Happy Half Hour Episode 1: One Has Got To Go

Kristen and Miles. Welcome guys. Well, well, I just gotta take issue with one part of your intro, and that's where you said you found some new friends and you know what, we're colleagues and everything. But I just wouldn't go that far yet. I really wouldn't. Wow, Wow, I can. I can literally call Max right now and get him to hop on and he can tell you about how great friends you guys are going to be with me as soon as as soon as we're done with this podcast.

I'm kind of the opposite way where I've never met someone who wasn't my friend, Like I think I'm friends with everybody I talked to someone once. I'm like, we're close now, so I'm I'm on board. Will, thank you. Well, we we already know how this is gonna go. We're it's going to be the Kristen and Will show, and then like Miles is going to start talking, We're just gonna hit the mute button. I'm fine with that. So it's the Happy half Hour. We've we've signed off from

the group chat a couple of months ago. Um, Caroline's moved on, Max has moved on, but we have some new people in the house. Kristen is our new ever do everything reporter. You've seen her everywhere on social on Panthers dot com. She even already like preempted this and started her own podcast. I needed to warm up. I'm needed a warm up for the Happy Half Hour podcast. So I'm doing a podcast with the players just to get ready for for you, Will and Miles. Right, yes, podcast. Yeah,

it's called the Weight Room. So we're talking to players about about you know, how they're how they're kind of keeping their minds right, their bodies right. Uh, just how everything's going in the midst of this quarantine. So that's fun. But like I said, it's all just practice to get ready for this. What have you been doing? Um, I've

been doing a lot of weird things. So I guess the thing that we should start with here probably is the fact that I am not currently in Charlotte, like I currently live in Las Vegas, and the fun part of everything that I think has gone on in terms of like me getting this job and me starting this job. So I interviewed the two days before, uh the NBA shutdown. Actually no, no no, no, it was the day before everything shut down with Rudy Gobert, you know, test being positive

with the NBA. And that was also the week that, of course the n C Double A Tournament was supposed to start. So you know, maybe this is two inside baseball. I don't know. But funnily enough, right, like I thought that after everything shut down, like I was like, oh, well, I guess I'm not going to get that job because who's gonna hire me in the middle of a pandemic?

And lo and behold, here we are. So the funny thing is that I still am in Las Vegas, and I did just recently take a trip out to Charlotte to sort of try to find an apartment. Um, We'll see how that ends up. Um, but yeah, that's me in a nutshell. How can we do? Can we do a straw pole of our listeners and then have them just tweeted you where they think you should live in Charlotte because they're very opinionated. Yes, please, I can use

all the help I can get. Wait, what are the so I've never I'm from North Carolina, but I've never lived in Charlotte. What are the listeners strong opinions? Do they tend to go one way or another? Will in terms of where to live? Because I might be on the wrong side of this. I now, well, I mean I certainly know where I like and I'm I'm a I'm a plaza not a person which can clash with the whole Yeah, you would be that. I don't know. I just felt like saying I just felt like, I

don't know. I haven't lived in Charlotte long enough. I haven't been nothing has been opened. I moved to Charlotte two months ago. Nothing has been open. So I have no idea what that means. But it just seemed like the right thing to say. You do you know what what a South End person is versus a plot plas person. I would assume Plausa, nota is a little more ah, I would assume South End is Can I say this, I don't know. This is just coming from an outsider.

Just the vibe I've gotten from what I've heard people say is like South End would be a little more bougie and plus and note would be a little more I don't know if hipster is the right word, but like laid back. It's a little more artsy over there. Am I am? I on? I don't know yet, which is funny because some people have like called me. They say that I dressed like I'm like a like somewhat freddy, which is funny that I were tend to just want to drink I p a s and hang out over here.

But you know that's me. So we're living off South End vibes, you think, but you're actually I think I just don't know how to dress otherwise. I mean, it's either like just like polos in free things that I've been given or that's pretty much it. Are you from well, I'm sorry, I don't know this. Are you from North Carolina? I'm from Charleston. Actually, Okay, Well then, yeah, I was

gonna say, I grew up in North Klina. Of course you don't know another way to dress, Like that's what we've grown up with, right, Like that's yeah, that's how people who are from your dress, like myself included on the on the girl's end, I got like twenty pairs of Nike shorts. Isn't that? Like I'm still in college, you know, I just did. Yeah, I get it, Miles. What about you? What would you call your personal style? Um,

that's really interesting. I'm the type of person that, like I figure out one thing to wear, and then I just buy pretty much all of the versions of that thing to where So like a couple of years ago, I figured out that vests and long sleeve shirts that button downs go very well together with jeans. So basically I wore that every single day. And so there was a time where I literally there's a brand. If Ted

Baker wants to sponsor me, that'd be awesome. So Ted Baker makes these vests, right, and that first when the Rams went to London, I guess it was in sixteen or seventeen, I went to a Ted Baker store and I bought this red vest and I was like, man, I really like this red vest. I wish that they were made in another color, and I saw that they were made in two more colors. So I got the blue vest first, and I decided that the blue vest was great. But then there was also a gray one.

