Milwaukee Uncut

The NCAA Tournament kicks off this week and Kam and Stevie stopped by the studio before heading down to Indianapolis! 

If you want to get an inside look at Marquette Basketball, laugh and get fired up for what’s to come this episode is for you. 

Topics include: 

• Big East Recap
• Mindset of the team right now 
• EGQs
• How Kam & Stevie ended up at Marquette and why they chose to stay 
• What it’s like playing for Shaka and the most fired up they’ve ever seen him 
• Zen Mode & Killa Mode
• Rapid fire questions
  • Best MU dining hall 
  • The Harp or RWB 
  • Best dancer on the team 
  • Worst dancer 
  • Best/worst drip on the team 
  • Worst scooter driver on campus 
  • Dream brand deals 
  • Most likely to come unprepared for a test 
  • Who you would/would not let date your sister on the team 
  • Favorite Milwaukee spots 
  • Most embarrassing warm up songs 
  • What they love most about MU and a message to the fans 

 

Episode hosted by Richie Burke & Grace Scalzo 

Produced by Story Mark Studios 

In partnership with OnMilwaukee 

Sponsored by Nicolet Law & Central Standard Distillery 

 

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Transcript

Kam Jones: You know, you can’t take a game for possession

Stevie Mitchell: for granted, especially in March Madness. You know, we know that in the tournament, if you’re not your best, you’re very beatable. So

Grace Scalzo: favorite Milwaukee spot when you’re not playing basketball,

Richie Burke: who’s the one guy on the team that you would not let date your sister?

Grace Scalzo: Best dancer on the team.

Richie Burke: Worst dancer.

Stevie Mitchell: There’s a few for this one.

Grace Scalzo: What is the thing that you love the most about Marquette?

Stevie Mitchell: We’re grateful. I mean, me personally, I’ve never been a part of a place that like loves basketball like Marquette does. Get lost in a fight with

Kam Jones: us. You know, we’re gonna be out there 40 minutes trying to get after it every second.

Richie Burke: Hey everyone, it’s your host Richie Burke and we have a very special March Madness edition of Milwaukee Uncut for you today. Kam Jones and Stevie Mitchell, two stars on the number two seed Marquette Golden Eagles, were nice enough to drop by last night before they headed to Indy today for their first round matchup on Friday against Western Kentucky.

This was a fun one. You’ll get an inside look at the Marquette basketball program. They had a lot of great stories. We also had a lot of laughs and we talk about the hopefully long tournament run that they are about to embark on. Along with Kam and Stevie, Gray Scalzo, who was on a couple of our Dating in Milwaukee episodes and is very involved in Marquette basketball, also came down to co host this one with me.

Before we get started, just a reminder that Milwaukee Uncut is produced in the heart of Walker’s Point at Story Mark Studios in partnership with On Milwaukee. And sponsored by Nicolet Law, the Midwest’s law firm, Russell Nicolet, who is the man on just about every other billboard in the area. Great guy. He dropped in the other week.

His episode will be out soon. And this show is also sponsored by our friends at Central Standard Distillery. If you’re looking to get after it responsibly this March Madness season, I highly recommend my personal favorite, their Door County Cherry Vodka. Or their new canned old fashions. They did in collaboration with the line and Kugel’s that are out right now.

Those are also very good central standard distillery. Okay. On that note, let’s dive in with Kam Jones and Stevie Mitchell. You’ve had a busy last week. It hasn’t really even been a week. You had the biggies tournament put up a very good fight in New York city without Colick made a good run against Yukon in the finals.

How, how, how are you feeling? How’s the vibe been coming back?

Stevie Mitchell: I think, you know, the vibe is kind of, you know, we lost our last game. So obviously, like, you know, a lot of people saying good job, you know, doing you know, getting some wins even without Tyler. But we know we could have, you know, played a lot better in that championship game.

So we just got back, just learn from the loss, obviously proud of the games we won, but just looking forward to, you know, continue to get better and then adding Tyler back.

Kam Jones: Like we still hungry. We didn’t go out there that championship game to put up a good fight and lose. We wanted to go out there and we thought we had enough, but we did have enough. And as a team, we thought we had enough to go win that game. And down the stretch, you know, they made a run that pretty much separated the game.

But yeah, I would say that we’re very motivated, you know, to get another chance to play. And, you know, knowing I just want to go home now.

Richie Burke: Stevie, how are you feeling? I saw a tweet that said you doled out and absorbed more contact in two games than the New York Jets roster all season. How are you doing?

Stevie Mitchell: I’m doing good. You know, Kenny, our athletic trainer, he’s, you know, had to had to deal with a lot this year, but he’s been taking good care. You know, just getting treatment every day. Are off days coming to get treatment. Yeah, practice. They got treatment before and after. So just, you know, take care of the body.

pretty. At this point in season. Everybody’s, you know, banged up a little bit, so just trying to take any advantage you can get by getting in the training room as much as possible.

Richie Burke: Do you get over that lost pretty quick with selection Sunday and the excitement that that brings the day after.

Stevie Mitchell: Not really. I mean, I feel like we won’t completely be over until You know.

Like the next game and then the game after that, you know, like. Going losing that game was kind of like we wanted to win that like just as bad as they wanted to win it They they got the win. So it’s not really something we could just get over But selection Sunday was a good, you know to come together as a team right after that and be together and enjoy You know, enjoy the moment enjoy the time that we have together

Grace Scalzo: Alright, so I took a deep dive into the k1 and Stewie show if you haven’t tapped in I recommend it great episodes Something you guys do, like an EGB is an EGQ, and if you’re unfamiliar, that’s an energy generating question, so I got one for you guys.

What part of each other’s game would you like to have, if you could?

Stevie Mitchell: Shoot that three. Shoot that three, shoot them step

Kam Jones: backs. I was about to say, I

Stevie Mitchell: think you shoot a better percentage from three to me. Nah, those step back threes, I need those, and I need the, you know, the left hand, quick release. You I need those.

I need the, I need the layup package. I know you said one part, but. Yeah, I need, I need the snatch, the hang, I need the spin in the lane. Oh my gosh. Drive right, come back left. You know, teams have been scouting that for the entire season. Still haven’t really been able to stop it. So I need that in my bank.

So yeah, that’s probably one of those few things. I think a lot of people

Kam Jones: sleep on Stu’s bed. He got a nice, nice bed. But you, that would be very tough to describe, but definitely, you know, his, his, his aura for his team and his, his defense for sure. Man, it’s, it’d be like poetry watching him play defense, especially, you know, on the best players.

Yeah, that’d be all I could really just be there. It’s like, damn.

Grace Scalzo: Yeah, I agree. And your offense is underrated. I would agree with Cam on that too. Extremely

Kam Jones: underrated.

Grace Scalzo: So, I want to take it back though, because in one of the episodes you guys talked about like, AAU and playing against each other. When did you guys meet?

Like how, what’s the story of how you guys know each other?

Kam Jones: We didn’t meet until, well actually, I think the first time, was the first time I talked to you when your commitment got leaked? Yeah. Yeah, that was crazy. That was tough. You can

Stevie Mitchell: explain that. I mean, I think, cause, so he had like, I like had committed my coach had, my high school coach had told one of the like local reporters and I wasn’t announcing it for like another week, but the reporter, you know, took the, took the story and ran with it and had posted on Twitter right away.

So I just went on Instagram. I just saw like, I got tagged in a bunch of stories and I clicked on Kam’s story and it was like saying that I committed to Marquette. I was like, what? So I was lost. And I actually had a meeting with Dr. Lovell like in 15 minutes. So like I was kind of dealing with that as I was getting ready for that meeting.

So that was a lot. And then just, you know, from there me and Cam kind of just, we would FaceTime, just talk. And then we didn’t actually meet each other in person until. We got here on campus. That was my first time on campus. That was your second or first time?

Kam Jones: That was my second time on campus. But, yeah, that’s how we met.

That was, I remember posting that and then DK, which was who recruited both of us, he texted me and was like, Yo like, yeah, it got leaked that he was committing. He wasn’t, like, announcing that right now. I remember being like, damn, like, who took that away from him? Yeah.

Grace Scalzo: You didn’t have that? No one took it away from you, right?

Well,

Kam Jones: not really. People knew nor cared what I was going to do. So, you know, that wasn’t really a big thing. I pretty much just announced that I was coming to Marquette. So, that was a pretty fun experience.

Richie Burke: Stevie, did you, was it 100 percent made up in your mind while it got leaked? Or were you still in that decision process?

Stevie Mitchell: Nah, it was it was 100%. Okay. So, I think, cause I was, I wanted to do like, like I ended up doing a video or something. But I wanted to do that prior to, like, it got leaked, but once it did get leaked, I was like, I was kind of like, nah, I don’t want to do it anymore. I don’t want to do it. It’s already out there anyway.

But then, like, my parents kind of convinced me to still just do what I did. And I made a video with like, A bunch of like the younger kids in my area. That’s a great video. I have just like just known while they were growing up and while I was, you know, growing up still as well. And they we went to our high school, my high school football field and I walked up the bleachers and they were all in the stands.

And then. Once I announced I was going to Marquette, they held, like, flags and, like, showed their shirts. They had, like, Marquette shirts, so. It was a fun video, so I was glad I was, I still did it.

Richie Burke: Looking ahead to the tournament this week, heading to heading to Indy. You’re playing Western Kentucky on Friday.

You’ve got a loaded bracket. There’s the Blue Bloods. You’ve got Kentucky. You’ve got Duke. Number one seed, Houston. Badgers are there in the bracket. Florida, potential in the second round. We’ll How are you feeling? Is it hard not to look ahead and stay in the moment right now?

Kam Jones: I would say no, it’s not hard because I mean, we know what it feels like to be a first round exit in the second round exit.

So you know, you can’t take a game for possession for granted, especially in March Madness. Every possession is that much more important. Margin for error goes very, very, very low. Yeah, and I, the only team that I’ve been thinking about is Western Kentucky.

Stevie Mitchell: Yeah, I’ll say the same thing. Like, it’s hard to like look ahead when like we haven’t made it ahead yet.

So I think for us, the main focus is on winning the first game and then moving forward from there. Just kind of learning as we’ve been doing the whole season and growing and getting ready for the next game. And hopefully we keep, are able to do that until the national championship. So, but I mean, I think for us, we’re just focusing on it one game at a time.

Yeah. 14 tournament that starts on Friday against Western Kentucky, who’s a good team. And you know, we know that in the tournament, if you’re not your best, you’re very beatable. So we’re just really focused on being our best version of ourselves.

Grace Scalzo: For sure. Okay. And so now day by day, Friday comes, it’s game day, 2 p.

m. game, right? Eastern time, 2 p. m. Yeah. Tap in if you’re, if you’re not gonna watch already. I’ll be watching. I’ll have my popcorn. I’ll be ready, but I want to know. It’s game day. Walk me through. What’s the steps? How does it go? Do you nap? Like what’s going on on a game day?

Stevie Mitchell: Honestly, I don’t even. It’s different like when we like go away then versus like during the regular season or during this conference play or whatever because it’s kind of like a little more random, but if it’s like at 2 we’ll probably wake up, have breakfast.

Probably have like a walkthrough or something and then have pregame meal and then head over, which I don’t even, yeah, we might just have a brunch because two is kind of a weird time because it’s like right after lunch and we start warming up like an hour before. So I don’t necessarily know what the pregame will consist of.

I just know that, I mean, I’m listening to my music watch my anime TikToks. So,

Grace Scalzo: that’s the ritual. Anime, TikToks, music. What music? What do we listen to?

Stevie Mitchell: Broadway, mainly. Yeah, Broadway. And then, like, just like random songs by other artists.

Grace Scalzo: Okay. Kam?

Richie Burke: How many anime TikToks are you watching pregame over there?

Kam Jones: Me? I’ve watched a few before. Yeah, shit. I mean, yeah, they give you, yeah, they give you more energy than you think. But yeah, for sure. The

Richie Burke: anime TikTok’s got some EGB. Yeah,

Kam Jones: you, you’ll

Richie Burke: be

Kam Jones: surprised. Them motherfuckers got some EGBs. I’m like a superhero. No, yeah but I pretty much, like you said, just listening to a little bit of music.

On game days, I like to, I like to go with how I’m feeling. So, you know, it’s different for different games. Yeah, like even with my music, I like to listen to whatever I want to in that particular moment in time and how my body’s feeling. I really try to, you know, adjust and cater to that.

Grace Scalzo: Sometimes I see you just like singing on your story.

That’s great content.

Kam Jones: I just be bored. Yeah, I’ll be bored and don’t be having nothing else to do. So and I’ll be listening, sitting in my room, listening to music. I’d be like, man, somebody gotta hear this.

Richie Burke: You got some pipes. How is it?

Grace Scalzo: No, he is good. It’s like a, it’s more of like a vibe. Like he’s just chilling in there like it’s

Kam Jones: music

Grace Scalzo: on.

Yeah. I might put in the request though, tuned. Yeah, for sure. You, you can

Kam Jones: do that. Yeah, it is it be good music going on in there. .

Richie Burke: What, what time do you get, do you guys get up, do you have curfew before the game? Do you have people check it knocking on your doors or anything? Is there anything like that or no?

Nah,

Kam Jones: nah, nah. I mean, we grown men, so it’s kind of like you, it’s, you gotta do some stuff yourself too. It’s on you to get your rest. We can’t have nobody watching your back to make sure you’re going to sleep. It’s on you to go to bed, turn your phone off, etc. Which I appreciate, but, you know, being that way here.

Richie Burke: Do you guys feel a certain amount of pressure after an early exit last year? Such a ravid Marquette fan base, and a starving Marquette fan base who hasn’t seen a team go farther than you went last year since 2013. 2013.

Kam Jones: What I would say to that question, as a player on the team, I can promise there isn’t one fan that wants us to win more than us.

Therefore, to answer your question, I try to really focus on my teammates to not let the outside things get in internal with our team because that can really, really be bad for a team. And, you know, having that pressure playing so tight and anxious can really, can really be bad. That can, that can, that can work against you for sure.

Stevie Mitchell: Yeah, I think like Kam said, like, I mean, every team I feel like is going to experience some type of, you know, pressure or feeling of pressure just because every team wants to win very badly. So I think if we can like, you know, use that to our advantage versus letting it like hinder our play or our performance.

It can be a good thing for us. And obviously, like we want to win, we want to win for ourselves. We want to win for each other. And then we do want to win for our fans as well. Because how much they care about, you know, our success and about us. So there’s a lot of people who want us to win. But we know that the only way we’re going to win is if we focus on doing the right things and doing the things that go into winning.

So getting caught up in the pressure and the feeling of pressure. It doesn’t really do too much for us, but, you know, acknowledging it is definitely something you gotta do because it’s there, but it’s there for everybody and it can make you better if you use it right.

Grace Scalzo: So fuel to the fire for sure. And you guys talked about on the podcast and back to it, you talked about your circle and how you said your word was Zen.

Yours was killer mode,

Kam Jones: killer

Grace Scalzo: mode. Okay. So if you’re trying to stay loose, you’re trying to be your best self, trying to be yourself, you’re out there in the game on Friday, we’re watching you. You do something cool. You dunk on somebody you’re like this, whatever it is. It needs to be a moment. Some, are you thinking Zen?

Are you thinking killer mode? What’s going through your mind in moments like that in a game?

Stevie Mitchell: I think like when I think when you’re really in your circle like you’re not really thinking about the things in your circle I think I think that’s more so like like when you you know Go back and think about that.

I was this I was that I was this but like when you’re in your circle You’re like so like in the moment Like the only thing you’re focused on is like what you just did or what you’re doing currently So I wouldn’t think say you’re really thinking about your circle at all I think the The circle is more so to help like direct you towards being Your your best like in your circle if that makes sense.

It’s like a it’s like a circle like It like guides you continuous. Yeah So it’s like I don’t think you’re thinking about anything other than what you’re doing at that moment when you’re a circle

Kam Jones: Yeah, and when you in the circle you like you are those things in your circle. So the terms that you have so When we at our best and me speaking personally when I’m at my best I’m in killer mode So I don’t have to think about it, you know what I’m saying if that makes sense

Grace Scalzo: Yeah, and now just so you know when I see you do something cool.

I’m gonna think killer mode

Richie Burke: We can do that I like that

So shaka I want to shift to shaka. He seems like a very unique coach Probably like no one that you’ve ever one on one played for before. Can you just touch on what it’s like playing for him? You

Stevie Mitchell: I think it’s, it’s definitely like, it’s an experience like every day just because of how consistent he is with like his vibe, his energy.

And then he’s like, obviously like a great role model because everything like we have a culture doc that he’s like, did by like made like, and it’s just like how we act, interact and respond and like kind of just like different principles in it. And he like embodies those and he like actually lives by those.

So it’s like, he’s a good role model to have because he practices what he preaches. And then just as far as like, a coach, like, he’s gonna yell at you, but that’s because he obviously wants us to get better and wants us to be our best. And then he’ll just, his energy is just like, like what I can’t say, one on one.

Like, I think a couple like film sessions ago, he was diving on the ground for a loose ball. He dove on the carpet, bro.

Kam Jones: He dove on the carpet, bro.

He’s like, what you got doing the ball loose? Bro, he threw me a ball, I rolled it out. He just dived on the carpet.

Richie Burke: In a film session?

Kam Jones: Yeah. In the hotel. In the hotel ballroom.

Yeah, nah, he, but it’s so consistent, like, every day, don’t miss a beat, and like, you would know if something was wrong with him, easily, like, just because of how, how, how, how of life he is.

Richie Burke: I only see him on the court, but I can’t really picture him any other way.

Kam Jones: Like, that’s him. Yeah. Man, that’s, I promise, like, the sliding, yelling, like, that is, that’s him, that’s all you need to see to know who.

You will know the very big element of Coach Mark.

Richie Burke: Yeah. Okay, what’s the most fired up that you have ever seen him? Like mad? Yeah, does a moment stand out?

Kam Jones: Yeah, I mean him yelling at me about defense. He’s always, like, in the game, his favorite thing to tell me is f ing guard. That’s his favorite thing to say to me.

But, yeah, he’s always fired up about defense. He hasn’t, I don’t think, he don’t really get on to any, like, mistakes, unless you’re just out there with avoidance goals. That’s the only time he really get on you for making a mistake or, or something like that, but for me, it’s just me playing defense.

Stevie Mitchell: Yeah, I would say. What Cam said, I mean, just like in practice, like it’s just like, he’ll, it’s like, he’ll kind of like pick somebody and, like kind of just pick on that person like throughout the practice because like we talk about responding a lot and like dealing with adversity. So like he’ll he’ll pick somebody in a practice every now and then and like kind of pick on them a little bit and just like test them and see how they respond.

And for me, I’ve had days where I responded well to that and days where I haven’t responded well to that. So, I think just like, you know, being able to,

Kam Jones: Yeah.

Stevie Mitchell: Being able to grow and get older and be able to handle those days better has been, you know, cool. Just cause How he is, like when he, when he is on you, he’s, he’s on you.

So,

Kam Jones: Ooh, man. Just in practice today, like I was, I’m looking at bro, I’m like, man, I remember like, man, I, I know how I feel like he still do to us now, but you just remember like how like everybody had their day way. He didn’t handle it very well. And yeah, that’s him. But it is all a out of wanting you to be better and wanting to win for sure.

Richie Burke: For those of you who heard some laughs, Oakley was very comfortable by Stevie, then moved off the couch, did a big stretch, and passed out now. So there he is. It’s Oakley’s show. He’s in good spirits though. He

own

it. I dove into the K1 and Stewie show as well. Kam, I heard you accidentally sent Shaka, was it a Drake verse or something that was supposed to go to a woman?

No, no, no. I didn’t

Kam Jones: accidentally send it. So he thought I was intending to send it to a woman because of what the lyrics said. Damn. Yeah, it was just, I was just sending him a song, like, cause we sent each other music, and I had just sent him, cause when I was listening to it in the locker room, I’m like, man, and I played it back again,

Grace Scalzo: I’m like, man,

Kam Jones: and I’m like, man, somebody got here, so I sent, I just sent that line to Coach, and he texted me back, he was like, yo, you mean to send this to me, or you mean to send this to to your girl, I was like, My first thought was like, no, I’m gonna send it to you.

But it made sense now that I think about it. Like, if somebody just randomly sent me that, I wouldn’t thought it was for me. You

Richie Burke: don’t discriminate women, 50 year old

guys. You, if a song’s fitting, you just let it fly. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. If the song

Kam Jones: cool, yeah, the song cool, the song cool.

Richie Burke: What

Grace Scalzo: song was it?

Kam Jones: It was Slime You Out by Drake.

Grace Scalzo: Okay.

Kam Jones: Yep. What song? Slime You Out by Drake. Yep. I don’t know if I know that one. Very nice song.

Grace Scalzo: Scissors on that, right? Yep.

Kam Jones: Very nice song. Very nice. Is it a romantic song or a banger? It’s a

Grace Scalzo: great song. It’s a banger. He

Kam Jones: kind of was, he kind of was hurt. His feelings was kind of hurt a little bit on that one.

So yeah, that’s probably why he thought that.

Richie Burke: Hey everyone, it’s your host Richie Burke, and I just wanted to let you in on a giveaway. Weekly giveaway that we’re currently doing. At milwaukee uncut if you subscribe and write a review on this podcast wherever you’re listening Which we really appreciate because it helps us get more ears on this milwaukee content And you leave your instagram handle or your email at the end of that review You will be entered into our weekly giveaway right now.

We’re giving away milwaukee uncut hats and central standard stillery gift cards So if you’re looking to support the show and win some great prizes, please subscribe write a review You Again, leave your handle or your email at the end so we know where to reach you. Also, just a reminder, this podcast is brought to you by our friends at Nicolet Law and Central Standard Distillery.

All right, now we’re going to get back into the episode with a highly entertaining round of rapid fire questions that we call the Standard Five with Cam and Stevie.

Grace Scalzo: Best dining hall at Marquette? Comments.

Stevie Mitchell: Comments, I guess. Actually, Strader’s pretty good. I lived in Schrader in like 2008. You have breakfast.

I still go with commas though, just cause I was right next to Humpty.

Grace Scalzo: He’s got a sandwich! I missed it. He said he

Kam Jones: wanted a sandwich.

Richie Burke: Cam, what is going on? Man, what I walk

Kam Jones: on. This is, what is it, sophomore year? Yeah, it was right after the season. Yeah, it was right

after. Yeah, bro. Yeah. Man, when I walk home, he was like, earlier today, he was like, I’m trying to get a six pack. We’re in the weight room.

Richie Burke: We went to the Shrader.

Kam Jones: He crammed it to the table.

Everybody else like got food, like chicken, fried, whatever, a citrus salad. He pulled up with just a sundae. Waffle Sundae. Waffle Sundae. Said it was the special. I was gonna say, you don’t want no six pack bro, that was hilarious, that was a very funny moment.

Grace Scalzo: RWB or The Harp? I’d

Kam Jones: go with Harpy. I don’t know if I’ve

Richie Burke: ever been to The Harp.

Grace Scalzo: Fair. I’d go with Harpy. There we go. Now you have it.

Richie Burke: Alright. Shout out to The Harp. Shout out to The Harp. They’re friends of the show. Most likely teammate to log on to Bumble when you arrive in Indianapolis. Oh, you know what Bumble is?

Kam Jones: I tend to. Oh. Damn.

Richie Burke: Thinking about this a long time.

Kam Jones: Cause it’s

Richie Burke: Most likely to log on to a dating app in any of that case. That’s

Kam Jones: what I’m saying, we got some, we got some characters. And I’m one of them, but I ain’t, not for this question.

Richie Burke: You gotta be locked in

Kam Jones: though. I’ma go with nah, it’s the career for Jonah. I ain’t gonna say Jonah.

Ain’t no wrong with him. Why would he do that? Oh, it’s cause he’s home. He had the career. He wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t. He can’t do it. Nah, he ain’t gonna do it. We go shit. Shout out Cheese. I’m gonna go with Cheese.

Grace Scalzo: The default answer here.

Kam Jones: Okay. Oh, yeah, that cause,

Richie Burke: Cheese. Who, who is that? Yeah.

That’s one I’d walk on with RJ, but Oh, the sundae guy. Yeah, that’s the waffle sundae. Who’s the sundae and the bumble guy. Oh

Grace Scalzo: my god. I

Richie Burke: don’t know if he would, but if I had to pick one It’s not a bad thing,

Kam Jones: I was just curious. That’s a lie, it ain’t nothing wrong with it, but Yeah, I’m probably gonna go with cheese.

Stevie Mitchell: Alright.

Grace Scalzo: Okay, moving on. Best dancer on the team.

Stevie Mitchell: Ooh, best dancer. That’s tough. We

Grace Scalzo: see the videos, come on now, don’t be shy.

Kam Jones: Yeah.

