Will Mike D Be a Rotten Tomatoes Critic? & Veggie Meals & Snacks Ideas

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Bobby Bones Show

Episode: Will Mike D Be a Rotten Tomatoes Critic? & Veggie Meals & Snacks Ideas
Date: August 30, 2025
Host: Premiere Networks
Main Guests: Morgan & Mike D.

---

Overview

This episode of The Bobby Bones Show's "Best Bits" features Morgan and Mike D. fielding listener questions in a lighthearted, relatable conversation. The main thread covers Mike D's quest (and eventual disillusionment) with becoming a Rotten Tomatoes critic, insights into making vegetarian and vegan meals/snacks, personal transformation stories, running and injury recovery, quirky daily habits, and creative ideas for sustainability in running gear. The style is conversational, humorous, and warm, with a focus on authenticity and lived experiences.

---

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Mike D’s Rotten Tomatoes Dream – Why He Let Go

Timestamps: 03:17–04:27

• Mike D. shares he’s abandoned the goal of becoming an official Rotten Tomatoes critic, describing repeated unsuccessful applications and opaque criteria:

  • "I applied for three, maybe four years straight, and I don't even think they take applications anymore." (03:19)
  • He suspects it's a closed circle and doubts that "real people" get in, calling the process "all a sham."

• He only trusts the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and now prefers to log his own reviews on Letterboxd, keeping his perspective undiluted.

• Morgan playfully suggests he should deep-dive on the conspiracy thread to unravel Rotten Tomatoes’ vetting.

2. Mike D’s Review Process

Timestamps: 05:04–06:51

• Mike D.: Always takes notes during movies for his podcast, using phone dark mode so as not to disrupt others.

  • “I'll always write the title of the movie and all my random thoughts...weird camera angle, awkward facial interaction...” (05:13)

• For big blockbuster movies (Marvel, Spider-Man), he may only jot a couple of notes, relying more on memory and pure fan experience.

• Morgan nods to the pressure of making movie-watching at times feel "like a chore" for a reviewer.

3. Vegetarian & Vegan Meal and Snack Ideas

Timestamps: 07:00–10:28

• Mike D. loves tofu-based meals:

  • “I think with some seasoning and mixing it with things...it absorbs all the flavor.” (07:06)
  • Suggests air frying tofu with spices and avocado oil for crunch: “To me, it is my version of a chicken nugget.” (07:41)

• Snacks: Dates are a favorite, plain or with peanut/almond butter: “I think I'm the only person I've ever met that loves dates.” (08:19)

• He distinguishes between "weekday snacks" (e.g., PopCorners for crunch) and "weekend snacks" (dates with peanut butter, as a treat).

• Morgan: Leans toward Mexican food for vegetarian meals — breakfast enchiladas, sweet potato enchiladas, smoky black bean & mango guacamole tacos. Also loves mixing nuts from Trader Joe's into custom trail mixes.

4. Foods Missed Since Going Vegan

Timestamps: 10:45–11:53

• Mike D.: Only truly misses “a pepperoni pizza” from his pre-vegan days: “There's just something about that crunch of a pepperoni.” (11:40)

  • Has had vegan pizza but says: “It doesn’t really taste the same. There’s just something about that crunch…”

• Morgan: Five days into dietary change, she already misses chocolate and sweets.

5. Posting About Personal Transformation

Timestamps: 17:13–22:02

• Listener question: Why doesn’t Mike D. post "before and after" transformation photos?

  • He used to do this “five years or so” after his weight loss but now feels disconnected from his old self.
  • “I don't think I've made it a conscious thing to not post old pictures…but I think I haven't really done a, like, 'here's me 10 years ago, here's me now.'” (17:21)

• There’s a period (2011–2013) with almost no photos because he avoided being photographed due to insecurity.

• Morgan encourages sharing for the sake of inspiration: “People want people being real and authentic, and I think that's a very real part of your story.” (20:07)

• Mike D. reflects that his journey was easier in his 20s and wishes he highlighted the impact of age on weight loss more.

6. Running Injuries and Recovery

Timestamps: 22:02–26:56

• Mike D.'s annual tumbles: "I'm a really good faller. I know how to fall where I'm not going to injure myself." (22:25)

  • Advises against trying to catch yourself to avoid breaking a wrist, favoring a roll instead.

• Injury prevention: Now stretches before every run — especially important after 30.

• Distinguishing hurt vs. injury: "You're always going to hurt a little bit. But if you're really injured…what I do is the hop test…if anything hurts when you high knee, you should not run." (25:42)

• Morgan jokes that she always feels a little “hurt,” runner or not.

7. Massage & Recovery Quirks

Timestamps: 26:56–29:04

• Mike D. admits, “I can't do massages, I can't stop laughing.” (27:02)
• Morgan insists he should try a massage (perhaps a 30-minute one), and suggests communicating about his ticklishness.
• Mike D. wishes for a “baking rolling pin” for his body: “I just need to be…flattened out and cranked out.” (29:03)

8. Running Shoes & Sustainability

Timestamps: 29:19–32:14

• Mike D. enjoys putting “wear and tear on shoes” and rotates two pairs (long run/support and cushy/recovery).