So one day I ordered this gray vest, and so it came to my work on accident. But I was there with a colleague. He was also a friend, and so he saw that I had gotten something from Ted Baker and he looks at the box and he looks at me and he goes, is that another vest. It's like yeah, It's like it's the last color, isn't it. It's gray, isn't it. It's like yeah. So that's kind of my style. Basically, I just look for something and if I think it works, then I wear it that

I wear the heck out of it. I think I just need to see a picture of a red vest. I don't know if I've ever seen a red vest, but that was your first color. Yes, we need to see we need this post it somewhere. We don't Sara in Vegas. We obviously can't see each other. I need to see this red vest in action. Well, if we ever are working at the same building, I you can trust and believe that I will be wearing the three

versions of this vest. You know, once it gets to like I don't I don't know what temperature does it get to you in December in uh Charlotte, Like does it get around the hours? It's like five degrees at like eight am, and then it's like sixty seven by one and it's back down to thirty five by eight. So it kind of depends on which time of day. But that's perfect vest weather because you need the vest

when in the morning. Then the best part about the vest is you can take it off like it's a it's a total layer, right, So like once you're in the building, you're in the office, you need to go do whatever you can, just keep on your long sleeve button down, and then that's the perfectly good style, right and then afterwards when you need to go back home from work, then boom, you just put on your vest again. Have you Have you talked to coach role about this

whole best thing? No, Like he used to wear the vest different. I think it was a little bit different than like a Ted Baker red vest were like the smock. Really, but let me tell you, so you talk about style. My style right now in Quarantine is basically jim shorts, long sleeve shirt, but then also like a smock style, like no sleeved hoodie. So Matt Rule and I may get along very well. Yeah, mine is um because I'm doing a lot of So I just filmed something um

with the fancy camera upstairs. So I have on like a respectable on camera shirt, you know, like a blouse if you will, and then just shorts, like just sort like I've tucked my blouse into a pair of shorts. And that's just been my whole vibe for Quarantine because we actually had to go to work. Yeah, I mean we've all had to go to work, but I've had

no one has to see us. I was. I would say that's different, not necessarily because Miles and I have been doing these interviews with the coaches, and I mean my part is recorded and those are going out every week as we get to know this new coaching staff. But they Miles does see them on the back end of that as he gets ready for his written article, and he's seeing them really early too, Like we talked with Joe Brady at nine am Eastern when we did his interview. So Miles was up at six am just

showing Joe Brady just like Miles wake up, just vibes. Fortunately, Yes, it's true. Fortunately, you know, I don't I'm a man, and I don't have to do that much to get myself ready, right, So I can just kinda hop roll out of bed hop on the call. And my hair is really short, so I don't really have to like comb it or anything. And then you know, everything's fine. So you know, it's nice to be a guy sometimes. Yeah, there's a definite difference on the days that I'm recording

stuff and the days that I'm not. When we're doing like zoom meetings, I'm like, look, this is what you're getting today. Everybody like watch out, Like hair all over the place, no makeup. It is what it is. There's really so much you can do in quarantine. You know. I think that that's perfectly fine. I don't even like to turn my camera on on those things. Yeah, you guys haven't gotten haircuts yet, right, I actually did. Um, I had not for like three and a half months.

But everything Phase two in North Carolina started uh Friday Friday afternoon, right well last Friday, UM, and so I have really really dark roots. I don't even know if you guys know what those are being guys, but uh, and then I have highlighted hair okay, okay. So what I did was I was the first customer and um my hairdresser's shop, and it was all very very you know. Uh, they were waivers signed, there was lots of disinfectant, there were masks. But it was nice to get in there

and do something a little bit normal. But it also did feel safe or safe as possible. So I have I have had a haircut for the first time forever. What about you? Is anything opening out there or did you get haircuts out there? Uh? You know what, I cut my own hair, so and I've done it for the past. How do you get the back? I just I don't know. I am the kind of person that like, I just you know, I put on the number one guard and just go to town and uh, yeah, what

does the back of your are you? Are you even in the back back of my head? Probably looks ridiculous to quote mad TV, But no, the back of your head is ridiculous, yes, exactly. But I think it worked. I don't know, It's worked for me for years. I probably like do, Like the problem is right, Like I need a lineup, like real, real, real bad. I haven't

had one, a proper one for years and years and years. Um. But I think the amount of money I've saved, you know, not doing to get haircuts and because you know, you buy a pair of clippers and it's thirty bucks and it lasts you for years and years and years versus having to go to a barber shop and spending ten to twelve dollars every two to three weeks. Like that's or I don't even know how much haircuts costs now like that, I feel like I'm really an out of

touch human being when I say things like that. But yeah, I just don't know. So I just feel like the amount of money I've saved has made it totally worth it. Well, what's your take on this? I can't really comment because I'm not a guy. Would you ever cut your own hair? Ah? I mean no, I've so I had. I finally got like the back in a little bit of the sides over my ears trimmed up by my girlfriend and she