Grace Scalzo: Ah,

Kam Jones: Stu up there.

Stevie Mitchell: I

Kam Jones: don’t think I’m the best dancer. Nah, you up there for sure. I could

Stevie Mitchell: follow directions for a dance, but I can’t. Directions? That’s

Kam Jones: what I’m saying in the videos.

Oh, yeah. You know what I’m saying? You be too probably, C Band, C Band be having the hips. C Band got, he got a little. C B, C

Stevie Mitchell: B can dance. Yeah, shout out Cam Brown.

Kam Jones: Walk on Cam Brown. We’ll give him that one. Give him that one.

Grace Scalzo: Valid.

Richie Burke: Worst dancer. There’s a

Stevie Mitchell: few for this one. Rat, rat a lot. Hang

Kam Jones: with the words,

Stevie Mitchell: man.

Man, have you seen Idol Dance before? Bengal. Oh, Ben.

Kam Jones: Goddamn, BG. I’m sorry, BG. I’m gonna throw you up there.

Grace Scalzo: Okay, so Kam, this is kind of like a two part question for you. So, you were like, best dressed, right? Did you get that?

Kam Jones: With the team votes? Yeah. Oh yeah, yes ma’am. He’s looking the part right now.

Appreciate that. Yeah.

Grace Scalzo: Okay, so who, so if you have the best, who has the worst drip?

Kam Jones: I thought, I don’t know, I think, I’ve been thought we got

the most style out of any team in the country.

Grace Scalzo: Wow. Okay. I’ve been

Kam Jones: thought that from, from last summer. Yeah, I don’t know, that’s a tough one. But

Richie Burke: That doesn’t seem . Stevie, do you agree with cheese? No.

Stevie Mitchell: Cheese. Who, who, who are, who are you giving this to Me? There’s just people who try less often than others. I

Kam Jones: was thinking like, who don’t wear nothing. They all,

Stevie Mitchell: it’s like, I wouldn’t say I, I feel like on our team, like if anybody tries to look nice, they can’t.

Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.

Kam Jones: Oso don’t ever, I ain’t never seen Oso in No. Like I done seen him before, but. El also El also Elsa. Elsa can, he can dress, he can put it on. Yeah. He got swag. But yeah, him don’t be pulling, he don’t be trying to pull it out.

Stevie Mitchell: He, he doesn’t really pull out them. V , BG don’t really dress up that

Kam Jones: much.

Yeah. But,

Stevie Mitchell: but like when they, when they won to, they came. So we

Kam Jones: seen it. You feel me? We. When we went to Italy, we all, you should have seen, ooh, it was nice.

Stevie Mitchell: Yeah, I don’t know if we got a bad dresser on our team. We got people who try less often than others. Okay, that’s

Grace Scalzo: fair. That’s a tough one. I just saw something with Skims, I think, for you.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I want to know, like, dream brand deal. What brand?

You’re next, so start thinking.

Kam Jones: I mean, I’ll stick it out with Jordan. If Mike ever did, I’ll talk to Mike. I’m talking to Mike. Who wouldn’t

Grace Scalzo: talk to Mike? I like Jordan. You got Jordan on, what do you say CB?

Stevie Mitchell: I mean, I like Jordan, it’s just simple. Nice, comfortable, nice shoes, nice pants, nice sweatshirts, nice jackets.

Everything that we’ve gotten from Jordan has been nice, so I would say probably Jordan as well. Yeah,

Kam Jones: you can make some money from them, so, you know what I’m saying? That’s like, yeah, that’s fantasy land. That’s Coach Smart would call it.

Richie Burke: So, so this is my new favorite player right here. It’s not on me. It went away.

You gotta scroll. Oh my

gosh. Yeah!

Shout out to Cheese! That guy looks like he could take down a Sunday pretty quickly. Shout out to Cheese. Shout out to Cheese. Yeah,

Kam Jones: Cheese, he putting that work in. This was a long time ago.

Stevie Mitchell: Yeah, nah. But nah, nah, that’s funny. He came a long way. He’s injured right now, but. He ain’t been out of it for a minute.

He’s he’s been working to get cheese

Richie Burke: is welcome to come down here and defend himself on the podcast We can we can get funny episodes

Kam Jones: If y’all got you, I will come back. He’s also probably one

Stevie Mitchell: of the funniest people on the team We should we should team up for a

Richie Burke: k1 stewie milwaukee uncut cheese collaboration We’ll get that we’ll get we only have four mics we’ll get five so grace can come back for that one, too.

I hear some of you guys like your scooters Who is the worst scooter driver on the team?

Kam Jones: Well, I, Trey got the slowest bike. So, I mean, we’d be leaving him.

Grace Scalzo: No, that’s so mean. You’re dropping

Richie Burke: him? I mean, I mean. Jesus Christ.

Cheese is not going to recover from this episode. This was right outside of

Kam Jones: Hope. He wasn’t even on a, Cheese wasn’t even on a, he was on a, he was on a V. O. He was on a

V. O. that had, that you could like sit on. He was riding his bike and I was waiting on him. So I was bored. I was just riding my bike in circles.

So I’m just riding. I’m hitting my circle and I see cheese go. My first thought they was like this. I’m like, why are they that close? And see bands have when I just seen cheese hit the corner and they just man, that was crazy. See bands like let the bike go ran off. That was, that was, that was pretty funny.

You spend your cheese, man. We kind of, we low key doing cheese bad, but the great guy. But no, she’s a great, great, great, great guy. Great. To Cape. All right. Yeah. For those,

Richie Burke: for those who don’t know cheese, number 51, 51,

Kam Jones: six, six,

Richie Burke: six foot, 200 pounds, maybe two Oh one after that Sunday. He’s a junior from Chicago, Illinois.

Big East All Academic Team. Yes, sir. Let’s give a shout out to Chief. He be in

Kam Jones: them grades. Shout out to Chief. Yeah, he be studying. Sometimes he be running from me in 2K because he say he do homework.

Grace Scalzo: Okay, wait. So, this is on the school part of it. So, most likely to walk into a test unprepared?

Kam Jones: Me.

Grace Scalzo: Yeah.

Kam Jones: That’s not, I don’t say that to brag or nothing. That’s just, that’s just true. Not, I mean, I’d be prepared. Sometimes. But.

Grace Scalzo: You still do alright? Yeah.

Kam Jones: Oh,

Grace Scalzo: more chillin Yeah, yeah,

Kam Jones: yeah, yeah, yeah. I got a great major. I love my major.

Stevie Mitchell: On our team, most likely to walk into the test unprepared? Ooh.

Kam Jones: I’ma, I should, I should take my answer back.

Richie Burke: You go ahead. Don’t, don’t say it. Nah. Nah, it ain’t cheese. It ain’t cheese. It ain’t cheese. Oh yeah, he’s all academic. Yeah, he’s all academic too. I did

Kam Jones: on, yeah, yeah, yeah. She’s a leader. Yeah. Probably Al. Owl ain’t gon know you had it too. It ain’t no, yeah, Owl. I’ma go with Owl. That’s my dog, but Owl for sure.

That’s what I’ma go with. I remember

Sean told me.

Sean, too. Damn, man, Sean. Man, he was trying to tell us we was tripping, bro. When he was up there not talking about nothing. Talking about nothing. Was we tripping? When he had a presentation in class. Oh yeah,

Stevie Mitchell: that was crazy. Yeah, that was crazy.

Kam Jones: We had a presentation about an interview that we were supposed to have did.

Was

Richie Burke: it good? Was it a good

Kam Jones: presentation? I’m about to explain it to you. So like I said, it was on an interview that we had already did. So Sean go up there and he said the person I interviewed was Ben. He from, he’s from New Zealand, right? He said and this is just an example, he was like what’s your favorite food?

And he kept asking him questions as he was presenting and we were just sitting there laughing. And

Stevie Mitchell: the teacher would ask him a question about the interview and then he’d be like, Ben?

Kam Jones: Ben,

Stevie Mitchell: you said That was a very funny experience. No, but, I mean Our team actually does well in school as a

Kam Jones: whole. Shout out Tyler Colick.

He’s the best reader on the team.

Grace Scalzo: That is bogus, because Tyler, when he came on the podcast for you guys, like, he sounds really smart. He answers everything, like he always, yeah, like that’s so bogus. They just

Kam Jones: trolling, you feel me? Yeah, he’s most hated. Who wouldn’t try to get at all American? Yeah, you feel what I’m saying?

They trying to get him out of the element. So true. Don’t work.

Shout out Tyler. Shout out Colick.

Richie Burke: Who’s the one guy on the team that you would not let date your sister? If you don’t have a sister, this would be if you had one.

Grace Scalzo: I

Richie Burke: thought that was a good question.

Grace Scalzo: They’re just like gonna

Richie Burke: throw the answer, guess it.

Nah, jeez. He’s all academic. He could

take her out for ice cream. He likes that. Yeah, yeah, yeah,

Kam Jones: he’ll take her out for ice cream.

Grace Scalzo: I’m done. But,

Kam Jones: I mean, that don’t answer the question. We didn’t say take her out for ice cream. We said, date your sister. So, that’s my, I love cheese to death. But, I’m gonna have to go with that answer.

Richie Burke: Stevie, please say something other than cheese here. We can’t just, we can’t just completely body bag the guy who

Stevie Mitchell: I don’t want to, I, I, I, I feel like for me who I, okay, I’ll go with who I would let date my sister. Oh, what a nice guy. I would, I would, I would let, I would let Oso, I would let Bengal,

I would let CB.

Mhm. Three for three. I’ma, I’ma keep it top three. Top three. Top three. This stops there. All right. Top

Richie Burke: three.

Grace Scalzo: All right. Okay. So favorite Milwaukee spot when you’re not playing basketball?

Kam Jones: Like just to be at or like go eat?

Grace Scalzo: Either one.

Kam Jones: My new favorite spot, I just had it yesterday in 3rd Street Market Hall Mr.

Wing. Mr. Wing, so good. Shout out Mr. Wing, yeah, yeah, yeah, they do they thing out there.

Grace Scalzo: What, what flavor?

Kam Jones: I did the Buffalo Lemon Peppery Trip. They know my order when I walked in there, so it’s all love with them.

Stevie Mitchell: For me, favorite place to eat? We go to Capital Grill sometimes. Love Capital Grill. For, one of us has a birthday, we’ll go there together.

On the event, yeah. I’m more calm, I like, I like toast a lot. I think toast is better than sweet diner, in my humble opinion. But yeah, I like toast. I like the vibe inside. I also like I, I like obvious the one area, I think it’s MSOE that well like has all the food places, has a Chipotle, there’s a oh yeah, fusion poke.

I used

Richie Burke: to live on the east side. I was ATLE all the time. Yeah, fusion

Stevie Mitchell: Poke, that’s my spot too. I like that spot. That’s how you, man, I always thought it was fusion. Poke. Me too. But someone corrected me so it’s crazy. I’m not even sure it’s fusion Poke A, but I’m gonna go with that. ’cause the person corrected me.

It sounds, yeah, it pretty

Kam Jones: confident. Yeah. And it sound like that makes sense. What Fusion Poke mean? . Yeah. So , she might know. I mean, he made cheese. The man with the plan now cheese got it going on. He just, he a character too, so yeah. You come with both. Two things can be true at once. You know what I’m saying?

He’s the man with the plan for sure. Smart guy.

Richie Burke: Alright, what is the most embarrassing warm up song you get hyped to?

Kam Jones: A lot of teams, when they team go in, on the road, when they team go in the locker room, they try to play like BS songs, but. They kind of be like turning me up, like YMCA. They’ll play that.

Oh, you like the YMCA? Yeah, I like the YMCA. Like, you do that in summer camp, when you’re at the YMCA. They turn the YMCA song on. That’s one song I remember. I think that was at, like, Illinois. And they was, they thought they was throwing us off. They was turning us up. The joke was on them. You guys got that one.

you got to play, you got to play the fool to the fool to make the fool think that they the fool. I mean, they chew the food, but really they eat it. I messed that up.

Stevie Mitchell: For me, I, I don’t think I really listened to here and now I listen to some big time Rush songs, but that’s just, you know, I wouldn’t, I don’t think that’s embarrassing, I think.

Kam Jones: Oh, that’s what he meant. I thought he meant, like, I’m thinking about literal, literal warm ups. Like the music in the jumbotron. Oh, like in your headphones? Oh, I, if you were a T Swift guy over there, what you, you got going on? Yeah, I got Rihanna, Beyonce, all type of, okay, I’m just going down the line now.

Yeah. Justin Timberlake. I, it is whatever, how I be feeling. So some days Spice

Richie Burke: Spice Girls

throw back in. Not Spice

Kam Jones: Girls. No, not

Richie Burke: the Spice Girls. But

Kam Jones: like, some, it’d be some games to where I feel like, like a, like a, like a silent killer. So I play Rihanna. And then it’d be some games like, I just feel like just killing somebody like on the court.

So I play like crashout music.

Richie Burke: It’s

been working for you for whatever reason. For

Kam Jones: sure. It’s all in the mind.

Grace Scalzo: I’m just laughing.

Richie Burke: Okay,

Kam Jones: cool.

Grace Scalzo: What is the thing that you love the most about Marquette?

Stevie Mitchell: This might sound generic and corny, but my teammates, coaches, I feel like we’re actually like a family. It took, it was quick getting over being away from home just because of everybody that’s here. So, yeah. People make

Grace Scalzo: the place.

Stevie Mitchell: I

Kam Jones: remember you being so ready to go home that first break we got as freshmen.

That was hilarious. I did not want to go home. I wanted to go home so bad. I was enjoying that freedom. I didn’t have to ask my mama to do nothing.

Richie Burke: Man. And you haven’t looked back. Not once.

Kam Jones: Not once. I love you, mama. But, man, it was great. But it is great. I mean, outside of what he said, because that applies to me as well I would say, like, the community.

The fan base, for sure. They definitely help make you feel welcome, like you belong and you know, like you’re cared for. And I really appreciate that from a fan base because as a player you know, when you’re out there on the court doing, you know, certain things, it gets hard, you know, mentally, physically, and you know, it can lead to doubting yourself and to have fans that believe, that make it, that make you feel like they believe in you really, that is something I don’t take for granted.

Richie Burke: And final question. We’ll close the episode out. Anything you guys would like to say to the Marquette fan base right now?

Stevie Mitchell: Say we need y’all more than ever for this next for this next up and coming run. Been a big domino for us all season. Like Cam said we’re grateful. I mean, me personally, I’ve never been a part of a place that like loves basketball like Marquette.

So that’s been really cool for me and, you know, they help us a lot. They’re always showing love and we’re going to need that. Need them to continue to be our domino moving forward to help us, you know, get, get a goal that we both, we both want. So looking forward to it.

Kam Jones: Just to keep it short and simple.

I mean, you’re lost in a fight with us. You know, we’re going to be out there 40 minutes trying to get after every second on the, on the clock. We’ll And, you know, that support is needed. Every edge you can get in the tournament is essential, and you need to equip it and use it as much as you can. So, you know, just be there for us and, you know, let us know that you’re here.

Richie Burke: Thank you guys so much for coming on. That was fun. Grace, thanks for popping down as well. I learned a lot today from you two. Got a new favorite player on the squad. You a cheese man. We gotta get him out here. You a love. I’m telling you a love cheese. We’ll get him. We can get cheese man down here. Yeah, cheese man.

Most importantly, good luck this week. Next couple weeks we’re all pulling for you. So thanks for taking your time. Appreciate you. No problem. Appreciate you

Kam Jones: for having me.

Richie Burke: Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of Milwaukee Uncut. Just a reminder that Milwaukee Uncut is produced by Story Mark Studios in partnership with OnMilwaukee and presented by Nicolet Law and Central Standard Distillery.

What’s it like working for ESPN and How do you break out in a very competitive industry like sports media? Those are topics we dive into on this episode with ESPN College Game Day’s Jen Lada and WISN Sports Director Dario Melendez. 

We also talk some Wisconsin Sports, discuss their most embarrassing moments on camera and more. 

This podcast is produced by Story Mark Studios 
In partnership with On Milwaukee 
Presented by Nicolet Law and Central Standard Distillery 

---

Transcript

Jen Lada: ESPN can feel like the Hunger Games a little bit because it’s so competitive and there’s only so many spots and only so many coveted spots and everybody feels like they deserve to be in those roles.

Richie Burke: Hey everyone, welcome back to Milwaukee Uncut. I’m your host Richie Burke and we are back for episode two of two with ESPN College Game Days.

Jen Lada and WISN Sports Director Dario Melendez, both Emmy winners. They are married with three kids. Very interesting, cool backstories, both individually and as a couple on this episode, we talk about how each of them broke into a very competitive media industry and got their careers off the ground, the evolving sports media landscape, what it’s like working with ESPN or working for ESPN.

We go behind the scenes there a little bit, their most embarrassing moments on TV, and we talk some Wisconsin sports. This is a great episode for. Really any Wisconsin sports fan, if you’re looking to get into the media industry or just interested in the behind the scenes aspect of the industry and ESPN, this is a great episode for you.

Just a reminder, this podcast is produced at Storymark Studios, right in the heart of Walker’s Point. In partnership with on Milwaukee and brought to you by Nicolet law, the Midwest law firm insurance companies, fear the beard and central standard distillery home of my favorite vodka door County, cherry vodka, and plenty of other great spirits, including their new candle fashions that they collaborated on with line and Kugel’s had my first one last Saturday.

They are very good. And I would say very sneaky at 8 percent ABV. So may just make sure to To monitor that, but they are good. So check those out. All right, let’s dive into today’s episode with Jen and Dario.

Dario Melendez: There was no Vimeo. There wasn’t anything like that. So I had graduated college and I stayed up in, in Connecticut where Sacred Heart is and sent out 300 resume reels.

So like you, you, it was VHS tapes. You had to, so you had to copy all those VHS tapes. You had to then print out all your resumes and print out your cover letters. And I sent it out to. Every like 100 to 210 market there is. So like small markets so that’s expensive, right? I mean, you’re, you’re buying all these tapes, you’re doing all this postage

Jen Lada: sitting at FedEx office, right?

It was, it was

Dario Melendez: annoying. And I got three responses to saying thanks, but no thanks. And one saying from Fort Myers wing TV. which is where I started my career. Hey, we don’t have an on air opportunity, but spring training is coming up and we’re looking for a part time sports producer. Cool. I’ll take it.

So just get your foot in the door. So I got my foot in the door and they saw how valued I was during spring training that led into other opportunities during the summer, which led into high school football, which led into a super bowl that Tampa had and then Miami had. And the competitor in town, the ABC station, lost one of their sports guys and they wanted to hire me.

And then my station was like, no, we’ll make you full time. We’ll bump your salary from 14, 000 a year to 16, 000 a year.

Jen Lada: Cha ching!

Dario Melendez: So that’s the other thing. I mean, look, just take whatever opportunity you can get, which is what I did. And don’t worry about the money at the time. It seems really bad. Like 16, 000 is a horrible paycheck.

Jen Lada: And we recognize that not everybody has the luxury that we had, which was families that supported us during those times when we weren’t making enough money to make ends meet. I mean, my parents would kick money to me every couple of weeks to cover gas when I first started out in this industry. As Dario’s talking about VHS tapes, I’m picturing like some of the listeners being like, and then he carved it in stone and like, you know, cause that’s how archaic it is now.

Like people send out links, right? I tell every aspiring broadcaster that I talk to now. You have a camera and a video recorder in your pocket. So set it on your mirror and deliver the news every day. And then no one has to see it, but it’s reps. And that’s obviously what is a big difference between the people who are really good and the people who are just starting out and kind of clunking their way through.

I went to Marquette. I didn’t know that women could be sportscasters when I was at Marquette, which again, sounds like a totally different era, but it was 20 years ago. And there was kind of this movement towards a few women, right? Like Linda Cohn was in the business. Hannah Storm was in the business.

Leslie Visser, of course, and Andrea Kramer. But it wasn’t like every station had a woman in it. on their staff like it is now. And so I talked to my advisor, he encouraged me to follow up, but he said, you got to do internships. So I did an internship at six, six 20. I did an internship at 10 channel 12 if you can believe that.

And just started to kind of chip away at getting into the industry. But my first job was a non paid internship with Preps Plus here in Milwaukee where we covered high school sports. And then same thing, I sent out the resume reel to every corner of the country and got a few nibbles, one that would have been a horrible experience actually out in San Diego where I was sexually harassed on the interview and The guy asked me to go skinny dipping with him and you know, it was like, and I’m thinking to myself, I’m going to move to San Diego where I have no support system and this is my boss.

Like, no, thank you. And I was devastated that I like didn’t get that job. And then two weeks later I got the job in Rockford, Illinois, which was about an hour from my home, about an hour plus from Milwaukee. And it just felt a lot safer. And it ended up then launching me. To Milwaukee. I always tell people.

I’m not sure that Milwaukee would have known who I was. I was a cheerleader at Marquette. So I had that notoriety a little bit with the basketball team and some of the sports stations. But I went up, I begged my boss when I was in Rockford to let me cover the Packers Seahawks playoff game, which everybody famously remembers for Matt Hasselbeck saying we want the ball and we’re going to score.

And then Al Harris getting the interception in overtime and running back towards the end zone with his hand in the air and the Packers ended up winning. But there was a huge snowstorm and we ended up being late for my 10 o’clock sportscast. So I missed my sportscast back in Rockford because I was up at Lambeau Field.

But small world, I took it. talk to a bunch of people, and they were impressed with my, you know assertiveness, if you will. And then when an opening came in Milwaukee, they hired me for that job. Was there for seven years, went to Chicago, was there for two years, and then had the opportunity to go to ESPN.

So it’s been, I, it’s very, it’s a very old school. way of being in the business. A lot of people are kind of plucked out of obscurity now or infamy like on YouTube or Tik TOK or Snapchat. Like that’s how a lot of people are getting their jobs now, but we both did it like the old school, hard work your way up from market one 33 to market 33 to market three to the network.

Dario Melendez: And I will say, I mean, there’s something to say about that though, because like when you get plucked from obscurity, you could also go be sent back very quickly. going from Fort Myers to Milwaukee to ESPN, New York City, Valley Sports back to Milwaukee and for you, your path as well. You, you’ve cut your teeth and you’ve learned from each of those steps and you’ve made yourself invaluable.

Well,

Jen Lada: and it reminds me of your experience, of course, because you were here in Milwaukee. You were very young. You got hired at ESPN. And you weren’t ready. Like you weren’t ready to be at that level. Cause

Dario Melendez: when I was at ESPN, they had Highlight Express. I don’t know if you guys remember the show. It was, it was pretty much, it was on ESPN News at like midnight.

And it was straight highlights. It was pretty much sports center with training wheels. It

Jen Lada: was like triple a, we call it the triple a baseball. It’s where you learned how to be a sports center anchor.

Dario Melendez: And about four months into my tenure at ESPN, they canceled highlight express. So now they’re trying to train you on the three o’clock sports center, which is probably like the least viewed, but still sports center.

And it was, it was a lot of, a lot of bumps in the road and it took me about a year to kind of figure out how to be a sports center anchor. By that time all the people that brought me in and all my advocates had been fired because it was that first calling at ESPN, 2013 ish. So I’m like, oh man, I’m, I’m gonna, I’m gonna get caught up in these layoffs because I got no one, no one has my back anymore.

Cause you know, ESPN, it’s just, it’s, it’s a hard place to operate in because you’re only as good as your last show. It’s not based off of meritocracy. It’s based off of either you’re a bulldog, which Jen is, and she’s talented. So you have to advocate for yourself or you have to kiss a lot of butt.

And I was very much coming from the athlete point of view where it’s a meritocracy. Like, look, you see I got this. I’m outperforming other SportsCenter anchors now. Give me more time. Give me another contract. We’ll be good. Didn’t work that way.

Jen Lada: And here’s the thing, Dario is a champion ass kisser. Like if he knew that that was like the way to sustain, right?

Like any spot, he would have been at the top of the list. Right. But like, you’re so overwhelmed by, you know, sometimes we call it like the hunger games, like ESPN can feel like the hunger games a little bit because it’s so competitive and there’s only so many spots and only so many coveted spots and everybody feels like they deserve to be in those roles.

Every

Dario Melendez: department operates separately. Like TV operates separate from radio, even though you’re in the same buildings and the same campus. And then within TV, SportsCenter morning, afternoon, night operates separately. College Game Day operates separately from SportsCenter. So, you have all these executives in all of these different departments vying for the talent.

It’s like you would think it would just be one team, but it’s not. So, if you’re a really talented SportsCenter anchor, but let’s say you want to try to get into wraps, which is like, you know, those pre and post game shows for college basketball and NBA, Well, that executive producer is now going to get upset with the sports center producer because you’re not letting this person come over there because it’s charity.

