7 Wonders of The Midwest

Summary

You Betcha Radio: "7 Wonders of The Midwest"

Release Date: August 3, 2026
Hosts: Myles (You Betcha Guy), Ryan, Tyler, Jerrod (with Bob R. Bass as a guest participant)

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Episode Overview

In this comedy-filled episode, the guys attempt to answer the age-old question: What are the "7 Wonders of the Midwest"? What starts as a tongue-in-cheek ranking of tourist attractions quickly devolves into a hilarious and nostalgic exploration of Midwest culture, quirks, and legendary roadside stops. The gang debates everything from South Dakota oddities and favorite homemade treats to local traditions and the lore of ancient wonders versus manmade marvels—all with their signature banter and authenticity.

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Key Topics & Discussions

1. The (Accidental) Seven Wonders of South Dakota

• [00:00–01:44]
  • Bob R. Bass kicks off: “What would you guys consider to be the seven Wonders of the Midwest?”
  • Ryan quickly starts a list, most involving South Dakota: Wall Drug, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore, Reptile Gardens, and the "mystery caves."
  • The group jokes about the dubious quality and overwhelming number of tourist traps in South Dakota:
    • “I just want everyone to know how ridiculous...the tourist attractions in South Dakota.” – Ryan [00:55]
  • Honorable mentions include the Corn Palace and the Wisconsin Dells.
  • Several “wonders” are more about local legends or quirky stops, including dueling strip clubs and the McDonald's in Watertown.

2. Honorable Mentions & Roadside Attractions

• [01:44–02:22]
  • Mars Cheese Castle (WI) gets an “honorable mention.”
  • Other regional icons: Lake of the Ozarks, Duluth port, and conversations about manmade versus ancient wonders.

3. Defining "Wonders": Ancient, Manmade, and Natural

• [02:22–04:33]
  • The guys riff on what counts as “ancient” (settle on: anything over 100 years old), bringing up headwaters of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca.
    • “The Itasca River, Headwaters Crossing is the most underwhelming thing in the world.” – Ryan [02:11]
  • Mention of Midwestern dinosaur finds and museums, especially in North and South Dakota.
  • They consider splitting lists: ancient, manmade, and natural wonders.
  • Light banter about what “real” wonders should be, referencing literal Seven Wonders of the World.

4. Roadside Marvels and Iconic Midwest Markers

• [04:33–05:39]
  • They brainstorm a “Roadside Attractions” list:
    • World’s largest sandhill crane (Steele, ND)
    • World’s largest loon (Vergas, MN)
    • The geological center of North America (a pin marker in a strip mall)
    • Continental divide sign, Opportunity Drive on I-94, Inspiration Peak (MN)
    • “Virgus Looney days coming up.” – Ryan [04:40]

5. Midwest Event Wonders

• [05:39–06:16]
  • Memorable events and festivals discussed as “event wonders”:
    • Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
    • Potato Days (Barnesville, MN)
    • Crazy Days (Waupaca, WI)
    • “Testicle Days,” an infamous event.

6. Tangential Dive: The Real Seven Wonders & Midwest History

• [06:16–07:18]
  • Amusing confusion about the Seven Wonders of the World—ancient, new, and natural categories.
  • They test each other's history knowledge, joking about the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Machu Picchu, and pronouncing “Ptolemaic.”
    • “Oh, is it p. Is silent.” – Unspecified Male 2 [06:48]
    • “History docking over here.” – Unspecified Male 2 [07:23]
  • Surprisingly, several hosts studied to become history teachers (briefly):
    • “I went to school to be a history teacher.” – Unspecified Male 1 [06:57]
    • “Same one year.” – Ryan [07:06]

7. Local Delicacies: "Tiger Meat" & Apple Pie Moonshine

• [07:29–11:17]
  • The topic shifts to legendary Midwestern food peculiarities:
    • Tiger Meat: Not what it sounds like—actually cured raw hamburger eaten like steak tartare, “Usually like tailgating events. It's always in Mason jars.” – Bob R. Bass [11:04]
      • “All I remember from it, we had it on like a Ritz cracker and it was salty as hell.” – Ryan [09:43]
      • It's often homemade and passed around at gatherings.
    • Apple Pie Moonshine: Discussed as a staple homemade beverage.
      • “Whenever I'm presented with, it's usually like tailgating events. It's always in Mason jars.” – Bob R. Bass [11:04]