was like completely nervous the entire time just with the clippers. Um. Admittedly I kind of was to but but even then, yeah, there's no way, there's no way I could do the back without just going straight, you know, completely buzz. And even then I still feel like the buzz amount would be way low and very like you know, wavy and circular. I I don't know it would it would be bad. But I'm also the guy. I'm the guy that doesn't spend more than seventeen dollars for a haircut at like

great clips. So I've been that guy for however many years. I can't relate to that. Yeah, but that's a that's the okay, But this is a societal pressure thing, especially

for you, right, That's exactly what I was gonna say. Yeah, if your job is to be on camera like you, there is a certain expectation of how women are supposed to look, right, And so I think that I am very fortunate because in the times that I have been on camera, there are there is much much, much less pressure, and all I feel like I have to do is have my hair sort of you know, short at a certain length, and then I just put on something that I think is decent, and then that I go on

camera and that's about it. As a woman, like that's it's much more complicated for you. Well, Miles, we have a wake up call for you now that you're working for the Carolina Panthers. We don't accept that level of of you know that you have. Yes, I wasn't gonna say it, but there you go. You have to step up your game in terms of you know, christ is not going to share. She's not going to share the camera with you. If that's your attitude, only want to see the back of your head and make sure that

it's in a straight line. There will be a check every time you do something on camera. I feel like you need to take a picture and then post it to your social like I would love to see that everyone can see it. I will not be doing that, but I will say that one of my fa we're saying is you did not wake up today to be mediocre, and I think I need to start living by that more.

With the back of my head. I like it. I like it, or at least my my one of my favorite sayings is you know pictures or it didn't happen, So I just think you can continue to do it. I thought we need to see a picture or a video of of you cutting your own hair. That's all I'm asking. I'll do it tutorial. Yeah, i'd be great, So real quick, I want to do a quick lightning

round of one minute each. Like everyone's heard our our group chat listeners have heard will go on and on and on about Charleston and Davidson and sorry, did you just refer to yourself in the third person? Yes, yeah, but we're we're gonna I'm surprised he didn't just say at panther stats at pan. Yes, And they've also they've also heard that on and on and on and on and not a seconds because it's tax guy, because we ran out of characters in the Twitter handle, and it's

a whole thing. We've we've we've indulged it greatly on the former Happy half Hour. But I want to get a quick minute of each of you guys, of where you're from, where you've worked, how did you get here? But you don't have a You can't like go on and on miles. You only have a minute, So you gotta you gotta tell us quickly, and you gotta be suctating. Hold on, let me let me put a timer on my phone so that I will actually adhere to the minute time limit. Because I'm actually pretty good at that.

If I have a time limit, would would you? Would you give me a three to one and then I'll go how make it like Kristen go first, and then you can and then you can. I was really cared for it. He's bummed. He's got to stop his time or now I'll make this creepy. I grew up in Pinehurst, North Carolina, little golf town in central North Carolina, which school at u n c UM. After I graduated, I

took a job at ESPN. I was a researcher. I mean, I'm no panther stats guy, but I did in in research on Mike and Mike a morning show, and they started putting me on air. UM. I was on there for about three and a half years, and you know, the first year I was never on air, and then eventually a little bit and then weekly and then every day. UM. In addition to being their researcher, it's something I always

wanted to do. So I ended up going taking a job with Fox Sports out in l A. As a host of a show called at the Buzzer, and I did some sideline there and then I went to Stadium, which is a network in Chicago, and I did a bunch of college football and basketball sideline and hosted a bunch of studio shows, and then I had this opportunity of a lifetime to come home and cover the team I've grown up rooting for the Panthers and moved back

to North Carolina. So very happy to be here. Hopefully I made it under a minute that Miles did you know fun Panthers stats got trivia? I actually was the official stats coordinator for a game that Kristen called I don't know, did you? It was three year four, I can't remember how many years ago. It was at Davidson. It was a stadium game at Davidson. Yeah, yeah, I remember doing that game. You were the same. I don't

know if I knew that I was. I was for like the for the for the truck, for their graphics and everything. Oh you were in the truck, Okay, I was. I was like the guy on the Yeah. It was like it was like talent stats, but the other one the official stats. I was still out on the court, but you know you're giving stuff to the truck. That's awesome. Yeah, I remember that game. I loved it because I got to go home um and see my mom, and then

