in real time? Will you tell us when it clears up enough for you to see the plate?

[John Sklaroff]

Stand there the rest of the broadcast, Andrew. So it clears up now.

[Michelle]

I'm, I'm trying to watch it in real time, but there's a lag.

[Luke Burbank]

Okay. Oh, right. You'd think I would know that. You'd think of all people, one of the allegedly professional broadcasters. Good point. Okay, well, in about, I want to say, four to five hours, the plate is going to come into focus and you'll, you'll be able to see this. But it is like it's, it is a, such, such a. It's such a cool little piece of history here. And I love that it's got Eisenhower on it. And it just, it's sort of. It says Adams County. Like it feels like Adams county history to me, which is why I, why I put it on the table. And again, I didn't think anyone would actually be able to make it out. So. Good for you being eagle eyed.

[John Sklaroff]

I'll post a picture of it. I just snapped into our stories on Instagram for anyone that wants to see it too.

[Luke Burbank]

And I do believe if you visit the Adams County Historical Society, you can buy one of these.

[Andrew Walsh]

They appear every.

[Luke Burbank]

For sale. Don't quote me on that. But I think that they're, I think that they do have merch here. They've got T shirts, they've got all kinds of stuff. We're going to find out more about this place as the, as the week goes on, because it is. First of all, we really appreciate them hosting us. And like, there is a guy. Maybe we'll get into this in the coming days. There are these two books that I'm holding. I was using one of them actually for a microphone stand, but like, I'm trying to list. I'm trying to lift. And I'm a person, as you know, who lifts weights and is extremely physically impressive. I can barely hold this book up with one hand. It is Friendship, Wisconsin a History. Wait for it. Volume one.

[Andrew Walsh]

Volume one.

[Luke Burbank]

Because there are two volumes. This thing is an immense tome and there's two of them. They're written by a guy named Dennis McFarlane who I learned from. Our friend Michael was a retired attorney who is just particularly fascinated with the history of this town and has written these extremely thorough.

[Andrew Walsh]

Those are, those are very big homes of the place.

[Luke Burbank]

And I need you to read all of this by the end of the week, Andrew, so you can give us a report on Friday.

[Andrew Walsh]

That sounds good. I'm a fast reader. That's what everybody knows about me. That's my leading characteristic.

[Luke Burbank]

Yes. So anyway, Michelle. Yeah, there's a lot of cool stuff. A lot of history around here. Anything else non plate related that you wanted to run by us or ask about?

[Michelle]

Well, just like Max, I would like to urge the 10 to to go ahead and send their donations in on Monday rather than waiting until Friday.

[Luke Burbank]

Oh, good looking out. Hold on, I've got to translate for John. He can't hear anything. Yeah, Michelle said that it would be great if folks donated on Monday instead of waiting until Friday. What's your official thought on that?

[John Sklaroff]

Michelle is a very smart individual because I 100% agree. Get your donation in now so you don't have to think about it later.

[Andrew Walsh]

Can I ask you both a question right now while Michelle's on the line? So, looking ahead to the pick on Friday, things are looking pretty good as far as us getting supplies and everything. People, if you're going to be showing up to the picnic@friendship RSVP on our website, the one thing I'm concerned about is cutlery. Plastic cutlery.

[Luke Burbank]

Forks and paper plates too.

[Andrew Walsh]

Paper plates. Do we have that covered?

[John Sklaroff]

Thankfully.

[Luke Burbank]

Wait. Because I mean, there's been a fork tariff too.

[Andrew Walsh]

Right. So we.

[Luke Burbank]

I mean, I've been all over Friendship and Adams county and I haven't been able to locate any of those kinds of things.

[John Sklaroff]

Well, thankfully. And I don't know if. If she's still on the line there, but Michelle. Michelle and I met for coffee briefly in St. Paul recently and she is our official fork sponsor. And she threw in the plates on top of that.

[Andrew Walsh]

Wait, I didn't even know about the plates.

[John Sklaroff]

Yeah, I can tell you about the plates.

[Andrew Walsh]

That's why she was so interested in this plate.

[Luke Burbank]

Yes, it's a whole.

[Andrew Walsh]

I see.

[Luke Burbank]

It's a whole thing.

[John Sklaroff]

So official fork and plate sponsor of the picnic because Michelle had some extra ones she wanted to share with us. So thank you very much.

[Luke Burbank]

Thank you to our official cutlery sponsor, cutlery level sponsor of the con, our friend Michelle. Therein. It's in. It's in Edina, right?