  • Each lasts about 300–500 miles; two pairs last longer.

• Morgan pitches a business: recycle old running shoes like Toms/Bombas. Mike D. notes Nike makes some shoes out of recycled materials but isn't sure how much they use old running shoes.

• Both agree most old running shoes are too gross to donate, but a legit recycling program would be ideal.

9. Fun Habits & Personal Rituals

Timestamps: 09:15–09:31

• Mike D. shares quirky habits:
  • Different mugs for different days
  • Specific fork use
  • Assigning objects for daily routines
  • “I have a Friday mug, I have a Saturday and a Sunday mug. I have a specific fork I have to use every day.” (09:15)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"I applied for three, maybe four years straight...it led me to believe they don't really accept anybody."
— Mike D. on Rotten Tomatoes critic rejection (03:19)

"...the only thing I really miss is like a pepperoni pizza. Like, I haven't had a pepperoni pizza in probably over 10 years."
— Mike D. on going vegan (11:03)

"I'm really good at doing...maybe it's like a gymnastics move...you kind of roll into it."
— Mike D. on falling safely during runs (22:28)

"I have different things assigned to different days in different times all throughout my life."
— Mike D. on daily rituals (09:15)

"I can't do massages, I can't stop laughing."
— Mike D. on his ticklishness (27:02)

"I love putting wear and tear on shoes because I see people, like, running influencers...their shoes are never dirty. That's not fun."
— Mike D. on honest running gear (29:19)

---

Important Timestamps

• 03:17–04:27 — Mike D's Rotten Tomatoes application experience
• 05:04–06:51 — Movie review process and notetaking
• 07:00–10:28 — Vegetarian/vegan meals and snack ideas
• 10:45–11:53 — Foods missed since going vegan
• 17:13–22:02 — Transformation photos & authenticity in sharing journey
• 22:02–26:56 — Running injuries, mental recovery, and stretching tips
• 26:56–29:04 — Massage, rolling pin analogy, ticklishness
• 29:19–32:14 — Running shoes, sustainability, and recycling ideas
• 09:15–09:31 — Quirky personal routines

---

Tone & Style

• Conversational, upbeat, and honest
• Occasional self-deprecation and humor (especially from Mike D.)
• Both hosts are supportive, candid, and enjoy quirky tangents

---

For New Listeners

This episode provides a mix of real talk, advice, and fun rapport between Morgan and Mike D. Listeners get unique insight into podcasting/movie-reviewer life, plant-based eating hacks, candid thoughts on health and transformation, practical running wisdom, and the charm of quirky daily rituals. The episode is accessible and connecting, with plenty of personality and valuable takeaways.

Transcript

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast from Tips for healthy living to the latest medical breakthroughs, WebMD's Health Discovered podcast keeps you up to date on today's most important health issues. Through in depth conversations with experts from across the healthcare community, WebMD reveals how today's health news will impact your life tomorrow.

[Mike D.]

It's not that people don't know that exercise is healthy, it's just that people do. We don't know why it's healthy and we're struggling to try to help people help themselves and each other.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Listen to WebMD Health discovered on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're looking for another heavy podcast about trauma, this ain't it. This is for the ones who had to survive and still show up as brilliant, loud, soft and whole. The Unwanted Sorority is where Black women, femmes and gender expansive survivors of sexual violence rewrite the rules on healing, sexual support and what happens after. And I'm your host and co president of this organization, Dr. Leitra Tate. Listen to the Unwanted Sorority. New episodes every Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mike D.]

Our iHeartRadio music festival, presented by Capital One, is coming back to Las Vegas Vegas, September 19th and 20th, streaming live only on Hulu. Ladies and gentlemen, Brian Adams, Ed Sheeran, Fade Chlorilla, Jelly Roll, John Fogarty, Lil Way Cool j, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Sammy Hagar, Tate McCrae, the Offspring, Tim McGraw. Tickets are on sale [e-mail] get your tickets today.axs.com do we really need another.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Podcast with a condescending finance bro trying to tell us how to spend our own money? No thank you. Instead, check out Brown Ambition. Each week I your host, Mandy Money gives you real talk, real advice with a heavy dose of I feel useless. Like on Fridays when I take your questions for the baqa. Whether you're trying to invest for your future, navigate a toxic workplace, I got you. Listen to Brown ambition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast. The Super Secret Bestie Club Podcast Season.

[Mike D.]

Four is here and we're locked in.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

That means more juicy cheesement, terrible love advice, evil spells to cast on your ex.

[Mike D.]

No, no, we're not doing that this season.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Oh well, this season we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special bestie.

[Mike D.]

And you're not gonn. My name is Curly.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

And I'm Maya.

[Mike D.]

Get in here.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Listen to the Super Secret Bestie club on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts or.

[Morgan]

Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mike D.]