I drove up to the game. I remember I stopped at Bojengles like twice on the way up, and then I think again on the way back. I mean, look, when you don't live in North Carolina, you gotta go. So I do remember driving on to the Davidson campus and having like just Boengles bags in my car. But that's a story for another time. Yeah, I did not know that. Well that's funny, huh. I Like you asked Miles if he knew that. I was like, yes, I did. I remember that I should have said yes, yes, and

it could have been like an improv thing. Okay, do I get to go now? You do, memories? You should. I'll just like stand over here in the corner talking to myself. Okay, I'm gonna set the timer and I'll go in three two alright. So I grew up in Cleveland, So that makes me kind of a sad sports fan until when the Calves finally ended our fifty two year championship drought and then I cried in a hotel room

where I was staying at the time. Um so, but from Cleveland, I went to Columbia for college and then after that, actually I spent about eight weeks in Charlotte working for Sporting News at an internship, and then I got hired by IV then St. Louis Rams I have thirty seconds left, and so then I worked for them for five years and moved from St. Louis to l A with the team, which is why I was in that hotel room when the Cavs won the NBA Finals in because we were all staying in Oxnard together as

the team was going through its offseason program. I got fifteen seconds. So from there I stayed in l A for about three years. Then I started to work for the Laws Vegas Regional covering the Raiders last year until I just got this job, um in March. That's a minute, nice, I got it in. Yeah, that was good, and I like you brought a full circle in the hotel room part. That was a good storytelling. Wow, thank you right there, you guys. You guys were both like interviewing for this

right before the pandemic hit. How weird? How weird was it to literally start a new job and not know anybody because you don't actually get to like go into an office and work with people. Very weird? Chris, I don't know, Like I guess I'll go first year. But like so, as I allude to earlier, I my day to interview was Tuesday, March tenth. I guess that was

I don't know what. But the next day, like I flew back to Las Vegas, and then the next day was when Rudy Gobert testa positive and literally everything in America basically shut down. And so, as I said earlier, I didn't think that this was going to really become

a possibility at all. But I think the weirder part for me is that now, so when I left the Rams last August, I moved to Oakland because that's where the Raiders were, right, and so then from there I moved from Oakland to Las Vegas because the team obviously was going to be here um in January. And now I'm going to move again for the third time in a calendar year coming up in the next month or so.

So I think that's a one weird part. And b you're right, like I know, basically you two and our boss and not really anybody else on our staff, which is it is what it is, right, I think that that's something that everybody is kind of going through in this remote situation. But yeah, it's it's been odd for for sure. How about you, Christen, Yeah, no, it's been it's been different. I mean we I got to meet

a lot of people before and I was there in February. Um, so I got to meet Will, I got to meet uh some of the people that I'd be working with, um PR staff, etcetera. But then there are a lot of people that that I haven't gotten to meet, so but I feel like I know them now right. It did take me a while to be like, okay, you're you do graphics, you do social media, because no one was like, hey, here's an ORC chart. I was like, all right, so you're you're you're sending me an email

because I don't know. So that took me a little bit. But I feel like I finally got my footing with everyone, and everyone is so awesome. Um and his made me feel so at home. Um, Like we've done like we all played pictionary on Zoom a couple of weeks ago, you know, like stuff like that has has been really fun and really helpful in having all these video calls

to know who everyone is. But I do think it's going to be very weird when I've developed these relationships over Slack, an email and phone calls with people that I've worked with, but I've never met them in person. So I for sure I'm gonna the first day that everyone is allowed to safely be back, I for sure I'm going to walk past people that I know well, like electronically, and not know who they are in the flesh. Like.

That's going to be strange, you know what It's gonna be Like, It's gonna be like catfish, we should get you come in and help us, navigator. I'm gonna have to meet everyone all over again, you know. So it's true. Has it been weird for you? Will working? I mean obviously didn't start like Miles and I did, But how has working from home been for you? The one thing I've like when we try to schedule time, your calendar is so crazy in terms of meetings and meetings and

meetings and meetings, And how has the transition been for you? Yeah, So it's I think the you know, I'm kind of in a different place where you know, I kind of have to work with a lot of different groups of departments. Um, so you know, doing all the different things in our platforms, working with marketing, ticketing, UM, kind of some of our

outside vendors. Uh. So, yeah, I feel like there's there's a everyone wants to have more meetings now because everyone just kind of knows where you are, you know, Like at one point there was yeah, you know, like well, you know they're busy. We all know where you are, Like you're sitting at your home, so call me now,

you know. So there's there's a little bit of that that like took some getting used to it first, Like the first week, I think the first week we were doing this, or the first couple of weeks was like free agency, and that's kind of a time period where you just never know when you know, hey, you get to notice, like we're we're gonna be signing this guy gets something ready real quick, and then it could happen

at any minute. So there was just this constant on edge since while you're also you know, having all these new groups trying to kind of do digital meetings and and kind of moving you know, because for so many groups for the Panthers that usually are doing things out in the community, you're doing entertainment events or you know, literally things in person, they all had to kind of shift their business to a digital form, and I think that's kind of been all of us needing to kind

of work through that together. Um, So there's kind of more on us for the website and on social and on the app and all those sort of things. So it's it's been really it's kind of slowed down now that we've gotten through the draft and schedule released and everything. But yeah, the first couple of weeks where it was NonStop and you just you just keep going. You know, it's like six o'clock, seven o'clock, eight o'clock, we still know where you are. You're still home, Like, no, you

don't know where I have? Um, yes, that was that was kind of weird at first. Strange times, man, and it's something everyone's going through, but it is. It is interesting that even though we all work for the same organization and in the same department, it's been i mean really different for all of us, right getting adjusted to this.