It’s

Jen Lada: really

Dario Melendez: interesting because you’re not poaching talent. You’re all ESPN, but you’re different department in ESPN. And I, I just, I was not good in that space. Jen has flourished obviously. So

Richie Burke: what do you guys think of the current media landscape? It’s as you acknowledge so much different than how you came up, people can get plucked out of obscurity.

You also see these. like, like a McAfee who you work with on college game day, who ESPN just kind of, he started his own show and he’s made a ton of money doing it. Or it seems like they’re focusing on less people, but the superstar type people and paying them more money. It’s, I don’t know. It’s changing a lot.

So

Dario Melendez: when I was at ESPN there was a thought of getting away from the personality driven talent.

Jen Lada: Like no one person is bigger than the network.

Dario Melendez: It’s in straight news So that was kind of the way we were operating sports and I would have been in

Richie Burke: 13. It’s like 13 to

Dario Melendez: 15. Yeah and Now you see the exact role reversal because that didn’t work.

I mean Sports Center sports in general is all about personality It’s about having fun. It’s about being in your face right now. This embrace debate format has really just like Taken off and it’s not even embrace debate anymore. It’s more like I have an opinion, and I’m just going to throw it out there, and it’s going to be hot take after hot take after hot take.

The one thing I’ll always say is, like, there’s still SportsCenter. There’s still a place where you need to get, like, actual news, and actual information, and have actual reporters reporting on the news. I don’t know if it’s a fad, that the, because Embrace Debate is kind of around still, but it’s kind of gone away, it’s white noise, now it’s that, you know.

Scream into the atmosphere, scream into the void, and see what happens. Cause now there’s no one pushing back on you. Like with Pat McAfee, Pat is super talented. And he has really, really good opinions. And he just puts it out there, but there’s never really any pushback to him. So you’ve taken away the debate portion.

Now it’s just, hey, these are my opinions. I’ll let you guys debate them out there. And that’s kind of the way it’s gone. I still think everything kind of evolves. I don’t know how long that format is going to last, where I know, I believe I know. You’re always going to need a news source because people want to get their news, right?

You need to get their news

Jen Lada: from Twitter or X, I guess, as it’s called now or whatever, like the sort of apps that you have actually think that personality like Dario was saying is super important now, but I think it’s less important to debate things. People just want to like voyeuristically pop into you and your pals or you and your buddies.

Talking about sports, et cetera, which is what McAfee does really well. Like, all of those guys are his boys. They trust each other implicitly. Nobody’s gonna hang anybody else out to dry. Nobody’s gonna go hard to the hole and try to dunk on somebody else. Just a bunch of dudes, sitting around, talking sports, having fun.

It’s kind of why Pardon My Take works. It’s like, that I feel like is the next frontier, and I think it’s what everybody is trying to copy and mimic. It’s what we do on our radio show in the morning. Like, we’re not there to like, Give you all of the details of who would be the best option for the bucks at the trade deadline.

And is it worth it to trade Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton because of the chemistry that this team has developed? No, it’s like how can you take the news which is that today’s the trade deadline and then how can you make it entertaining? So you’re sprinkling in the information, but you’re also like just having a fun conversation.

I mean our conversation about the trade deadline evolved into Would Giannis ever approve a trade of Thanasis? Right, right. Like, so it’s taking like something that’s newsworthy and the news of the day and then just having like a sitting at the bar kind of conversation with your pals. And I think that is what you’re seeing a lot of places really try to emulate.

They’re trying to find the right fit. Good morning football is like that as well. Like they have good people with good personalities who are interesting and really smart, but at the end of the day, they’re entertainers. Like that’s why they’re there. They’re there to entertain the NFL So I think you’re going to see a lot more people trying to find that perfect chemistry of personalities that can talk sports, but that also is just generally interesting.

Richie Burke: What is the single biggest break each of you have gotten career wise?

Jen Lada: Well, the biggest break in life that Dario got was me saying, yes, I will marry you. Let’s start a family. Let’s do the thing. Please argue. Please argue that point.

Dario Melendez: My wife is the best. She

Jen Lada: is

Dario Melendez: my, she is my, she is my world.

Jen Lada: Look, mine is really obvious.

I got asked to be on College Game Day I think it’s almost nine years ago now. I was kind of floundering at ESPN. I was supposed to do a radio show that went away, and I was like trying to convince people of my value. There was a perception that I was a radio talent. When I would actually had done TV for like 15 years at that point.

And I started doing features just as a way of doing something at ESPN, contributing my voice. I was very lucky that at Fox six we had an initiative where every day we did a local sports feature. So I had a lot of reps at a lot of practice in that space. And so when I got to ESPN and they threw me a couple just kind of as a courtesy, like here, do something.

I did a really good job. And so game day is always looking for those, you know, Big, heavy, emotional, powerful features. And they thought I could contribute in that space. First year I was on the show. I only did six. For the year next year. I did seven next year. I did eight or whatever those numbers were.

But basically it was an increasing role increasing volume. But that obviously was the biggest break of my career to be put on college game day, which is the premier football show. We have two million people watching every Saturday morning. It’s widely considered the best in the game. We have incredibly talented people.

I always say, like, I think I’m the best at what I do. But I know Kirk Herbstreit is the best at what he does and Pat McAfee is the best at what he does and Rhys Davis and Desmond Howard and obviously Lee Corso and everybody else we have on the show are the best at what they do. So to be surrounded by that type of talent and ambition is just really rewarding.

Every week.

Dario Melendez: It’s hard to narrow down to one thing. I feel like I have a couple. I mean, first getting ESPN was a huge break for me. Not so much because I succeeded there, but it was almost grad school. So the thing that ESPN does, it’s really cool is they have courses and they have coaches. So you have a presence coach, you know, how to hold yourself on air a wardrobe consultant script writing classes, question asking courses, which is so valuable.

And I mean, I think a lot of reporters, not just in this market, but across the country could really benefit from a course on how to ask the proper question. And then kind of getting back in the Milwaukee market at Fox Sports, Valley Sports. Milwaukee has been awesome to me. I obviously I met my wife here.

It’s where we raised our family. We were putting down roots. So just being able to kind of get back in. And that led to the, the sports director gig at WISN, which has been awesome. I mean, obviously channel 12, we were the top rated station in the market for me personally. Like when we come to award season.

I mean, it’s been WBA sportscaster of the year, Emmy over all the Chicago talent for sportscast of the year. So I mean, there’s been a couple, but the ESPN was a big one just because it kind of taught me how to be. journalist, which I didn’t know, I didn’t know how to do, if I’m being honest, I was kind of just getting by on what I had seen other people doing and mimicking, but I was able to kind of find my voice there.

It was just bad timing.

Richie Burke: What is the most embarrassing moment each of you have had on air or maybe that got cut?

Dario Melendez: On air for me, it was my first time at channel 12 and we were talking about, it was Wisconsin versus Minnesota. And Paul Bunyan’s axe. And you see how I slowed down axe, because if you speed up saying axe, you’re gonna say ass.

So, I’m done with my highlight. I’m like, and Wisconsin grabs a hold of Paul Bunyan’s ass. They win it and it

made like Deadspin All these websites and they’re all like hey, it’s been a slow Monday. You guys should do more So here’s a sportscaster saying ass on TV and like for me again as a 23 year old like, oh my god I just said ass on TV.

I’m gonna get fired. Like this is the most embarrassing thing ever Paul

Bunyan’s not in Florida That’s that’s got to be a hard concept to grasp, you know,

well to be I didn’t

I remember walking in the newsroom and they’re like, Hey, do you want to go interview this Robin Yount dude? I’m like, who

the hell is Robin?

I grew up in Florida. We weren’t big brewers fans. And like, I was, I was born in 85. So. I mean, by the time I would have even started getting into baseball, he’s almost done with his career. I mean, I know Gary Sheffield, I can, I can name you all the 97 Marlins right now, but like, I couldn’t think of, I couldn’t think of will say

Jen Lada: this though, to give Dario some credit in this space.

When he got to Wisconsin, I’ve never seen anyone read more about the history of sports in a state than he did. I mean, when we were first starting to date and hang out, he was like, He always had a book and it was always a Wisconsin sports. It was either about the Braves or about the Brewers or about Marquette, or he was trying to like catch up as quickly as possible.

And that was impressive. Like, okay, this guy wants to know what’s important to this area of the country.

Dario Melendez: Because that was one thing I noticed off the bat, like Wisconsin sports fans, no Wisconsin sports. So I can’t be an authority if I don’t know Wisconsin sports. I did the same thing in New York. I remember when I was in New York city, I mean, it was Mets books and Islanders books and Rangers and Yankees.

And it just. It becomes fun, because once you learn one thing, you connect it, and there’s always, there’s connections between Wisconsin and New York that you had no idea about. But yeah, I couldn’t be the dumb guy on TV. Like, I was too competitive. Like, and it was that Yount conversation in the newsroom that kind of set the fire under me.

Like, oh man, I can’t, I can’t be that guy. I can’t come in here and not know who one of the best hitters to ever play the game is.

Jen Lada: Dario knows this about me. I like to take chances on television. We were talking earlier about personality versus information sportscasters, and it dawned on me very early in this industry that every single sportscaster on a given night have the exact same information.

It’s how you present it that is going to separate you from the rest of the people you’re competing against. So We all watched the same game. We all have the same highlights. We all got the same press releases. How can I make it a little bit more fun or engaging? And so he always reminds me of this one time.

I think it was like Clint Eastwood, who at some point had talked to a chair at one of like the presidential or political events, and And so one night when I was doing the high school football show, I literally put a chair next to me and had a conversation with a chair kind of to spoof off of that pop culture reference or event that had just occurred.

So I always want to like think outside the box, do things a little differently. Just shake up the boring want, want, want, want, want Charlie Brown teacher that you hear so much. But my first time on game day, I did a story on a gentleman who was the Bevo handler. Bevo is the giant, you know, steer that they have.

And I’m, I’m always really good at presenting and so leading and tagging my pieces, but I had a slight hiccup and a slight glitch and I called Texas. Texas University instead of the University of Texas, which if you’re not ingrained in college football, you might not even know the difference, but football fans are very particular.

It’d be like calling Wisconsin, Wisconsin University. So I pop, pop, pop my Twitter feed is like, do, do, do, do, do this woman doesn’t know what she’s talking about. And so that was my very first time. I knew that it wasn’t an indictment of my knowledge. I knew that it wouldn’t keep me from going forward. But when you’re in it, and Twitter is like coming after you, it fe you want to disappear.

You want to just like, Hey, you know what? I don’t want to do this game day thing after all. I think I’ll find another gig that’s less forward facing. Yeah, is that

Richie Burke: like a rush of anxiety when you’re just getting attacked on Twitter? Absolutely. Or when yours was kind of funny though, when Deadspin was doing a spin off.

Yeah,

Dario Melendez: how do you I mean just kind of and that’s kind of something we’ve talked to our therapist about it. It’s just it doesn’t matter because like You put yourself

Richie Burke: out there to such a large audience And Jen like you were saying you have to take chances to get to the level that you are at So you’re gonna have some stumbles.

So not everything’s gonna work, right?

Jen Lada: Like you’re gonna do things It’s not gonna work and people are gonna be like, oh, that’s so dumb. You’re terrible and it’s like Hey, it took a chance. Like I’m going to do it again and you might not like it next time either, but maybe you will. And that’s why it’s worth it.

Richie Burke: Let’s do some quick Wisconsin sports. Where do you think Marquette basketball is going this year? Do you have any quick predictions?

Dario Melendez: I think final four. They’re they’re really, they’re really good. They had a little, and look, you see this with every college basketball team. You have a little bump during the season.

I mean, What was it? Mid January, where they lose to Butler at home. Then the next week they lose as well, and like, they couldn’t really figure it out on the road in the Big East play. But they just have so many weapons. Kolic has figured out the good balance of being an A hole, which is a good thing in basketball, and also being composed.

Jen Lada: Cocky but poised.

Dario Melendez: Iguodara, obviously, is so good. I love Joplin, our homegrown dude. And Stevie Mitchell. I didn’t realize how good Stevie Mitchell was. I know you do the Marquette radio show and I filled in for you once and I asked Nevada, I mean, you see all these defensive stoppers, right? In the NBA.

Does Marquette have someone like that? And Stevie Mitchell had been out for like three or four games, so I just didn’t really notice that he was that guy. But you look at what they did to Butler yesterday and you saw what he was doing. I mean, he is just everywhere. So yeah, I think, I mean, I think Marquette can get to the Final Four.

It’s just going to be a matchup. I mean, if you get to the Final Four and let’s say you got Purdue. And Edie, I mean, who’s Edie is just such a mismatch. Like they did such a good job in the Maui invitation all against them. If, if also doesn’t get those couple of fowls in the beginning But I mean, I, I mean, I think final four,

Jen Lada: so you talk about Robin now, you talk about Craig council, like Milwaukee has had a lot of like really impressive people come through in the coaching ranks and in the player ranks.

I’m not sure anybody will ever match Shaka smart from an interesting standpoint. He mentioned I do the radio show with him on Thursday nights. He’s one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. He definitely likes to exist in the psychological and the sociological in that space. He’s got a ton of mottos and phrases.

He’ll tell you. He’s. stole them all from other people, but like having conversations with him about why chemistry is so important to team success and how they have to have each other’s back. And like all of those things is a big reason why the team is doing so well. I went to Marquette, as you mentioned, I’m a Marquette cheerleader or was a Marquette cheerleader years and years ago.

So I don’t think that I can be rational about Marquette. It’s the one team that I am screaming. When a play goes wrong or if they have too many empty possessions back to back to back from the couch and I would love to see him in the final four But every year I think they’re gonna win the national championship.

This team is so talented. This team is really deep They obviously lost a little bit of depth when they lost sean jones, but it just feels like everything is clicking right now and I want him to do it so bad, but I actually feel uncomfortable saying that and putting that out into the world because, you know, market has struggled in postseason play.

They have not made a deep tournament run. And so until they can do that, I think it’s kind of like, let’s wait and see how it shakes out

Richie Burke: last year was the first time they want a tournament game in a decade. Probably trivia question of the day. Who is markets all time leading three point percentage shooter?

Minimum five attempts. Is it Steve Novak?

Dario Melendez: That’s what I would’ve guessed. Hold on, hold on. Minimum five attempts. Minimum five attempts. Oh, so it’s going to be someone that doesn’t shoot a lot.

Jen Lada: Chris O’Toole. I mean, it

Richie Burke: was in the early to mid 2000s.

Jen Lada: So our buddy Dan Fitzgerald was a huge three point shooter.

I’m guessing he had more than five attempts, so he’s probably up there. His, his percentage is probably down.

Dario Melendez: Who is it? I mean, Diener, Wade. If it’s early to mid 2000s someone from that era someone from that era is correct You would know that you were

Richie Burke: cheering

Jen Lada: well, yes, I was might

Richie Burke: have been barely after you

Jen Lada: Yeah, I don’t think

Richie Burke: Butler.

No Mike Kinsella.

Jen Lada: Oh my gosh. I mean look I don’t think we would have come up with Mike Kinsella, to be honest with

Richie Burke: you. I don’t know who Mike Kinsella

is.

Jen Lada: I at least know who Mike is.

Richie Burke: Come on. Elevated Identity Sign Company paid me a lot of money to ask the question on the on the show. Mike Kinsella, Casa Micos for the amount of tequila that he consumes on the golf court.

Oh, now you know who he is. Casa Micos.

That’s all you had to say.

Jen Lada: I have loved at the games this year when they have shown the guys, right? Because they are really good about bringing a lot of those guys back. And Mike has been one of them. I’ve seen him up on the Jumbotron when they show the old players.

Richie Burke: He has. Yeah. He’s looking good. Richie, I got one for

Dario Melendez: you. Who is the tallest NBA player to never record a career dunk? He’s Steve Novak. Steve Novak. He was on the show. And I love bringing that up to

Richie Burke: him every time I see him. Like, first off, Steve,

Dario Melendez: your playing career started five years too early. Cause if he had that three point ball, five years later, he’d be making Tens of millions and then he can dunk.

I can’t believe he never dunked in a game. Now,

Jen Lada: would he say to you, what you said to us earlier about how you said, how many receptions did you have in division? What does he say? How many minutes did you log in the NBA?

Richie Burke: Double digit receptions for

the

pioneers. I

think, like I said, all that

Dario Melendez: came in one game.

Richie Burke: No, he’s too nice. Okay. Very little known story. He told on the podcast. We have a clip of it. He got offered to do the dunk contest. One year. Oh, really? I’m not joking, because like a couple Knicks got injured in, I think it was in New York or something. Yeah, I remember that. I butchered the story. But, yeah a little, little known story about Steve Novak.

Just a couple more. What is the funniest or most bizarre fan interaction that you’ve ever had at the event? Oh,

Jen Lada: hands down. I was at a convention, White Sox convention when I was covering the White Sox, and a guy asked me to sign his bicep.

Richie Burke: What’s his name, Mike Consola?

Jen Lada: It was actually Dario Melea. I got pretty nice biceps.

To tell that it was him. I can

Richie Burke: tell, it’s like kind of a tight pullover you got over there. Looking solid. It’s called

Jen Lada: DadBot, I don’t know why you’re, yeah. exactly. Although I did give you a couple of Charleston chews for Valentine’s Day. Yeah, I saw, thank you, thank

Richie Burke: you. you eating over there? Okay. Most bizarre fan interaction.

I don’t really. Or memorable.

Dario Melendez: Memorable so this last spring training, I, I went down to Maryvale, and this dad came up and was like, Hey, do you remember like 12 years ago you took a picture with my son? And Here I was like, I, I don’t remember that. So his son was there and we reconnected after 12 years.

I took a picture and we kind of did the side by side. So I interviewed his kid you know, asking his favorite brewers player from like 2011. He’s like, Oh, Gorman Thomas was definitely my favorite brewers player. Like you’re not even old enough to know who that is. But that’s probably the most bizarre one.

Like the, it kind of goes back to, you never know the impression you’re going to leave on someone. Yeah. Like this was 12 years ago and the father was so happy with me my interaction with his son that I guess almost probably every spring training he was looking for me, and he finally found me.

Richie Burke: That’s cool.

What is the most memorable event each of you have ever covered?

Jen Lada: Wow,

Richie Burke: other than the Seahawks game where it was love at first sight. No,

Jen Lada: that was the Niners game. The Niners game was huge. Crap, wow, I mean, I’ve covered a bunch of national championships now for as long as I’ve been on game day. I don’t know.

I’ve never gotten to cover a Super Bowl. Dario got to cover the Packers Super Bowl that year. I didn’t get to go. So I can’t even like say that. I was at a Super Bowl once when I had a feature story that was accompanying our coverage.

Richie Burke: You didn’t make the Super Bowl cut? You were covering the playoffs together?

Correct.

Jen Lada: Yeah, a hundred percent.

Richie Burke: I didn’t want to say anything. Yeah, I mean, every city we were sitting next to each other

Jen Lada: and then my boss swooped in and was like, Hey, the

Richie Burke: missed, the missed opportunity. And

Jen Lada: every time I see Tom Pippins, who of course is a local legend in Wisconsin was at Fox six for decades.

I’ll be like, Hey, remember that year when our boss was like, Jen went to all the games, but you get to go to the Super Bowl. Like it’s, it’s it’s, yeah, I’ve definitely let it go. As you can tell by talking about it today. So, so cover, I don’t know, but I went to, we went to as a family, the 2016 world series, when the Cubs beat the beat the Indians, they’re not the Indians anymore, so I was pausing on that.

And that was incredible.

Dario Melendez: So game one. I’m waking up early to take our son to school, and she’s just sleeping in because I think you had baseball tonight or something like that going on. Which

Jen Lada: is at like 2 in the morning.

Dario Melendez: Yeah, but she’s already up, and she’s just staring at me with this poop eating grin I’m like what the heck is going on.

She’s like hey, you could either take Chase to school or We could fly to Cleveland.

Jen Lada: I think we drove to that one didn’t we?

Dario Melendez: We drove?

Jen Lada: To game one.

Dario Melendez: Oh, yeah, we drove We drove to Cleveland

Jen Lada: and then we flew to game seven and then

Dario Melendez: we flew to game seven. Then, yeah, I’m covering like Jets practice or just mini camp and I get home like, Hey, pack your bags.

We’re going to game seven. I get yelled at when I buy a Lego set. This lady’s dropping thousands of dollars on Cubs. It’s that game day money though. Yeah, it’s that game day money. It’s that game day paycheck. And it only

Richie Burke: happens once every hundred years or so, right? Exactly.

Dario Melendez: But it was cool. Like Mike Napoli threw Chase a game ball.

So, and the best part about Chase is so when we were living in Connecticut, we were near the blue Bridgeport blue fish, which is like the milkman. It’s Independent ball. Yep. They gave him a baseball and he wrote blue fish on it. We went to a Mets game cause I was covering the Mets and I think Andy grammar was like the postgame show.

So he got a baseball at the Mets game. I was like, Oh crap. This is awesome. He wrote Mets on it. He got this world series baseball from the first time. The World

Jen Lada: Series stamp on it and

Dario Melendez: it’s covered in dirt. It looks awesome. It’s like, Oh, I can’t wait. I’m like, okay, this is great. You’re not writing Cubs on this baseball.

Richie Burke: You’re putting this in class and you’re keeping this because you don’t know how much this could be worth down the road.

Dario Melendez: What was the question again? I forgot.

Jen Lada: Most memorable, memorable. Oh, you’ve covered.

Dario Melendez: So I’ve got to cover three Superbowls, which is awesome. Started my career, Tampa. Miami and then, and then Dallas.

Read more than Jen. Yeah the Mets World Series run in 15 was awesome. I had just got to New York 1 and that was cool, but I would, I’d probably say the coolest thing I got to cover was being on Middleton’s bus during the parade. So that, I mean, cause they didn’t let anybody on the buses, only the TV partner.

So we were the only one on, it was still coming out of COVID, so they were a little restrictive. So it was like just being on the championship parade bus going through downtown Milwaukee. I think Teague was on there, PJ Tucker, Chris Middleton, a couple of the guys that were signed late that didn’t really play.

And then like pulling up next to Bud’s bus. And I was like damn it PJ. I should have been on your bus You got all the good crap over there because he’s drinking those huge bottles Yeah, and I have one and he gave me one so it’s like in in my office But that was by far the coolest thing I ever got to cover like I just remember because we couldn’t really do anything Because we had these TVU backpacks.

That’s how you transmit your signal, but they work off a cell service So there’s no cell service during the parade because everybody’s using it. So I can’t even do anything So I got all my interviews done beforehand and I just kind of like sat on the bus in the front and looked out It was cool

Jen Lada: Can I tell you what he has told me has been a really cool experience that I’ve never gotten to experience and I know a Lot of people haven’t playoff hockey.

You said the Stanley Cup final The best

Dario Melendez: well, I didn’t get to cover the final covered covered a couple rounds the cool thing about being in New York is that there are so many teams and one of them is going to be good, but I want to say it was 17, 2017, maybe 16, that the Islanders with Tavares and then the Rangers with their loaded staff were all good at the same time.

So we start with the Rangers run and we go to like Montreal. If you go to Chicago and you go to Madison square garden, those are great hockey atmospheres. There is nothing like seeing playoff hockey. At the bell center in Montreal. Like it was the coolest experience I had ever seen. Like goosebumps even thinking about it.

And then they beat the haves and then they go to Ottawa and it was. So cool like be I would have never gone to Canada’s capital like did you guys even know that Ottawa’s Canada’s capital?

Richie Burke: No,

Dario Melendez: exactly Exactly. It was cool But the one thing I always say is like I don’t They always say like Quebec and French.

Canada is very French. They think they’re France like no one speaks No one speaks English Everything’s in French and I’m the Quebec wants it’s right. It’s crazy That’s what I was really taken aback by. But so then after that’s done, I fly down to Tampa, or fly to Miami to cover Islanders, and I’d fly back, and then, as soon as Islanders won, I’d fly down between, you know, Ottawa and Tampa, and like, that was, that was a really cool experience, covering that playoff stretch between the Islanders and the Rangers at what in 16 or 17.

That was fun.

Richie Burke: Thank you to Jen and Dario for coming on and to you for tuning into Milwaukee uncut. Just a reminder to make sure you subscribe and write a review on Apple and Spotify. If you do and leave your email or Instagram handle at the end of that review, you’ll be entered into our weekly giveaway.

Make sure to leave that at the end though, so we know where to reach out to. And just a reminder, this podcast is produced in Walker’s Point by Story Mark Studios in partnership with On Milwaukee and presented by Central Standard Distillery in Nicolet Law.

Jen & Dario’s relationship did not get off to the smoothest start…..
After Dario shot his shot (and came up empty) the networks serendipitously put them in the same booth during a Packers 2010 Super Bowl run.
They now are married with three kids.
How did this all happen?
What is it like having a family and very demanding jobs in media?
Tune into this episode to find out the backstory of Jen and Dario.