Best bits of the week with Morgan.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

It's listener Q and A time, where.

[Mike D.]

Morgan and a show member answer almost all your questions.

[Morgan]

It's time to answer some listener questions, and Mike D. Is joining me. What's up, Mike?

[Mike D.]

Hey. Questions?

[Morgan]

You ready to answer all the questions?

[Mike D.]

I think I'm ready. Questions make me nervous.

[Morgan]

Why do they make you nervous? They're always about movies and you're running.

[Mike D.]

Yeah, I guess. Yeah. I think sometimes answering questions about myself feels weird.

[Morgan]

Oh, well, at least you're not the one, like, answering them. You know, I. I ask you. Okay, so hopefully that makes it a little bit better. Is Mike D. Still trying to be a Rotten Tomatoes critic?

[Mike D.]

Aaron, I've given up on that dream. I applied for three, maybe four years straight, and I don't even think they take applications anymore because they stop. The criteria was so hard to get in. It led me to believe that they don't really accept anybody. Like, they have people who either they know or you have to kind of be in some kind of circle. Because I met every single requirement to become an official critic, and they never allowed it. Like, the first couple of years, they were like, no, you have to do something for a year. And I'd maybe started my podcast that same year that I applied. So that was 2019. And they just never accepted it, even after I'd been doing it for one to two years, sent them all my credentials. They were like, now you don't meet the requirements. So it led me to believe that they don't really take real people. And now that I don't even see the applications open up, I just think it's all a sham.

[Morgan]

You need to go down the conspiracy theory thread and find out if your accusations true.

[Mike D.]

I think the only thing legit on there is the audience score, because you can sign up for an account and contribute to that. And I'm like, I want to do that. I'll do that on my letterbox for all my podcasts. But aside from that, I'm like, I'm good.

[Morgan]

Done with you, Rotten Tomatoes. Do you trust their scores still, or have you also backed off of that?

[Mike D.]

I also don't look at the scores anymore because when I go watch a movie, I don't. I don't want to be influenced in any way. So if I know what the score is going into it, it's going to change my mentality on it. And I won't even go look at anybody else's review until after I've recorded mine because I don't want to accidentally take what they felt about the movie or some kind of inspiration from those reviews. So I'll go watch a movie, record mine, and then dive into what everybody else is saying and maybe bring it up later. But I just like to be completely my own perspective.

[Morgan]

Okay, well, there you go. That's why you're also the expert. Do you take notes during the movie for your podcast, Lauren from Austin?

[Mike D.]

I do. I set my phone to like the dark mode because you can't see it. And then I'll take notes throughout. If I see something that I'm like, oh, that'd be funny to talk about or an interesting point, I'll always write the title of the movie and then all my random thoughts. So before I sit down to record a review, I just have all these things like weird camera angle, awkward facial interaction, or like weird line or just something about the plot or a song or something. And then I'll just kind of go down through all my notes as I do my review. So always taking notes. If I don't take notes or hit my timer on how long the movie is, I feel off.

[Morgan]

Really?

[Mike D.]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Do you feel like it takes away from getting to enjoy the movie? Do you ever go to a movie and not take notes?

[Mike D.]

If it's a really big movie, like a Spider man or Avengers, those are so big. Where I'm not going to forget any little details. So for those movies, I'll maybe take two to three notes and it's something like very specific that I see that I'm like, I don't think everybody else is going to pick up on that. I need to make a note of that so I can talk about it. But those movies I could go into and just freeball it and not do anything and just. Just experience it as a fan. Because since I do go to the movies once or twice a week, there are some that are going to be movies that I would watch no matter what. Like, even if I wasn't doing a podcast, I would still make it a point to go see them. But there are some that I'm like, okay, I gotta watch a new movie this week. It's probably gonna be number one. I gotta go check it out. And some of those feel a little bit. I still enjoy them, but at times they feel like a little bit more of a chore to watch. And I'm like, I gotta find some angle here to take some notes. So there are some, like the big ones, like marble ones, usually I don't have to take notes.

[Morgan]

That makes sense. Well, you're also probably really amped for those too, the other ones.

[Mike D.]

Yeah, I was like, I'm just gonna remember that. I'm just. I'm gonna remember that forever. So I don't need to take notes.

[Morgan]

Callie in Vegas, what is each of your go to vegetarian meals to make.

[Mike D.]

And fun snack for vegan meals? A lot of mine are tofu based, which I know a lot of people have. Like, you think tofu is disg. But I've really grown to like it. And I think with some seasoning and mixing it with things that, like, it absorbs all the flavor. So I would encourage anybody who's thinking about vegetarian or vegan diet just looking up some recipes. On TikTok. You can, like, put, like, batter on them and, like, fry them, throw them in the air fryer. You can do all kinds of things with tofu to make it delicious. And I like finding those type of recipes, like chili lime tofu. Like, it's good. To me, it is my version of a chicken nugget. If I make it a certain way.

[Morgan]

Can you make tofu like a chicken nugget?

