You Betcha Radio, Ep. 348: "Blue Collar Haunted House"
Date: October 15, 2025
Hosts: Myles (“You Betcha Guy”), Ryan, Tyler, Jerrod
Overview
This episode of You Betcha Radio dives into Midwest humor, blue collar nostalgia, and the quirks of everyday life, all wrapped in the group’s signature banter. With Halloween approaching, the crew brainstorms a “Blue Collar Haunted House,” riffing on what would frighten regular working folks, and stories from their own lives including haunted house concepts, Midwest gas station culture, and accidentally getting attacked by your spouse in your sleep. The episode also features some classic pranks, relatable gripes about modern convenience, and extended riffing on the nature of construction life and man caves.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Midwest Chili Culture and Clean Eating Challenges
[00:00–04:00]
- The show opens with jokes about eating chili — and the high-stakes risk of wearing light-colored shirts while doing so.
- The guys reminisce on the satisfaction of a spicy bowl of chili that "makes your nose run, but your mouth doesn't burn off."
- Nostalgic habits: snot rockets, using sleeves for tissues, and disgusting tales from college living (“I usually just blow snot rockets onto my floor.” — Jerrod, 02:27).
- Themes of Midwest manliness, blue collar practicality, and tolerating mild discomfort (“You know you’ve got a good chili if your nose is running, not your whole face burning off.” — Myles, 01:31).
2. The "Blue Collar Haunted House" Bit
[04:32–12:10]
- Inspired by a video concept, the crew sketches out what would terrify the blue collar workforce:
- A foreman says, “We’re working late” for no reason.
- Rooms full of new guys getting in your way, or a well-lit gas station with no hot food or energy drinks.
- The dreaded “salad room” (“There’s someone standing there with just a salad.” — Myles, 06:01).
- Forced labor in extreme temps, with loud death metal and a supervisor barking orders from his A/C truck.
- Interventions for alcoholism, government agents with subpoenas, ex-wives, and rooms where people are nice to you (“A room where people are just nice to him, and he actually files a lawsuit because he was sexually harassed by a compliment.” — Myles, 09:25).
- Misused tools, unrecognizable organization, and the horror of new equipment.
- The blue collar haunted house ends as an elaborate police sting.
3. Dreams, Sleep Attacks, & Lucid Paranoia
[15:03–23:14]
- Myles recounts being attacked in his sleep by his wife—turns out she was dreaming about saving their child.
- The group admits to sleep-flailing, sleep-talking, and hitting partners by accident (“The emotional response from her attacking me while I was falling asleep… I was ready to fight.” — Myles, 17:24).
- Jokes about needing helmets to bed, insurance policies, and how spouses are statistically most likely to murder you.
- Digs at Dateline drama, defensive sleep-violence, and the anxiety of being vulnerable at home.
4. Midwest Gas Stations: Quick Star/Quick Trip
[24:30–29:42]
- The local buzz is a new Quick Star opening—major news in town.
- The poetic pride of construction workers building the very gas stations they'll frequent.
- Discussion of insider knowledge: knowing the layout before everyone else, scripting the first visit (“Script your first trip—grab a White Monster, then hit the hot foods.” — Jerrod, 28:11).
- Calls for a “construction zone” grab-and-go, with worker-themed lunchables and a running tab for regulars.
5. Construction Worker Identity — How Do You Spot One?
[29:39–35:06, 61:26–67:33]
- Jokes about hypothetical “construction cards” as proof of blue-collar status: calloused hands, overflowing truck garbage, limping walks, and fat trifold wallets.
- If you rock a “Ridge” card wallet, forget it—you’re not in construction.
- Deep Midwest stereotypes: “If your jeans are clean, you’re not a construction guy.” “If you don't have an email or still use AOL, you’re probably a construction worker.”
6. Gas Can Dilemma & Garage Life
[68:00–71:56]
- What do you do with old or questionable gas? (Hint: dump it, spray weeds, or use as fire starter—responsibility not encouraged).
- Midwest solutions to environmental hazards, and the collective uncertainty around proper disposal.
7. “Garage Guy” Checklist
[61:27–67:33]
- During Patreon Q&A, they list must-have garage elements to avoid being (jokingly) labeled a “virgin”:
- Running vehicle (with shut door), European mounts, welders, air compressors, rolling jacks.
- Radios older than the local station, perpetual static, five-gallon bucket ashtrays, neon road signs.
- Cluttered rafters, unpainted studs with burn marks, CRT TVs ("if your TV has color, you're a virgin!").
- “If you don’t have all that, you’re still a virgin, even if you have kids in the house.” (Ryan, 66:58).
8. Classic Prank Segment: The Great Hot Dog Hoax
[37:05–46:55]
- Myles confronts Ryan about a rumor he “Joey Chestnutted” nine hot dogs for a T-shirt at a homecoming, embarrassing his family. Ryan denies; turns out a friend orchestrated an elaborate, completely fake story just to punk Myles—who verifies the falsity after much confusion.