8. Office Life: HVAC Woes and Snack Secrets

• [07:41–09:16]
  • Updates on the new office air conditioning situation (“It's actually working too good”—Ryan [07:43]), with plenty of banter about filter maintenance and snack stashing in the bathroom closet.
  • “Sometimes I got a stash of Oreos in there. I tell you guys I’m taking a shit and I just go in there and eat Oreos.” – Unspecified Male 2 [08:41]

9. Running Joke: Myles Cutting Off Ryan

• [11:17–11:50]
  • The gang jokes about Myles’ (presumably) chronic interruptions:
    • “Mrs. Luther Miles should have to put a dollar in the jar every time he cuts Ryan off whenever he speaks.” – Bob R. Bass [11:17]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I just want everyone to know how ridiculous...the tourist attractions in South Dakota.” – Ryan [00:55]
• “The Itasca River, Headwaters Crossing is the most underwhelming thing in the world.” – Ryan [02:11]
• “It's actually been working too good to the point where I now have to bring extra clothes for it.” – Unspecified Male 2 (on the office HVAC) [07:54]
• “All I remember from it, we had it on like a Ritz cracker and it was salty as hell.” – Ryan (on tiger meat) [09:43]
• “Whenever I’m presented with, it’s usually like tailgating events. It’s always in Mason jars.” – Bob R. Bass (on homemade apple pie moonshine) [11:04]
• “History docking over here.” – Unspecified Male 2 [07:23]
• “Sometimes I got a stash of Oreos in there. I tell you guys I’m taking a shit and I just go in there and eat Oreos.” – Unspecified Male 2 [08:41]
• “Mrs. Luther Miles should have to put a dollar in the jar every time he cuts Ryan off...” – Bob R. Bass [11:17]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• South Dakota Wonders: [00:00–01:44]
• Honorable Mentions (Mars Cheese Castle, etc.): [01:44–02:22]
• Ancient & Manmade Wonder Debate: [02:22–04:33]
• Roadside Attractions & Midwest Icons: [04:33–05:39]
• Event Wonders: [05:39–06:16]
• The Real Seven Wonders & Midwest History: [06:16–07:18]
• Tiger Meat & Apple Pie Moonshine: [07:29–11:17]
• Office HVAC & Snacks: [07:41–09:16]
• Running Joke – Interrupting Ryan: [11:17–11:50]

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Summary

This episode is a classic slice of Midwest charm: a little history, a lot of ribbing, and endless nostalgia for absurd attractions and rural traditions. The hosts’ genuine fondness for quirky roadside stops and regional delicacies shines, as does their willingness to poke fun at themselves and their beloved region. Whether you’re a Midwest native or just in it for the laughs, this episode is a particularly entertaining tour of the heartland’s “wonders,” both real and imagined.

Transcript

[Bob R. Bass]

Bob R. Bass. What would you guys consider to be the seven Wonders of the Midwest?

[Ryan]

For at least four of them are in South Dakota. Wall, Drug meth, Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore and the reptile gardens.

[Bob R. Bass]

Reptile guard.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Where's that on the way to? Did you not. Which way did you go to? Deadwood?

[Bob R. Bass]

Dickinson.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Okay. Yeah, I didn't see it.

[Bob R. Bass]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Unspecified Male 2]

I don't know. I haven't been to the reptile gardens.

[Unspecified Male 1]

I haven't either. But if you head south to Sioux Falls and then straight west, you run into signs.

[Unspecified Male 2]

I went in some caves in South Dakota.

[Ryan]

Mystery caves. That's the fifth wonder. Mystery caves where gravity doesn't work, but it's just houses that are tilted.

[Unspecified Male 1]

We were going to go to that. We decided not to.

[Ryan]

It's like a scam and a half.

[Unspecified Male 1]

See, I think we're wasting. I mean, you have listed five of seven already. We haven't even spoke.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Commandeered.

[Ryan]

I just. I just want everyone to know how ridiculous. Ridiculous.

[Unspecified Male 2]

The tourist attractions in South Dakota, South Dakota.

[Unspecified Male 1]

You left out the. Well, I mean, you got two options left or two slots left. The corn. Corn Palace.