So always good to hear how everybody else is handling it. Yeah, and so for you you guys, you guys have both already you know, kind of had to jump with two feet in with covering this team, you know, especially without meeting the players, meeting the coaches in person, what's kind of been one story or one nugget or one thing you've picked up on then you can talk about from either like a video interviewer, story males that you've written.

Then you think it's just been really cool so far that you've gotten to know, as can say, I think buying there's definitely stuff that I just I don't know if anyone else relates to it that watches my stuff, but there's definitely stuff that I just like live for. And I had one of those experiences, uh like, it's just like the most silly stuff possible. And I had one of those experiences that kind of came to Fruition a couple of weeks ago. So at the draft, we

did this almost five hour live show. We had all these incredible guests, um and it was amazing. And we had one guest named George Munos who was he was an l s U. He was on the l s U Offensive coaching staff. And you know, of course we were talking about Joe Burrow was the night of the draft, he was going number one overall. But then at the end I kind of asked him, I said, look, you know we're working with Joe Brady this season. If someone wanted to get on his good side, like does he

have a favorite candy? Um? Does he have a like a big good that he liked? Like how can you get in you know, good with him? So that if I, you know, go ask him questions, I'll answer them. And he started laughing and he said, bring him a candle. He said, he's a he's a candle guy, loves candals. He's always in his office, um because he's working all the time and so he likes his office to smell good.

And I just like kept that in my back pocket for two or three weeks and I was like, the first time I talked to Joe Brady, I'm asking him about the candles. Like That's all I want to do is just like that. That's the first thing that I wanted to know, was like what kind of candles do you like? And so we got to We're doing this Miles SNAr doing this get to Know You UM series and Joe Brady was the first person on the coaching

staff that we got to talk to. And I mean that was like my first question out of the gate. I was like, heard your big candle guy, like, please elaborate, and he like showed me the candle that he had

in his office. It's like lavender and cedar would And I don't know, that's just the kind of stuff that I I live for, like getting to know that kind of stuff about people and hearing something, you know, during one segment or one show, and then being able to ask the person about it and kind of having this this moment that you would never know that about Joe

Brady that he loves candles. So I don't know, that's the kind of stuff that I like as a viewer um or as a listener, or as someone that's consuming content. Love to know that kind of stuff about the team that I root for and the the people that I'm following, the coaching staff, like those little insights, and so that was fun for me. It's a small moment, but it's like that kind of stuff is so fun for me.

I thought that that moment was awesome mainly because he was like, I don't know if I'm that bog a candle guy and then proceeded to tell you about his favorite the candle into yeah and had it right there. The other My other favorite part of that conversation you had with him was when he said, I love Excel, really loves Excel, Like that's just such an interesting thing to say for a coach. But yeah, I mean, clearly it's working for him, you know, based on the way

his career has progressed. So that was I just love to know those little things about people. That's the kind of stuff that I just absolutely love. Yeah. Yeah, alright, that's when my three minutes bill on candles? Sorry do I only I guess I get a minute again. I'm not tying myself this time though. No. Um, I think my favorite thing that I have worked on so far probably has been the Stephen Weatherly story that is up at Panthers dot com if you want to go read

it right now. Um, because he's so yeah yeah, obviously, I mean, come on, christ and don't don't give away the game, uh no, But I think he's so interesting. Um, And he's done a lot of stuff in the past with the Vikings internal content team, and you know, hopefully if things allow, um, we can continue to do some cool stuff with him too. But he's the kind of person who he describes himself as weird and a nerd

kind of guy. But I just think he's very interesting because he has so many different for lack of a better word, interests. He has played many different instruments. He's played nine different instruments. Obviously, he has gotten himself to a level where he is a productive NFL player, and now he is going to try to compete for a starting role on a team that needs people to be able to step up and be productive at defensive end.

So I just think from an off the field standpoint in and on the field standpoint, he is a very interesting guy. He's the kind of guy that I think you want to root for. Yeah, I I love that story. Um, I mean just just going through and reading it and adding stuff to it. He and you you kind of kept going. I kept scrolling and there's like new sets

of paragraphs, and I'm like, oh my god. And then he's like and then I did this, and then I like this, and then I'm into this, and you just it just kept getting more and more, and you're like,

when who is this guy? Like what is this? One of the things that's been so cool for me these last two months is the way that you know, obviously this is you know, such a tough time and all the things going on that are you know, so tragic kind of you know, the stories that we hear about and you know, finding some of the silver linings, especially in our very small little world, is is just the way that we've been able to have conversations with guys

that might not have happened otherwise. Like you know, we we've talked about this, but that five hour show on the first night of the draft, there is no way that you're getting all of those people just to have a conversation with on an interview platform. But the fact that everyone's just sitting at home because we have nothing

else to do. We're all at home, and the ease of just hitting joint from your phone on a zoom call and to have you know, Peppers in Luke and Steph Curry and all of these guys just hop on. You know. We We've got another video coming up with some guys from that from that Oh three team, which

is just incredible. And I think that's that's been this really cool thing to watch of hearing these stories and seeing kind of guys being normal, like these celebrities, these football players kind of we're literally all going through the same thing. You know, you have these athletes that are like, yeah, I don't I don't really have a field to work out on, or I don't even have a basketball court to like practice on. These NBA players and they're just

like us. They're all at home trying to learn how to cook and you know, and trying to find what to stream on Netflix. I think that's that's been a really interesting kind of sidebar of all this. It really has been. And I think it started with the draft, like the actual draft that ESPN put on. I was wondering, you know, as we started to do our own show, We'll let You talked about how this was gonna look. You know, you're expecting the expectation going into this draft

when it was planned out a year ago. It was like, these guys are gonna be coming over on boats in the Bellaggio Hotel and you know, the dancing fountains and

all that. Instead, everybody's in their house. And I'm gonna say I enjoyed it more than a lot of the drafts I've seen in recent years because it's it's back to what you said, Well, it's so relatable, like it's just you see everyone at home with their families as their lives are being changed, and I mean you still get that on a regular draft, but it's just you're at home, you know, with your people, and you get to see kind of into their lives. So I'm with

you on that. Another thing I loved was the rookie draft. We did a zoom call with with the whole class um, and we got at the start of the zoom none of them really knew each other, like they hadn't spoken. Um, they've been on some group text or whatever, but they hadn't had a chance. And then by the end they were cracking jokes. They were saying who's going to be the two K champ, who's going to be you know who?

In spades, like challenging each other, and you could see like we got to be a fly on the wall for them to get to know each other, which is also another thing that I don't think you you see, um, if this were a normal year. So I think you're right. It's it's been really cool to to see certain things that in spite of everything that's going on, there have been some bright spots in terms of like content and what you're able to do and kind of relating to

people on a much more human level. That's been really cool. All right, we gotta we gotta play a game. Um, and like, props to Christen for coming up with this. So these are all of her her suggestions, right, so if they're if they're lame or weird, we're blaming it on her. That started out really nice. And then props to Christen for he's lame if they're if they're good, If they're good, I'm taking credit. They're not, it's on it's on Kristen. So the game is one's got to go.

So it's a category with three things, and then we say who's got to go, and then we make fun of Miles for why he picked the wrong thing. I do have to say, I do have to say my my priority in this as I was coming up with these, was to throw some North Carolina South Carolina things in there and then just see what Miles thinks of them.

That's really where I wanted to go with this. I really have not spent much time in the South, right, Like I did have that eight week stint in Charlotte, But other than that, I've really not spent much time in the South, even though I've lived pretty much all over the country. So let's go. I'm into it. Yeah, Miles, feel free to take some time right now and quickly google some of these things if you don't know, but

they're coming at too quick. Alright, Southern foods, one's got to go, grits, fried chicken, or biscuits also it off. I love all of these. This was you know, this was tough. But if one has to go, I guess it's gonna be grits. Although I did have some grits recently and they were delicious. Um, But there's no way I can get rid of biscuits. There's no way I can get rid of fried chicken. Well, I think you should go next, and we'll give Miles some time to

kind of process. It's gonna this is gonna be controversial with biscuits. For me, I've never I've never been a biscuits and gravy guy. I like a good No Jangles biscuit or just any other biscuit from any other our great sponsors. Um, but I like gets some gravy. But I just like a nice but I feel my grandmother used to make buttermilk biscuits. They're the best. Right, But I've had literally, I literally have the thing of grits. The instant grits has been in my cupboard and it

is consistently there all my life. It's just always been there. Grits have always been a part of things, always been a part of will Alright, alright, Miles, where you going? All right? Well, first, well at least you guys, and either you said fried chicken. I mean, like, because if anybody says fried chicken, I'm calling the FBI, right, Like, that's fried chicken. Fried chicken is the one thing that

should be able to bring us all together. Now, I don't necessarily know what the right fried chicken establishment to go to is in North Carolina, but I am a huge Popeyes fan, like a Popeyees three piece spicy, you know, two thighs and a leg like I'm in heaven um. But the to answer that, the actual question here, the answer is grits. I mean, grits are gross, Like they're just like I'm sorry, like they're just they're not gross. I don't like that. I don't like the texture. I

can't handle it. I don't know why. Like, there's just a couple of things that I'm a big foodie person, But there are a couple of things that I just can't really do, like grits or one of them. I don't try them. And you know, people put the shrimp in there, the bacon and the cheese and everything, and it should be really good, but I just can never get over the texture. So the two things that I really just can't stand when it comes to food are

grits and asparagus. I think asparagus is nasty. Wow, we have different I love both of those things. I wow, well yeah, that's yeah. On the team trips. Well, now who's going for the grits and asparagus and who isn't? Wow, grits are not wow, Like I think linema beans are nasty. I would never say grits. But anyway, alright, alright, Myles has some suspect and we were gonna come. Grits will be a part of every podcast from here on, just to make fun of Moss. All right, next category, non

NFL sports, Which one has to go? NBA College Football UFC? All right, okay, I'll go first this time. The answer is easy here also UFC. I mean, like, look, NBA, I missed the NBA playoffs a lot right now, and I understand that it's a safety issue as to why they're not happening. So I'm not saying that we should just get NBA players together and just play basketball and not have it be safe. But one of my favorite things about, you know, April, May and June is the

NBA Playoffs. And it's funny being a Cavs fan. Last year, you would think that it would not have been the same and that it would have been worse because the Calves weren't in it. But I'll tell you what, man, after even that, after four years of lebron and we only had that one championship out of it because Kevin Durant never mind, Uh, but you know, you get the NBA Playoffs and it was just really really fun. Like I had so much fun just watching all those games.

So I really missed that. In college football. I love college football, I mean, I love I love any football. I will watch whatever is on television because that's just who I am. Um. And also, honestly, though, as I have been more associated with Las Vegas and I've lived here for a few months, like I've I've enjoyed Ufcymour and I do enjoy it. But if one's got to go,

it's gotta be UFC. Christen, Yeah, I agree. I thought maybe you guys might have more of an affinity to UFC um than I did when I was making this question. Although I will say, guys, let's all be honest, it was awesome when it was on the other day because there's been no live sports on for forever. I was so into those fights. Uh a few weeks ago, I was like, this is amazing. But yeah, in a normal world, UFC has gotta go. Yeah, I would. I would say UFC over. I can give you four or five other

things that I'm still picking over UFC. So that one, that one was pretty easy for me. Okay, okay, not so controversial in this one. Al Right, next one, breakfast cereals. This one could be interesting. Lucky Charms, cinnamon toast crunch, fruit loops. All right, there's one right answer here. So I'm gonna see what you guys say. I mean, they can all go. I don't remember I'm no lier doing this podcast. I don't remember the last time I ate cereal.

I'm being dead serious. I don't remember it. As a kid. Yeah, as a kid, though, I mean, I don't know. I like Lucky Trumps because they got marshmalls and u uh, cinnamon toast crunch is cool either, any one of them can go, Like, honest to god, I don't. It's just fruit loops, all right. I guess I'll say fruit loops can go because cinnamon toast crunch is all right. And yeah,

I don't. I'm not a serial person. I don't. I don't because I don't buy milk either, Like if the only time I'm buying milk is if I'm making something specifically in a recipe, and usually then it's heavy cream. So I don't know what a gallon of milk costs. To show my law, you know, my lack of touch

with reality with other people again, right, correct answer. The correct answer is lucky charms, no arts, stars, corseshoes, clovers in lots of golden rainbows, and the rep cinnamon toast crunch is dessertsch is number one and then you or or you eat it and then you got the milk at the bottom. Oh my gosh, like talk about like that's your like second helping of dessert. It's just like

the the cinnamony milk at the bottom. So good, higher standards for desserts, man, No lucky charms are great because of the marshmallows, fruit loops. They're fine, they can get out. I don't know, Wow, I need to know where we're all mad at each other. We're never doing this again. It was a great one podcast, guys. Oh man, even do the rest of these? Like through them? Really quick? Yeah, alright, real quickly? Um childhood movies, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Lion King.

I don't know if I can choose, but if I had to, I might say finding Nemo. I too would go with Finding Nemo. Yeah, I mean, finding Nemo, you know it's good, just keep swimming and all that. But I think Toy Story and Lion King are just such landmark movies. Not the Finding Nemo isn't important within the culture. But I don't think you can. I don't know. Lion King, for instance, there's a Broadway play. You know it's awesome.

You know. You also have the newer version that's got Beyonce and Donald Glover and those people in it that I still haven't seen. Um. And Toy Story. You got four of them now, so I think finding Memo can go. Ye. Alright, alright, alright, well we agree again. All right, we're friends again. Guys, I think that next one we might here we go favorite, or one can go fast food, cookount Miles gonna look that one up, Chick fil A, and shake shack. Well, Okay,

first of all, I know what cookout is. I've been had it. Yes, I have had it. I've I've had it after a night of debauchery in Nashville, which is it's good. Um, but if you're giving me these three options, Cookout's gotta go. I suspect that I suspect that you people would say shake shack. But shake shack to me reminds me of the some of very happy times. Um. I used to go shake shack as like a celebratory

thing when I was in college. And actually the background of my phone is a picture that I took from the first shake shack. I think it's on like fourteen Street, and I really am yeah, and like, it's a picture that I took there of the it's a view of the Empire State Building. And that's I've had it as my phone background for years, and every time I try to change it, I'm like, no, I really like that picture. Um.