- Group marvels at the dedication to the bit (“I actually wish it was true, it would have been a great story!” — Ryan, 44:02).
9. Old School vs. New School Gripes
[22:34–24:29, 51:31–53:14]
- Expressing frustration over too many Coke Freestyle options (“There are too many, I always leave unsatisfied.”), modern ticketing at high school games (now cashless and email-required), and longing for simple times.
10. Midwest Family Sagas & Holiday Woes
[54:16–56:16]
- Gentle jabs at big families (“My parents aren’t even divorced, and we have sixteen Christmases... Least they could do is get divorced!”).
- Banter on the never-ending cycle of Midwest gatherings and family obligations.
11. Teachers, Alcohol, and Drunk History Tangent
[56:19–61:14]
- Jerrod shares a friend’s snap: a high school gym teacher having “lunch beers” during his break—cue fantasy of “tuned up teaching” and how much more entertaining classes would be like “Drunk History.”
- Lamentation over stricter modern standards: “When did zero tolerance become zero tolerance?” and nostalgia for when “teachers could have a beer at lunch, and parents could have one while parenting too.”
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
Chili Dangers:
“Eating chili with a light shirt and not getting stains—that’s a huge dub.”
— Myles, [00:12] -
Defining Haunted House Fears:
“You walk in and the foreman’s just standing there: ‘We’re gonna work late.’”
— Myles, [04:39] -
The “Salad Room” Fear:
“There’s someone standing there with just a salad.”
— Myles, [06:01] -
Blue Collar Kindness:
“It’s a room where people are just nice to you. And he files a lawsuit for sexual harassment—just because the guy said he appreciates his work.”
— Myles, [09:25] -
Haunted House Finale:
“The blue collar haunted house is just one elaborate sting operation for the police.”
— Myles, [11:49] -
Sleep Paranoia:
“You are in bed with the person who is statistically most likely to murder you.”
— Jerrod, [18:23] -
Construction Worker Credentials:
“If you have a leather wallet in today’s world, you’re a construction worker.”
— Ryan, [32:38] -
False Hot Dog Glory:
“If anyone’s name is gonna follow me as ‘Joey Chestnuts’—that’s gotta be an honor for some people.”
— Ryan, [40:02]
(…regarding a hoax about a hot dog eating contest he didn’t participate in.) -
Old Gas Problem:
“In reality, that thing’s gonna be in my garage until I die.”
— Myles, [69:01] -
Man Cave Checklist:
“If your TV has color, you’re a virgin.”
— Ryan, [66:33]
“If you don’t have all that stuff, you’re a virgin—even if you have kids inside your house.”
— Myles, [66:58] -
On Modern Parenting/Teaching:
“The second your teacher can’t have a beer at lunch, the second you can’t parent while having a beer either—what are we even doing?”
— Myles, [60:18]
Timestamps for Major Segments
- [00:00–04:00] — Chili stories and Midwest eating habits
- [04:32–12:10] — Blue Collar Haunted House brainstorm
- [15:03–23:14] — Sleep-fighting and domestic dream horror
- [24:30–29:42] — Gas station construction, local news, and construction-worker pride
- [29:39–35:06] — Construction worker stereotype bashing
- [37:05–46:55] — Hot Dog Stand Prank Segment
- [51:31–53:14] — Old school vs. modern convenience
- [54:16–56:16] — Midwest family/holiday fatigue
- [56:19–61:14] — Teacher lunch beers, “Tuned Up Teaching,” and Drunk History
- [61:27–67:33] — Garage/mancave gear and “virgin” jokes
- [68:00–71:56] — Disposing of old gas
- [71:04–74:05] — Fun facts on Latin pronunciation, random trivia
- Throughout — Rapid fire word-guessing game & concluding banter
Memorable Running Bits
- The haunted house would be terrifying because it’s just “work, misery, tools used wrong, ex-wives, child support, and salads.”
- Surprise physical attacks by spouses in sleep are statistically alarming (“She attacked me in her sleep, while I was falling asleep!”).
- Eternal debates over “flex play vs. power play” in fantasy and gambling, mirroring “Team Edward/Team Jacob.”
- A long, fruitless game of “say the same word at the same time,” showing off the group’s chemistry and comic futility.
Listener Takeaways
- For Midwesterners and blue collar folk: Prepare to see yourself lovingly roasted, especially if you have a cluttered garage or take pride in practical discomfort.
- For podcast fans seeking genuine group dynamics: The easy rhythm and endless banter make for an episode that's as much about joke delivery and group chemistry as it is about specific topics.
- For anyone who loves an extended bit: The “blue collar haunted house” segment is a highlight, creative and detailed enough to feel like a mini sketch.
Final Tone & Style Notes
Expect blunt humor, affectionate ribbing, and an unapologetically Midwest, blue-collar perspective—think lots of practical jokes, food tales, and colleagues who are as likely to roast you as they are to help you out of a jam.