[Ryan]

Corn Palace. Number five. They're number six. And then number seven, Wisconsin. Dallas. There we go. There's the list.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Well, I thought we were doing all South Dakota. McDonald's and Watertown. This is why it's another one.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Next to Candies.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Yep.

[Unspecified Male 1]

The adult pleasure store.

[Unspecified Male 2]

So that's number six.

[Bob R. Bass]

Dueling strip clubs.

[Unspecified Male 2]

And number seven is the dueling mythical dueling strip clubs. Somewhere between Freeman and Mitchell, South Dakota.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yep. North Cabela's.

[Bob R. Bass]

Yeah.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Congo Club. Those are the eight wonders of the Midwest. All located in South Dakota.

[Ryan]

There you go.

[Bob R. Bass]

What about the Mars Cheese Castle in Kosha?

[Unspecified Male 2]

That's a good one.

[Ryan]

That's an honorable mention.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Lake of the Ozarks is kind of one.

[Bob R. Bass]

Just like the Duth Port where all the big ships come in.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Yeah. Then right on the north shore.

[Ryan]

We should do man made and ancient. Yeah, it's like. Like the actual seven wonders of the world.

[Unspecified Male 2]

I. You're gonna have to. Ancient. What are we talking about? Like Itasca Falls or something?

[Bob R. Bass]

Is that where the Mississippi starts?

[Ryan]

Yeah, the Itasca River, Headwaters Crossing is the most underwhelming thing in the world.

[Bob R. Bass]

It's cool, but. Yeah.

[Ryan]

Yeah. It's like a three foot wide stream.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yeah, yeah.

[Unspecified Male 2]

So ancient. What are some other ancient stuff?

[Ryan]

Let's just say ancient is anything older than 100 years old for this sake.

[Unspecified Male 2]

I mean, what am I. I went

[Unspecified Male 1]

to a. I went to a museum. In Chicago a couple years ago and I'm pretty sure they found a T. Rex skull that they like have put back together in South Dakota.

[Ryan]

Yeah, they've found all sorts of dinosaur bones in North Dakota and South Dakota.

[Bob R. Bass]

Yeah, like Dickinson area.

[Ryan]

Yeah. Kind of neat.

[Unspecified Male 2]

This is. I mean this is tough.

[Bob R. Bass]

Showboat saloon.

[Unspecified Male 2]

It's like. Yeah.

[Bob R. Bass]

What's it.

[Unspecified Male 2]

What's the criteria?

[Ryan]

Okay, so the.

[Unspecified Male 2]

What's the criteria for a wonder?

[Ryan]

The wonders of the world that you have. Ancient, man made and natural. Right. Those are the three.

[Bob R. Bass]

I like that.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Seven.

[Ryan]

Yeah, yeah. But those are the three categories. There's seven of each of those. So there's the seven ancient wonders of the world.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Oh, there's seven. Seven wonders of the world. The pyramids.

[Ryan]

It's the Grand Canyon. Well, it's different depending on like if you're going ancient or not.

[Unspecified Male 2]

There's a. There's a.

[Unspecified Male 1]

What do we learn?

[Unspecified Male 2]

Seven wonders of the world.

[Ryan]

There isn't just the seven wonders. There's the seven ancient wonders.

[Unspecified Male 2]

The new seven wonders is what it says. Great Wall of China Coliseum Chicken.

[Bob R. Bass]

It's a Machu Picchu. Christ the Redeemer and Taj Mahal.

[Unspecified Male 1]

The Matajahal.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Oh yeah, there it is.

[Ryan]

There's the ancient.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Okay, fucking. Fucking whatever.

[Ryan]

And then there's also natural which is like the Grand Canyon and stuff.

[Unspecified Male 2]

All right, well fuck.

[Bob R. Bass]

Gotta get 21.

[Unspecified Male 2]

We have to come up with. All right, so that's our list. That's our South Dakota wonders of the world. Or. No, those are our seven wonders of South Dakota. So we got that sub list done. There you go. Can have that. We'll do roadside attractions. We can put the bars. Cheese Castle in there.

[Bob R. Bass]

The sandhill. World's largest sandhill crane in steel North Dakota.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Nice. And do the world's largest loon in

[Ryan]

Virgus Looney days coming up.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Channel catfish flopped in North Dakota.

[Ryan]

Nice.

[Unspecified Male 2]

There we go. Put that on there.

[Ryan]

We do the geological center of North America.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Well that would be on the geographical list.