[Mike D.]

Yeah. If you throw it in the air fryer with some spices and some kind of avocado oil, it gets pretty crispy.

[Morgan]

I'm just gonna have to trust you on that.

[Mike D.]

I'm one of the people. Like a chicken nugget kind of sewer. Like, you're going to be very aware this is not a chicken nugget. But as far as, like, having something that has a bit of a crunch to it, that's as close as you can get.

[Morgan]

Okay. I'm trusting you on that because I'm. I'm not a tofu girl. What about your snack?

[Mike D.]

I'm really weird that I love dates. I think I'm the only person I've ever met that loves dates.

[Morgan]

I love dates.

[Mike D.]

Okay. Maybe I met two people now.

[Morgan]

Okay. I eat them with almond butter and sea salt.

[Mike D.]

Yeah. I'll go to Costco and get the big thing of dates. And usually I'll just eat them like that. If it's like a. Like a weekend thing, I'll. I'll put peanut butter on them so we can snack. I have, like, different snacks that are like, that's. That's a weekday snack, and that's a weekend snack.

[Morgan]

What's a weekday snack?

[Mike D.]

A weekday snack is, like, something crunchy. Like, my weekday snack is, like, those popcorners. Like, that's a weekday snack. That's something, like, at the end of the Day like I'm watching a TV show or something. It's a good little crunch at the end of the day. On the weekend, it's like I need something a little bit sweeter, a little bit. Something that feels more like a celebration at the end of the week. That's what I'll throw in some dates with peanut butter. That's a weekend snack.

[Morgan]

I love it. I love, I just love when humans have fun things like that.

[Mike D.]

I have stuff like that all. Like I have certain mugs that I use on certain days. I have a Friday mug, I have a Saturday and a Sunday mug. I have a specific fork I have to use every day. I have different things assigned to different days in different times all throughout my life.

[Morgan]

I like that. I like that, that some people might find that strange, but I feel like that's cool. I don't know. Humans are cool. Anyways, my vegetarian meal that I love to make, I really gear like I really will lean towards Mexican food because it's the easiest to be vegetarian with. And I love making enchiladas of all kinds. I've made breakfast enchiladas, sweet potato enchiladas. Recently I've been making these smoky black bean and mango guacamole tacos with some crispy taco shells. And those have been really yummy because that's now my new, my new vegan gluten free diet. And so those are, those have been good. And then snack wise, I like making Trader Joe's has the best nuts and combination of nuts. So I always get different. Like I'll get sunflower seeds and I'll get their pistachio nuts and meats is what it's called. Don't ask me why. And I'll get raisins. And I kind of make my own trail mix. So that's one of my favorite snacks right now. I love nuts.

[Mike D.]

Yeah, that was one of the things I was excited to eat after I got my braces off because I couldn't have any nuts or almonds. And I love cashews and I love almonds.

[Morgan]

So you can make your own trail mix now. Have you been to Trader Joe's and had their nuts?

[Mike D.]

I don't think. I think I've had their cashews. But nothing like the mix things.

[Morgan]

Okay. I make my own mixes. I just get all the individual ones and I create my own little trail mix. You would like it. They have the best kind, but those would be the two for me. Is there any food you've missed since going vegan? Gin in Oklahoma City. We did talk a little bit about this whole journey and stuff on part one, but I still want you to answer.

[Mike D.]

I'd say the only thing I really miss is like a pepperoni pizza. Like, I haven't had a pepperoni pizza in probably over 10 years.

[Morgan]

At this point, would you have a pepperoni pizza just to have like a bite.

[Mike D.]

That would. I don't know, Like, I haven't had meat in so long. I don't know if I'd go pepperoni pizza first. I'd probably go like chicken tender before I went pepperoni pizza. But I used to love going to cc's and I would just crush, like, just plates of pizza. I would say that's the one thing I miss the most because I've had like, vegan pizza, which I don't really feel is like real pizza because it doesn't really taste the same. Yeah, but there's just something about that crunch of a pepperoni.

[Morgan]

It's true. That good old classic just OG pizza when the healthy ones are good. But the OGs.

[Mike D.]

Yeah. Greasy and cheesy.

[Morgan]

Yes. I for sure, in my five days of not having anything, I already miss chocolate. So there's that. Anything sweet. I miss all of my sweets that would be cool to have. So that's all I got. Mike D. Has gone a lot longer, so this makes a lot more sense. Okay, we're gonna take a quick break.

[Mike D.]

We'll be right back.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

The U.S. open is here and on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, I'm breaking down the players from rising stars to legends chasing history. The predictions, well, we see a first time winner and the pressure. Billie Jean King says pressure is a privilege, you know, plus the stories and events off the court. And of course, the honey deuces, the signature cocktail of the U.S. open.