This podcast is produced by Story Mark Studios
In partnership with OnMilwaukee
Presented by Nicolet Law & Central Standard Distillery

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Transcript

Dario Melendez: Everything is Jen, Jen, Jen. So like, I knew exactly who she was. So I was like, yeah, I can’t wait to meet her. And then I met her and like, Oh my God, what did I just say? And we have to sit next to each other. This is after she totally ignored me.

Jen Lada: It would be called ghosting now, but it was so long ago then that we didn’t know that term existed.

Richie Burke: Hey everyone, welcome back to Milwaukee Uncut. This is the first episode of two with ESPN college game days. Jen Lada and WISN sports director, Dario Melendez, both Emmy winners. They are a power couple in the media industry here in Milwaukee. This is a fun one where we cover the hilarious story of how they met and how their relationship started How it’s evolved how they maintain a healthy marriage with three kids and two very demanding jobs in media And we go into their family life And we’ve also got another one coming where we go into the evolving sports media landscape What it’s like to work for ESPN and we talk some Wisconsin sports.

So make sure to subscribe if you have not already Speaking of, if you do subscribe and write a review and leave your Instagram handle or email at the end of that review on Apple or Spotify, you will be entered into our weekly giveaway. Also, just a reminder that this podcast is produced at Story Mark Studios, right in the heart of Walker’s Point in partnership with On Milwaukee and brought to you by Nicolet Law, the Midwest law firm.

Insurance companies fear the beard. And central standard distillery, home of my favorite vodka, their door County cherry vodka, and plenty of other great spirits. Also, if you’re listening to this in March, I believe their new candle fashions that they collaborated on with the line and Google’s are in stores.

So make sure to check those out on that note, let’s dive in to today’s episode with Jen and Dario. Jen ladder reporter for ESPN, including college game day, two times sports. I’m your award winner. Co host of Jen, Gabe, and Chewy on ESPN Radio, Milwaukee, 7 to 9 a. m. every morning, Monday through Friday. Former Marquette cheerleader has completed six marathons, according to the internet.

Is it more than that?

Jen Lada: No, I think it’s maybe it’s seven when we did the at home one.

Dario Melendez: Oh yeah, the New York City. Virtual marathon,

Richie Burke: six marathons and one virtual. And I’ve heard is the best driver in the city of Milwaukee.

Jen Lada: Have you seen the Lada school of driving? Somebody thinks I’m good at driving.

Richie Burke: We’ll get a plug in for that later.

Dario Melendez: No, thinks you’re good at driving.

Richie Burke: Also, we’ve got Dario Melendez, her significant other WISN 12 sports director. I mean, Winning journalist, formerly head ESPN, had some time on SportsCenter. He is a Guinness World Record holder, a two time celebrity cream puff eating champion, and a former elite athlete, who once hauled in 12 receptions for 107 yards, including a 16 yard bomb.

for Sacred Heart University Pioneers 2007. Dario Melendez, welcome both of you to the show. Why are you laughing? Was

Dario Melendez: that for a game or a season? That was, I think, my senior year. Because I had broken my ankle the previous year against Army. So, I didn’t play much after that. Triple digits, triple digits. Man, I remember that, that 16 yard bomb too.

That was against Central Connecticut. That was against Central Connecticut State. To be fair. Did you move the chains? Oh yeah, for sure. Did you give one of these? I juked out so many people. My coach was like, where was this? And so, I had like all my yards in that one game. And then the following week was our homecoming, and I had three massive catches downfield, including a touchdown, that were all called back because of offensive holding.

To be

Jen Lada: fair, that was the COVID year, so they only played six games.

Dario Melendez: I wish it was

Richie Burke: the

Dario Melendez: COVID year. I don’t know about that, those numbers aren’t really adding up. How many Division I receptions did you guys have? Exactly. That’s May 3rd flag football. Yeah, exactly. Which is pretty much the

Richie Burke: same

Dario Melendez: level. So what was the world record for?

Most donuts stack blindfolded in one minute. And it was eight. So,

Richie Burke: There’s a world record. Is that why you fell in love with him? Oh, obviously. Was it the Sacred Heart stat line? Was it the donut eating record? I mean, this is a, this is a talent we have right here.

Jen Lada: I fell in love with Dario because he’s very handsome.

You see

Dario Melendez: the, you

Richie Burke: see, you see the role reversal

Dario Melendez: she’s trying to do because it’s usually like, Oh, you’re so pretty. Oh, you’re so handsome. You’re a big dummy. To

Jen Lada: be honest I, I loved that we had very similar interests, right? We were both into sports. I met him at Lambeau field. He was new to Milwaukee, like, I guess, like 15, 14 years ago now, I was at Fox six and he was at W.

I. S. N. 12. And when we met, admittedly, he was like very overwhelmed with the day. It was his first game at Lambeau field. It was covering the Packers. I’d been doing it for, I think, like five years at that point. And, and, I just said hello, you know, like, I actually remember telling one of the other women’s sports reporters in the press box, the new guy at channel 12 might be good looking like, I don’t know, it’s just a picture, but he might be cute, you know, like kind of like new blood type of type of thing on the scene.

And then we met in the Lambeau field press room and kind of Exchanged hellos. There

Dario Melendez: was no exchange of hellos. It was my jaw hit the floor and I didn’t know what to say.

Jen Lada: He said, I know who you are.

Dario Melendez: Like I’m walking, so it was the Packers 49ers game 2009, 2010 I should say, when they wore those weird jerseys, throwbacks, and Donald Driver had that crazy catch down the sideline.

My first ever Packer game, they sent me up there with like no one, so I had no idea what I was doing. I just had found out where the press room was. So I’m walking in, she’s walking out, we almost run into each other, she goes, Oh, hi, you’re the new guy, I’m Jen Latta. She goes, and I’m like, oh, I know who you are.

Like, crickets. And she goes, cool. I just walked out, I’m like, I know who you are! Me so stupid! Who says that? Like, cause again, so as soon as I got into town, Everywhere I went, I went to Joey Bono’s when it was around. And Oh, Jen used to work here. I go to the Knickerbocker. Oh, Jen used to work here. Like everything is Jen, Jen, Jen.

So like, I knew exactly who she was and obviously she was a bombshell, a smoke show. So I was like, yeah, I can’t wait to meet her. And then I met her and like, Oh my God, what did I just say? That was the worst. So how did he recover from that was just as

Richie Burke: good looks over there He sent me an email

Jen Lada: and we joke about it now, but he like cranked out this email and was like Thanks so much.

And and I All I could notice was that it was full of typos. I

Dario Melendez: can’t spell. Just like

Jen Lada: word, I was like, what is this word? Like, I don’t even know what this dude’s trying to say. So I wrote back an email, I was like, hey, no sweat. Like you know, overwhelming first day. I get it. You know, I’m, people make first impression opinions about me all the time.

And, you know, you can’t worry about it. So. You know, we’ll see you around, was basically it. And then he shot his shot.

Dario Melendez: And it was an air ball. He

Jen Lada: shot his shot and was like, yeah, we should get coffee or something sometime. You know, give me

Dario Melendez: the lay of the land.

Jen Lada: Yeah, and I was going through a,

Dario Melendez: I was

Jen Lada: going through a divorce, so I was not in the space where I was interested in dating.

It was like, you know, happy to make your acquaintance type of thing, but not really interested in getting into a relationship. So I didn’t respond to that, you know, I just didn’t want to like get things, you know, just mess things up. And like, I was very conscious of that people knew that I was separated from my ex husband at the time.

And you know, we had a young son, our son now is 15. So I was just very conscious of like, Don’t be that person that like publicly jumps into a relationship or is out there on the scene dating. I just felt like tongues would wag and it would be fodder for gossip and just didn’t want to really be in that space.

Dario Melendez: So then the football gods put us right next to each other for the entire Packers playoff run. So she doesn’t respond to me. Is this the Superbowl run? Yeah. So this is 2010, 2011. They go to Philly, they go to Atlanta, they go to Chicago. And we have to sit next to each other. This is after she totally ignored me, totally blew me off.

It would

Jen Lada: be called ghosting now, but it was so long ago then that we didn’t know that term existed.

Dario Melendez: Yeah. So we’re in Atlanta and I’m just minding my own business having a pizza. I was still hungry. I want another pizza. She leans over. I was like, how many of those are you going to eat? It’s like, excuse me.

Now you want to talk to me. Now you want to talk. Miss judgey over here. I was

Jen Lada: very impressed with the appetite and the ability to house these pizzas.

Dario Melendez: So then we get to Chicago and they have all these candy bars just sitting there. I’m like, I like candy bars, so I have a couple of candy bars. So

Jen Lada: this is the impression I’m getting of Dario, right?

Loves football and food, which is not that far off from like,

Dario Melendez: if he

Jen Lada: had a Tinder profile, it should say loves football and food.

Richie Burke: Yeah. Nothing would be spelled correctly. And nothing would be spelled. Yeah.

Dario Melendez: Food would be like F U D, but yeah, then we ran into each other again at a a friend’s party. And we kind of started talking again, and then I said, Hey, why don’t you give me your number so we could actually, you know, communicate to each other?

And she goes, No, you give me your number and I’ll text you. So then two weeks goes by and still nothing. And so I send her another email, I’m like, Ah, glad I didn’t hold my breath. And then she’s like, Fine, we’ll go on a date. We went to Rustico, which is now Honey Ginger, I want to say?

Jen Lada: Ginger something.

Dario Melendez: It’s a place in the third ward. Oh, yeah, I know what you’re talking about. Yeah, so it used to be an Italian restaurant and then from there. Because I knew

Jen Lada: he loved pizza.

Dario Melendez: Yeah. Let’s just say I swept her off her feet and from there. Snickers for dessert there at Rooster Cove. He was literally

Jen Lada: a half hour late.

I wasn’t a

Dario Melendez: half hour late. She forgot that at channel 12 we went from a half hour 10 to an hour long 10. That week so I’m like, hey, I’ll meet you after my show. You can’t

Jen Lada: forget information. You don’t know. Okay, that’s what I would argue Like I didn’t forget I never I didn’t know that you guys had a longer show than us I’m not paying attention to what you’re doing.

Richie Burke: We can let the audience know that Dario actually showed up at Like 40 minutes early to this recording today, which has a reputation for being late. I mean, you got the time wrong, but still,

Dario Melendez: she scared me so bad that I’m early for everything. She thought I was 45 minutes late. So now I show up 45 minutes early.

Exactly.

Jen Lada: This is from our very first date. These are residuals.

Dario Melendez: I was in sweatpants. No one was here. The studio wasn’t set up. I was just like, oh, fuck it. This is not really happening right now. We’re, we’re taping at 10. Which by the way, it’s on our calendar

Jen Lada: twice. It literally is, it’s on it two

Dario Melendez: times,

Jen Lada: 10 and 10.

Dario Melendez: He calls

Jen Lada: me, he’s like, Hey, are you on your way? I look at the clock. I’m like, it’s 9 15. No.

Richie Burke: Then I’m texting all my employees. Can you guys get this? Early. Anyway, sorry to interrupt. Sorry to interject. So you went on a first date with RoostCook at RoostCook cause Dario loves pizza. And it must have went, went well.

It went well,

Dario Melendez: because now, 12 years later?

Jen Lada: I think like 14, right? I mean, you said 2011, so.

Dario Melendez: Oh, so 14 years later? I don’t know, would it be 13 years? I don’t know, I can’t, I was told there’d be no math. And you got

Richie Burke: two kids together? Yes. Yes.

Dario Melendez: I mean, look, I always got the other son. I consider chase my son. I mean, I’ve been in his life since he was one, like just over one he’s, I mean, it’s cool to see how he’s developed in such a, a great kid.

And then we got our two little munchkins who are just, they’re six and four going on 26 and 24 and they just couldn’t be any, in my opinion, any more different personality wise. I mean, one is very adventurous and outgoing and the other one’s extremely funny and artsy. Dramatic is the word I like to use.

But also extremely dramatic.

Jen Lada: She’s very dramatic. And she gets that from her mother. Is a big deal. Here’s what I will say like we’ve been together for 13 years but it has not always been easy Like and I think that anybody who’s married and who’s been in a long term committed relationship would tell you it takes work and you have to be committed to keep coming back together when life and schedules and Conflict wants to pull you apart and i’m really proud of us for Continuing to put in that work and continuing to find new ways to reconnect.

You know, I don’t want to sit here and act like it’s a Disney fairy tale. One of the things I know about Dario, maybe would go on that Tinder profile, is football, food, and Disney World. He loves Disney. But I think you came into our relationship kind of hoping that it would be You know like all of the disney movies and and it just wasn’t you know There was complications from a lot of different things so I you know, I always want to be super authentic about like what we’ve been through and and we did long distance for a while Right.

He was in connecticut and I was in chicago And then he was in milwaukee when he was working with the brewers and I was back in connecticut with the kids and he would Come back like Every 10 days and I mean that puts a strain on a relationship and a marriage and a family And so I’m just really proud of how we continue to work at being committed to one another and being committed to our family

Richie Burke: Recording this on Valentine’s do you have any advice for other couples?

Because I know you get you both have been through a lot doing my homework and

Dario Melendez: Always be willing, always be willing to come back to the table. That’s one of the things that, and again, I go to a therapist. I know Jen does as well. We call them our mental coaches because if we’re going to work out your body, you should work out your mind as well.

You’re not always going to be 100 percent engaged, focused in a right frame of mind when you’re in an argument, when you guys, when Or just in life. So if you’re not at 100%, let’s say, you know, I got 60 percent today. You’re significant other myself or Jen, like we just look at, I’ll help you fill the other 40%.

Like I will step my game up today because I understand that when I’m down, you’re going to step up for me. And I think that’s kind of one of the things that we try to live our lives by. Does it work all the time? No. I mean, do I get under her skin without a doubt? Does she get under my skin? Absolutely.

But at the end of the day, we also know that. We love each other very much. And we have a really good family dynamic. And it’s just really about meeting each other when you’re at. You’re not 100%.

Jen Lada: And look, we both exist in very competitive fields, right? Like you could argue it’s the same field, even though we’re in different places in our career.

But so you’re kind of trained to exist in this space as a hard nose competitor and want to always come out on top, right? It’s a big reason why I’ve had a lot of success in my career. Cause nobody’s going to outwork me. Nobody’s going to be better than me. Nobody’s going to, you know, win at whatever we’re doing.

But in a relationship, if I’m trying to win versus Dario, then we both lose. So it’s having the mindset of we’re on the same team. We may be seeing things differently right now, but how can we work together to achieve the goal, which is the resolution or to solve the problem or whatever’s in front of us.

And I think we’ve gotten a lot better at that as our relationship has gone on. But the first step was realizing, It’s not Dario versus Jen and I need my viewpoint to win. It’s no, how can we come to some sort of compromise or maybe sometimes not a compromise. Maybe he literally has the best solution for the conflict that we are currently in.

And then I need to swallow my pride and say, you’re right. That’s how we need to handle it and go with that because we’re on the same team. And that’s a really important mindset for anybody who’s in a committed relationship.

Dario Melendez: And that’s hard, right? I mean, cause we’re all raised certain ways. I know she came from a very, I came from a very competitive household.

And if I win, which is what I always want to do, right? You always want to win. That means she loses. And if she loses, then we both lose. Like we both have to win in this relationship. And that was a really, I, I think the biggest step for us to kind of overcome as our relationship evolved because we both just want to win all the time.

Jen Lada: I mean, look at what we, where I said we started. He was at Channel 12. I was at Fox 6. We were literal rivals. We were literal competitors, ratings.

Dario Melendez: I mean, the ratings kind of spoke on themselves.

Jen Lada: Or, to be perfectly Not in the paycheck either. Homie was making twice what I was making, which is another conversation for another podcast.

Let’s not

Richie Burke: open that can of worms. Please. Hopefully you’re doing all right now. Oh yeah. Hopefully you’re doing okay now. I think she’s okay. I out on top at the end.

Dario Melendez: I’m like, what’s the character, Oliver? Like, more please, honey. For

Richie Burke: that college game day, money’s okay.

Jen Lada: That’s exactly, yeah, it’s working out just fine now.

Richie Burke: Biggest pet peeve of one another? Other than the general out of school of driving. Potentially.

Dario Melendez: I’m not. My wife is amazing. She’s perfect. And this is a trap. So I’m not answering that question. Jen, anything on Dario you’d like to air out right now? So, I

Jen Lada: think my biggest pet peeve is probably that when given an opportunity to talk about how amazing his wife is, he goes into robot mode where he’s like, I’m a battered husband.

I can’t say anything nice about her without acting like she’s making me. That would probably be it.

Dario Melendez: So what happened today? This will be

Richie Burke: an interesting next question.

Dario Melendez: My wife, haven’t I told you how amazing she is? Like she’s a strong, independent woman. She’s a great mother of, of three beautiful kids. Four,

Jen Lada: four.

Dario Melendez: Max is, I understand you love Max.

She’s successful. She’s smart. It’s a little less,

Jen Lada: a little less significant when it’s prompted, but sure.

Dario Melendez: I’m kidding. I’m in trouble. Jen, what do you, I was gonna say the

Richie Burke: final question on Valentine’s Day. I was gonna ask both of you what you admire most about one another and Dario just rattled off about four very, very kind things right there.

Dario Melendez: What I, all joking aside, what I love most about Jen is her willingness and want to adapt to life. Where she’s not She doesn’t want to settle on the version she is today. She wants to continue getting better and better. And that’s at being a mother, being a wife, being a college game day reporter. Like I love that she wants to continue getting better and better every day at her craft at her just being a person.

And that’s inspiring because it makes me want to be better. So I mean, that’s really, you know, it’s really all you could ask for, for your partner.

Jen Lada: Thanks. That, I mean, he’s right. That’s basically how I operate. I, how can tomorrow be better than today? And I also give myself grace and I give Dario grace.

Like I try to recognize one of the things I’ve done as I’ve gotten older is give people the benefit of the doubt, right? When I was younger, it was always like, Oh, that person did this and they must mean this. And it was like, Or, here’s a thought, d d d d d d, all these other possibilities to why someone behaved or acted the way they did, so that’s been really freeing for me, to not internalize everything, to not take everything personally, to not assume that someone’s behavior has anything to do with me or how I’ve been perceived by them.

What I admire most about Dario is he is, is consistently seeking growth and he’s getting better at every, all of the things. You know, being a dad did not come naturally to Dario. You know, without telling too much of your background, I didn’t grow

Dario Melendez: up with a father. He didn’t

Jen Lada: have a dad. So, like, you know, for a lot of people, they, they, emulate what they saw from their own father, but he was going into it blind.

And so again, giving him the grace and the patience of this is like anything else. You wanted to learn about Robin Young. You read a book. You wanted to learn about the Islanders. You read a book. You want to learn about being a parent. You read a book, you talk to people who are parents, you gather that information and you figure out how to do something.

And that’s probably been the thing in our life life together. I’ve been most proud of is his willingness to say. I don’t know how to do this, but I’m going to go find out. And I think that everybody could take a lesson from that. Like not knowing something is not an indictment of you as a person. Not finding out or not going and seeking the answers that is being content to just sit in the unknown and sit in the I don’t know because that means you don’t care.

And Dario cares tremendously about his family, about his job, about all of those things. And that’s why you know, I’ve chosen to have a life with him.

Richie Burke: Thank you to Jen and Dario for coming on and to you for tuning in. Make sure you are subscribed. To this podcast, we’ve got another episode with Jen and Dario coming.

And if you do subscribe, make sure to write a review on Apple or Spotify and leave your email or Instagram handle at the end of that review so we can get in touch, you’ll be entered into our weekly giveaway. Also, this podcast is produced in the heart of Walker’s point by Story Mark studios in partnership with On Milwaukee and presented by Nicolet Law and Central Standard Distillery.

When it comes to the MASL and Milwaukee Wave Ian Bennett is a certified legend, he’s a two-time MASL MVP and three-time champion with the Milwaukee Wave, he is also still performing at a high level this season at the age of 40.

That said there is a lot more to Ian Bennett than what you see on the field. The guy is a father of two daughters, has more energy than just about anyone I’ve ever met and his authentic unfiltered nature made for a great and highly entertaining podcast.

The episode kicks off with Ian discussing what it’s like to be nearly double the age of some of his teammates and get gets pressed on his responsibility to show them the ropes on and off the field, which segways into where the Wave go to celebrate a night out (it is quite a few places in Milwaukee) as well as what they do after a loss.

Richie and Ian also dive into his upbringing of playing soccer (and American football) growing up in Canada, how he barely got into college passing his SAT on the number and started his career as an outdoor player in Charleston, SC before transitioning to the indoor star that he is today.

The Standard Five, sponsored by Central Standard Distillery, delivers rapid-fire questions, touching on Ian’s greatest soccer moment, his Canadian obsession with maple syrup, and even his love for McDonald’s, and if Canadian’s are actually more friendly than Midwesterners. The episode wraps up with Ian’s  love for life, his motivation, and his deep appreciation for the people and home he’s found here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Follow Milwaukee Uncut on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milwaukeeuncut/

Milwaukee Uncut is produced by Story Mark Studios

 

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Transcript

[00:00:00] Ian Bennett: Dude, you want me you want me to get released man. Oh my gosh. How do you know? Okay, so we’re supposed to keep I mean the kids are watching maybe kids are not watching But yeah, you already 

[00:00:08] Ian Bennett: told them what the wave players do after I know but like I just don’t want my secrets Also, I love life man. I love meeting good people and that’s probably why I stayed i’ve stayed in wisconsin so long Hey, everyone.

[00:00:19] Richie Burke: It’s your host, Richie Burke. Welcome back to Milwaukee Uncut. My guest today is a two time M. A. S. L. MVP and a three time champion with the Milwaukee Wave. He has represented both the Canadian national team in futsal and beach soccer. He’s a father of two. He’s, he’s 40 and he’s still going strong on the field.

[00:00:37] Richie Burke: He’s got more energy than literally any, anyone I know. He’s hilarious. This is a highly entertaining episode today. Before we dive in. Just a reminder, Milwaukee Uncut is presented by Nicolet Law, the Midwest’s personal injury law firm, Fear the Beard, as well as Central Standard Distillery, home of my favorite vodka, Door County Cherry Vodka, and in partnership with our friends over at On Milwaukee.

[00:01:03] Richie Burke: Now let’s dive in to today’s episode with Ian Bennett. Speaking of, you are 40. 

[00:01:10] Ian Bennett: Haha, yeah, I’m 40, I’m 40. 40 young, I guess, we can say that. 

[00:01:14] Richie Burke: What is it like being a professional athlete? I saw you, you guys just drafted someone who was born in 2002. 

[00:01:20] Ian Bennett: Dude, don’t even remind me. So like, you know when you play a sport, and then like, you’re one of those jokers when you talk kind of trash to the old people?

[00:01:28] Ian Bennett: And the old guys, and you’re like, oh, you’re so old. I’m that guy, but the good thing is over, I’m not gonna lie. Like I can still keep up with them. So I think that saves me. Cause I don’t get those old jokes a lot. Sometimes you just talk about, cause my age, I am 40 logistic, right? Like it’s legit. I’m 40, but I don’t look like 40.

[00:01:45] Ian Bennett: Like, dude, I don’t look for it. This body doesn’t look like 40. If I took off my clothes, there’s no 40. There’s no four. There’s more like 26. Even if you kept them on. I mean, yeah, I appreciate that. See, that makes me feel good. I appreciate that. 

[00:01:55] Richie Burke: Yeah. I mean, you got, yeah. Looks like you have maybe a nice skincare routine going.

[00:01:59] Richie Burke: You got a nice beard. How’s the hair you’re wearing? 

[00:02:04] Ian Bennett: I’m good. Yeah. No grays, no nothing. Like I got good genes. Amen to my parents. I got good genes. I moisturize. People don’t understand. You have to lotion. All right. Doesn’t matter what in this city you are. Skin color, moisturize. Drink water, and moisturize.

[00:02:20] Ian Bennett: And you’ll feel good. You’ll be good. 

[00:02:22] Richie Burke: Yeah, uh, my girlfriend Bre finally got me to start doing skin care. See? For the first time. I wish I started earlier. Ha ha ha! That’s awesome. I don’t know how well it’s working, but I did start that. Yeah, I started doing Rogaine a long time ago and that, that has not worked as well for me, but I’m hoping to have better luck on the skin care side of things.

[00:02:41] Richie Burke: Do you take the guys out much? Do you, do you feel like you need to show them, show them the scene, show them around? Do you feel that kind of responsibility? And I’m guessing you also want to set an example for them at the same time, but you got to show them a good time. 

[00:02:55] Ian Bennett: Yeah, a hundred percent. So basically I always say if we win.