[Unspecified Male 1]

That's true.

[Ryan]

Okay, this is. But there is a nice pin marker there right in that strip mall with the subway and an anytime fitness.

[Unspecified Male 2]

It's true. Let's also the seven road sign wonders of the world. I'm going to put the continental divide sign on there that you. That you see when you're headed. Headed south.

[Ryan]

What about opportunity drive on 94.

[Unspecified Male 2]

94.

[Ryan]

Everybody's like missed it again.

[Unspecified Male 2]

I miss. Or I better take this exit.

[Unspecified Male 1]

And I. I think there's a. There's a hill in Minnesota. You can climb it's. Called, like, Inspiration Peak or something.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Unspecified Male 1]

You find inspiration.

[Unspecified Male 2]

That's. That is on hill. Wonders of the World. Those are the seven hills.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Sturgis has got to be on a seven something of the world.

[Ryan]

Seven events.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Events. Wonders of the World.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Crazy days. Wapon. Usually in first week in August.

[Ryan]

Potato days in Barnesville.

[Bob R. Bass]

Testicle days or whatever it is.

[Unspecified Male 2]

So that could be one of the events. Sturgis. Ryan, meetup should go on the new event Wonders of the World. Ryan, meet up at the mall America.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yep.

[Unspecified Male 2]

You could have seen one of the wonders of the world.

[Unspecified Male 1]

New Wonders of the World. I'm more of a. I like ancient stuff.

[Unspecified Male 2]

How many ancient wonders of the world have you seen?

[Unspecified Male 1]

None of them. I. I enjoyed learning about them, though.

[Unspecified Male 2]

So what have you learned about the Lighthouse of Alexandria?

[Unspecified Male 1]

I think. I don't know if it. I. I think they skipped that because.

[Unspecified Male 2]

I would say that it's probably because what I've learned is that it's a massive landmark tower built by the Put Put kingdom to guide ships safely, is what I've learned.

[Bob R. Bass]

That's what lighthouses do.

[Ryan]

Ptolemaic.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Yeah, what is it?

[Ryan]

Ptolemaic.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Oh, is it p. Is silent.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bob R. Bass]

I hate that.

[Unspecified Male 2]

It was. I just read it. I didn't get. It wasn't an audio version of what I learned. Machu Picchu.

[Unspecified Male 1]

No. I do like the history of this stuff, though. I went to school to be a history teacher.

[Ryan]

That's what I went to.

[Bob R. Bass]

I didn't know that.

[Ryan]

No.

[Unspecified Male 1]

For a semester.

[Ryan]

Same one year.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Freshman year.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Some.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Some first semester of freshman year. No, swapped.

[Ryan]

I made it. Made it one full college year before I switched.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Look at you guys. Why don't you touch tips next. Jesus Christ.

[Ryan]

Well, I've been trying to get some Ryan pillow talk. You've been hogging it all.

[Unspecified Male 2]

History docking over here.

[Bob R. Bass]

Muhammad. Have to fart. I heard on the radio this morning about a North Dakota delicacy that sounds disgusting. Do y' all eat tiger meat? Also, how's the H VAC situation in the new office?

[Unspecified Male 2]

H Vac? So far, so good.

[Ryan]

Yeah, it's been.

[Unspecified Male 2]

It's actually been working so good that, like, Even though it's 100 degrees out, I'll wear a long sleeve to the office because I'll get chilly.

[Ryan]

I genuinely got. I had to go pull a sweatshirt out of the prop room yesterday because it was cold.

[Unspecified Male 2]

It's actually working too good to the point where I now have to bring extra clothes for it.

[Ryan]

You got to tell them that they're changing the filters Way too often.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Well, that's on us.

[Ryan]

We're changing our own filters here.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Have we changed the filters yet? Oh, God, no.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Look at the. On top of the freezer. There's a days till need. How many new filter needed?

[Unspecified Male 2]

It's like still new filter needed.

[Unspecified Male 1]

I bet it's in the 30s. I look at it every day. I go to by the bath, go to the bathroom. It's. It's between 30 and 40.

[Unspecified Male 2]

32 day. We got one month.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yep.

[Unspecified Male 2]

End of August. We gotta change the air filter

[Ryan]

is there. Where do the filters at in here?

[Unspecified Male 1]

It's in the furnace. The filters at bathroom.

[Bob R. Bass]

In the.