[Morgan]

The U.S. open has gotten to be.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

A very fancy, wonderfully experiential sporting event. I mean, listen, the whole aim is to be accessible and inclusive for all tennis fans. Whether you play tennis or not, tennis is full of compelling stories of late. Have you heard about icon Venus Williams, recent wildcard bids? Or the young Canadian Victoria Mboko making a name for herself? How about Naomi Osaka getting back to form? To hear this and more, listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain, an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts, presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Mike D.]

I don't write songs. God writes Songs. I take dictation. I didn't even know you'd been a pastor for over 10 years. I think culture is any space that you live in that develops you. On a recent episode of Culture Raises Us podcast, I sat down with Warren Campbell, Grammy winning producer, pastor and music executive to talk about the beats, the business and the legacy behind some of the biggest names in gospel, R and B and hip hop. This is like watching Michael Jackson talk about Thriller before it happens. Was there a particular moment where you realized just how instrumental music culture was to shaping all of our global ecosystem? I was 8 years old and the Motown 25 Special came on and all the great Motown artists, Marvin, Stevie Wonder, Temptations, Diana Ross, from Mary Mary to Jennifer Hudson. We get into the soul of the music and the purpose that drives it. Listen to Culture Raises us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Welcome to Pretty Private with ebony, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free. I'm Ebony and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you. On Pretty Private, we'll explore the untold experiences of women of color who faced it all. Childhood trauma, addiction, abuse, incarceration, grief, mental health struggles and more. And found the strength to make it to the other side. My dad was shot and killed in his house. Yes, he was a drug dealer. Yes, he was a confidential informant. But he wasn't shot on a street corner. He wasn't shot in the middle of a drug deal. He was shot in his house, unarmed. Pretty Private isn't just a podcast. It's your personal guide for turning storylines into lifelines. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty Private from the Black Effect podcast network. Tune in on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Mike D.]

Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone to land this plane.

[Mike D.]

Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this. Until this, pull that, turn this. It's just I can do my eyes closed. I'm Manny. I'm Noah, this is Devin. And on our new show, no Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise lack the expertise.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

They need to recognize that they lack expertise.

[Mike D.]

And then as we try the who thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the Runway. I'm looking at this thing.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

See?

[Mike D.]

Listen to no such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Hi, I'm Jenica Lopez, and in the new season of the Overcomer podcast, I'm taking you on an exciting journey of self reflection.

[Morgan]

Am I ready to enter this new.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Part of my life?

[Morgan]

Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote myself and my time? I wanted to be successful on my own, not just because of who my mom is.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Like, I felt like I needed to.

[Morgan]

Be better or work twice as hard as she did. Join me for conversations about healing and growth. Life is freaking hard, and growth doesn't happen in comfort. It happens in motion, even when you're hurting. All from one of my favorite spaces, the kitchen. Honestly, these are going to come out so freaking amazing. Be a part of my new chapter.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

And listen to the new season of the Overcome for podcast as part of the Michael Turret Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Morgan]

Why do you not ever post any pictures of your old self? We'd love to see the progress. This is from Jalen.

[Mike D.]

That is an interesting question, because I feel like I used to do that a lot. Maybe, like, when I was five years or so away from when I lost all my weight and where I felt like I was documenting that a little bit more. And I kind of thought about it recently of even seeing, like. Even though it's been pretty recent of, like, me getting my braces off, it's weird to see me now with braces looking back on that. So I think really is that I don't really recognize myself when I go back and look at some of those pictures. Not that I do it because I'm ashamed. There's also, like, I would say maybe three years of my life that aren't documented because I didn't like taking pictures at all. Like, I would take pictures of people, like, of my family, but I would never want to be in the picture. So I would say maybe from, like, 2011 to, like, 2013, there aren't even that many pictures of me just because I hated it. But, yeah, I don't know. I don't think I've made it a conscious thing to, like, not post old pictures, but I think I haven't really done a, like, here's me 10 years ago, here's me now. Here's, like, how I did it. Like, I. I just kind of been a little bit more removed from that that I kind of forgot that that was, like, a big part of me for a while.

[Morgan]

I know you did a video at one point where you were like, here, this is my journey. And, yeah, this is what I did. It's been a while since it. But I don't think you've ever. Not intentionally not. And you've posted of. I've seen them. I just don't think you, like, scream it all the time, post it all the time.

[Mike D.]

Yeah, I just, like, I know that that is me in those pictures, but it also doesn't feel like me at this point. So even now, I think I'm gonna look back on pictures from, like, a couple of years ago and be like, man, I look weird with braces.

[Morgan]

Just judging yourself left and right, Mike. You the. All of those are parts of your story, though. I hope you know that. And that's. They're not bad parts of your story. You just see them as bad now.

[Mike D.]

Yeah, because I think some people who maybe if either just stumbled upon me probably don't even know that version of me. And I think that's. That's the only reason I would do it is because I think somebody could stumble upon me, like, posting my long runs and think, like, this is just some douchebag who runs a lot in post all of his workouts. But to know, like, where I came from, where, like, 10 years ago, I couldn't even walk a mile, let alone run a mile. So I think that would be the only reason I would bring attention to that, is to be like, I am not doing this because I'm, like, boasting about it. I'm doing it because of, like, my journey to get to that point, to be able to do that to where that is, I guess I would say normal to me, but it shouldn't be normal to me.

