Surviving a New Job W/ Charlie Berens

Summary

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You Betcha Radio – Surviving a New Job W/ Charlie Berens

Date: May 11, 2026
Guests: Myles (You Betcha Guy), Ryan, Tyler, Jerrod, Charlie Berens

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the challenges and comedic realities of starting a new job, especially in the trades, bringing in special guest Charlie Berens. The group offers both earnest and hilarious advice for “Bricklis Cage,” a listener transitioning from shop welding to residential remodeling. The episode is rich with relatable Midwest banter, workplace wisdom, and classic You Betcha humor, peppered with a few fun facts and irreverent tangents.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Advice for Starting a New Job in the Trades

• Main Advice from Charlie Berens:

  • The biggest key is to listen rather than rush to prove yourself. Rather than looking around for ways to impress, absorb what more experienced coworkers are actually asking you to do.
  • Quote (Charlie Berens, 00:37):

    "When you start a new job, you want to prove yourself, so you're anxious to prove yourself, and you're not listening. You're just like—you're looking for things you can do while someone's telling you what would actually be helpful if you did, you know."

  • Be present and patient: Focus on being in the moment, listening, and not worrying too much about immediately making your mark.

• Reflection on Personal Experience:

  • Charlie jokes about missing jokes on the podcast early on because he was too busy trying to prove himself instead of just listening.

    "If I just listened to you when I started doing this podcast, I wouldn't have missed so many jokes, you know?" (Charlie, 01:06)

2. "Work Favors" as Icebreakers

• Humorous suggestion from the group:

  • Bring “work favors” to a new job site, just as you'd bring party favors to a birthday party. Ideas include kazoos, Chinese finger traps, yo-yos, stickers, temp tattoos, or even “a shooter for the road.”

    “Really, by good faith. Kazoos, Chinese finger traps. Chinese finger traps, yo yos, stickers, tattoos. Maybe a little bottle of Jerg. You know, maybe a shooter for the road.” (Myles, 01:42)

• Purpose:

  • This is a tongue-in-cheek way to warm up to the crew and “get in the good graces with the guys.” The gang jokes about how hard it is for seasoned crews to welcome a new person, but that little gestures (even if silly) can help.

3. The "Starfish" Workplace Analogy

• Extended metaphor by Charlie:

  • Charlie introduces a confusing but comical “starfish” analogy about acclimating to a new job. Essentially, “starfishing” means existing on the periphery—being there but not overreaching—until your presence is accepted.
    • “You're just one with the ocean. Then the guys, eventually they'll be comfortable with you around.” (Charlie, 03:44)

• The group banters about what “starfishing” actually means, veering into various jokes about what it doesn't mean (including a mature, tongue-in-cheek nod).

4. Midwest Banter & Comedic Tangents

• Ongoing throughout:

  • The hosts riff about bad analogies, peanut butter fun facts, boxer briefs, and church traditions. These moments are packed with gentle ribbing, playful teasing, and regional in-jokes.

• Memorable exchange:

  • “Why am I being mean? Am I being mean to him?” (Charlie, 05:19)
  • “He does this when he doesn't want to be on the podcast anymore.” (Myles, 05:22)
  • Charlie claims his boxers are riding up, becoming a bit about instituting a “boxer adjustment break,” which turns into a group joke about church "Peace be with you" time answering the same purpose.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Starting a Job:

  "Just go in, show up, do good work. Don't get greedy." (Charlie, 00:27)

• On Listening:

  "Some I have a hard time with some days. Other days better, you know…" (Charlie, 00:59)

• On New Workplace Dynamics:

  "You don't have time for new friends...you're automatically not going to be sure about this guy." (Charlie, 02:05)

• On Midwest Humor:

  “That's why they do Peace be with you at church,” (Myles, 05:54)

• Mutual Teasing:

  "This is a safe space. You can do one of these [adjust your boxers]." (Myles, 05:38)

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Key Timestamps and Segments

• [00:00 – 01:23]: Listener question: advice for a new job in the trades; Charlie’s main advice about listening and being present.
• [01:23 – 02:05]: Discussion about breaking the ice with “work favors.”
• [02:05 – 04:06]: Introduction and deep-dive into the “starfish” metaphor and how to acclimate at a new workplace.
• [04:12 – 06:22]: Fun facts, playful banter about peanut butter, question quality, and a tangent on boxer adjustment breaks with the church connection.
• [06:10 – End]: Wrapping up, mutual teases, Patreon plug (content section ends before ad content).

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Episode Takeaways

• Practical wisdom for new jobs: Listen first, don’t rush to prove yourself, and let relationships build naturally.
• Humor as a tool: Midwest workplaces (and podcasts) thrive on breaking the ice, whether with jokes or goofy gestures.
• Banter and camaraderie: Even serious advice is delivered with a lot of laughs, pokes, and authentic Midwest energy.

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This episode is quintessential “You Betcha Radio” – heartfelt advice for real-life situations, delivered with humility, self-deprecation, and a lot of laughs. Perfect for anyone navigating the awkwardness of a new workplace, or just needing a hearty Midwest chuckle.

Transcript

[A]

Bricklis Cage just got a job offered to be a laborer doing residential remodels. I'm a shop welder by trade. What advice can I get to make an easy. For an easier start?