[00:02:59] Ian Bennett: We go, we go nuts, right? Well, we, we drink, um, we have a good time. I’ll take you to these bars. If we lose, it’s, it’s, we got two drink minimum. Probably going to go home, um, because you got to set the standard, right? 

[00:03:12] Richie Burke: Two, two drink maximum. 

[00:03:14] Ian Bennett: Yeah, I mean, no, there’s a minimum. You have to drink two at least and then you’re done.

[00:03:17] Ian Bennett: So, but like, but you, you’re drinking. So if we lose, you’re drinking maybe if you drink or not, but you’re not happy. But when we win. You’re drinking. We’re having a good time because you just got to set the standard. If you lose, you can’t be happy about that. Right. And some people like these days and age.

[00:03:34] Ian Bennett: They lose and they’re still happy and it doesn’t, I’m a little old school when it comes to that stuff. 

[00:03:38] Richie Burke: If someone wants to party with the Milwaukee Wave after a game, where, where are you guys 

[00:03:43] Ian Bennett: going? Oh man. Okay. So we got, I got a shout out to Goolsby’s. They always take care of us. So we just go there because a lot of players we don’t eat before we play because we want to stay loose.

[00:03:52] Ian Bennett: Get those wings. Yeah. So we get the wings. We like Calderone Club. I’m a big guy with like Italian. I love Italian. Um, cause I’m Canadian. I grew up with a lot of Italians. So I love that place. Um, the ambassador hotel, big sponsor too. They always put us on and they have good food. So we hit one of those. Um, and then after, I mean, we’re out, we’re out, Richie, like, we’re out.

[00:04:13] Richie Burke: You’re not, you’re not dodging this question. Are we, are we talking Joe Cats? We talking RWB? 

[00:04:17] Ian Bennett: No, I’ll be honest. No, no, no, I’ll be honest. Yeah, we’re, we’re hitting Joe Cats. We’re hitting, um, 720. We’re, we’re on Brady. We’re everywhere. Like, so you could find us, I mean, we sometimes split up, conquer and divide, divide and conquer.

[00:04:30] Ian Bennett: So, I mean. Yeah, we’re doing it. 

[00:04:32] Richie Burke: How is club 720 these days? I have not been in there in a long time. You know, that like tap in trend on instagram right now when you’re 21. I saw P fat post a photo from there when she was 21. Um, but yeah, how’s 720? 

[00:04:46] Ian Bennett: That’s been good. White tail has been a new little spot.

[00:04:49] Ian Bennett: That’s been good too. Um, but yeah, I mean, we’re just out and about and when When the games are over, if we win. So, we’re having fun. 

[00:04:56] Richie Burke: Yeah, you guys are everywhere. I like that. And, it’s not like you have a game the next day, usually, right? 

[00:05:02] Ian Bennett: So sometimes if we have it back to back, yeah, we won’t, but if we don’t, yeah, we’ll, we’ll, we’ll have a good time.

[00:05:07] Ian Bennett: I’ll take these guys out, kind of show them the ropes a little bit. Yeah. 

[00:05:10] Richie Burke: Um, do you just burn all that off the next day? How do you stay in such good shape? Does it come back to genetics? 

[00:05:16] Ian Bennett: Yeah, I think genetics and then obviously how you take care of your body. I think diet is massive. Um, you got to always stay hydrated.

[00:05:23] Ian Bennett: That helps injuries prevention. And then again, stretching, doing all that stuff, right? If you’re out and about, just partying a lot, it’s gonna catch up to you, right? 

[00:05:31] Richie Burke: Yeah, you know, I’ve, I’ve found, um, It’s hard for me to minimize a hangover these days. It’s just, you know, if I reach a certain level, I’m just done.

[00:05:39] Richie Burke: But, Central Standard Door County Cherry Vodka with Electrolyte Powder, pretty good mix. 

[00:05:45] Ian Bennett: Man, I gotta try that then. You should. I’m a more of a rum guy though, but that’s, that’s what’s up. 

[00:05:49] Richie Burke: That’s good, that’s good too. Alright, um, That was some good insights right there. Your backstory, you’re Canadian. You grew up in Hamilton, Canada, population 600, 000, close to Toronto, played football and soccer, excelled in the classroom.

[00:06:05] Richie Burke: Can you talk about your up? Dude, I love it. Or is that not accurate? Did I not do my homework correctly? You got like a 17 on the ACT. I heard you got into college. How would you hear about 

[00:06:18] Ian Bennett: that? How that’s, that’s like serious information. How’d you know 

[00:06:22] Richie Burke: about that? I do work. I take this podcast seriously.

[00:06:25] Richie Burke: Okay. 

[00:06:26] Ian Bennett: So I’m going to be honest with you. So I got a scholarship, like they’re like, Ian, you got a scholarship. All you got to do is, um, is get a 17 on the ACT. So I was like, Oh man, I’m going to get better than that. That’s like the minimum. I’m like, isn’t that just barely passing? So I’m like, okay. So I studied for like a week.

[00:06:41] Ian Bennett: Um, and mind you, I try hard. I don’t think I’m the smartest dude, but like I give a hundred percent. So anyways, went to there, um, went to take the test, feeling good, feeling like a baller. Um, coach calls me, he’s like, Ian, you’re in. Like, you got, you passed, you’re in. So I’m like, okay, cool. That’s awesome. I’m, I’m hyped up.

[00:07:00] Ian Bennett: I go, but what did I get? He’s like, you sure you want to know? I’m like, yeah, man, I studied hard. 17. Dude, I was so hyped and I’m not going to lie. I was a little bit sad. I was like, cause I really never get sad, but I was kind of like, dang, like I got a 17, like that’s what I needed. So whatever that, I mean that helped, but I, so I got to school, I got to college.

[00:07:21] Ian Bennett: Um, graduated, um, summa cum laude, all that stuff. No, I’m joking. 

[00:07:26] Richie Burke: Marion college, junior college in Indiana. 

[00:07:29] Ian Bennett: No, it’s NAIA. So now it’s a university. So 

[00:07:32] Richie Burke: now it’s a university. So you go pro, you get your professional start with the Charleston battery. Yeah, I heard you were just a machine on and off the field in Charleston.

[00:07:43] Richie Burke: Can you tell us about that to that time? 

[00:07:45] Ian Bennett: How are you knowing all, like, it’s so crazy. Like I’m, you got me tripping right now. No, but so Canadian kid, there’s like no beaches. I’m I get drafted to Charleston. It’s like a whole new world. There’s beaches. You get done with practice. The weather’s amazing. It’s fantastic.

[00:08:02] Ian Bennett: And then. And I’m like, so wait, after practice, I can just go head to the beach. And then I’m like, wait, this doesn’t make sense. Like I thought we were like, it was just so much fun. So I think I had too much fun and not enough like focus. Because I thought I already made it. Right. I thought I’ll play in Charleston and then I’ll go to the MLS.

[00:08:22] Ian Bennett: And I kind of just kind of slacked on my game. I really wasn’t in the gym. I wasn’t perfecting my craft and I kind of just enjoyed. My time there, probably too much. Let’s 

[00:08:32] Richie Burke: just say solid talent in Charleston, 

[00:08:35] Ian Bennett: Charleston. Oh my gosh. It’s just good people. Like, I mean, there was good looking men, good looking women.

[00:08:41] Ian Bennett: Like I can’t discriminate. It was amazing. It was awesome. 

[00:08:44] Richie Burke: Pair of the city of Charleston to a night at RWB. 

[00:08:49] Ian Bennett: Let’s just say, uh, it’s, it’s. We’re behind let’s just say we’re behind let’s just say that fine, but it’s still good You know, I love my any 

[00:08:57] Richie Burke: advice you’d give the staff at RWB to step it up a notch 

[00:09:00] Ian Bennett: No, I just think we don’t get the Sun as much, you know, like that’s that’s the thing the Sun You know, we need the Sun and we can’t do anything about that right in the winter.

[00:09:07] Ian Bennett: It’s like it’s tough 

[00:09:09] Richie Burke: All right. So so then you transition to indoor you do not make the MLS Did you did you did you ever want to go to the MLS after you like hit your stride in 

[00:09:18] Ian Bennett: Milwaukee? Yeah, I think that was, I think that was always the goal. But then honestly, I ended up, I had my daughter, right? And then that’s where I was like, man, I’m going to have to travel a lot.

[00:09:27] Ian Bennett: I got to try to establish myself again. And I reestablished myself as an indoor player. So then I was like, you know what, let’s just ride this out and let’s be there for my kids and. And make sure I’m part of their lives. Cause again, I’m a guy that’s like hands on, right? I want to be there. I want to take them to school.

[00:09:42] Ian Bennett: I want to do all that thing. And plus, I want to give them that swag that I have, right? Imagine a kid growing up and they got swag and they’re confident and stuff. It’s amazing. And my two daughters, I’m not lying to you, they got swag for like two girls. I’m confident with them. No boys are going to mess with them.

[00:09:58] Ian Bennett: Like they’ve got it down pat. And then that makes me feel like I did a good job, right? They’re good kids, but you can’t play with them. They’re they’re, they’re cool. 

[00:10:07] Richie Burke: Hey everyone. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Milwaukee Uncut presented by Central Standard and Nicolet Lodge. Just a reminder that we are selecting a winner every week to send a new.

[00:10:18] Richie Burke: Limited edition, nice Milwaukee uncut hat made by AKA Custom Lids and, and a gift card to Central Standards Craft House to be entered in this drawing. All you have to do is pause the episode right now. I don’t even know if you have to do that, but just make sure you’re subscribed and write a review on Apple or Spotify and just leave your Instagram handle or your email.

[00:10:41] Richie Burke: At the end of that review so we know where to reach you And if you’ve already written one, we we do appreciate that just dm us on instagram and we’ll still enter you in the weekly drawing Thanks for all your support. Let’s get back to today’s episode with ian bennett How many years you think you got left in you?

[00:10:57] Richie Burke: So i’ve got a high level. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah It’s rare for a soccer player to So you’d be used to playing at the age you are, 

[00:11:04] Ian Bennett: right? Yes. And I mean, I think it’s, it’s not rare, but it’s like, if you’re an impact, right? Sometimes you’re a role player at that age, right? And thank God I’m not a role player yet.

[00:11:14] Ian Bennett: I’m still, still doing my thing. I’m still balling. So I think once that ends, I won’t, I don’t want to be a role player. If I can’t do the same stuff I was doing when I was like 26, then I’ll just retire. So we’ll see how it goes. Keep it going. Right. 

[00:11:29] Richie Burke: Keep it going. All right. Thank you. Are you ready for.

[00:11:32] Richie Burke: Standard five sponsored by central standard distillery five ish quick questions. I think we got about eight on the docket. Let’s go. 

[00:11:40] Ian Bennett: Let’s go ready. 

[00:11:41] Richie Burke: When it comes to professional soccer. What is your single greatest moment? 

[00:11:47] Ian Bennett: I think captain the side and winning the championship with Giuliano because I used to play with Jules and then he took over and then we could win a championship together.

[00:11:56] Ian Bennett: So that was kind of cool. So. We won one together and then we won another one while he was coaching and he gave me the captain’s band and I think that was awesome. Next 

[00:12:05] Richie Burke: question. Who gets more women? Soccer players or football 

[00:12:09] Ian Bennett: players? Oh my gosh, hands down soccer players all day. Have you seen Cristiano Ronaldo?

[00:12:14] Ian Bennett: Like, we got Cristiano Ronaldo. Who’s gonna beat him? No, soccer players, hands down. What 

[00:12:20] Richie Burke: about, what about soccer players or basketball players? 

[00:12:23] Ian Bennett: No, hands down because we have, so here’s the thing. Basketball players. They’re six, eight. Sometimes, sometimes girls don’t want that. Like, what are you guys going to do?

[00:12:30] Ian Bennett: Like, no. And then you can’t do stuff. You can’t fit in rides and stuff. No chance. Soccer players can do it all. Cause we do have some tall guys and we have some short guys and we have some fun size guys, but we can do it all. Like you, you can’t go 

[00:12:42] Richie Burke: on thing parts. More soccer players are MLB players.

[00:12:47] Richie Burke: Baseball. 

[00:12:47] Ian Bennett: Okay. So perfect. So it’s close almost, but they’re not fit. I’m sorry. They’re not in shape. Some of these guys just hit home runs and You could be 280, you could be whatever you want, so. You guys 

[00:12:58] Richie Burke: are in amazing shape. 

[00:12:59] Ian Bennett: That’s what I’m saying, we got it. We shave our legs, we glisten, we put baby oil everywhere.

[00:13:04] Ian Bennett: Whenever we can, we put baby oil everywhere. Are girls actually into that? I don’t know. I have no idea. That’s, that’s for them to figure out. I don’t know. I’m just telling you what you do. Or what I 

[00:13:13] Richie Burke: do. Michael Shepard, uh, SimGad, who’s wondering how you look, how you stay so young. Dang. 

[00:13:19] Ian Bennett: I mean, honestly, like I said, I drink a lot of water.

[00:13:23] Ian Bennett: I moisturize, um, good skin care. Um, get my sleep. Hey, sleep’s important. People like don’t sleep is a key and I try not to stress. Honestly, Rich, I don’t stress a lot. Like if something I never really get mad. Um, I just try to find solutions. Um, if someone kind of ticks me off or piss me off, I just. Won’t deal with them, but I’m pretty much I just try to stay happy as much as I can stay positive, too You know 

[00:13:50] Richie Burke: Next question who is the best looking Zimmerman brother?

[00:13:57] Ian Bennett: Dude, you want me, you want me to get released, man? Oh my 

[00:14:00] Richie Burke: gosh. You, you might, you might, depending on your answer, one, one, one in particular could be a 

[00:14:06] Ian Bennett: little upset. No, I think, I think honestly, like everything, like you got Joe, he’s kind of the funny guy, more outgoing, but I, it’s gotta be Mike. Mike’s got, Mike’s got the looks, he’s got the brains, he’s got the business savvy, he’s got, he’s got some charisma, he’s got it, I think, it’s gotta be Mike.

[00:14:23] Richie Burke: What is the most Canadian thing 

[00:14:24] Ian Bennett: about you? Oh my gosh, that’s easy. I’m obsessed with maple syrup. I will eat, like, I don’t want, I don’t want the stereotypes like Buddy the Elf and all that stuff, but I would literally, like, I would literally destroy syrup and I’ll put it on anything. Um, like everything. I love maple syrup.

[00:14:41] Ian Bennett: Like, dude, it’s, I can take a, I can take a bath in it and just lick it and eat. I love it. I’m obsessed. Would you put 

[00:14:48] Richie Burke: it on McDonald’s fries? I would, 

[00:14:50] Ian Bennett: honestly, I haven’t done that yet, but I would. Um, I You’re a big 

[00:14:52] Richie Burke: McDonald’s guy, right? 

[00:14:54] Ian Bennett: How do you know okay, so we’re supposed to keep I mean the kids are watching maybe kids are not 

[00:14:57] watching 

[00:14:58] Richie Burke: But yeah, you’re already told them what the way of players do 

[00:15:00] Ian Bennett: after I know but like I just don’t want my secrets Oh, so I love 

[00:15:04] Richie Burke: I love how McDonald’s is worse than RWB and Joe catch for the kids 

[00:15:10] Ian Bennett: McDonald’s is I’m not trying to promote McDonald’s cuz they don’t sponsor me anyways, but I’m loving it Like I love McDonald’s right?

[00:15:17] Ian Bennett: Like I’m it’s like my guilty like pleasure. I don’t know what it is, man I don’t know what it is I try not to eat it a lot, but that’s 

[00:15:25] Richie Burke: my go-To who? Who is more friendly? Canadians or Midwesterners? 

[00:15:30] Ian Bennett: Oh my gosh. Canadians. Hands down Canadians reallys all day 

[00:15:33] Richie Burke: young. If you, what if you exclude the greater Chicago area?

[00:15:38] Richie Burke: Totally. Because they can kind, they can be 

[00:15:40] Ian Bennett: dicks Canadians. ’cause like sometimes when, like, even when I’m in here, like in the, like in Wisconsin, like if it’s cold, like that brings kind of the attitude down. Like it’s cold in Canada when it’s cold. It’s just part of it. We’re just like, Hey, it’s part of life.

[00:15:54] Ian Bennett: You know, we warm up our cars the same way. It’s like, it’s different, but like in the summer when you guys are happy and you get the sun, you guys are really, really nice people, but I mean, Canadians just all around any season we’re, we’re pretty cool. You know, we don’t. 

[00:16:07] Richie Burke: What, uh, what keeps you so motivated and going all the 

[00:16:11] Ian Bennett: time?

[00:16:11] Ian Bennett: I love life, man. I love meeting good people. I mean, like, obviously, like, I met you and, like, it’s kind of crazy. We, even if we’re not talking every day, we kind of stay in touch and stuff. And you still, like, that’s what I love about life. And, and, and that’s probably why I stayed, I’ve stayed in Wisconsin so long.

[00:16:26] Ian Bennett: Because I met some really, really good people. Kind of like just back home in Canada. Like, it’s just, anything happens. If I need my car fixed, I know a guy. I need to go to the dentist. I know a good, like, it’s just, it’s a lot of good people that I’ve met over the time, and it feels like home. Like, it’s obviously, it’s my home now, but it’s, it’s, it’s like my second home, and I love it, man.

[00:16:45] Ian Bennett: I wouldn’t change it for, for anything. I could have played in Florida. I could have played in some, maybe some better areas and nicer climate, but I love Wisconsin, man. It’s home, man. 

[00:16:55] Richie Burke: Thanks for coming on today. It’s great seeing you. Dude. Thanks for having me, man. Appreciate you. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Milwaukee Uncut.

[00:17:02] Richie Burke: Just a reminder, if you have not already, please subscribe and review the podcast and leave your email or Instagram handle at the end of that review and you’ll automatically be entered in our weekly drawing for a new limited edition Milwaukee Uncut hat by AKA Custom Lids and a Central Standard gift card.

[00:17:18] Richie Burke: This podcast is in partnership with Nicolet Law, Central Standard and On Milwaukee. And produced right in the heart of Walker’s Point by Story Mark Studios.

Not sure what to do on Valentine’s Day in Milwaukee? From gifts to dinner spots to where to go out to we’ve got recommendations.

Maybe you’re single like and looking for that perfect opening line or pick up strategy at the bars like Joe Villmow, we cover that.

Want to hear a story about a man who drove 18 hours up from Florida to meet a woman in Milwaukee then went dark and came back that has nothing to do with Valentine’s, we cover that as well.

No matter what you are looking for this Valentine’s season we’ve got something for you on this episode.

Chef Adam Pawlak joins Grace, Danika and Richie.

Milwaukee Uncut is produced in the heart of Walker’s Point by Story Mark Studios: https://milwaukeeuncut.com/

In Partnership with:

Central Standard Distillery,  Nicolet Law and OnMilwaukee

 

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Transcript

Grace Scalzo: I have gone on two dates in one day and it was on a Valentine’s Day.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Let’s go. Jesus.

Grace Scalzo: Okay, I’m never expecting a gift. Gifts are always just like, wow. You know what’s coming though, come on. I mean, if I didn’t have at least flowers, I’d be mad.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Maybe I need to go to the Harp to buy shots. Bombs. If they chew with their mouth open, we’re done here.

Grace Scalzo: I think that would be like red flag, right?

Richie Burke: Hey everyone, it’s your host Richie Burke and welcome back to Milwaukee Uncut Dating in Milwaukee Valentine’s Day edition. If you’re listening to this after valentine’s don’t worry We’ve still got some great stories and advice But if you are scrambling last minute wondering what to do for that special someone or maybe that special several people In your life, we’ve got some exceptional content coming your way or if you’re single Looking for that perfect valentine’s day opener out at the bars like our friends joe vilmo and ben anderson.

We go through that Or maybe you just want to hear some good stories like a story about a man who drove 19 hours up from Florida to Milwaukee to meet up with a girl, then went dark, then came back. What happened? This story really has nothing to do with Valentine’s, but was submitted to us and we hit, we had to cover it.

So no matter where you’re at in life, this is an episode you’re not gonna want to miss. On that note, let’s dive in to dating in Milwaukee. Valentine’s Day edition presented by Central Standard Distillery. Nicolet Law and in partnership with our friends over at On Milwaukee. Back by popular demand, we are here with Dating in Milwaukee, Valentine’s edition.

Back with me, I’ve got Danika Holt, former Miss Wisconsin USA. Danika, welcome back to the podcast. Thanks. Everything that has to do with Marquette basketball, yoga instructor at multiple places. Young and single bringing that perspective to the show. She’s on the market grace calls a welcome back. Good to see you

Grace Scalzo: Thank you.

Thanks for that introduction. That was great

Richie Burke: And this podcast is sponsored by central standard distillery I’m currently grace and I are currently drinking some door County cherry vodka and Gatorade Which is actually pretty good in my opinion grace. How is your drink after pouring? Some door county cherry vodka into your gatorade bottle.

Grace Scalzo: I would say it only made the taste better. So yes loving it

Richie Burke: As am I and some news we have a new sponsor as well Nicole law fear the beard and to go along with that. We have a special guest Someone whose beard rivals the Nicolet beard. That’s right. Chef. Adam Pawlak. Welcome to the podcast.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Hello sir.

Thanks for having me.

Richie Burke: , what are you doing here on a day? Dating in Milwaukee podcast? I don’t

Chef Adam Pawlak: know. You just hit me up and we’re just gonna let it rip here. . It’ll be fun though. It’s like good. It’s good. Did hit

Richie Burke: you up or did you hit me up? Or did Eric Kennedy hit, did Eric Kennedy hit both of us up and then you.

begrudgingly volunteered to come on and I was like, sure.

Chef Adam Pawlak: No, I love coming on here with you and this is a good perspective. This is someone that really doesn’t date all that much, so.

Richie Burke: But is single.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Yes.

Richie Burke: And can cook and is very active on the Milwaukee restaurant scene. So you can give a lot of good advice to the listeners today.

Chef Adam Pawlak: I can, yes. Perfect,

Richie Burke: thanks for coming on.

Chef Adam Pawlak: I’m ready for you, man.

Richie Burke: Okay, great. , first topic. Do you guys think people should make a big deal out of Valentine’s or do you think it is a completely overblown Hallmark holiday?

Danika Holt: , I kind of feel like it’s, it’s nice. Cause it reminds you to like celebrate each other or go on a date.

But I also feel like it’s totally one of those kind of overrated holidays. I never, never was dating anyone on Valentine’s day. I would, there was always sick or. A boyfriend and I broke up, so I never had good luck with Valentine’s day. So that’s maybe where my perspective comes from.

Richie Burke: Was there one occasion?

Danika Holt: Okay. Okay. We have to go back. I take back my last comment on the last episode. I have gone on two dates in one day and it was on a Valentine’s day. One was like a friend. One was like, I don’t know.

Chef Adam Pawlak: You got lunch and dinner covered.

Richie Burke: To add context, we did bring up someone on the last episode who went on three dates in one day, including one at the harp.

Jesus, that’s pretty good. Grace’s favorite spot and where she was you guys from last time. It was

Grace Scalzo: definitely not me like you I don’t do much dating, but I did go to the harp recently and they were very nice and it gave me free drinks because We talked about them

Richie Burke: your new sponsor the heart.

Grace Scalzo: So we love the heart.

Richie Burke: They’re not I am I am a fan of the harp after the last episode though. I went to the bucks game. I think it was that that night. And it went to the harp after with brandon chalker Bomb Knight Brando and, , Ben Jewish from Coakley Brothers, need to give him a shout out just to try out the, the bomb strategy we were talking about.

Not that any of us were on the market or anything, just doing a little market research over at the Harp. And I mean, if you’re a guy and you want to engage a group of girls, just buy a tray of bombs and bring them over at the Harp.

Danika Holt: He said it worked, right?

Richie Burke: Yeah. And I tested it out or witnessed people testing it out.

I was just along for the ride doing research. It’s gotta work. Free drinks. It was a business decision. , but yeah. Okay, wait. So Danica, how’d your two dates on Valentine’s Day go?

Danika Holt: You know, I honestly had to call my mom before this because I prefer to block all bad memories out of my head and usually Valentine’s was a bad memory.

So she had to rejog it. And, , Yeah, not memorable, I can tell you that much.

Grace Scalzo: Okay, look, ladies, gentlemen, I think you deserve to be celebrated. , if you are with someone, if you’re dating someone, Casually, not casually. I think, celebrate it. This is coming from someone who, my mom, I have a stepdad, she remarried.

He doesn’t even know what Valentine’s Day is, okay? So we gotta set the standard a little bit higher. We need to start celebrating these things. That’s why they happen, right? So I got my pink on today. If you’re with someone on Valentine’s Day, unlike me, , I need you to celebrate that in honor of the single ladies, okay?