[Morgan]

I think you should start posting about it more just for the sake of. You deserve to tell that side of your story. But also, I think that's stuff that people want to see in here. People want people being real and authentic, and I think that's a very real part of your story.

[Mike D.]

I wish I had more videos of, like, me throughout that journey that I could go back and look at. But, like, I took, like, one picture before I started losing my weight, which is the only one I get. I usually post where it's, like, me with, like, no shirt in front of a. You're taking, like, a selfie of your selfie. I don't know. If I had an iPhone, then I might have had a BlackBerry, but that was, like, the only picture I took that was just for me. I wasn't even. I was never gonna post that. That was just for me to reference for myself. And I think that first year I took a bunch of progress pictures, but I wish I had, like, a. Like, videos.

[Morgan]

Yeah.

[Mike D.]

That way I could kind of see it all and, like, post a picture. Post a video now with all that footage.

[Morgan]

Yeah, that's true. But you could also still, like, you still get the point across by doing your running videos or anything and, like, have your picture. There's ways we can talk about it.

[Mike D.]

Part of me thought of, like, man, could I go back and do that again? I don't think I could. I think the reason, I don't want to say it was easy for me, but the reason it was easier for me is because I was in my 20s, and I think I still had, like, my metabolism on my side then, because I think of people who want to do that now, and like. Like, at my age or 30s or even 40s and 50s, it's a lot harder to do. You don't have as much energy. It doesn't fall off the same way. Your body is a whole lot different. That's also why when I was sharing my journey, I wish I would have been more. Like, I also did this at 25. Like, it's going to be different for everybody, whether where you are at in your life just because your body changes.

[Morgan]

Yeah.

[Mike D.]

I'm like, I don't know that I would have as much success if I did it now than versus when I did it 10 years ago.

[Morgan]

See, but I think about talking about all those things are important, and I think people want to hear that and see you share those things. So I do think you should if you feel comfortable in doing so, but only if you do, because if you don't feel comfortable, then the point is not going to be coming across the same. All right. Have you ever been injured from running? How do you mentally recover? Jordan in Wichita.

[Mike D.]

I've. I always take a tumble at least once a year. And the. And about a month ago, I took a spill where I was running, and then I was paying attention to my surroundings where I saw this car about a turn. So I was like, all right, I got to make sure I either turn before I get to them. So I don't, like, do that awkward, like, oh, I'm going to go, you're going to let me go type thing. And in between of all that going on in my head, my foot got, like, stuck in, like, a. Like, a chunk in the road where I didn't see it. And, like, my foot immediately stopped and my body kept going. But I'm also so aware of it now at this point that I'm a really good faller. Like, I know how to fall where I'm not going to injure myself. Like, a lot of people make the mistake of, like, trying to catch yourself, and that's where you're going to, like, break something because you're trying to catch yourself. You're going to break, like, your wrist or something. So I'm really good at doing, like, the. Maybe it's like a gymnastics move or something where you kind of take the tumble and you kind of roll it. You kind of roll into it. So the only thing that got hurt from that, which I still kind of have it is like, I kind of, like, caught my hand just a little bit. I had, like, a scratch on my leg, and then my ankle didn't really. I didn't really hurt it, but it kind of just felt like that initial, like, feel like I just got punched there, so it didn't really affect me that much. And once, like, my hand kind of healed. Like, that was it. So I've been really good about prepping my body before I run to make sure I don't get injured, because I think that's where a lot of people do is if you don't stretch and you're not prepared for it, you just hop right into it, which I could do back when I was first starting out. Like, I never stretched. Once I hit 30, I'm like, I got to start stretching.

[Morgan]

So I think stretching is good no matter what.

[Mike D.]

I think it's whether you're running, whether you're in the gym, lifting, or just walking or doing whatever. I think stretching is really important because it's warming your body up to reduce injury. So I've never been, like, fully sidelined from running because I would feel fine in saying that you're always kind of banged up. Like, there's always something from running. That's why I don't even encourage it to people. You're always going to be kind of banged up because it is a physical thing, that it does take a toll on your body. Like, luckily, like, all my joints and stuff are good and, like, my knees don't hurt, which is what a lot of people try to discourage me from running as much as I do. They're like, your knees are going to hurt. Like, I was feeling that way when I wasn't doing any physical activity. So it's like, I don't know what to do here. I don't work out, and my entire body shuts down. I work out and, like, you also have these injuries, so I'd rather do the one where I'm actually getting movement. But it is a physical thing that it's going to take a toll on you. And there's always going to be like, your toe kind of hurts, your ankle feels a little weird, but it's kind of like being hurt versus being injured, where you're always going to hurt a little bit. But if you're really injured where you're running and you're like. What I do is the hop test, where before you run, if you can like. Like a kind of like a high knee. If anything hurts when you high knee, you should not run.