[John Sklaroff]

Edina. Yep.

[Michelle]

Edina. That's right. And I mean it. It goes with the theme because this is all left over from my days as a band mom.

[Luke Burbank]

I see.

[Michelle]

There you go.

[Luke Burbank]

Is this the same.

[Michelle]

Look at that beautiful picture.

[Luke Burbank]

Is this. Oh, good. Michelle just started seeing the plate. Okay, anybody wants to know what the delay is? That's what the delay is.

[John Sklaroff]

Can I also send another special thanks to Michelle for. Michelle told me about Regina's chocolates in St. Paul that her husband Tom were getting some candy from. And I picked up some Chocolate for my mother in law's birthday. And she loved it. So thank you for the recommendation.

[Andrew Walsh]

Nice.

[Luke Burbank]

All right, well, good, Michelle, thank you again. Yeah. What were you gonna say?

[Michelle]

Have a. Have a great time and beware of biting gnats.

[Luke Burbank]

Also great. Put that on the list. Biting gnats. Have you heard of this? Michelle just said, beware of biting gnats.

[John Sklaroff]

John, aside from Skeeters.

[Luke Burbank]

Yeah. In addition to. In addition to. And by the way, no offense, John, I don't want to put you on blast here, but I don't think we should call them skeeters. I think that makes them sound like a plucky sidekick in a Disney movie, maybe, you know, voiced by Ariana Grande or something. I think mosquito. I think we need to use the term that strikes the proper fear.

[Andrew Walsh]

I think that I could not agree with you more. And also, can I just point out something, please? With every passing moment, I feel like our decision to make this one of the clues.

[Luke Burbank]

Am I bugging you?

[John Sklaroff]

Really? Yeah.

[Andrew Walsh]

Don't mean to bug you. That is becoming more relevant by the day while we are out here. Am I right?

[Luke Burbank]

We were. In fact, we thought this was badger related. No, it's actually insect related. And it's actually extremely relevant.

[Andrew Walsh]

So.

[Luke Burbank]

Hey, Michelle, AKA mickshell, thanks again. We really do appreciate you. You're the best.

[Michelle]

Have a great week. Bye.

[Luke Burbank]

Bye. Okay, maybe on tomorrow's episode of the show, can we discuss betting? Can we discuss Airbnb betting?

[Andrew Walsh]

Betting. Not betting.

[Luke Burbank]

Not betting.

[Andrew Walsh]

We've talked about betting a lot on this show. You want to talk about betting?

[Luke Burbank]

I want to talk about betting tomorrow on the show because I feel like, well, you know what? I want to talk. I want about to talk. Talk tomorrow on the show just about the entire domicile situation, about the whole kind of, you know, like, the layout of the Airbnb and what we're doing and where we're all sleeping, et cetera. Because I may have made a really critical. A critical mistake when it came to, you know, us kind of going to our respective rooms. Maybe we can talk about that on the show tomorrow. And what else? We'll take some more calls tomorrow.

[Andrew Walsh]

We'll take some more calls and, yeah.

[Luke Burbank]

Raise some more money.

[Andrew Walsh]

Hopefully not to try to, you know, belabor it, but if you. You're able to support us during this TBTL a thon. That is why we're here and that's why we're doing it, is because you guys allow this type of stuff to happen. So thank you for donating to the show if you haven't already. And certainly if you're somebody who has never donated but been listening for a while, maybe you're a new listener who started listening in 2015 or something along those lines and you just haven't had a chance to. Maybe we can convert you to be a donor this year at any level possible. By the way, I want to encourage people to get give, but I always want to be very clear that we're not using guilt here. If you can't give, you can't give. But if you can, we appreciate it.

[Luke Burbank]

Absolutely. And again, if you have not ever donated to the show, you can have that donation matched by an incredible anonymous, generous person. So that's going to go twice as far and help us keep doing this twice as long. All right, thank you very much everyone for tuning in today. Thanks for being part of TBTL and helping us us keep this whole thing rolling. Thanks also to the fine folks here at the Adams County Historical Society in downtown Friendship, Wisconsin, who have been hosting us so kindly today and for the rest of the week. If we raise enough money this week, we will be able to get John his own headphones. So everybody cross your fingers on that. In the meantime, have a great Monday, everybody stay safe and please remember, no mountain too tall.

[Andrew Walsh]

And good luck to all. Did we just become best friends?

[Luke Burbank]

Power out.