[Unspecified Male 2]

The closet in the bathroom.

[Ryan]

Gotcha. I haven't. I haven't peaked in there too much. I just knew the server was there.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yeah, yeah, I spent a little bit time in there.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Yeah, it's a great place to just. It's like when Ryan's eating Oreos in the pantry. I sometimes I got a stash of Oreos in there. I tell you guys, I'm taking a shit and I just go in there and eat Oreos.

[Unspecified Male 1]

What if there's like 24 pack of mush in there? He's been hiding.

[Ryan]

Yeah, I was wondering where all that plastic box of un crusties crack beef jerky.

[Unspecified Male 1]

I'm gonna call my wife after this and get some mush.

[Bob R. Bass]

Yeah.

[Unspecified Male 2]

What does that mean?

[Ryan]

Sorry, kid number three. Hey. Some mush.

[Unspecified Male 2]

So, yeah, H vac situation's great. There was. Wasn't there another question.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Tiger meat.

[Bob R. Bass]

Tiger meat.

[Ryan]

Never I've had it once on the radio is a bit.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yeah, it's. It's not actually tiger.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Yeah, I gathered that. It's just cur.

[Unspecified Male 1]

It's like cured raw hamburger.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Yeah, you just. So it's like tar. Tar, but cured.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yes.

[Ryan]

Yeah, exactly.

[Bob R. Bass]

Cure. Cure.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Never had it.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yeah, it's good.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Maybe I have. No, I don't think the stuff I

[Ryan]

had all I remember from it. We had it on like a Ritz cracker.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yep.

[Ryan]

And it was salty as hell.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yep. It's got to be.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Yeah, got to be.

[Bob R. Bass]

Got to be.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Gotta be.

[Unspecified Male 1]

And it's not. I don't even. I don't know if you can get it at the store. It. The only time I've ever had it is when somebody has. Has come to a gathering and been like, hey, try the. Try this tiger meat I made. It's always homemade.

[Unspecified Male 2]

It seems like you gotta try it. Oh my God. I make the best tiger meat.

[Unspecified Male 1]

I'm a sucker for trying homemade.

[Unspecified Male 2]

And then also you can wash it down with this homemade apple pie that I have.

[Unspecified Male 1]

It's stuff.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Yeah, it's the best. It tastes just like apple pie.

[Bob R. Bass]

You're like having a conversation with them and they're just not listening to you because they're just waiting their turn to talk about their apple pie.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yeah. Yeah, you're great.

[Ryan]

Cool about your aunt. I hope she gets better. Here's this apple pie.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Drink this. It has ever clear in. It gets you up, you so up. But it gets you so. Because it just tastes just like apple pie.

[Bob R. Bass]

I also make my own barbecue sauce.

[Unspecified Male 1]

They're always in huge Mason jars too. You'd think by, by, by 2026, we'd have a better receptacle to apple pie. Yeah. Or just for any homemade booze.

[Ryan]

But my family do we do they just save handles of other booze, Put it in that or like Everclear.

[Bob R. Bass]

Yeah, I've seen that.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Whenever I'm presented with, it's usually like tailgating events. It's always in Mason jars.

[Bob R. Bass]

It is an aesthetic.

[Ryan]

Yeah, it is cinnamon sticks in there and.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yeah, I suppose. Yeah, you can fit more of that

[Unspecified Male 2]

shit in there, I suppose.

[Unspecified Male 1]

Yeah.

[Bob R. Bass]

Mrs. Luther Miles should have to put a dollar in the jar every time he cuts Ryan off whenever he speaks.

[Unspecified Male 2]

So how much would I owe to the jar? Couple bucks. Couple bucks. Does that happen, like, a lot? A lot?

[Ryan]

We, I, I catch myself doing it to Ryan. So if I'm catching myself, you're definitely nobody.

[Unspecified Male 1]

See, it doesn't even bother me because I, I, I, I, I have the ability.

[Unspecified Male 2]

I'll go. Can I go?

[Unspecified Male 1]

I have the. I have the ability.

[Unspecified Male 2]

Guys, if you want more, you bet your radio, you gotta check out our Patreon. You gotta go to patreon.com, you betchradio. Or look us up on the app. And we have hundreds of hours of other episodes on there that you can't get unless you're signed up. So you gotta check us out on Patreon. You bet your radio, baby.