[Morgan]

Okay, that's a good test.

[Mike D.]

That's the test. I learned that on TikTok of like, if you. If you hop, kind of like you're just doing high knees before you run and something hurts, probably shouldn't run. If you can do that and you feel fine, you're good to go.

[Morgan]

What if I feel that every day? Because giving some perspective, you were talking about how, like, you always feel a little hurt. Yeah, that's just me. Every day, I don't even run. So in perspective, Mike B. Is right that you should just be active in general because you're.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

You're gonna be hurting no matter what.

[Mike D.]

Because it's not like, I'm not at a point where, like, my body is in pain at all times, but it's just something where you're just kind of have wear and tear. Much like you drive your car every day, it's gonna have some wear and tear just from you're gonna need an oil change. You're always gonna have something that can probably have some attending to, which I feel is also just a little bit with getting older. But it's like anytime you do something physically, you're gonna just wear yourself out. Same thing like an athlete would. They might not get hurt every game that's gonna keep them from playing, but they're gonna get banged up. So it's all about doing things to maintain yourself as much as you can. Like doing an Epsom salt bath, doing some icy hot. Just doing things to kind of help your body, which I would love to get a massage, but I cannot do it.

[Morgan]

You can't do massages?

[Mike D.]

I can't physically put myself through that because it feels so. I can't stop laughing.

[Morgan]

Seriously, they are the best. You want to talk about relaxing and not thinking about anything. I just melt. I'm like a piece of butter. Put me on the bed and I just melt.

[Mike D.]

Like I can't do anything where somebody is like touching me and like I just can't stop laughing.

[Morgan]

That's funny. As having a runner body, you definitely need that.

[Mike D.]

I would, yeah, I would love it because I feel like it would be very beneficial to me to just like have like these things because like my legs do get very tight. So I do like. I don't know what that like that roller thing is called where you just roll on it and that. I feel so much better after that. And like, man, if I had like a real legit massage, I know it'd feel better.

[Morgan]

Okay, hear me out. Maybe you take a gummy. Not one that makes you laugh because there's different ones. There's one, you'll definitely laugh. It's a moron. But there's ones that decompress you and like stress goes down. And maybe if you take one of those before a massage, but then you might be dehydrated. I don't know. I feel like you should try it. I feel like this is how you can potentially, you know, just a little and then you pass out.

[Mike D.]

Can you do shorter ones? Because all the ones I've seen are like an hour.

[Morgan]

Yeah, you could do a 30 minute massage. It's just, you get. It's worth more to do an hour massage because the payment is really there. But you could definitely do a 30 minute massage and like test it out.

[Mike D.]

Yeah. Because I don't know if I could. I. I feel like 30 minutes would be a lot for me. Like I'd be like maybe 10 to 15, but maybe meeting at 30.

[Morgan]

Are you overall ticklish or do you have certain ticklish spots?

[Mike D.]

My calves are really ticklish. It just feels funny. I think I am pretty, pretty much overly ticklish just in every part of my body except like my feet.

[Morgan]

Okay, well, you can always go into one and tell them, be like, hey guys, I'm a little ticklish. See how this goes. I need you to be really gentle with me and they'll like gear it towards you. You need to have a massage. I think your body would appreciate it.

[Mike D.]

Because sometimes I feel like I just need to be, you know, like the baking, rolling pin. Like I just feel like I Need that over my whole body.

[Morgan]

Roll that off.

[Mike D.]

Just, like, flattened out and, like, cranked out.

[Morgan]

I'm sure you could buy that online, and I bet you can talk your wife into making that happen. That's what you need. Maybe a silly question about how long do your shoes last after all of that running in Texas.

[Mike D.]

This is a great question. It's one of my favorite things, is I love putting wear and tear on shoes because I see people, like, running influencers. They have, like, brand new shoes all the time, and they're never dirty. I'm like, that's not fun. Like, the fun part about getting running shoes to me is how dirty I can get them. And right now, I. I've gotten to a point where I think it's better to have two different pairs at the same time. Because before, I mean, this was just this year that I started doing this, I have, like, two pairs that I kind of rotate between. I have one pair for long runs that are. They have a little bit more, like, ankle support just because I am conscious of, like, how I did fall. Like, I want to make sure my ankle is supported. And then I have another pair that are a little bit more cushion. They have, like, they're thicker and a little bit less support, but I feel like they're better for, like, recovery runs of, like, I'm just cruising here. So for each one of those, they say between 300 to 500 miles. So for me, that's about. If I ran just in one pair, they would last me three months, which is a good amount of running shoes to run through. So I was like, if I have two different ones, I'm putting on half the miles on each of them, maybe I can extend it a little bit. But right now, with both the pairs I've been running in for the last maybe two and a half months, I'm probably nearing the end of them. And I can kind of just tell by how dirty they get and how much the soles just kind of start to wear out. Whenever you can, like, feel the road, and you feel like a rock kind of hit you, you're like, okay, these are starting to wear out a little bit.