[B]

It's a new job in the trades is what he's saying.

[A]

Yep, he's a shop welder by trade.

[C]

You guys just answer questions on this. Is that the. Oh, I knew that. Yeah, I'm a subscriber. Yeah, he's got a new job, I think. Just. I always think anytime I start a new job, just go in and that's a good start. Just. Just go in, show up, do good work. Don't get greedy. That's it. No, no, I think it really. When you start a new job, you want to prove yourself. You want to prove yourself, so you're anxious to prove yourself, and you're not listening. You know, you're just like. You're looking for things you can do while someone's telling you what would actually be helpful if you did, you know,

[B]

so just listen is what you're saying.

[C]

Just be in the moment. Listen. Some I have a hard time with some days. Other days better, you know, like, Miles, if I just listen to you when I started doing this podcast, I wouldn't have missed so many jokes, you know?

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. I'm glad you're finally coming around to that.

[C]

See, but it took me a long time because I was trying to prove myself, you know, I didn't need to do that.

[B]

I think. Another good move. You know, if you go to a birthday party, they sometimes have party favors. I think you could also bring some. Some work favors to the job site. So at the end. At the end of your first workday, hand them out to the other guys and.

[C]

Yeah, that's a good.

[B]

Really, by good faith. Kazoos, Chinese finger traps. Chinese finger traps, yo yos, stickers, tattoos. Maybe a little bottle of Jerg. You know, maybe a shooter for the road.

[C]

Oh, there you go. Shooters would be a good one.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, maybe that could get you in the good graces with the guys.

[C]

Yeah, it's always like, anytime you're. You're working a job and there is a new guy that comes along, you. You just. You don't have time for new friends. You're not. You're automatically not going to be sure about this guy, you know? But then just by. By starfishing them, you know, you figure it out.

[B]

How does one starfish their coworker?

[A]

Does that mean what, you shit where you eat?

[C]

No.

[B]

Well, the starfish That I know is if it's just someone who's not very active in bed.

[C]

No, that's a different scenario. Starfish. What it does, Mouse, you just lay

[B]

there like a starfish.

[C]

You know, starfish. If it's hungry, Miles, that's what.

[B]

Yeah, you want to just lay down in the job.

[C]

No, a starfish, when it's. When it's eating a. A crustacean on the ocean floor, do you know how it does that? It just goes right over it and just hangs there and is one with the ocean. And eventually that little clam is going to stick its tongue out. And if you try cracking a clam with its tongue not sticked out, the stuck out. The. The physics of it is impossible. It's a structural engineering miracle of God. But as soon as he sticks his tongue out, that compromises his structural integrity. No more footers on. Eat it. That's how they get their prey. So when you starfish your job,

[B]

you're just there, you just show up and stick your tongue out.

[C]

Well, no, you're the starfish. You're not the clam. You're just one with the ocean. One with the ocean. Then the guys. The guys, eventually they'll be comfortable with you around, and then one of them will stick their tongue out. You get that joke in? Got him.

[B]

Got it. Now you're in lessons in. Shut up, do your work, and be patient for the right moment. There you go.

[C]

Yeah. Starfish. Not a great analogy, but it's what I went with.

[A]

Two fun facts. It takes roughly 540 peanuts to make a jar of peanut butter. What.

[B]

What size jar you think?

[A]

I never see that.

[C]

This is. This is a terrible question. Because the size of the jar very much so matter.

[B]

It's not a question. It's a fun fact. What was. What do you think the question is?

[A]

You're right. It is a terrible question.

[C]

It's a terrible fact. It's not giving us enough. What's the next one?

[B]

Let's see.

[C]

Did they learn that?

[B]

Dude, it's not just me being a. We do a fun fact after every single episode. And I'm constantly asking him questions. He doesn't do any extra research, so he never can give me the answers that I want. And there we are.

[C]

Jared, why don't you listen to Miles? Words I never thought I'd come out of my mouth. What's the next fun fact? We'll see how fun this is.

[A]

You were so mean.

[C]

Right, I'm mean.

[B]

Charlie's gonna put five bucks in a mean jar at the end of the day.

[C]

Why am I being mean? Am I being mean to him?

[B]

You're just. You're. You're. He does this when he doesn't want to be on the podcast anymore.

[C]

What do you mean? What do you mean? Now. Now we gotta talk about this. I'm having a great time on the podcast. I'm just. My. My boxers are riding up a little bit.

[B]

This a safe space. You can do one of these.

[C]

This is what I want.

[B]

Hey, we need to do a. We need to do a boxer adjustment break in the middle of episode. Starting right now. You need to have a bell go off, and everyone can get up and adjust. And if you're listening to this at home, you do the same.

[A]

That's. That's why they do Peace be with you at church,

[B]

Dude.

[C]

That's prob. Very true.

[B]

That needs to go in your standup.

[C]

I can't steal Jared's joke. Well, I was being mean to you. I got to give you something.

[B]

Did you get them? You get the boys loosened up?

[C]

I got them. I stuck my whole hand in there.

[B]

Guys, if you want more, you bet your radio, you got to check out our Patreon. You got to go to patreon.com you bet radio 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 got to check us out on Patreon. You bet your radio, baby.