The Morning Brew with Chris Bennett

Sometimes your dreams are waiting where you never planned to go

• Chris Bennett • Episode 124

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The path you didn’t plan might be the one that delivers everything you wanted. We kick off with a two-year look-back at filming Small Town Famous at the Pinedale Community Center—why hitting record in a “small” place turned into a big turning point, how retiring old material opened the door for fresh writing, and the simple truth that your dreams can be waiting in a zip code you never expected.

From there, we play with questions that reveal a lot: the high school moment that lit Chris’s comedic spark, why sunsets beat sunrises when life is full, and how “wasting time” with family and sports is sometimes the best creative fuel. The energy ramps with Boo or Cool, where Homemade Cookie Day becomes a flavor battlefield—classic chocolate chip and peanut butter unite us, while pumpkin spice and maple bacon split the room. Then it’s CD Player Day nostalgia: radio, cassettes, CDs, and the soundtracks that shaped our lives, with honest takes on Thriller, ACDC, Whitney, Bee Gees, and Shania.

The tone sharpens with Am I the Jerk Court. A sister-in-law leaks a pregnancy on Instagram before the first trimester ends, and we draw a clear line around consent, timing, and respect. Boundaries matter, and your news is yours to share. We lighten the mood with Paul’s weight loss update, a poem that actually lands, and a spirited round of Model T trivia that proves country smarts are quick on the buzzer. Finally, Kirk calls from the treadmill with jokes, discipline, and a hilariously earnest business pitch: Long John pantyhose for guys dropping pounds and braving winter.

If you’re chasing a goal, guarding your peace, or just craving a laugh with people who feel like neighbors, this one’s for you. Tap play, share it with a friend who needs a nudge to keep going, and if it made you smile, follow, rate, and leave a quick review—we read every word.

SPEAKER_04:

From the Horn Auto Center Studios, Chris Bennett and the Morning Brew. Good morning, it's the Morning Brew with Chris. Who's this?

SPEAKER_03:

Good morning, Champion Chris Bennett.

SPEAKER_04:

Heck yeah, it's Brian from Pinedale, Arizona. How are you doing?

SPEAKER_03:

I'm doing really good. Happy to hear your belated uh anniversary.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, can you believe? Uh September 29th and September 30th marked uh our two-year anniversary since we filmed Small Town Famous at the Pinedale Community Center.

SPEAKER_03:

How many hits has that thing got now?

SPEAKER_04:

Uh it doesn't have as many as I would like. Oh, okay. Uh but it it has close to 10,000. Oh, that's pretty good, really.

SPEAKER_03:

I mean, that's a third of our population.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, yeah. I mean, the the the the whole goal with the special was one. Um I just I one, I wanted proof that I've done stand-up comedy. You know, I I had all this material that I've written my whole life, and uh I was wanting to write new material because that material is just feeling old, and so I want to do a comedy special so I could get all that material out uh for prosperity so people could watch and you know spread some laughs and and have a good time, and then I could move on getting uh new material. So I've started that process.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, and the very end of it is very emotional.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, well, you know, it uh I I didn't mean for the special to to have a message, but you know, those of you that may be new to the mountain or not know me, I didn't come to Shola willingly. It wasn't like my decision to to be here, and uh, I thought it was gonna put a cramp in my uh plans to be a professional entertainer and a professional comedian, and little uh did I know that uh all my dreams were waiting for me.

SPEAKER_03:

Surprise!

SPEAKER_04:

And so the message at the end of the special is just sometimes you might feel like giving up and just don't give up, keep going because you don't ever know where your dreams are waiting for you at. Yep.

SPEAKER_03:

So well, how would you like to play a game?

SPEAKER_04:

He got me crying. Now he's gonna cheer me up with the game. Cheer me up with the game. It is now time for Table Topic. With Brian from Pin Dell. Go ahead and ask me uh your table topic questions, and I'll answer them to the best of my ability.

SPEAKER_03:

All right, you ready? Ready. What's your best memory of high school?

SPEAKER_04:

Oh gosh, my best memory of high school would have to be my freshman year. I tried out for uh the uh high school play, and it was a comedy called The Actor's Nightmare. And uh I got the lead as a freshman. And in the play, the basically I get to do a three to five minute monologue. It was probably the first time I ever like did something stand-up like where I'm just on stage by myself. Um, and man, it was so much fun. And my dad came to every show, and he wasn't looking forward to it, but he was so proud of me. Uh, you know, he was crying at the end, and people, it was it was one of the coolest experiences I had in high school, and it's kind of where I uh figured out what I wanted to do with my life and what my passion was.