[Morgan]

I feel like a running company needs to be created where it's kind of like a Bombas or like a Toms, where. And maybe there's more donating somewhere else, but maybe that you can donate your used running shoes and they can recycle them to make new running shoes. Is there something like that that exists?

[Mike D.]

I know Nike makes some with, like, recycled, and they're actually kind of cool because they have, like, that weird, like, speckled material to them. I don't know if they do it from old running shoes or where they get those materials. That could just be, like, recycled plastics that they put in the soles. Those do look cool. I have a pair of those.

[Morgan]

See? And that's cool. But I feel like that would be so smart because if you have this experience, most people have, like a running. Any runner is gonna probably have a similar experience if they run as much as you do. There should be a company that does this because then it'd be so good for the environment. You make a lot of money.

[Mike D.]

Someone did ask me one time, like, what I do with my old shoes. And as much as I would like to donate them, nobody. Nobody would want. They're. They're so dirty and they smell so bad by the end of it, Especially in the summer where it's just like, all the sweat just goes to your feet. You're like, nobody wants these.

[Morgan]

Yeah. And so you have to throw them away. But you could recycle them.

[Mike D.]

Yeah. I do feel bad throwing those things away because it's like d. These are like shoes, like. I know, but it's like they're. They're unusable.

[Morgan]

Hey, I found your new business idea. There it is.

[Mike D.]

One for one shoes.

[Morgan]

Yeah. I feel like that would be a billion dollar company. That one feels good to me because I feel like it would work and you'd be helping because all the runners would do it. Especially if you get, like, a high quality running shoes that you put together and you're a runner. So you know what those would be like. Just saying Shark. Shark Tank.

[Mike D.]

Shark Tank.

[Morgan]

Right here on Best bits.

[Mike D.]

Giving you 10% of my company for $500,000. Yes.

[Morgan]

Somebody do it and tell me. Just give me, like, 2% of the company so I can just be part of it. All right, we're going to get out of here. Mike, thanks for joining me. Thanks for answering all the questions.

[Mike D.]

Thank you.

[Morgan]

And check out his podcast movie. Mike's movie podcast. You've got mine, which is take this personally. If you want something else to listen to. To mine is not about movies, so it's much more heartfelt. Mike Dees is heartfelt about movies.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

That's where we differ.

[Morgan]

And follow them. Where. Where can they follow you?

[Mike D.]

Mike Diestro on everything.

[Morgan]

Yep. And you follow the show at Bobby Boneshow. I'm at Webgirl Morgan. All right, see you later, guys. Bye.

[Mike D.]

Bye. That's the best bits of the week with Morgan. Thanks for listening. Be sure to check out the other two parts this weekend. Go follow the show on all social platforms obbyboneshow and follow ebgirlmorgan to submit your listener questions for next week's episode.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

If you're looking for another heavy podcast about trauma, this ain't it. This is for the ones who had to survive and still show up as brilliant, loud style, soft and whole. The Unwanted Sorority is where black women, femmes and gender expansive survivors of sexual violence rewrite the rules on healing, support and what happens after. And I'm your host and co president of this organization, Dr. Lea Tritate. Listen to the Unwanted Sorority. New episodes every Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, it's Honey German and I'm back with season two of my podcast Gracias. Come again. We got you when it comes to the latest in music and entertainment with interviews with some of your favor reliant artists and celebrities.

[Morgan]

You didn't have to audition?

[Mike D.]

No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned like over 25 years.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Oh wow, that's a real G talk right there. Oh yeah, we'll talk about all that's viral and trending with a little bit of Cheeseman and a whole lot of laughs. And of course the great B you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Gracias. Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Mike D.]

Our iHeartRadio music festival, presented by Capital One, is coming back to Las Vegas Vegas, September 19th and 20th on your feet, streaming live only on Hulu. Ladies and gentlemen, Brian Adams, Ed Sheeran, Fade Glorilla Jelly Roll, Sean Fogarty, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Sammy Hagar, Tate McCray, the Offspring, Tim McGraw. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com get your tickets today AXS.com from Tips.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

For healthy living to the latest medical breakthroughs, WebMD's Health Discovered podcast keeps you up to date on today's most important health issues. Through in depth conversations with experts from across the healthcare community, WebMD reveals how today's health news will impact your life tomorrow.

[Mike D.]

It's not that people don't know that exercise is healthy, it's just that people.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Don'T know why it's healthy.

[Mike D.]

And we're struggling to try to help people help themselves and each other.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Listen to WebMD Health discovered on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. The Super Secret Bestie Club podcast season.

[Mike D.]

Four is here, and we're locked in.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

That means more juicy cheesement, terrible love advice, evil spells to cast on your ex.

[Mike D.]

No, no, we're not doing that this season.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Oh, well, this season we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special bestie.

[Mike D.]

And you're not going to want to miss it. My name is Curly.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

And I'm Maya.

[Mike D.]

Get in here.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Listen to the super secret bestie Club on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or.

[Morgan]

Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast.