Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! #629: Comin’ in Hot!
Date: March 9, 2025
Podcast Theme: A candid, humor-filled look at everyday life, work routines, and aging, woven together by the off-the-cuff chemistry of two Comic Book Men and an Impractical Joker—with a healthy dose of irreverence, behind-the-scenes banter, and some touching moments.
Episode Overview
This episode captures Tell 'Em Steve-Dave’s signature blend of self-deprecating comedy and genuine, sometimes poignant discussion. With BQ (Brian Quinn) absent (reportedly with no time to spare), fan-favorite Sunday Jeff joins Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, and Giddem for a deep dive into their daily lives, the grind of long-term employment, the routines that anchor adulthood, and the perspective-shifting effects of aging. The discussion is peppered with the group's usual playful ribbing, deadpan observations, and, briefly, a heartfelt appeal to help a friend in need.
Key Discussion Points & Segment Timestamps
1. Absence of BQ and Life's Busyness (00:54–02:14)
- BQ's absence leads to a joking lament over lack of free time.
- Sunday Jeff is commended for making time for the show despite a packed schedule; he notes he’s so busy he only watches sports in highlight form.
Quote:
"I don't get paid like you. ...I can run on five and a half hours of sleep. I can. I don't know how I do it, but I do." — Sunday Jeff (01:53–02:25)
2. A Day in the Life of Sunday Jeff (05:06–26:22)
(Major segment – funny, detailed, and insightful look at work/life routines)
- Early Riser: Up at 4:30am, showers at night, minimal sleep.
- Coffee Ritual: Prefers Keurig for speed; claims only one cup is needed for his "hot" mornings.
- Commute & Work Start: 35-minute drive, soft rock on Pandora, the first to arrive (deactivates alarm himself).
- Work Ethic: Has worked at the dealership for 36 years, "comes in hot," but admits to emotional and social detachment—“like a robot.”
- Office Culture: Downplays the notion of workplace drama or gossip, expressing indifference and resignation after decades—“I've heard it all before. I'm tired of hearing complaining, the bitching and moaning.”
- Breaks & Lunch: No set break schedule, but typically has lunch late (1:30pm), well into the workday. Eats throughout the day—eggs, banana, yogurt—to keep energy up.
- Post-Work Routine: Goes to the gym for 1–1.5 hours daily, spends evenings at his girlfriend’s, watches TV (recently rewatching "The Boys"), and manages to avoid most workplace and home drama.
Quotes & Highlights:
- “I come in. I'm like a freaking robot. I just come in and I do what I'm supposed to do when I go home. …I've heard it all before. I'm tired of hearing complaining, the bitching and the moaning." (12:30–12:40)
- On workplace gossip:
“I'm numb, man. I don't care anymore.” (12:28)
- On his value:
“They wish they had more of me. Management, upper management, yes. Guaranteed.” (15:57)
- Lunch routine:
“I eat like so many every so many hours. Like I'll have two eggs in the morning when I get there, I'll eat a banana for a snack sometimes. So I'm constantly eating little by little.” (23:00)
3. Bryan's Daily Routine: A Portrait of Domestic Life (28:58–35:46)
- Morning: Wakes up at 6:20am to see his daughter Sage off, but then goes back to sleep until 8:30am.
- Daytime Errands: Runs pet-related errands or chores, underscores monotony with laundry-folding as a recurring theme.
- Chores Turned Social: Shares a rare run-in with a stranger during a car wash—minor, but notable excitement in an otherwise quiet daily existence.
- Mealtime & TV: Lunch out once or twice a week, otherwise at home. Evenings feature family TV (e.g., “Matlock,” “The Boys”) and light reading.
Quotes:
"I'm always folding laundry. Those women, man, they wear more fucking clothes. …Marybeth wears more clothes without going anywhere." (35:00)
“If we can get to some lady yelling at me just by going out for a little bit, who knows what happens if I keep going out?” (34:31)
4. Reflections on Work, Aging, and Life’s Fragility (51:44–54:09)
- Following news about a friend’s ALS diagnosis, the crew reflects on mortality, aging, and the inevitability of loss.
- Touching discussion about appreciating the present, especially as friends and family members age or pass.
Quotes:
“That is one of the most awful things about getting older … you start now to see things and people getting sick or people getting.” — Walt (52:44)
“That only comes usually with old age, when you start to see things really start to go, like, where you're like, wow.” — Walt (53:07)
“No guarantee.…Take advantage of what is in front of you and appreciate what’s there.” — Walt (54:09)
5. Benefit for "Tim the Record Store Clerk" (47:48–52:00)
- Announcement of a Bandcamp benefit podcast (featuring the full cast and some classic TSD games) to support their friend Tim, recently diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease.
- Listeners encouraged to contribute by purchasing the benefit episode.
Quote:
“We tried to make it worth it.…You’ll be getting, I think, the best of us.” — Walt (55:10)
6. The Twerking Stewardess and Workplace Celebration Debate (65:35–70:37)
- The crew discusses the viral story of a flight attendant fired for twerking in uniform on an empty plane.
- Debate whether firing was justified; contemplate how workplace “celebrations”—including twerking—are policed in different environments.
- Joking proposal: General Store staff should twerk to celebrate accomplishments.
Quotes:
"I found that absolutely crazy, though, that the airline didn't just issue her a warning and ask her to take down the video." — Walt (66:12)
“That’s in. The general store is pro twerking.” — Walt (67:41)
“Imagine that back in the day when you found a hot toy in the aisle, you just twerked when you found one, recorded yourself, done that.” — Walt (71:38)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Sunday Jeff’s Work Ethic:
“I come in hot, bro. Coming in hot.” (10:32)
“I've been there before anybody else anyway, so.…they're like, 'Oh my work.'” (11:01)
On Indifference to Office Drama:
“I’m numb, man. I don't care anymore.” (12:28)
“They wish they had more of me.” (16:02)
On Aging and Friendship:
“Take a page out of Sunday's book. Come in hot while you can, because you're not always going to be able to come in hot, and you're going to be remembered as the guy who came in." (54:17)
On Twerking in the Workplace:
“I want to be able to post it and not without a rating.…But that's why we become known as pro twerking establishment.” (70:20–70:28)
Segment Timestamps Highlight Reel
- 00:54–02:14 - Sunday Jeff on lack of time and sleep
- 05:06–26:22 - "Day in the life" with Sunday Jeff: work, breaks, gym, food, media
- 28:58–39:43 - Bryan Johnson’s domestic day: pets, laundry, errands, minor social “run-in”
- 51:44–54:09 - Reflection on mortality and aging, inspired by Tim’s life event
- 47:48–52:00 - Benefit pod for Tim the record store clerk (ALS diagnosis)
- 65:35–70:37 - Twerking stewardess, workplace celebrations, and comedy riffing
Tone & Style
- Uncensored, candid, and filled with sharp observational humor
- A mix of deadpan sarcasm and genuine affection between long-time friends
- Occasional poignant moments about aging, loss, and gratitude juxtaposed with irreverent, bawdy jokes
In Summary
Episode #629 is classic Tell 'Em Steve-Dave: a blend of blue-collar work talk (“coming in hot”), deadpan analysis of the small routines that make up daily existence, friendly mockery, and sudden left-turns into the personal or profound. The group’s dissection of “a day in the life” (especially Sunday Jeff’s) is both hilarious and relatable, while the benefit announcement and reflections on aging add a thread of real vulnerability, making this a must-listen (or must-read) for fans old and new.
For details on the Tim the Record Store Clerk benefit pod, see Bandcamp—links will be posted on the podcast’s socials and show description.