So yeah, I love shake shacks. So Cookout's gotta go. Well, Miles, I hate to tell you that you're wrong about this. I love them, all three of them. This was hard for me to pick as well. I tried to pick the ones that I like the most, but I gotta let shake check go. And look, I lived in l A. I lived in Chicago. I've eaten shake Shack plenty of times. It's delicious. Nothing will ever top cook out. You can literally get. You can get a corn dog as a

side at cookout, like the milks. The fancy shakes are phenomenal. Oh my god, they're First of all, I'm not putting a corn dog in my body. If that's your problem, that's that's your loss. Mr. Mr. My body is a temple over here. Okay, it's not that much of a temple, but I we got to have some kind of standards. Not me, not me. My standards are a cookout, um, I mean I don't go there often, but it is. It's so good. You get all you get like three full meals on one tray for like five dollars and

a shake. Well what are you going with? I mean, cookouts love hate because you love it and then you hate it. Oh you feel terrible, but but you immediately but then you bounce back and you love it again. So it's I mean, it has to be shaped check because yeah, the love for cook out, I mean, and I love it. And won't you even mentioned Chick fil A. There's just yeah, there's no way, there's there's no way

that's spicy de look sandwich? Are you kidding me? Also, I just want to point out the fact that this is elevated fast food as this category, and will is cook out elevated? Yeah? Okay, so I was gonna do yeah, I did. I changed it. When I sent you guys this stuff. I was making notes to myself. I wasn't going to put cookout on there. I was going to put other ones. But but then I was like, well, I didn't know if you knew cook out, and I thought we had to have that conversation, Miles as you

being a future resident in North Carolina. So disregard the word elevated. It's I mean, it's not you know, never mind, I'm not going to trash other places, but you know it's not a certain places alight. Moving on, last one. Last one, and this is the one that our podcast listeners will already know about because you guys are gonna trash me and I get it, and this will be the will trash moment. I'll take it from Miles. Chocolate, candy, Twigs, Rec's or Snickers. Can I say this really quick? I

love that you say recy's. I've always said rec's instead of reces and I've been made fun of so many times throughout my lefe. Well, that was that was the first That was the first part was to see how you say it. Okay, alright, go ahead, Miles. It's definitely Spies. I have no big opinion on this, as I do gift versus Jeff in terms of recess versus resays um, but candy that's got to go. Of these three. I probably say Snickers because I don't feel like nuts elevate

candy as much as some people think that it does. Yeah, I think Snickers is garbage, so I'm out on that. Well, what I wouldn't say not garbage. I would never reach for one, and I feel like I feel like everyone loves it. Okay, I'm sorry, Mr. Grits are disgusting. I don't say disgusting, I said gross. I think Okay, I don't know. I don't like Snickers. I know everyone loves it. It's not a bad candy bar. It's not for me. I would never reach for it if I were on

a road trip and I were at the store. Well, what's your opinion. I don't like peanut butter, what just in general? In general? Wow? Interesting, I love boiled peanuts. I don't. Well, you have to love boiled peanuts if you're from South Carolina, I guess. But is that like a thing in there? Wow, it's a thing. I've never

lived there, I don't know. To a minor league baseball game in Virginia and asked them if they had bold peanuts and was very upset when they were upset at me, and they're like, no, here's the bag of roasted peanuts. I'm like, no, No, that's not as not even close ess for you. No res no any of the other peanut butter things. I feel like I've learned so much about the two of you. I feel like that too. This is good. Well, I guess we can consider ourselves

friends now. Yeah, well, I think the next step is, clearly, once we all can get back into the stadium, is a blind taste test of all of our least favorite foods. Right, We're gonna put some blindfold Miles and put some grits in front of him. Maybe some butter pops up. No, it's just me that I'm the only person I had that idea. Okay, you just wanted to. It's fun, but like, but I wouldn't know what more, because isn't that what

friends do. I think I would reckon as the taste and texture of asparagus, I would recognize the texture of grits, unless you certainly polina, in which case, like polenta, is basically the same. But for some reason, I like Polentimore. I don't know why. Um, but yeah, it's strange. Um. But then yeah, I don't or ruga rugla tastes like dirt to me. That's the other thing. Oh my goodness. All right, we got completely opposite taste. I love rugla, having a rugla salad tomorrow sad prayer. All right. I

do feel like we've learned so much about each other. Though. Well, I've learned that you guys have some suspect one's got to go opinions. But look, I'll deal with it. That's fine. A right, guys, that was fun. Should we do that again? Probably next week? Maybe? Sure? Why not? I'm down. Let's let's let's gather again and then we'll we'll figure out something else to be mad at each other about. Question after all of this, was this a happy half hour for you guys? It was happy. I think we went

over the half hour. I'd say just a little bit, yes, but we got excited. It's a mindset. That's the same thing, is what I said about happy hour when we were trying to come up with the name of the podcast. Happy hour is not necessarily a time or a place. It's a mindset. Can you get into the happy half hour mindset? And if you can do that when you're spending your half hour or longer with us than we've done our jobs. Yeah, I agree. Well, happy first happy

half hour guys. I love it. Thanks guys. This was fun. That's what's fun, all right, So you guys next week