That’s my two cents on that. I

Richie Burke: like that. And we have two weeks.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Don’t they have a day for that? Isn’t there a day for that, right? That they like celebrate single valentine. Oh, yes. There it is.

Richie Burke: Don’t don’t throw in the towel yet I feel like that’s more

Chef Adam Pawlak: special to people than the actual valentine’s day see more stuff about that Than what people are doing on valentine’s day.

Richie Burke: I know , I know grace’s mom carmen. Yes. I mean she she Has to go crazy not having Valentine’s Day celebrated. I feel like she’d be all for that kind of thing.

Grace Scalzo: Sometimes she does force it You know, but we’re not trying to force it. We need Sean to step up his game Sean if you’re listening my stepdad, this is a call out to you.

Take my mom out to dinner Show her a good time at dinner. Okay, we we need to step it up Carmen’s

Richie Burke: the best story mark studios will send her a valentine Carmen is a client over at johnson financial group not a sponsor of the show but a story mark client and we You Love everyone over there. , any, any, , chef, do you have a, a awkward Valentine’s experience that you would like to share on the podcast?

Chef Adam Pawlak: Well, I was telling them that my Valentine’s day is like in a restaurant, but like the last few years I haven’t had to be in the restaurant or whatever, but usually that’s the biggest night of the year for us in the industry. , for me, for Valentine’s day, I don’t know. I feel like the times that I’ve celebrated, it’s been like a couple of days before after, but it’s not very often.

And I say, go for it. I guess. I think it’s worse if you’re buying like the stuff from Walgreens and Target and stuff like go outside of that. I feel like we can’t just have like pink and red heart shaped, like stuff like that, like, or candies that are clearly bought in the Walgreens aisle. I don’t know. I would, I would be a little bit different.

That doesn’t even have to do with, , cooking or what I know, but I feel like if I got like a Valentine card that was all decked out like that, I’d be like, you pick this up on the way here.

Richie Burke: You know, Danica and Grace, I’d love to give the floor to you. What kind of, , gift would you be expecting on Valentines and at what point in the relationship too?

Grace Scalzo: Okay, I’m never expecting a gift. Gifts are always just like, wow. You know what’s coming though, come on. I mean, if I didn’t have at least flowers, I’d be mad. I don’t know if I’d be mad. I think time. Nothing can beat the time. Hey, I’m gonna come over at the very least like it should be like you making an effort or whoever I would be with You’re making the effort to spend it with each other besides that like that’s a gift your presence is a gift Remember that people but yeah flowers with rice too.

I mean, I feel like you

Danika Holt: guys need to do more. Okay I was gonna say you

Chef Adam Pawlak: open the doors like So I’m

Danika Holt: here. I’m

Chef Adam Pawlak: wearing a red shirt, just wearing a red t shirt ready for the night.

Danika Holt: , well, I had one Valentine’s where I woke up and my neck was out severely. I like literally couldn’t even get out of bed and I had to call the doctor and I was on muscle relaxers all day, horrible day.

But the guy that I was like casually seeing at the time, like dropped off, like all this stuff at my door didn’t even come in. He just dropped everything off. Like that’s super sweet. , I feel like Why didn’t he

Chef Adam Pawlak: come in? He just left it?

Danika Holt: It was like before he had to go to work.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Oh God, okay. I was gonna say, he’s like, I’m not coming in there, but your stuff’s right here.

Danika Holt: Yeah, no, that was before work. , but I feel like, yeah, I guess not expecting anything, but the least a guy could do is some flowers, a bottle of wine, something like that.

Richie Burke: At what point, if you’re like casually seeing someone, is it, do you, if they give you a Valentine’s Day gift or ask you out on Valentine’s, let’s see if you’re kind of seeing someone for a few weeks, is that a big deal?

Is it? Like some people are in that situation.

Grace Scalzo: I think it depends if you are really into that person because valentine’s day like the chef was talking about before we started here It’s kind of like a thing like everybody steps out on valentine’s day So if you don’t want to be seen in public with this person, you’re casually talking to Valentine’s day I would say but if you are like, we’re actually dating like people can know that’s okay Go to dinner do something.

Nice. That’s my

Richie Burke: It’s it sends a message That you’re maybe a little more than then Just casually seeing each other if you ask them to do something on Valentine’s.

Danika Holt: I feel like it’s like a cloudy situation. A few weeks in is a little stressful, but I feel like you could at least like

Chef Adam Pawlak: Get takeout. Here’s,

Danika Holt: here’s a Starbucks gift card.

Like, I don’t know, just do something cute. Like that’s just like thoughtful and nice, but it doesn’t have to like go beyond that next step of like romantic.

Chef Adam Pawlak: You just get takeout and then you don’t have to be seen with them and be like, I’d rather be here with you. Yeah. But really you’re just hiding them.

That’s what she said. I mean, I think going out on Valentine’s Day would be fine even if it was a couple weeks because it’s just like, hey, someone’s cooking for us and we’re just, you know, it’s a night out.

Richie Burke: , any, any advice for those who are single and maybe feeling a little down that they’re not with someone on Valentine’s Day?

Danika Holt: Like that’s when you do a Galentines. Yeah, is there a male version of

Grace Scalzo: that?

Richie Burke: That’s when you go to the harp

Grace Scalzo: Okay, this is my Valentine’s Day plan Tentatively speaking as the single sad one here. I don’t know what your experience is. But for me I know these two are taken. I’m single. I will be going to Moe’s Steakhouse with two of my cousins.

They’re both girls I’m very excited. We’re having our Galentines on Valentine’s so that’s why I’m spreading it. Staking it to the

Chef Adam Pawlak: man. Not even the day after.

Grace Scalzo: Yep.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Did you just say staking it to the man? Staking it to the man. I thought you did too. That’d be good too.

Richie Burke: Staking it to the man. I just ended up me asking that out because that was a very brilliant pun that you just pulled.

Well then yes,

Chef Adam Pawlak: yes. Then yes, it was that I think you did say that she said we don’t need a guy to buy a steak We’re gonna buy our own steak Yep

Richie Burke: All right. So chef, let’s let’s Move it over to you. You’re the the guest on today’s podcast the celebrity guest over there Hell’s kitchen been on multiple times.

Current relationship status single

Chef Adam Pawlak: single. Yep Pretty clearly. I’m just floating in my own cloud right now with no one, , no one on that list or no one, no perspectives right now. So, that’s kind of what that’s like. I feel like some people will always be talking to someone no matter what. , not if they’re taken, but they’re just like, oh yeah, they’re friends or whatever, but.

I don’t know. There’s some people out there that talk to like seven or eight people at the same time and I don’t know how that’s even possible, but

Richie Burke: Was that you in December?

Chef Adam Pawlak: Not me in December. No, not at all. I just, like I said, there’s people out there that I may know or may not know that hold on to a few different options, I guess.

Richie Burke: Would you put Eric Kennedy in that category right now?

Chef Adam Pawlak: Just putting me on the spot. I don’t know about Eric. I think he’s straight up. I think Eric, if he likes a girl, he just goes all out. And then if that doesn’t work on to the next one, I don’t think he’s dabbling with multiple different girls.

Richie Burke: Eligible bachelor, Colin Yelich, who you were playing video games with before.

Chef Adam Pawlak: That’s right. , No, I mean, he is a, well, he’s an out of towner, so he doesn’t know everyone. So if there’s a girl out there that doesn’t want a guy that’s been hanging out with every girl in Milwaukee, Colin Yelich, he just got here three years ago. So he’s still new, but I don’t know. We go out a lot and there’s, there’s so many nights where there’s no interaction with just like trying to hit on girls.

We just go out and have fun. And if it, if something comes up, I mean, it’s pretty difficult in this, , in the city to just like. Have girls rolling up to you. And like you said, though, maybe I need to go to the harp and buy shots.

Richie Burke: Bombs.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Oh, sorry. Bombs. Yes. Shots are too intimidating. Shots of tequila.

Richie Burke: I mean, when you’re out with Yelich and Holbrook and that crew, you just don’t have a group coming up to you left and right.

I mean, does it get any better than that? They’re good looking guys. Yeah,

Chef Adam Pawlak: they’re good looking guys. , but I don’t know. It’s like Holbrook’s married. Colin acts like he’s married to no one. He’s just always trying to get home after dinner, you know. He’s not very active out there. And, , for me, you know, I’m with a lot of people that are taken, so I think that also hinders stuff.

I don’t have a lot of good wingmen out there. Alright. Cause they just don’t care.

Richie Burke: Alright. Any , single guys who are getting after it out there? Chef Adam needs some new friends cause Colin and Eric and Holbrook are clearly not getting it done for him. Not getting the job done. What, what, you’re, you’re a chef, you’re very active on the scene, what are the best Valentine’s Day restaurants in Milwaukee?

Do you have, do you have a top five?

Chef Adam Pawlak: Sure. I mean, I would, I would consider these like date spots, maybe not just Valentine’s, but If you don’t have your reservation for valentine’s day like now or yesterday Good luck with that or come to egg and flour

Richie Burke: Bre and I ate at 4 p. m. Last year.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Yeah, exactly. That’s all they have, right?

Yeah, like it’s like new year’s eve when people are out at 3 30 having dinner all dressed up But some some on my list I would say La Dama I’m going there tonight, but that’s like a little chill spot It’s the old crazy water right on second Street your neighbor from here, sir It’s like across the street from it’s like a block over from tin widow Little kitchen used to be crazy water,

Richie Burke: but let’s check that out. I’ve been eating Sweetgreen and chipotle

Chef Adam Pawlak: Yeah, so La Dama, , cool little area, little space, really great drinks, higher end Mexican food I would say. , Santino’s in Bayview, if you haven’t been there, that’s a good spot, pizza and like Italian style. I like

Richie Burke: that spot by Enlightened Brewing, good spot as well. Super

Chef Adam Pawlak: old school. And just because something’s expensive, don’t think that it’s because Valentine’s Day.

Like, give an expensive gift and a more relaxed dinner and maybe that’ll be better. , egg and flour, cause we don’t take reservations. So you can just roll right in. You don’t have to be dressed up to do that. , if you want to do the high end stuff, always carnivore, you know, that’s the, the good go to spot or, , One spot I really do like that I have done a date, I have Story Hill BKC.

Really good spot to go. It’s chill. There’s a lot of menu items, but some adventurous stuff. So I like when I go out with someone that I don’t really know, I like to see like what they order and how they eat. Not literally how they eat, like physically, but like how they order and what kind of stuff they want.

I’m not staring at that meat. Yes! If they chew with their mouth open, we’re done here. See, she knows, right? But that’s a big tell, right? When you go out to eat with someone and see what they’re, what they order, what they like, or you order something and they’re like, no, I’m good on that. It all depends. It’s different for me though.

Richie Burke: Yeah. Danica, any, any favorite date spots for you in the city?

Danika Holt: In the city for dinner.

Richie Burke: Yeah

Danika Holt: or anything.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Well, she goes on two dates on valentine. So maybe once

Danika Holt: Let’s clear the stage clear there i’m a different person. All right , I don’t know Can you come back to me? What’s something cool

Chef Adam Pawlak: you guys would go to that’s not just dinner that you think would be like special

Grace Scalzo: Okay, wait, first I have to say Tanuta’s in Bayview because my mom’s a Tanuta, so Tanuta’s go.

, alright, wait, something special that’s not dinner, you said?

Chef Adam Pawlak: Yeah, like what’s something you’d be acceptable with having a guy do that’s not dinner on Valentine’s Day?

Danika Holt: I always think it’s fun to like, plan to make a dinner. Yeah. Like, something different, like roll sushi, or like,

Chef Adam Pawlak: Make pasta. Yeah,

Danika Holt: but like from scratch or something.

Yep,

Chef Adam Pawlak: of course

Danika Holt: But

Chef Adam Pawlak: you have to be with them for a while, right? That’s not yeah, I guess it’s a little bit more than three week

Danika Holt: Yeah, yeah

Chef Adam Pawlak: relationship having them come over and do that But

Danika Holt: but having like some activity I think is good because you’re like distracted a little bit You don’t have to have full conversation the entire time

Grace Scalzo: Yeah, but what that making dinner?

No, let’s turn it back to you then. Oh, what are we? What are we making? What what should we make?

Chef Adam Pawlak: If it was

Richie Burke: someone not of your skill level,

Chef Adam Pawlak: no, of course Oh, so you want you’re not saying like what I would make for son. You’re saying like what people should make

Richie Burke: Yeah, if a guy’s trying to impress his girlfriend, well, I do know that

Chef Adam Pawlak: all girls are cool with pasta So like make a really good sauce and like take your time on that and then just use box pasta It doesn’t have to be fresh or go get like Whole foods are selling, they have like the fresh pasta.

It’s very easy nowadays to make it good. But pasta and like a salad, whip that together. That should be good. And then buy your dessert. We know that. It’s not like you have to, to bake or anything. , or I would say give a, give a shot at a steak if they’re down for that. You know, like a little filet and pan sear it.

I think every guy out there can make a steak in some, Vegetables, right? I mean, I don’t know. Is that

Richie Burke: just a pan on the oven? Asking for those listeners. Pan on the

Chef Adam Pawlak: stove, cast iron, little oil, get it hot. Sear it, finish in the oven.

Richie Burke: I’ll teach you. What about an air fryer? Does that pass? You wanna know,

Chef Adam Pawlak: I’ve never used an air fryer.

So I don’t even, when people ask me, does this go in the air fryer? I don’t know. I don’t even know what it is. It’s all about the deep fry, Richie.

Richie Burke: Okay, sounds, sounds good. We’ll talk, oh, oh, he’s looking for tips for yourself. Sorry, yes. , Grace, any, any favorite date spots for you? ,

Grace Scalzo: mention Tanuta’s, but I’m a big sushi girl.

I have to switch it up completely, but love anywhere that sushi is, I’ll be there. , yeah.

Richie Burke: Have you been to Screaming Tuna?

Grace Scalzo: I’ve been to Screaming Tuna. I’ve been to, , the one in Bayview. What’s it called? Hungry So?

Mm hmm

Cowa. It’s simple. It’s in 3rd Street Market Or a standalone as well. But yeah,

Richie Burke: let’s get into some fan submitted questions right here Joe Vilmo Going going out to the bars on Valentine’s Day Do you have a better chance with women opposed to on a normal night?

I think Joe Vilmo might be wondering if his odds are going up if women are more Desperate if they are out and single on Valentine’s Day.

Danika Holt: Well, I feel like with the big Galentine’s movement. It might be the play True didn’t

Grace Scalzo: even think of that. Yeah, I feel like if she’s out on Valentine’s Day This is my thing with all guys though.

No matter what the day is Approach the girl. Like, if you’re, if you think that she’s cute, whatever, shoot your shot. There’s no time to waste here, okay? Like, don’t message someone after and be like, I think I saw you. No, no, no. Go up to them, even if it’s not Valentine’s Day. That’s the play. That’s the move.

Richie Burke: What do you think of Chef Adam and his friends just keeping away from people and trying to wait for them to come up, come up to them?

Chef Adam Pawlak: Hey, I would, I’ll let you answer, then I will rebuttal that, Richie.

Grace Scalzo: I think it takes a certain type of confidence for the woman to approach the guy. Not to say I would never do it, but I think a lot of girls anticipate the guy doing it.

So, I don’t know if your standoffish play is gonna, you know, reap some benefits for you. You might want to start changing that. That might

Chef Adam Pawlak: be the problem.

Richie Burke: Let’s go, let’s go to a listener submitted story. This one is pretty crazy. , non Valentine’s Day related, but dating in Milwaukee related here, okay? Met a guy on Instagram who was from here but was currently living in Florida.

We were talking for two weeks and he finally drove 19 hours to come take me on multiple dates over his time here. He was totally love bombing me, telling me I’m the one and talking about our future together. After he left, we booked my flight to Florida, and then he got weird, and I didn’t hear from him for days.

Then he said we had to cancel my flight because there was a shooting at his apartment building, and he was moving. He totally ghosted me, and then weeks later, he sends me the longest paragraph apology text. Parentheses totally written by Chad GPT. Ends up moving back here. And would try and make plans with me And every time he made plans he would come up with the craziest excuses.

I have ever heard when I finally blocked him He found a way to send me a link to the drake song texts go green To shorten it into a topic discuss how to avoid being love bombed or ghosted. It’s happened to me many times

Danika Holt: Was he married? In florida

Richie Burke: That could be a thing. I mean if you’re driving 19 hours to get away, and then you book a flight It’s like my first

Grace Scalzo: initial thought.

Richie Burke: Don’t let her come down.

Grace Scalzo: I was gonna say I think that everybody’s very great like everybody listening to this you are amazing But someone’s gonna drive 19 hours for you or for me or for anyone like I think that would be like red flag, right?

Richie Burke: Yeah after Two weeks if you can’t find anyone in your entire state and you’re driving 19 hours to Wisconsin That’s probably a red flag

Danika Holt: Yeah

Chef Adam Pawlak: I’m almost speechless.

I wouldn’t even know. I wouldn’t even allow that. You’ve been very talkative so far. I’m just letting them get their insight in. But for me, I can, I don’t care if I hurt the guy pool out there. But if you’re a girl, it’s very simple. Just wait, wait it out as long as possible before giving in to any like, Bedroom time or anything.

And that is literally the test. Just wait it out. And if they stay around without that, you’re good. But if you give in, you’re on your fucking own at that point. I’m sorry for swearing, but you’re on your own. That is your fault. Wait it out. I’m telling you.

Danika Holt: I also just feel like when it’s like hot and heavy right away.

Usually burns really fast.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Oh, yes. Absolutely.

Danika Holt: So just being aware of that

Chef Adam Pawlak: I just don’t give it i’m like do real dates Don’t just like text and message but hang out a lot and stuff, but just be like i’m gonna go home It’s good to see i’ve only known you for three weeks. Why do like Just keep letting it go and if they don’t like that or whatever then you know that.

They’re not the one and if they wait and they’re still around then you know that you’re good I mean, it’s almost like , it’s so easy. I mean,

Richie Burke: well, I think with with ghosting too. Yeah, if you If you meet a guy or girl that first night the probability of them ghosting is up significantly opposed to if you actually went on like Several dates and didn’t hook up with them right away or know something about

Chef Adam Pawlak: them Like maybe their last name or something not just their instagram handle it’s like Just let it ride.

Try to do real life things. Don’t try to do like three amazing, crazy dates as your first three dates. Like do normal stuff.

Grace Scalzo: Yeah.

Chef Adam Pawlak: And then just wait and wait. I mean,

Grace Scalzo: Okay. I couldn’t agree more with him. And it’s sad.

Danika Holt: Cause these guys are going to hate me.

Chef Adam Pawlak: They are going to hate me.

Danika Holt: I also feel like this is taking a different spin on it, but I’ve had friends who they just like want the guy to be so into them.

And it’s like, pretty obvious from an outsider’s perspective, like, if he’s not, like, texting you often, trying to do things with you, like, Maybe he’s just not that into you and then like get over it. He’s rolling on the

Chef Adam Pawlak: bench. That’s what it is.

Danika Holt: Yeah

Richie Burke: Yeah, for sure. And if he’s only coming over when it’s convenient.

Yeah, or or yeah If he’s not responding right away, or if she’s not responding right away, that’s like a sign that there’s yeah, we’re not all bad There’s girls out there that will

Chef Adam Pawlak: not text back in the back. Oh, yeah I’m here. I

Danika Holt: forgot about that. Exactly.

Chef Adam Pawlak: That’s not a thing. I

Danika Holt: read this earlier. That is not a thing

Richie Burke: Grace, you’re the youngest one here.

Is ghosting a prevalent thing right now? You guys, it’s so rough

Grace Scalzo: out here in these streets. No, I’m just kidding. I’m totally joking, but, , in in some like with some sincerity here, it is sad. It’s like. It’s very common. Ghosting is very common, especially on a campus. Options are everywhere. We see it on social media, but especially when you’re on like a concentrated couple blocks.

, guys think that they can do whatever. Girls think that everything, like, nothing’s gonna come out or that maybe they’re doing whatever. So yeah, ghosting’s common. , finding out later that, like, two people you didn’t even think knew each other have been hanging out when it’s convenient. Very late at night, etc.

Very common. This is all just like Like it’s, it’s a lot. So try then being young, trying to find someone that’s for real good luck. Like that’s where I’m at. So , if anybody has any advice, let me know. But yeah.

Richie Burke: Well I think the chef, the chef, what the chef said was kind kind of solid. Yeah. Within the taking it slow realm.

I mean, I think if you hook up right away, it’s kind of a crapshoot and the ghosting probability goes up significantly. This girl’s message, apparently they met on Instagram and the guy drove 19. Hours to Wisconsin, which, right, I would consider that a red flag if he couldn’t find anyone in his, his region or state.

Or just fly.

Speaker 8: Yeah.

Richie Burke: I have anxiety on airplanes. I can understand that, but, but yeah, I, I even suck it up and fly when it’s 19 hours. The thing that’s weird is anyway, he went all the way

Chef Adam Pawlak: there, they hung out, she said that they were doing stuff, but he didn’t have her come back, so.

Richie Burke: Well, no, he moved back up.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Oh yeah, he moved back, okay.

Richie Burke: And then sent her, , Drake’s song, Texaco Green. Yeah. Do you know what that song is? I don’t. I do not. Grace, you went to the Drake concert, right? I love

Grace Scalzo: Drake. , I’m not familiar with that one though, no.

Richie Burke: So sending a pretty obscure Drake song specifically about texts. This guy, I, I think she dodged a bullet.

A hundred percent. Yeah, you dodged. Thank you for submitting your story, and you, you dodged a bullet there.

Ben Anderson, star of the last viral video. What is the best pickup line when you’re out on Valentine’s Day? If a guy approaches you and you’re at the bar on Valentine’s Day, what would you like to hear? Ben Anderson, Collier’s International.

Chef Adam Pawlak: What a plug. I’m dying to know, cause I’m going to use whatever you guys say right now.

I’m writing this down. So better work. I’m reporting back.

Danika Holt: Well, you want to hear a good or a bad one first?

Richie Burke: I mean, Ben Anderson wants a good one, but if the bad one’s funny, you can, , you can go there and then bring it back around on a positive note.

Danika Holt: I heard one once that a guy came up and was like, are you wearing space pants?

Cause your ass is out of this world.

Chef Adam Pawlak: It’s a classic.

Danika Holt: So I would not recommend something cheesy or corny.

Richie Burke: What was your response to that?

Danika Holt: I would walk away. It’s so creepy and uncomfortable. Don’t

Richie Burke: do that. Ben Anderson. I’d be like, I would be like,

Danika Holt: your smile is infectious. Like I saw it from across the room or your eyes are so beautiful.

Or they

Chef Adam Pawlak: really like, see, that’s why I get worried about this. Because if you say that to like, Oh, I’ve heard this a thousand times. Great. I think the space pants was cool. He was obviously thinking about it. Don’t encourage people. Danica, what’s

Richie Burke: a good one? She said the eyes across the room.

Danika Holt: Smile or eyes.

Richie Burke: Wait for the eyes. Yeah. Just go, go say hi or something.

Grace Scalzo: See, I’m bad at receiving compliments, so for me, I’m just really, it would just be cool if someone was like, Hey, like, we’re both, we’re both here on Valentine’s Day. It’s kind of funny, right? Like, can I get you a drink? Do you want like

hor?

Grace Scalzo: Or like hor, but then also just, state the elephant in the room.

Why are we out on Valentine’s Day at this bar? Like, what’s going on? You know what would happen

Chef Adam Pawlak: to me if she says that? She’d be like, my boyfriend’s in the bathroom. I don’t know what you’re talking about. And they would just, I’d be like, okay, sorry, thank you. Sorry for bothering you.

Richie Burke: Chef, how’s your self confidence these days?

Chef Adam Pawlak: We’re good. We’re good. Alright. I mean, when I go out, like I said, I’m out to just have fun, and I’ll, I’ll talk to seven year old ladies, to my lowest, probably, not like that, but I’m saying I’m just out there, like. We did, we

Richie Burke: did do the half your age plus seven thing last time.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Yeah, . No, I, I’m, I’m all about it, but they have to be interesting people too.

I don’t want to go up to a girl and just buy a round of shots. So then be like three hours later, they’re just, everyone’s drunk. Like it sounds like a good time, but it never finished as well.

Richie Burke: Let’s say I, I was, , I was out one time on Valentine’s day night. And some girl handed me a valentine like a grade school valentine That’s

Danika Holt: cute That

Richie Burke: was an interesting strategy she probably did in her purse, yeah, maybe she had like 10 just ready What do what do you guys think of that?

If like ben anderson like bought a bunch of grade school valentines and was just making them rain at joe cats or something

Grace Scalzo: I kind of like it I like it, but then it kind of is unfortunate if you meet a good one because It can’t be customized, you don’t know their name Like, what’s the note inside? Is there your nber in there?

Richie Burke: , Give it a shot, let us know Ben. I like this play.

Grace Scalzo: Yeah, give it a shot, let us know.

Richie Burke: I like Ben Anderson getting some valentines and , maybe, or getting some bombs and maybe putting the valentines cards on the tray of bombs and walking up to the table with them. Yeah, I mean you can’t, as a girl you like can’t get mad at that.

Danika Holt: No, I would think it was like funny It’s a good conversation starter.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Like why do you have ten Valentine’s cards in your pocket ready to

Richie Burke: go? So that’s that’s a bulletproof going out on Valentine’s strategy. Yeah. Tray of bombs Plus Valentine’s with something funny written in them go up to a group of girls

Chef Adam Pawlak: You’re pretty much walking into the club with a Party City bag just ready to go.

Like, what’s in there, sir? That’s all the things I need to hit on a girl tonight.

Grace Scalzo: I’m feeling hopeless. I don’t know.

Richie Burke: Grace, how can we make you feel more hopeful? Grace, the next time you see a guy out, here, you ready? The next

Chef Adam Pawlak: time you see a guy out, and you would even remotely be okay with going out in public with him to a restaurant, just go up to him and start talking to him. Do you think Grace needs to do that? She’s a good catcher over here.

I know, but the only people, you got to remember that the people that Are guys too

Richie Burke: nervous out

Chef Adam Pawlak: there to make a move? Well, think about this. If a guy is okay with going up to a girl and like saying something or hitting on her or whatever, just think about how many times he’s done that.

Speaker 8: The guys that

Chef Adam Pawlak: aren’t hitting on the girls are probably really good guys and they’re like, there’s no way in hell that I can go up to that girl or she’s gonna think anything.

And Some of the guys that I know that have had girls hit on them, they’re still with them, like, years later.

Danika Holt: I mean, I will say I hit on my husband in Martini.

Chef Adam Pawlak: At the grocery store. There we go! This is perfect proof. Then you can pick exactly which one. Let’s end this on

Richie Burke: an uplifting note. Danica, why don’t you tell the audience how you met your husband?

Danika Holt: It was at Fresh Time. Fresh Time. , by the North End. And I saw him walking in and I was like, Oh, he’s kind of cute. Was not going to the grocery store that day. Walked in.

Chef Adam Pawlak: She’s like, I got to go.

Danika Holt: Yeah. Walked in kind of like, you know, casually followed him around the store. This is a

Chef Adam Pawlak: one in a million story.

I’m sorry.

Speaker 8: Yeah,

Chef Adam Pawlak: when I go to grocery stores, there’s just people putzing around, like grabbing stuff.

Richie Burke: Miss Wisconsin didn’t roll up to you?

Grace Scalzo: I look my worst at the store, but let’s just grab some random stuff. Let’s just

Richie Burke: knock it off. Danica, you were following a guy around a store. Current Miss Wisconsin following a guy around a grocery store.

Danika Holt: And that was it. I gave him something in my purse to watch Miss USA.

Chef Adam Pawlak: But did you say something to him first? No.

Danika Holt: Yeah,

Chef Adam Pawlak: I just want to know if she initiated it.

Danika Holt: Yeah, I was behind him in the check online gave him like this Miss usa like watch thing because I didn’t know what else to do And then we like left.

I don’t even know if I said my name And I was gone for like three weeks. He found me on facebook , like messaged me a couple times and then three weeks later. We came back had coffee and that was it That’s so nice. Yeah So there’s hope there is but it’s like when you’re least expecting it So Just, yeah.

Chef Adam Pawlak: I’m gonna hit up Fresh Time all the time.

Danika Holt: Maybe, yeah, maybe we need to go to grocery stores, not bars.

Richie Burke: Yeah, maybe we should stop shouting out The Harp and Joe Katz and Red White and Blue and give Fresh Time a nice, See, that’s the problem. Whole Foods, you know.

Grace Scalzo: The problem is, before I even came on this podcast, I wasn’t frequenting those.

I was frequenting Fresh Time, and now I’m just like, trying to figure it out. So, we’ll go back to grocery stores, that’s what I’m getting from this.

Richie Burke: Well, , I don’t, I don’t know if, People got a lot. I think we I think we got some tips out of this from a cooking standpoint from places to go standpoint So, , thank you all for coming on today

Grace Scalzo: Thank you.

Richie Burke: Thank you. Thanks for dropping in good seeing you in your nice beard Thank you, sir, and grace for coming back looking great in your pink sweater over there.

Grace Scalzo: Happy Valentine’s Day everybody

Richie Burke: By the time this airs, there’s still like five days till Valentine’s Day Grace, what’s your Instagram handle? You want to shout that out?

I know it’ll be in the videos.

Grace Scalzo: At GraceGelso, just my name.

Richie Burke: Alright, you know where, you know where to go.

Grace Scalzo: Yeah.

Richie Burke: Do not DM do it. But anyways.

Chef Adam Pawlak: And you can hit up my Instagram DM whenever you want. Thanks for the shout out, Richie. And

Richie Burke: you

Chef Adam Pawlak: can

Richie Burke: go

Chef Adam Pawlak: eat

Richie Burke: at Egg and Flour

Chef Adam Pawlak: whenever you want.

Danika Holt: And dinner ideas. I need dinner ideas for Valentine’s.

Chef Adam Pawlak: Oh yeah. Dinner ideas. Yes. You can DM and ask for dinner ideas.

Richie Burke: Thank you for tuning into Milwaukee Uncut Valentine’s Day edition, write a review and subscribe on Apple podcast.

We’ll be picking a winner each week to send a limited run Milwaukee Uncut hat to and if you don’t want a hat We’ll send the winner a gift card So just make sure to leave a review on Apple and subscribe if you have not already that helps out the show and we will be picking one winner Every single week, just leave your email or Instagram handle on the back end of that review.

So we know where to find you. Also a reminder that this episode is presented by Central Standard Distillery and Nicolet Law Offices in a partnership with OnMilwaukee.

Grace Weber’s journey in the music industry has been an amazing ride. From her appearance on Oprah in college to collaborating with Chance the Rapper and winning a Grammy with him and Kanye to signing with (and parting ways with) Capitol Records. And now, with the release of her new album “Paper Flower,” Grace  continues to evolve and make waves in the industry. We also talk mental health and go behind the scenes of the music industry.  We cover it all and more on this episode of Milwaukee Uncut that you won’t want to miss.

Milwaukee Uncut is produced in the heart of Walker’s Point by Story Mark Studios: https://milwaukeeuncut.com/

In Partnership with

Nicolet Law: https://nicoletlaw.com/

Central Standard Distillery: https://thecentralstandard.com/

OnMilwaukee: https://onmilwaukee.com/

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Transcript

Grace Weber: I got surprised by an Oprah camera crew. A week later, I was on Oprah, and Oprah gave me like a side hug. No Chance walked into the room like a few weeks into working on the project and ended up asking if he could put it on his album, and it was all we got with Kanye. He wins a Grammy, I win a Grammy because of it.

Richie Burke: Hey everyone, it’s your host Richie Burke and welcome back to this episode of Milwaukee Uncut. Today we have Grammy award winning musician Grace Weber who was nice enough to drop by the studio while she was in town performing at the Pabst. She’s got some mind blowing stories from going on Oprah while she was in college to collaborating on multiple shows.

the rapper to getting signed and eventually parting ways with Capitol Records. She’s even got her own mural in Milwaukee and a new album, Paper Flower, that recently came out. Also want to give a shout out to her amazing dad and Milwaukee legend, Ralph Weber, Raweb, who was in the studio for this recording.

It was, it was great seeing him. Big fan of that guy. Before we dive in, just a reminder that Milwaukee Uncut is produced by Storymark Studios, right in the heart of Walker’s Point. In partnership with on Milwaukee and sponsored by central standard distillery I did go to the central standard craft house for dinner before grace’s concert when she was in town Had a nice date night with brie highly recommend the craft house then going to an event combo had a great time And some more milwaukee uncut news.

We’ve decided to bring on another sponsor Nicolet law fear the beard The guy on the billboards, he’s a, he’s a real human being, Russell Nicolay. He’s not just a cartoon. I had some conversations with him and learn more about his brand, what he’s building, and we are excited to announce Nicolay Law as a new sponsor of the Milwaukee Uncut Podcast.

We’ll have some fun segments with him in the future. Thanks again for tuning in today. Let’s dive in with Grace Weber.

Grace Weber: So born and raised in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa. Honestly, like I don’t even remember when I started singing like I feel like I was singing around the house by the time I was like three my dad can attest My siblings, you know, I’d be singing in the shower like Constantly before school and like taking up the shower time, you know of like needing to get ready for school And i’m just in there like And they’re like stop singing I need to get in the shower so it’s just been like a part of who I am since forever and my Grandpa is super musical was super musical.

He had 10 kids. My mom was one of 10. My dad is one of nine. So I have like literally I think I have 70 cousins with all of their married. Partners, so But yeah, so all my aunts and uncles learned instruments growing up. So christmases and thanksgiving was always singing around the piano So it was always, you know music was a part of my family.

Growing up experience and then You When I was nine, eight, nine, I performed for the first time at my school talent show. I went to St. Jude’s. And I’m going to sing a Celine Dion song. I actually peed in my pants a little bit, which was a very exciting moment for a seven year old. No one knew, but it was a moment that I recovered from through a lot of therapy.

No, I’m just kidding. But but yeah. You

Richie Burke: just hope no one notices.

Grace Weber: Yeah, no, I was like, if I can get through that, I can get through anything, you know? I was like, okay, now I can sing on any It is good to overcome adversity at a young age. At a young age. But I sang a Celine Dion song and my teacher came up to me afterwards and she was like, She was crying.

And I was like, why are you crying? Oh my God. And she was like, your song and your voice moved me. And I just remember it sort of being this like, aha moment of, whoa, like music is really powerful. And from there, you know, I sang national anthems in the city, at the Panther Arena and, you know, the Bucs Arena, or Bucs Stadium and everything.

And I joined the Central City Youth Choir here, which is a huge moment for me, like where I really, Discovered myself as a singer and what I loved about performing because in the gospel choir, it’s very interactive So, you know you’re singing and the audience the people, you know in the church are singing right back with you And they’re saying yes go do and that’s just what I loved and love about performing I really like, you know, getting the audience to sing with me and getting you know to know them throughout the show So yeah, Milwaukee You Maki is my home.

It’s where I literally became the singer and the person that I am.

Richie Burke: Did you go to college or did you just start singing right away and know you wanted to do this professionally?

Grace Weber: Yeah, I mean I knew I wanted to do it professionally, but I did go to school. I went to NYU and I was in the musical theater program.

And then I realized that, you know, musical theater wasn’t really what I wanted to do. So I switched into Gallatin at NYU, which is like the music Well, actually, Gallatin, you can make any major that you want. And so I made a major around like music business and visual art and singing. And going to NYU and living in New York was a huge part of my career.

development to being able to be a professional singer and artist, because at the end of high school, like I wasn’t ready for that. I didn’t know myself yet. I wouldn’t have been able to handle the industry and all these things. And so college was super important for me. And it’s where I, you know, started performing in New York at all these cool venues and just starting to like, I had my first band and started writing music.

And it was just such a, you know, My development was, I wouldn’t be here today with not, like, living in New York and going to NYU and just becoming who I am. What was

Richie Burke: that like, going from Milwaukee to being in your late teens, early 20s, performing at, I’m guessing, kind of hole in the wall venues in New York City, but it must have

Grace Weber: Oh yeah, it was so cool.

I remember the first week I was there in New York, I called my mom like crying and I was like, I can’t do this, New York is like so intense or whatever. And she was like, you know, just dig into it, you got this. And so once I sort of like committed to being a New Yorker and like really like digging my feet into the city like, I loved it.

I loved New York. I loved living there. And yeah, I performed at the Bitter End in the West Village. That was like one of my first cool performances when I was in college and it’s a legendary venue. It’s very like gritty, you know, it’s it’s all these cool performers that perform there. It’s one of those bars, you know, you walk in it like It smells like beer, but it just like feels so good, you know, and yeah, it was so cool to start feeling like, okay, I can do this as an original artist, you know, someone who’s writing their own music.

I think up to that point, I had had so many cool experiences as a singer you know, singing on Oprah and show Timothy Paul and all these cool things, but living in New York and performing at these venues was where I was like, Oh, okay, I can be an artist. Like, I can really. do this outside of just being a singer.

So, yeah.

Richie Burke: You just glossed over performing on Oprah. Yeah. Which is kind of a big deal. Yeah. Was that while you were in college or when did that happen and how did that come about?

Grace Weber: Yeah, it was crazy because Oprah so she had this, this You know, we’re at the end of the episode. She was like, I’m doing a karaoke challenge.

It’s called Oprah’s karaoke challenge. I want you to apply, go to the website, you know, upload a video of you singing and you might get a chance to be on the show. And so my friends were like, you got to do it. You should do it. I was like, okay, whatever. So I uploaded the video of me singing natural woman, Aretha Franklin.

And I remember even when I hit the upload button, the website kind of like glitched or something. I didn’t even know if it for sure went through. Yeah, I guess it was, yeah, like 2009 maybe. And so I didn’t even know if it went through. I was like, yeah, well, whatever. And then a few weeks later I got surprised by an Oprah camera crew in the subway, New York City subway system.

And they were like, you’re gonna be on Oprah! There were all these like lights and stuff. I was like, oh my god, like I’m gonna be on the Oprah Winfrey show. And then a week later I was on Oprah and Oprah gave me like a side hug and it was amazing and like, boom! Completely terrifying and life changing and, and all the things.

Yeah, You

Richie Burke: didn’t know it was coming? There was just a camera crew in the subway? There was

Grace Weber: a camera crew. Well, my

Richie Burke: Waiting for you?

Grace Weber: Yeah. My college roommate got contacted by the show, because I had to put like two contacts in there, and I think it was probably my parents, and maybe they called my roommate. I don’t really remember exactly how it worked, but they set up the surprise through her.

And so actually, she like walked me to the subway because she wanted to get like lunch or something. Right before we went down the stairs, she was like, okay, listen, I have to tell you, like, like there’s like an over camera crew down there. I was like, what are you saying? You’re just like, yeah, you got picked for that thing.

And so I like was kind of prepared for it, but also like even more like, Oh my God, how the heck am I going to handle this? And, well, yeah, it was, it was incredible. It was funny, fun, random, amazing. All those things. How

Richie Burke: nerve wracking was that going on there?

Grace Weber: It was terrifying. Like, it was my first big performance like that, like, on a TV show like that, like, Oprah Winfrey.

And, you know, I was on all the, like, local news stations here doing interviews and, you know Billy Ray Cyrus was one of the coaches, Gladys Knight, Ashford and Simpson, and it was, it was also, like, a karaoke challenge, so they were, like, judging you, and And they picked winners and stuff at the end.

And so How many

Richie Burke: people and coaches got on this thing?

Grace Weber: There were like, I want to say 13, 12, 13 of us from around the country. And they actually gave us names. Like there was like, The cowboy, the Midwestern girl. I was the mid Midwestern girl.

Richie Burke: That was That was your nickname? That was my nickname.

Literally the Midwestern girl. The Midwestern girl. Nice, nice. So like my favorite, like very creative. Yes,

Grace Weber: I know, right? I was like, and they, that my backstory was very Midwest. It was like. You know, she basically like I grew up on a farm even though I did not grow up on a farm But they they really you know honed in on that but did ralph make

Richie Burke: an appearance in the trailer ralph

Grace Weber: Yeah, ralph.

Oh, yeah ralph made an appearance on the show. He was in the audience with my mom you know, they panned to the To the parents you have to have the parents moment and they were very proud. What do

Richie Burke: your friends call him again?

Grace Weber: raw web

Richie Burke: Okay I went raw off which was incorrect. So yeah It’s like

Grace Weber: Raw web, he’s just he’s the boss.

That’s what they They think he’s just they think he’s like just such a baller. He has that energy We can mic him up

Richie Burke: if we need to and bring him off the bench

So you got on there you didn’t you did not make it through but you still walked away with like 25 grand, right? Yeah,

Grace Weber: that was the other crazy thing. Is that at that age? That’s pretty sweet. It was nuts and we were surprised you know, like so we I made it through like the first round and and When we did the moment of like, you know, say goodbye to this, these guys, whatever.

She was like, and I have a surprise for you. And she’s like, you each are getting 25, 000 and people, someone walked out with a check, the 25, 000 check in their hand, and we were all like, what the hell? Like, it was insane. And it definitely was, like, not that it wasn’t worth it before that, like, it was, you know, Incredible, but then that moment like the level was already here I didn’t think that it could go up and then it went like, you know, 25 000 above that And I wrote oprah a thank you note For the money, I don’t know if she ever got it, but I was like, dear Oprah, thank you for the experience and giving me 25, 000.

I think I sent it to like, the Oprah network, you know, if you’re watching Oprah. I’m sure

Richie Burke: she has it framed somewhere. Yeah, some, someday we’re

Grace Weber: going to meet, she’d be like, oh, you’re the one that wrote me the thank you note. Yeah, it’s framed. That’s

Richie Burke: very nice of you.

Grace Weber: You know, you’re supposed to write a Someone 25 grand, you should write them a nice thank you card.

Yeah, I was raised for that.

Richie Burke: What did that do to your career right after? Did you get the flood of attention that people think you get after you appear on a show like that?

Grace Weber: Yeah, yeah, I mean it was, it was a lot of pressure that I don’t think I was like ready for at that point. And like people in my class were like, you know, you were on Oprah, like my teachers were like, This is the girl that was on Oprah.

And so, and it kind of became like a, not like a shtick at all, but it was just like, like you’re on Oprah. It’s just such like a, a random, amazing thing. And so, yeah, I did like label meetings. I met with Universal and I had like managers kind of coming out of the woodwork and it was amazing because it gave me like this lesson, life lesson of like, My first introduction, introduction to the industry, but it was also kind of this learning moment of like, okay, like this is intense.

And like, how do you get yourself in the right head space and like, you know, art space and heart space and all these like, you know, physical and mental spaces to be able to handle that. Yeah, and it was so fun and that kind of launched everything from there. That’s how I. started a real career and got a team around me and yeah, it was awesome.

Richie Burke: And how did your career progress from

Grace Weber: there? From there, I mean, one of the, the big like turning points for me was when I met the Social Experiment Chance’s production crew. So it was Nate Fox, Nico Siegel, and Peter Cottontail. And they produced Acid Rap by Chance, which was like his first really big project that he put out.

Maybe this was in. 2015 I think he put that out and I heard the project And the first song in the project is called good ass intro and it’s like this gospel Gospel choir sounds with like hip hop and R& B and like everything that I was Hoping to put into my music and trying to figure out, you know, how do I incorporate like gospel sounds not in a religious way but like Just that those types of choral sounds with the r& b thing that I want to do And with like a current a current sound too.

Like I think up to that point I had really been Doing more of like an old school soul thing kind of like Adele or like really trying to find my sound that was like who I am as an artist. And so when I heard Good Ass Intro on Chance’s, you know, project, I was like, Who are these producers? This is who I want to work with.

This is who I want to develop my sound with. Like, I don’t want to sound like anyone else except for me. So I put some feelers out and I was like, do you guys, does anyone know like the social experiment? You know, Nate Fox, whatever and none of my friends knew them So I kind of just like put it out into the universe and a few months later I was in LA and a buddy of mine texted me and he was like, hey, I’m going to the studio If you want to come through like here’s the address whatever you didn’t say who was there and I was so tired and I was one of those days where I was like Should I go?

Should I go to bed? Whatever. And then I was like, no, you gotta go, you gotta rally. So I went and I met these guys, Nate and Nico, and I didn’t really know what they looked like. They were just kind of this like the social experiment. And it was kind of a little, this was like 2015 when I met them. And so like Instagram wasn’t that big of a thing.

Like and so I didn’t, and Nico went by Donnie Trumpet at the time. So I just like, didn’t put it together that I was meeting The guys that I had been wanting to meet this whole time. And so they pulled up this track. It was amazing. Like this, it just sounded so good. And I was like, Hey, can I sing on this?

Like, let me get in the, in the booth and sing. So I got in the booth. I sang like it was. It’s so dope, like it sounded amazing with me on the track or whatever and so I got out of the booth and the guys were like, yo, you’re so dope, like who are you, whatever. And you know, told them who I was and I was like, who are you?

Like, what do you guys do? They’re like, oh, we go by the Social Experiment. I’m like, no way! I was like, I’ve been trying to meet you guys, this is crazy. And so then like, I literally asked them, I was like, do you want to produce an album? an album with me and they said yes and so that was really a huge moment because not only did it you know help me develop my own sound but you know Chance walked into the room like a few weeks into working on the project and he heard a song that we were working on for my album And ended up asking if he could put it on his album and it was all we got with Kanye West and so all of a sudden like i’m on chance the rapper’s project like He wins a grammy.

I won a grammy because of it and then you know All this buzz was around me and all these because the social experiment chance were so buzzy and whatever and you know I released a song from that project in 2017 that john mayer tweeted and it kind of went viral and You And then I got signed to Capitol and all these things.

So it was like, that moment, I think like, Oprah, Show Timothy Paolo, like, all these, going to NYU, like, performing at the Bitter End, all these things were preparing me, like, for that moment. And I think when that happened, I was so ready to step into that and just was so happy, like, I loved it so much. I think before that, I was kind of scared, you know, like, I didn’t want to be too vulnerable You know, get like boot off the stage or whatever.

Then when I was in my mid twenties, you know, I was like, okay, cool. Like I got this, I know who I am and I feel confident to do this. Yeah.

Richie Burke: Were you in shock at all when this was happening or did you feel like you belonged, what was that like?

Grace Weber: I felt more like I belonged like, cause it was, it was really magical.

Like being in that studio when Chance was working on coloring book and when those producers were just So in their zone creatively like they were the type of guys I had never met anyone like them like the producers that I had been working with up to this up to that point were sort of like older producers, people who had worked on like joss stone projects or like or like Not adele literally, but that type of like, that type of artist and so yeah, they were kind of in their like Late fifties, early sixties.

And so the vibe in the studios were always, you know, chill. It was usually in like pretty big professional studios, sort of like a high pressure situation. Not like the most loose. And when I met Nate and Nico, the studio that I walked into LA in LA was like filled with weed smoke. Like you just walked in and you’re like, I was like, okay.

I like every, there was like a ton of people chilling in there, just smoking, And I remember just kind of sitting on the couch and being like, okay, this is cool.

Richie Burke: The Midwest girl. Oh, for sure. I was totally the Midwest girl. Living up to your

Grace Weber: name. Oh, big time. Like I had never been in like that cool of a setting before.

And and Nate, you know, up to that point, like when I was in the studio, you come with a song prepared and then you record it. But with Nate and Nico, like we were making the song as, making the project together as we went along. And so when we, the first day, when we got started. he just handed me a mic. I was sitting on the couch and this was their studio is like this really cool space, like a house basically.

And he just handed me the microphone was like, yeah, just start singing when you feel like it. So they’d pull up this beat and I’d start singing. And, and so they were just in there like creative high point chance was just like killing it. Everybody was so a part of this moment of like, You know, Chance is going to win Best New Artist, like, just everything was happening and so being there, like, I felt like I was supposed to be there at that moment.

Because of just how, like, I don’t know, it was just so magical. It was amazing, yeah.

Richie Burke: And then you get signed to Capitol.

Grace Weber: Yeah.

Richie Burke: Tell me about that.

Grace Weber: Yeah, Capitol was awesome. I actually, like, So I got signed in 2018 and it was a pretty crazy process because so they were interested in me because this song went viral when John Mayer tweeted it and all these things and like because I had just won the Grammy and And the Social Experiment guys were like probably some of the biggest producers at that time.

Richie Burke: And you still don’t have your debut album out at this point, right? Correct, yeah. You just were collaborating with the Social Experiment. Were you putting out your own music as well on top of that? I had

Grace Weber: put out some stuff like a few years ago but then I took it down because it wasn’t really like who I wanted to be as an artist.

Yeah. It was sort of like that exploratory phase and so I didn’t really have anything out at that point. So what are you listed

Richie Burke: at as an unlike chances? This may be a dumb question music wise. I’m just curious

Grace Weber: Writer got it saying on it too. So you if you like listen to it, you’ll writer vocalist. Yeah writer vocalist.

Yeah And they, and by being that, because he won I think he won best new artists and best hip hop album. But you get a Grammy because you’re part of the project. Yeah. So yeah, so capital, you know, they were interested, you know, they started hitting up my manager and like the conversation began and then they, like the head of A& R from capital came to see me live, he loved it.

And then, you know, the process began of like, we want to sign her. And I ended up officially signing in like the summer of 2018. And it was really cool. It was crazy. I mean, it was like definitely the next level when the first meeting that I had with the label, there’s like, You know, 10 people sitting in a circle talking about, you know, your project and what, and at that point I had the project like almost ready to go.

So they had heard the whole album. Chance was on the project. We had Westside Boogie on the project, like some huge features. And so Vic Mensa was on it. And so for them, that was also really exciting that they just loved the album. And that’s really why I got signed is because they were excited to put it out.

And yeah, it was, it was crazy. You know, you get a big advance, you get all these like fancy people around you. And, and I think it was a learning experience because it really showed me like, okay, this is how the major labels work

Speaker 5: and I

Grace Weber: loved it actually. Like the harder times for me around that time was I was kind of like, Switching up my own team.

And so going through that was kind of like the trial, I guess, in that time. And being on Capitol was really cool. And when they ended up dropping Muse and 2019, and it was just because we put out one song with Vic, it didn’t really do that well. And they were kind of like, you know, we could keep investing in this and you might be like shelved or we don’t know what’s going to happen because the first song didn’t, You know, the return wasn’t as big as we wanted it to be based on the investment.

And they’re like, so we think it’d be better for you to like, go your own way and we’ll give you back your masters, which was also insane, like very unheard of that they gave me back my masters after paying for the mixing and mastering and like the advance and all these things. So that was so cool.

That’s

Richie Burke: a classy move.

Grace Weber: Yes. It was amazing. So I left the

Richie Burke: whole Taylor Swift feud is about right. She didn’t have that.

Grace Weber: A hundred percent. If they hadn’t given me back my masters, I wouldn’t have been able to release the album with Chance. That whole first project would just be sitting. In a box in capital so for them to do that was huge and i’m so grateful and that’s why I only have good things to say about capital really cool people who worked there super supportive and just like Incredible that they believed in me enough to give me back my masters.

I think was pretty cool

Richie Burke: Hey guys, it’s your host richie burke. I just wanted to take a moment to thank our sponsor central standard distillery As I mentioned in the intro brie and I went to the craft house before the grace weber concert You Brie thinks their fries are like McDonald’s but better.

There’s no higher compliment that she could potentially or possibly pay to a restaurant. They are good. Their old fashions are good as well. So if you’re looking for a nice date night spot, I highly recommend Central Standard. Or if you’re just looking to get after it a little bit and have a good time, highly recommend going with Central Standard.

Also, got some really nice Milwaukee uncut hats coming in. Not, not like cheap ones, like legitimately nice ones. Our friend Ryan from AKA Custom Lids created. So if you do subscribe and you leave a review, we are picking one person a week and sending one of these out to just leave your Instagram handle or your email at the end of the review, and we will reach out to you.

If you are the one randomly selected. Alright, let’s get back into the episode with Grace Weber.

Grace Weber: The album is out. Listen to it. It’s, I love it. I love it. It’s all love songs. I haven’t really written a lot of love songs up to this point, and I wanted to make a project that was all love songs, different points of view on love.

There’s a self love song, song about my husband, who’s also from Wisconsin, Madison. We met at summer camp when we were 13, Camp Minakani, shout out. And yeah, I love it. I’m so happy. It’s doing really well. We have amazing people on the project, work with amazing people. Yeah, I love it.

Richie Burke: So you met your husband when you were 13.

Yeah. When did you start dating when you were in college? Did I hear, I did some homework on, on your life, obviously, before the interview, but.

Grace Weber: Oh, yeah, freshman year we started dating. We went to prom together though, senior year of high school, but when he walked in the room, like at summer camp, you know, I remember it was like slow motion, like seeing him walk into the dining hall and just being like, who is that boy?

Like just instantly in love. But yeah, so I had a crush on him forever. And then. In high senior of high school. I was like I’ve always had a crush on you and he was like i’ve always had a crush on you and then the rest is history You know

Richie Burke: nice How hard is it maintaining a relationship in your 20s in the industry you’re in?

Grace Weber: Yeah, honestly it is Hard unless you date someone like my husband who is so trusting chill like so supportive of my dreams like You He just never ever ever wanted to hold me back from anything, you know, whether I was in I would stay in LA when I was working on the project for like a couple months And he never made me feel bad like He was just always so trusting supportive and loving and you know I was like that to him as well.

And so because we just had this friendship and partnership, you know, we were able to Do that, but it is hard because you’re around, you know, so many people all the time the studio can be sort of like Wild, you know lots of like In your twenties, like lots of, I didn’t smoke, but I would always get contact high because they all smoked so much.

They smoked a lot. But yeah, so yeah, for me it was, it worked.

Richie Burke: What, what would you say the single biggest break you’ve had in your career has been? Was it Oprah?

Grace Weber: No, it was the chant stuff. Like that was, That was huge because and it was

Richie Burke: serendipitously showing up to the studio when you didn’t want to show up If you never did that that never would have happened

Grace Weber: a hundred percent.

Richie Burke: It’s good lesson to people to show up

Grace Weber: That’s and that’s what I say there. I met some kids last night. At the that might be is that raw web? Raw web.

Richie Burke: Raw web, right in the middle of a good story. Right in the

Grace Weber: middle of, I was just about to pour my heart out.

Richie Burke: When you’re, when you’re a boss, you can do that.

When you’re a boss, the rules don’t apply to you. The rules don’t apply. You were with some kids last night. A girl came

Grace Weber: up to me, she’s like, I want to be a singer. How do you get started? Like, what do you do? And I was like, honestly, like, it’s showing up, you know, like, Putting yourself in positions to be there like when lightning strikes because there’s so much that you can’t control in the industry like you can do everything right and that’s just you can’t quite get to the places that you want to but if you just like trust, you know, like I put a video up on Oprah’s thing just because like, okay, you know, and that led to this huge thing or, you know, I went to the studio and that led to this.

And so I told her like, you know, you hitting me, she was a string player. She was like, you even talking to me right now? I’m like, Asking me questions. Like now I know what you want to do if I’m in Milwaukee. Like maybe I need some cello on a song. I’ll think of you because you came up to me and we know each other now.

You’ll come in the studio. Maybe, you know, chance a rapper will be there. And then all of a sudden you’re on this huge album. So it’s all about just like putting yourself out there and being willing to take risks to like, you know, fall on your face and just be okay with that and get back up and, And yeah.

Richie Burke: Yeah. A hundred percent. I’ve gotten a, a number of clients showing up to events that I did not feel like showing up to. And you meet some person that leads to something else

Richie Burke: yeah, showing up is very important. What would you say the biggest struggle that you’ve ever had in your career has been that you’ve had to overcome?

Grace Weber: Like not feeling good enough or feeling like I am trying to make it in this like on this level that I don’t even know what that means, you know, like, I feel like in the industry, there’s such a thing of like, you make it or you don’t make it. And so when you’re growing up, there’s this concept of, And it’s sort of this like ethereal thing that’s like, okay, at some point I’m going to feel like I made it because I’m doing X, Y, Z.

And I think because you’re so focused on that, which maybe it’s, you know, singing to a sold out, you know, 5, 000 seater venue, or maybe it’s, you know, like singing on Oprah, it could have been a made it moment for me, but I was so focused on like, I don’t know this feeling that I was supposed to feel of like making it that I forgot to like Embrace every single moment that was very special in that moment And you know Oprah was actually a big moment where I realized that because I was so nervous to be on the show That I kind of like Blacked out not really literally, but I barely remembered it and I was like, I don’t want that to happen again We’re like I’m in a situation and I can’t really remember it cuz I’m so like scared to mess up But yeah, so I just really focusing keep reminding myself like, you know last night was a moment that I want to remember and I want to cherish and like I don’t want to judge it as being, you know, good or bad.

Like, I just want to be in the moment with it. And I think trying to getting over that, you know, and like getting over your ego kind of like, Oh, like, if so, this many people show up, like, does that mean that I’m not good enough or dah, dah, dah? Like, just letting go or like, if I don’t get this award or whatever, like, Letting go of all of that stuff is what has helped me just fall in love with music and with being an artist.

And so that was a process. It’s still a process of getting over. Yeah.

Richie Burke: I’m sure. I want to dig a little deeper into that because you’re in such a kind of high trigger environment for that, where every piece of content you put out, you’re getting judged by how many views it has, how many people show up to your shows.

It’s just the nature of it. And there are real consequences if you don’t get a lot of views. Like. Getting dropped, or if you get a ton of views and new opportunities can open up. So that stuff does matter, but it’s not healthy to pay attention to it or keep clicking refresh, which I’m sure is really easy to do.

What do you do? I also not to go on a tangent, but I was listening to your. Podcast episode with Charlie on his Christ cast, which would have been probably two and a half years ago at this point in time. But you talked about mental health and doing meditation and Buddhist chanting and stuff, stuff, stuff like that.

So I’m just curious how you manage that because it is, it is a real thing, especially in your industry and in a lot of people’s work lives, even there. They’re getting judged on output and metrics and

Grace Weber: yeah, I mean, it’s really tough like Instagram I think has done a number on all of our mental health because like it’s like you’re getting likes it and like in you you start like tracking your self worth based on like how many likes you get on a post and like It can feel especially when you put so much effort into a post or something and then you feel like oh It didn’t get received or people didn’t like it.

Like it’s, it’s so sad that like social media has done that to us. There’s also like so many beautiful things about social media. Obviously for careers have been made, you know, beautiful stories are told, but the negative sides are, are really hard to get over. And I think like for me at the beginning of my tour, I was really stressed because ticket sales weren’t as high as I wanted them to be.

I was super nervous to let the venues down. Like, I didn’t know if yeah, like if it was gonna be good enough. And at the first show I felt sad and it wasn’t like, I wasn’t in this mindset of like loving being on stage and in the same way that the Oprah thing was this turning point of like, I don’t ever want to not remember a special moment.

The first night of the tour, after I got off the stage, I was like, I don’t want to, like, not enjoy this. I don’t want to like not have fun. I don’t want to not give myself a hundred percent to the audience. So what do I need to do mentally to like get in a space where I can be more present and be happy and have fun?

And so for me it was like a practice of switching the mindset from like, you know, how can I control people getting in the room and like all these things that don’t really matter to like, you know, what can I Control and that’s actually letting go like I can just let myself let go I can You know, meet people who told me, you know, your song got me through breast cancer or DMS where it’s saying you know, someone told me my life is in pieces right now.

I’m getting to be at your show for an hour, like gave me a break and show me that I can make it through. And so focusing on that was like so freeing and it. makes you realize, like, every single person that you can touch and who can touch you, that’s what matters, not, like, how many likes you get. And that is a practice, like, Buddhism has helped me with that for sure.

Like, to desire nothing is the The art of life or something, but yeah, it’s a process. It’s a focusing on just like what you love, you know, instead of everything else and, and practicing that, I think is the biggest thing. Also my, I always tell people this for performers, like there’s this thing that you can do.

Where you like, check after the show to see if it was good enough. Like, oh, what did you think? Like, was it good? Did that, did I do that one part? Did you notice when I messed that up, da da da? And I used to do it in my 20s and I realized that there was a moment where someone was like, Oh, I thought it was really good.

You didn’t think it was good? And then I kind of was like, Oh, I took away your experience from the show kind of like, like you thought it was, you had an amazing experience with it. And now I’m coming and sort of, Telling you all the things that I’m overthinking and I’m kind of taking away from your experience at the show And so I stopped doing that.

I stopped checking if the shows were good enough Like I just walked off stage and I was like, okay cool. I did that. That was like an hour That was really fun. And now I move on to the next thing and because of that I started enjoying the show so much more because I knew I wasn’t going to overthink it afterwards.

Speaker 5: Yeah.

Grace Weber: And I could take in people’s reactions better. Like, I would, you know, meet people after the show and they’d be like, You were amazing, I loved it. And I’d be like, Thank you. Yeah. Instead of, Are you sure? You know, it’s just a different way of experience, or like, experiencing the before and after shows.

And that has been, if you’re a performer and you are looking for a breakthrough, that has changed my life. To just say, Thank you. To, to just wake up in the morning. Yeah, that’s a lot of why you got into

Richie Burke: it in the first place too, and it’s, it’s tough when you’re doing it for a living and numbers matter and how many people show up matters, but it can take away from it.

We have a performance consultant coming on a couple of weeks. His name’s Raymond Pryor. He works with a lot of top musicians and athletes and his whole thing too is like acceptance and letting go. If you can accept any outcome, then you’re going to go out there and perform a lot better, whether it’s sports or you’re going on stage and.

I found that valuable opposed to just Yeah, worrying about the, the outcome while you’re doing it

Grace Weber: a hundred percent. Well, and last night, like the mic didn’t work when I walked on stage, I was going to ask you about that. You handle,

Richie Burke: you handled it so

Grace Weber: well because it’s like,

Richie Burke: you walked out there in front of your hometown audience and you just start singing and nothing comes out.

I’m sitting in the upper deck right behind raw web and I was like, Oh no. And you had a smile on your face. You like made light of the situation and it came on. Yeah. Fifteen seconds later and you killed it.

Grace Weber: Cause it’s funny, it’s fun like the light hearted energy of it too, like, yeah, it’s like, this is supposed to be fun.

It’s not like Yeah, so that was that was fun.

Richie Burke: What was going through your head when that happened and there’s like five or ten seconds

Grace Weber: I thought it was funny It’s like cuz I was like, what’s up? And like nothing came out and I first I was like, is that just my like in ears or the monitor? Is there no sound there?

But then I could tell that it wasn’t coming out in the theater but then I was like and then I was like I know that the sound guys are freaking out right now because they’re like You Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. So then, I had like empathy for them because I could only imagine how stressed they were.

But I was like, okay, it’s going to come back on in a second, like just roll with it. And then I was like, I get so lonely, and it still wasn’t on. And I was like, all right, like what’s the, what are we doing here? Like, and then I just was like, okay, let’s just take a pause. And yeah, just said, okay, we’re going to start that over.

And I was looking over at the sound guy, like watching him freak out with like wires and stuff. And I could tell that he like, Just had figured it out and then it came back on and it it was Again, like moments like that are kind of funny, especially because i’ve never experienced that before And so now I had the moment where a mic wasn’t on and I Realize that it wasn’t that bad.

Yeah.

Richie Burke: Yeah, you handled that very well. Before we get to the standard five, five quick questions sponsored by Central Standard. To end the show, I do want to dive a little bit deeper. What are you doing right now for your mental health and physical health? You look like you’re in great shape as well.

I think both of those things are really important in business life.

Grace Weber: 100%. Working out a ton has changed. What do

Richie Burke: you do?

Grace Weber: I am a Peloton fan. Toonday is my girl. I love her so much. She’s my favorite. Do you

Richie Burke: do the spinning and the floor workouts?

Grace Weber: I do, like, the spinning and the arms. And then I do abs with Mad Fit on YouTube.

She’s also my other girl that I love. And, I, yeah, I joined, I got a gym membership. Because I live in downtown LA, which is kind of like, intense ish. If you’ve ever been down there, it’s a little Gnarly, but it’s I also love it because you can like walk everywhere It kind of reminds me of New York a little bit but my husband and I got a gym membership and that like changed our life because we had a place to retreat to there’s like a sauna and a steam room and And the more I worked out, the more that I felt like mentally calm.

Cause the one thing about control, like I’ve learned to let go. That’s where I feel the best mentally, but working out like you actually do have control over that. Like if you want to feel that in somewhere in your life, like you can get on the bike, you can lift weights like, and you can go into a space for that hour or two hours or whatever, and be focusing just on like, The physical process of lifting 10 pound weights.

And so that, and Buddhist. You still, you still chanting? I don’t chant anymore. I D I did what is chanting because there was a time like in 2019, 20, yeah, 2019 where I just had gone through some crazy stuff that we’ll talk about after the podcast. But I needed. I needed something to like pull me out of that.

And it was also kind of the serendipitous thing where I, I googled like Buddhist stuff. I don’t even remember what I did. And like this thing came up on Google maps and it was like, come join the Buddhist chanting thing in Topanga Canyon. So I was like, okay. So I went to this thing, it was like all these like old hippies living in Topanga Canyon and they were like Buddhist chanting.

And I’m like, all right, this is weird and cool. And, but that was like a moment in my life that. Was great and now I just kind of try to I go to therapy. That’s very important for me. I have a great therapist Nice. Yeah, that’s something that like when I’m when I start going into a place of like overthinking or Worrying about all these things like I’m kind of like, okay.

I need to check in With my therapist and then I she does a little tune up and we’re back.

Richie Burke: Yeah, no shame in that I was in therapy for a while I had a really bad panic attack on an airplane like six seven years ago And another one like three weeks ago for the first time in a while. I get bad when planes are stalled But anyway, I went I had experienced a lot of anxiety issues I never had after that for the first time and was in therapy for a while and she had me doing exposure therapy And that’s when I first got into breath work, because I thought it was very weird and far out there before.

It’s made a huge difference. There’s a bunch of other healthy habits, so.

Grace Weber: Panic attacks, I’ve had panic attacks, a lot of them over my life, and it’s Not fun. It’s not fun. It’s very stressful. And it’s scary. It’s like a very scary feeling. And so getting to, like, work on that with therapists is like, Life changing to be able to know how to handle those moments for sure

Richie Burke: absolutely all right on a more light hearted note We’ll move into the standard five sponsored by Central Standard I’ve been curious what what percentage of artists drink or smoke before going on

Grace Weber: A lot.

Probably not smoke, like singers probably don’t smoke that much. I used to drink before every show, like I used to have beer because I was too afraid what like hard, like I didn’t want to be drunk on stage, but I kind of wanted to take the edge off. Interesting. But I stopped, so it helped me feel like looser on stage.

Did you have

Richie Burke: like a couple beers where you were kind of hitting that perfect alcohol level, not over the top? I would kind of plan it.

Grace Weber: I’d have like one before stage and then I’d have one on stage so that I kind of knew like how loose I was gonna be. But then I stopped doing that because I realized again like I want to see what it’s like to be totally in the moment, you know, and, and not have to need something to loosen up.

And at first it was like terrifying. I was very aware of like every mistake that I was making. I actually started, this was like a year ago, I started doing the like checking thing again where I was like, was that good? Because I was so present. Like when I would drink afterwards, I’d be kind of like, and I’m like, whatever.

And so it was a good practice of like, okay, let me. let me get over needing to Need something to feel free like because now I feel like I don’t need anything to get like in the zone and feel really relaxed on stage and that is such a freeing feeling of like And now like even socially like I don’t feel like I need to drink as much and that also makes me feel more confident and Yeah, so not to say that I Don’t think alcohol is awesome.

Central Standard, I am having some of

Richie Burke: their gin right now. I

Grace Weber: know, I’m

Richie Burke: like, and Slightly hung over today since because of you I went to your show last night. I usually don’t go out during the week So I’m having a drink To be lively on the show to try and hit that level But

Grace Weber: yeah, we have a bottle of tequila in the green room The band usually takes a shot before like it’s it’s definitely a thing.

Richie Burke: Yeah What is the single coolest moment of your career?

Grace Weber: Single coolest moment. Oh my god singing the national anthem at the Packers game a playoffs game in January. It was 2020 when was that 2021? A year ago. That was only a year ago?

Richie Burke: Raweb knows exactly when it was. Raweb.

Grace Weber: Well, so he came. It was so cool because first of all, it was It was the

Richie Burke: game they lost.

Yeah, it was. Yeah, that was a bad game.

Grace Weber: Yeah, it was. Lil Wayne was there. I got to meet him. No way. He was in the box like right next to us. It was so cool.

Richie Burke: Oh, that’s so cool.

Grace Weber: That was just so fun. Like to get to sing at this middle of Lambeau Field. For a Packers game and like my dad, you know got to be on the The home field what’s called the field sideline sideline.

Thank you Like what’s it called the sidelines, you know Dane was there like it was just so cool and then to like be Nail it, you know, in this big setting and I actually practiced in a freezer, in a walk in freezer because I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like to sing in like freezing temperatures.

Cold

Richie Burke: exposure is good for you. I got into that last spring.

Grace Weber: Yeah, it’s great. It’s very refreshing. Yeah. So go stand in the middle of Lambeau Field when it’s 10 degrees and you’ll feel very alive afterwards.

Richie Burke: If I remember correctly, Raw Web, you may remember this as well. I think they scored a touchdown on their first drive.

Grace Weber: Yeah, they did and

Richie Burke: did not score after that probably inspired by grace weber and then the rest was kind of the downfall barrett rogers

Grace Weber: Yeah

Richie Burke: before he made it to New York, but

Grace Weber: yeah,

Richie Burke: yeah, that was a good That was a great five minutes and Packer history between your national anthem and the first drive right there

Grace Weber: Yeah, especially because the drive was inspired by me.

Richie Burke: What is the most star struck you’ve ever been?

Grace Weber: Chad Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, he was friends, or is friends with someone I worked with. And so I got to like stay at his house and like become friends with him, which is really cool. And I got to like be side stage when he was playing in South America when I was touring with Chance.

And I like got to go hang with like Chad Smith, the drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which was cool. That Chance was, has like a very, very, You know, magnetic star quality. So when he walked in the room for the first time, I was like, well, chance is very like buzzy, but yeah, I think those Guillermo del Toro is a fan, the filmmaker.

That’s

Speaker 5: cool.

Grace Weber: I haven’t met him, but he like followed me on Twitter and I was like, Hey, Guillermo, you know, maker of Pan’s Labyrinth. And he was like, I’m such a fan of your music. Like the light singer, songwriter, soulful person. It’s cool

Richie Burke: to get those random messages. I’m sure you’ve gotten. Several over your career didn’t I was listening to something else didn’t Dwight Howard like reach out to you and come to the show Which would be very hard to miss as he’s just a jacked Seven foot one guy.

Grace Weber: Yeah, I like what I think I when I gave him like a hug I was up to his like hip but yeah, probably so you’re not that short either Oh, i’m pretty five two.

Richie Burke: Are you only five two?

Grace Weber: People think i’m tall. It’s weird.

Richie Burke: Maybe it’s the stage presence You play above that.

Grace Weber: Yeah, i’m I play six Two, but I’m really

Richie Burke: yeah more than five two.

Grace Weber: Yeah

Richie Burke: What is the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you on tour?

Grace Weber: Craziest thing that’s ever happened to me on tour. i’m trying to think of like some of the like when I was Well, i’ll say when the mic didn’t go on last night. Just kidding. Not really, but I have never experienced that but When I was touring so I sang backgrounds for chance in south america And when he was doing the Lollapalooza tour, and there was a show in Sao Paolo, Sao Paolo, Sao Paolo, I can’t think of things today.

And there was like 200, 000 people in this like festival setting cause he was opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And so him plus them, like I’ve never stood in front of that many people and witnessing like the intimate moments where it felt like we were in like a, Cafe was incredible and it was one of those Moments that I’ll never forget of just like the power of music connecting with and Touching like 200 000 people.

It was nuts. Yeah.

Richie Burke: Yeah, that’s crazy. It was awesome what’s your favorite place to go to when you’re back home in milwaukee?

Grace Weber: Ghillie’s ghillie’s ice cream.

Richie Burke: Nice.

Grace Weber: Yeah, i’m the biggest fan of their custard burgers fries I like, I actually haven’t gotten any ice cream yet, or custard, that’s very important, custard.

You’ve got a few more days here. I know. Oh yeah, it’s definitely happening. Like, I literally can’t leave without having Achilles cone. So yeah, that, but, you know, my parents house, all those special places. In Tosa. Yeah, Tosa, represent.

Richie Burke: Yep. Last question, what do you love most about Milwaukee? Milwaukee.

Milwaukee.

Grace Weber: I love the energy here. I love like the kindness of people. I love just like, yeah, like how warm it feels here. I love, I was getting, you know, a beer last night with my friend from high school and it just felt like, you know, we haven’t seen each other in like a year or so and it just felt like we saw each other yesterday and I feel like that’s what’s so cool about Milwaukee is that you can really form these like Lifelong friendships.

There’s so many things here that you can connect over like The Packers or you know cheese like these things that don’t seem that like monumental but then they are because they’re so like bonding and in a weird way that Makes you feel like very close to people. There’s there’s like a pride like a Milwaukee, Wisconsin pride that I I think it’s really cool.

Richie Burke: For sure.

Grace Weber: Yeah.

Richie Burke: Thanks so much for coming on today. It was great meeting you.

Grace Weber: Thanks for having me on. This was awesome.

Richie Burke: Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of Milwaukee Uncut with Grace Weber. Just a reminder, subscribe and write a review and leave your email or Instagram handle at the end of that review.

To enter our weekly drawing. We’ve got some really nice Milwaukee uncut hats and some other prizes coming in. So if you do subscribe and leave a review, we’ll be picking one person a week as a winner. This episode was produced by Story Mark Studios right in the heart of Walkers Point in partnership with On Milwaukee and sponsored by Central, Standard Distillery and Nicolet Law Offices.