WDYM What Do You Mean?
WDYM What Do You Mean?
Food Truck and "Dreams"
Tune in to the vibrant premiere of Season 3 of the WDYM podcast as we kick things off with a celebratory shoutout to Pride Month. We dive into the historical significance of the Stonewall Riots of 1969, discussing why it's crucial to know our history and proudly stand up for our rights. I also take a moment to honor Yahshua and Margarita from the So Mixed Up Podcast (Or So Remixed Up), whose dynamic chemistry and inspiring work fueled the start of the WDYM. Their relentless work ethic taught me valuable lessons.
Ever faced the emotional rollercoaster of job searching after a sudden termination? You're not alone. I share my personal journey through the ups and downs of unemployment, from awkward interviews at Toast and Berry to exploring jobs outside my healthcare background, including a quality assurance role at a bakery. The mental and emotional challenges are real, but maintaining self-worth is critical. Through this candid narrative, I aim to shed light on the importance of mental resilience while navigating the turbulent waters of job hunting.
Finally, get ready for some culinary dreams and amusing brainstorming sessions! Join me as I explore the adventure of naming a food truck, featuring some hilariously vetoed suggestions like "Gee's Spot" and "Gee's Meat Spot." From experimenting with smash burgers and chicken sandwiches to vivid dreams about becoming an executive chef, this chapter is both entertaining and insightful. I also reflect on life's lessons and the growth that comes from facing challenges head-on. As we wrap up with a fresh outro, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our listeners for their unwavering support and hope you enjoy the renewed vibe of WDYM.
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you're listening to the wdym the what do you mean? Podcast, hamilton's number one podcast. Now sit back and relax. Here's hamilton's own, michael gillespie. Welcome to season three of the wdym podcast. New intro for the new season New vibe. How do you like it? I like it a lot because I pay for it. Welcome to the season premiere of season three, episode one. How's everybody doing? I hope everybody's doing good. Thank you for taking the time to listen to the new season. Man, I felt like this is the vibe we wanted to listen to the new season. Man, I felt like this is the vibe I wanted to go to for the season, just to be up energy, be more energetic. And when I did this, I said, yeah, this is it. This is it Also?
Speaker 1:Happy Pride Month. Happy Pride Month to everybody, the LGBTQIA2S plus P or, just to keep it short, lgbtq community. Happy pride month. I hope you guys are enjoying the heat that June is bringing, because June is coming with the ferocity of the heat. Man, it's been ridiculously hot, so if you're out there marching, please drink some water and keep standing up for your rights. But I wanted to give you a little history of why, why we're celebrating Pride Month. It all started with the Stonewall Riots, a series of gay liberation riots that took place over several days, beginning June 28th 1969. Riots began after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar located in the lower Manhattan in New York City. That is why we celebrate Pride Month. Weird transition, but I'm going with it, hey, just as long as we know our history and why we're celebrating things, and keep your rights and keep fighting for them and keep enjoying Pride Month. That's what I got to say about that.
Speaker 1:Also, I wanted to give a big shout out to the so Mixed Up podcast or the so Mixed Up YouTube channel. This YouTube channel is well, I started following so Mixed Up. It is Yashua and Margarita, a couple who do the podcast, do YouTube and all that stuff. I've seen that they went live on their Instagram and I follow them and once I saw it, it's just like, oh, I got to see what's going on. So, hey, babe, we're live. We'll be live on Our Instagram. See what's up y'all. It's been a minute. It's been a hot minute, like two years or so. That's one thing I love about so mixed up and, uh, yashua and margarita, they have a a chemistry that I that I enjoy and I support them 100.
Speaker 1:The reason why I support Yashua and Margarita is because Yashua unknowingly created or helped create the WDYM podcast. One of the reasons why I started to do a podcast is just like me and Yashua was talking at Christ Hospital one day and he's like, yeah, man, I'm about to start a podcast. I said, oh, that's cool. And I think to myself like dang, if he could do one, why can't I? And so you know, I was like yo, I give this man credit for, uh, creating the wdym. Uh, yoshua is is one of my co-workers at children's hospital and then, you know, left there, come back, then, went to Christ or, yeah, christ Hospital. He was there too. That's where we came. Well, he came up with the idea to make his podcast and then he planted the idea of me making my own podcast. So without him, there would be no WDYM podcast. So, joshua, joshua the creator, that's what I'm calling you now, or that'll be part of the title. You help create the WD podcast and I support you 100%. That's why you need to come back and start doing podcasts, so I can put you on a link to my podcast to go to your podcast, so you and Margarita can get some success with your podcast, because I support you guys 100%, 100% for supporting me and giving me the idea to do the podcast.
Speaker 1:With that being said, I do want to say one more thing about Yahshua. I admire this man's hustle so much. Man, again, when you, when you get older and stuff like that, you never give your friends the flowers or, in my case, the bud. But, like for you, yahshua was one of the hardest working people I've ever met man. Or, in my case, the bud, bud Light. For you, yash was one of the hardest working people I've ever met man. When I used to work at Christ Hospital. I rarely see a day where Yash was not at work and he does so much hustling for his family, so much hustling for his wife and he was making cups. He's making a YouTube channel, made two YouTube channels. He's making an actual podcast. He's doing the hard grinding and everything. I see you, my brother. I just want to let you know I support you, man, 1,000%. I support you man. Keep doing you. Again, thank you for aspiring me to do the WDYL. Thank you for aspiring me to do the WDYL.
Speaker 1:So where we last left off, your boy was at home. I didn't have a job. I was a job. I didn't have a job. I got fired. I've never again. I hate to rehash the past episode or the past episode about this, but this is a tragic event. When you get fired, I'm at home all day. I'm not even motivated to do anything. That's the bad part. I haven't lifted a weight in over a month and you lose so much muscle mass when you ain't working out. Learning that now, when I'm trying to get back into it and I can barely get 135 up, I was lifting 210 at the beginning of the year 2024. I'm at 135. That's rough, but I credit that to not having a job.
Speaker 1:So getting on your job, getting on your search for a job, is rough. It's rough because you're you're applying for all these jobs, thinking that your credentials, your resume, is top notch. So I'm looking at my resume. I'm like how in the world can I improve what it says? Because, yes, I have grown in my job.
Speaker 1:I became a director of dining services. You know I was there for four years but, to be honest, really, though, I really didn't do any of my director of dining services. You know I was there for four years but, to be honest, really, though, I really didn't do any of my director dining service except maybe like three days. Right, I got to actually be in my position without, you know, be in my position, do the actual job. And before then I was back to being a chef manager because position we, we needed the position field. So I'm listing that, though I'm listing that because technically that was my job and I was doing that.
Speaker 1:But where do you start? Where do you start to get a job right? So I initially called my company that just recently fired me. Shocker. I went to them I was like, hey, am I rehirable? I committed to A18. You know, I I allegedly um told confidential business information, which is to this day I still debate. But you know, I learned from my mistakes and I'm moving on. But hey, am I rehirable? And to my shocking surprise, I am labeled as rehirable. Now let's rewind the notion that I'm rehirable when I was quote unquote giving away business, confidential business information. If you're giving away confident, confidential business information, would you want that person to be rehired? I am rehirable, but why would I want to work there? I mean, yeah, I gave four years and everything but, but to go back there it just felt awkward to me, at least not right now. So, but I did apply for jobs with the company and they didn't reach out to me. But that's what I was expecting. I wasn't expecting actually to land a job.
Speaker 1:When you start searching for jobs, what is your? I'll do this? I won't do this Like and at this juncturecture I don't have a job. All I do is get up to feed the lizard, the bearded dragon. Other than that, I have no real purpose and that play, that plays with you mentally. And if you learn anything from this podcast episode is how to be mentally strong.
Speaker 1:Because I struggled with my began, you know, being fired or something that's never happened to me before. So I'm, I'm just like you know what? Let's go, let's go 100% and find a job. So I started applying for jobs everywhere, and I, when I mean everywhere, I mean everywhere. Some examples of that is quality assurance at a United Dairy Farms bakery. I'm going to make sure the donuts have O's in them. Am I willing to do that? Absolutely. And so, as I start applying for jobs, I'm looking at how much pay, you know, because I'm not trying to go back down on on my pay. I got an expected, uh, life expectancy of life like, yeah, look, I'm expecting to make x amount of money. If y'all ain't getting nowhere close, I'm not applying for it.
Speaker 1:I applied for that job. I applied for jobs in health care. Could you imagine? You know you've been doing health care for the past four or five years and and I get back into it. This is my opportunity to look at other things like logistics and maybe you know any other job other than health care, because I don't want to be roped into doing that. You know I could still cook. You know I could be a director, all that stuff.
Speaker 1:So I started applying for jobs and the first job that comes up is a place called Toast and Berry. I'm like this is right up my alley. I'm cooking breakfast food potentially. I get to say I did the apply for the job and I got an interview and so she called me. She's like do you have a problem waking up at five 30 in the morning? I said absolutely not. Because I'm military, I always wake up five o'clock. I wake up five o'clock every day. I don't get out of my bed. No, but yeah, I applied for toast and berry. So I'm like, okay, this should be easy job cooking. I'm not a cook Just got to get used to their ways of doing things. So I applied for Toast with Barry. We do the interview. And we do the interview.
Speaker 1:And she's like well, can we talk about your previous employer? I said, yeah, I don't have a problem with that, you know, yeah. So she's like well, we're talking and it goes. You know, tell me about your background. You got a degree. Then she goes to the previous job. Well, are you still at your previous job? Now, that question alone. When you're asked that like why does that matter? Like I'm literally applying for your job, why does it matter if I'm still at that job, does that make sense to you? But she asked me that and I said, no, so we terminated. So I'm honest about I'm one thing about me. Like I, just I'm honest. Like, yeah, I was terminated. So what were you terminated for? At the time I did not know why I was terminated other than the a18 code. So she's like well, why are we terminated? I than the A18 code? So she's like, well, why are we terminated? I said, well, I don't know, but I have a podcast. And she's like, oh, okay, well, what is your podcast called? And so I give her the podcast.
Speaker 1:And when she asked that after the interview, I'm like I'm looking at the numbers because I see when my numbers spike. I'm looking at what episode it is and you know, seeing if they're going to any certain episode to do a background check. I don't know, but you ask that question. That's what I'm expecting. And then this is one of the questions that I hate being asked um, she's like well, we're, you know, we listed your price from 60 to 65. What are you asking for? And then that's the part that that's the worst question, because you're like what do you say? Like, um, can I, uh, can I phone a friend real quick? No, that's not a good idea, I shouldn't do that. So I do I list myself more because I value myself high, or do I go low? So I get the ball? Well, well, we'll pay him lower than and he'll come on. So that's one of the questions that I ask myself.
Speaker 1:What did I do? I asked for more. Are you crazy? I'm like look, 65 is generous, but I'm not used to that. I'm not used to that. My expectations are higher. So therefore, I asked for higher. And then that means well, mr Gurgle, mr Gillespie, we will call you back, click, she's like quick with it. Needless to say, they didn't call me back. Hey, I have self value of myself. Okay, I know what I'm going to bring to the table. You're paying 65. I want. I think I asked for 70. Click, okay, that's fine. You don't want to pay me? That is a okay.
Speaker 1:So I'm applying for all these jobs. And it gets to a point where gets to a point where, like, I don't know, I don't know what I want to do. Like, do I still want to be in the food service industry Because it's rough? Like like I can't get in anywhere. I applied for over 17 jobs in a span of a month, I think, and everything going from dietary manager, executive chef, food safety and standards for stereotech oh, now, I've had a stereotech exam before or survey or whatever. That stuff was rough. They look for every nook and cranny to be wrong. I was like man, do I want to do that? I said absolutely. I want to go to these facilities and say is that pan cracked? Sir? You failed your inspection. Go up in there, mess with everybody. No, I didn't want to do that, but that's the point.
Speaker 1:I was so desperate to find a job. At one point I even applied for jobs with schools, like one place downtown Cincinnati. They were looking for a chef. I'm like, well, last time I worked for a school, I did no cooking whatsoever. All I did was deliver product from one school to another school and they had no way. No way I can make a sauce, no way I could cook. They had no stoves. And I'm like I don't want to do that again. I don't want to set myself up for failure.
Speaker 1:I applied for two schools. One called me back immediately. I said nah. I said I'm not going to set myself up for failure because I started asking questions like hey, do you guys have a stove? Like no, we do things different. Now we got to steam this. Conventional ovens, conventional ovens steam this, so you don't have to cook at all. I said that's part of my job, that's part of my career, like I cook, you understand? So yeah, needless to say, I didn't do that.
Speaker 1:Training managers, all that Didn't work. I said you know what? Why don't I go in business for myself and start an OnlyFans? No, I'm just kidding, I'm kidding. No. I said why don't I start a food truck? Start a food truck? That's a great idea, because you know, I've been in this. I've been cooking for roughly almost 10 years now consecutive management, cooking stuff like that. I can do this, I can do this and it's something that is opportunity that I, that I can do, that I can muster. You know, use my status and my expertise to build it from the ground up.
Speaker 1:And funny to mention that, before I was let go of my company, I was talking to one of the cooks at my spot and we were talking about doing a food truck together and I was like that's not a bad idea. I was also talking to a friend of mine named Cindy. She said if you do a food truck, you should do a food truck because you know you make good food. I said you know what? That's not a bad idea. Then I talked to my boy, josh, and he's he is more Josh, my friend Josh. He's also a chef like me and he is ready. He is ready to do the food truck, but we don't have the financial stability or advance advancement to start a food truck. But he has a great idea. He has this great idea we talked about and it's it's, it's amazing, it's an amazing idea and if we do the food truck is his idea, is is genius. So everybody's pushing me to do a food truck, but it makes I'm a little uncertain about the idea first.
Speaker 1:First, the name. What do I name a food truck? I? I have an idea. It starts before I called this the WDYM podcast. I was going to call it G's Spot. What's wrong with that, listen? Yeah, I know it sounds funky, but I thought that was a good idea. You know it would. You know? Oh, their name will get the notoriety of it and then once they find out I'm not talking about that, then you know I got him. So I was like name the food truck G Spot, but my wife will not let me name it that. Then I said G's Meat Spot and she also said no to that too. So I'm like all right, I need to come up with a name. So that's where I'm at with the food truck. But I got an idea and if Josh gets on, we have an idea together. Whoever Josh gets on, we have an idea together. Whoever you know, they're still in the very beginning stages of development when it comes to the food truck, because right now I'm experimenting with smash burgers and chicken sandwiches and stuff like that and I'm working on that. It's a work in progress, to say the least. So with that in the back burner, I'm still trying to find a job.
Speaker 1:After application after application, after Indeed to ZipRecruiter and everything, I decided to just go to sleep. I decided to just go to sleep and worry about it later. After doing this for so long, it gets mentally exhausting, so I just went to sleep. When I went to sleep, I had a dream. He's got a dream. He's got a dream that I finally landed a job.
Speaker 1:In this dream I was working in a kitchen, again as an executive chef. Real funny that I'm having this dream that I'm back in the kitchen, because I initially applied for jobs outside the kitchen. I did not want to work necessarily back in the kitchen. Um, you know, you've been doing it so long. You might want to just take a mental break and just try to do something different, see if your skills apply In the outside world Instead of in the kitchen.
Speaker 1:In this dream I was the executive chef. So in this dream they was like hey, why don't we have a chef's demo for you? I got no problem doing that. I enjoy cooking, especially a chef's demo for you. I got no problem doing that. I enjoy cooking, especially a chef's demo, or what we call a black basket. Now you may watch the food network and seen chopped before where they give a black basket and you don't know what's in it. That is like the ultimate fun and scary thing at the same time, because if you get something that you don't know how to cook, then you're screwed right.
Speaker 1:I've had, I think, three black basket or chef demos I've done before. One was at a previous job, whoever you want to say it, of course I had one in culinary school and now I got this one and the hardest thing I've ever gotten was lintels. If you, if you, never cook lintels. I have never cooked lintels before. So it was a. It was a shocker and a surprise to me.
Speaker 1:My first basket, I got lintels, potatoes and a cut of steak. What I did? I just put the lintels in water and boiled them. Boiled them the whole time, because that's what you have to do it In actuality.
Speaker 1:I just got lucky and guess right, this one, this one in this dream I had, it was fish. It was fish, ribs and beef tips. Immediately I I x the ribs. We ain't having cooking ribs, I don't got time. I cook my ribs overnight. I cook my ribs. So overnight they come out so tender and you can literally pull the bone off the rib. So I was like, look, I'm not, I'm not messing around with that. I don't know if they even got liquid smoke. I don't know this kitchen very well. In this dream I'm not doing ribs. The beef tips I was like that's, that's an interesting idea. And I'm just I'm initially thinking, uh, schist kebabs. I was like no, that's, that's too simple. Again, not familiar with this kitchen. And I got to think how I cook compared to how someone else would perceive my cooking. So I X-Nated the beef tips, so I went with the fish.
Speaker 1:Fish is the easiest thing to cook. Not to say that I'm a no, I'm not even going to lie. I don't cook fish normally because nobody in my house eats fish. So the only time I get to cook fish is when I eat fish and stuff like that. So I was like, all right, let's go with the fish. And then immediately I was thinking in this dream that if I'm using fish, I'm going to use asparagus. If I use asparagus, I use rice. So therefore it's balanced. So therefore that idea is caught. I got my main entree already plotted out and everything in this dream. I have to have a salad, a dressing, an entree and appetizer in this dream. So I use my previous knowledge in this dream to make things that I've done before Duh. So I had everything ready to go in this dream.
Speaker 1:So as I'm cooking in my dream, in the corner of my eye, I see Boo Boo the Fool in my dream. When I saw Boo Boo the Fool in my dream, that when I saw Boo Boo the Fool in my dream, I initially did this look who it is. Yeah, that's how I felt on the inside. And then I immediately woke up. I this is. There's no way that this would happen.
Speaker 1:I woke up from the dream and everything I thought that was. You know, that was like a premonition, like that, because usually when I dream and it's vivid, like that, and I'm you know that I could remember things the next day and everything that's a vivid dream. Usually that's call me weird or whatever. That is a, a vision or a foresight or something that's going to happen down the line. So it got me thinking what would happen if I saw boo boo the fool again?
Speaker 1:This is the hard part, because you always, when things happen, you're always like, well, if I had a second chance, or if I can correct this, or if I see this person again and you talk this, this game in your brain. I, on the other hand, didn didn't, I didn't, I didn't think that way. I didn't think that way because this is life. If I was, if I happen to ever see Boo Boo the Fool treated any differently because, at the end of the day, I learned a lesson in life. Right, learning that lesson was so valuable to me in the real world because it cost me so much, like I said before, and the idea of seeing boo-boo the fool would be a character test for me to make sure that, hey, despite everything that happened, if this ever happened in reality, that I can overcome it and, you know, make the best of that situation if that ever happened. But you know, as of now, still on the job search hopefully I'll find something soon but yeah, that, those, those dreams right there, those, those, those dreams are almost the most scariest versions of a dream. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:With that being said, we are ending the episode and also notice, this is an outro. Ah, ah, ah, yeah, new outro for the new season. Man, I had to do it. I thought the other one was late, but it works for me. But now I got a new one. I'm your host, michael Gillespie of the WDYM. Thank you for tuning in to season three. I will talk to you guys later. I'm out. Girl Scout, boy Scout, peace. Thank you.