SPEAKER_03:

Was that in Mesa or Chandler? Oh, that was in Chandler, Seaton Seton Catholic High School. Woohoo! Private school on top. I know. All right. Next question. Next question. Would you rather see a sunset or a sunrise?

SPEAKER_04:

That's a tough one. Uh, if I'm just waking up, hmm, man, that's tough, Brian. I like the sunsets. I like the sunsets too. Yeah, okay. I'll go sunsets. Sunsets are good because then you also get to go to bed afterwards and you don't have to wake up early to catch them.

SPEAKER_03:

Yep. And wildlife comes out and you get to see some of it once in a while. All right, next question.

SPEAKER_04:

Last one.

SPEAKER_03:

What's your favorite way to waste time?

SPEAKER_04:

Uh, my favorite way to uh waste time is probably spend it on uh social media, uh scrolling and uh watching uh uh silly videos, and then also uh, you know, uh watching TV with my family. You know, watching sports too.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh, there you go.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, I love watching sports. That's my favorite. What about you?

SPEAKER_03:

Um to waste time. Let me think. Oh, lay in my hammock. That's a that's a no thinker now that I can.

SPEAKER_04:

Your hammock? You call it a hammock? Yeah, a hammock. I call it a hammock. Okay. But uh have you ever heard it called a hammock? Yeah. Oh, but but it's called hammock? I guess.

SPEAKER_03:

I'm not gonna argue with you. Right. Everybody knows what we're talking about.

SPEAKER_04:

That's right. Well, Brian, that was Table Tabbing. Thank you so much, best friend. Hope you have a good day.

SPEAKER_03:

You have a great hump day and congratulations again on your anniversary.

SPEAKER_04:

Thanks, everyone. Go out and watch Small Town Famous on YouTube. Let's go get those views up, baby. Yeah. We have Dave Ramsey from SHOLO on the line for some boo or cool today. How are you doing today, Dave? Boo or cool? Cool. Cool. How uh how are your uh pets treating you? Cool. Oh, nice. Did you know today is uh random acts of uh poetry day?

SPEAKER_01:

Totally boo.

SPEAKER_04:

I wrote you a poem. You want to hear it?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

Dave says boo, or maybe cool. Navy vet with pets, he don't suffer, no fool. Boo or cool. Boo. Oh, you're no butt. Well, uh, Dave, today is actually national uh uh what is it? Homemade cookie day. So I thought uh for Boo or Cool, I would give you some uh uh different types of cookies and you tell us Boo or Cool. First of all, homemade cookie day, Boo or Cool. Cool. Oh, there we go. What's your favorite type of cookie?

SPEAKER_01:

I have no preference.

SPEAKER_04:

Okay, well, what about chocolate chip? Boo or cool? Cool. Peanut butter.

SPEAKER_01:

Way cool.

SPEAKER_04:

Way cool, oatmeal raisin. Cool. Yeah, those are like my least favorite. Uh, what about sugar cookies? Cool. I love them, yeah. Uh pumpkin spice cookies. Totally boo. We know it, we know that. Uh, what about a maple bacon cookie? Totally boo. You say boo, Dave, but I know if I had my wife made you make you a maple bacon cookie, you would say totally cool. Challenge accepted? Accepted. Alright, he'll try it, but he's but why do you say boo then? Bacon on a cookie, yeah. Ah, it's good. Uh what about uh what about a uh avocado lime cookie? Totally, totally boo. Doesn't like that. No, when we start getting fancy, you you fall out. What about an espresso coffee cookie?

SPEAKER_01:

As long as it's black coffee, I'd say cool. If it's got all that other nonsense in it, boo.

SPEAKER_04:

And last one. Uh what about a salted caramel pretzel cookie? Cool. Yeah, that sounds cool. That was Boo or Cool for homemade cookie day on Cute Country 925. Uh, Dave, how about uh when we come back, we do uh a bonus Boo or Cool on this uh national CD or CD player day? Cool. Boo or cool to CD players. Cool, as long as they're in a car. Yeah, what was your uh favorite mode of uh listening to music throughout your whole life? You've had a lot of different apparatuses. What is your favorite way to listen to music? Radio. Radio, so not the CD, not the record, not the the the what what what was that eight-track, no eight-track? You ever have eight-track? Yeah, yeah, no tape cassette. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You had all of it.

SPEAKER_01:

But just the old reel, turntable.

SPEAKER_04:

Man, and but uh your favorite is just the old-fashioned radio. Yeah, awesome. Well, for uh CD player day, I uh found some of the top CDs ever sold, and uh wanted to find out if you think they're boo or cool. First one, Thriller by Mike Jackson. Cool. Okay, you you you like his music? Yeah, he he had quite the past, but you look past that and you just enjoy his music.

SPEAKER_01:

Exactly.

SPEAKER_04:

Okay. What about ACDC back in black?

SPEAKER_01:

Not really into heavy metal, but most people I've listened to them. They're cool.

SPEAKER_04:

They're cool, okay. But we're not thinking about what other people think. This is about what Dave thinks. What about uh the bodyguard soundtrack with Whitney Houston?

SPEAKER_01:

Boo.

SPEAKER_04:

That was the first CD I ever bought, Dave. You didn't Why Boo? You just didn't like the movie or you just don't like Whitney Houston? Both. Uh both. Oh, really? What don't you like about Whitney Houston?

SPEAKER_01:

I always thought she was too phony. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_04:

Uh uh two more uh CDs for you, Boo or Cool. Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, Bee Gees. Cool. And uh Shania Twain, come on over.

SPEAKER_01:

Cool.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, dun da da da da da da. Let's go, girls. That was Boo or Cool on this CD player day with Dave Ramsey. Dave, uh, Janine is still out, and it's am I the jerk court day? I need a judge. Will you be our honorary judge?

SPEAKER_01:

I'll try to be.

SPEAKER_04:

All right, it is now time for Am I the Jerk Court. Uh, the honorable Janine Ford is still out, so we have a honorary judge filling in today. It is Dave Ramsey. Say hi, Dave. Hello, guys. You got your robe and wig on for Am I the Jerk Court?

SPEAKER_01:

No, I got biscuit sitting on my lap.

SPEAKER_04:

Biscuit. Is that your dog or cat?

SPEAKER_01:

Kitty kitty.

SPEAKER_04:

All right, we got our judge has got a kitty kitty on his lap, and he's gonna go ahead and let us know if this person is the jerk. Here's the case. This person uh says, Am I the jerk for uninviting my sister-in-law for my wedding after she leaked my pregnancy? Here's the deal. I'm 26 female and 10 weeks pregnant. My partner, 28, male, and I told our immediate families early, but made it very clear we're waiting to tell anyone else until after the first trimester. Last night, my fiance's sister, 29, posted a story on Instagram and it was a get ready with me for family dinner we had last weekend. She then casually, indirectly talks about becoming an auntie. She tagged me and my fiance. I saw it when I got a notification that I was tagged. I had over 50 messages from distance friends and co-workers before I could even process it. We hadn't even told our friends yet. I was totally mad, called her, screaming. She tried to say it was an accident and that she forgot and she was just teasing. I told her she was uninvited from our wedding. She cried. My future in-laws are furious, saying I'm overreacting and ruining the family over a silly social media post. They say I should be happy. People are excited. My fiance is on my side. Am I the jerk? Nope, you're not the jerk at all. No, uh, so you you don't think she should just be let it go and then let her come to the wedding? Don't you think it's a little extreme on inviting her from the wedding?

SPEAKER_01:

Nope, I would not tell her a darn thing anymore.

SPEAKER_04:

Your lips would be zipped around her. Exactly. I'd be a clam. And even though it's gonna make some of the family angry at you, and she's just starting this marriage and she's on her, you know, her husband's side of the family, you don't think she should try and like smooth things over and make a little peace and you know, just tell her, hey, I was upset, but listen, uh, you can come to the wedding.

SPEAKER_01:

Nope, she's sister-in-law is lucky she didn't get punched in the mouth.

SPEAKER_04:

There we go. Holy moly. Judge Dave Ramsey is a little more aggressive than Judge Janine Ford. And he rules in the case of Am I the jerk for uninviting my sister-in-law to the wedding after she leaked my pregnancy. He says, Nope, you're not the jerk. And he should have punched her in the mouth. Dave, I love you, best friend. Have a great day. You too. I'll talk to you later. All right, bye. Bye. Woo! That's Bob Law! Paul Beaumont said so. It's everyone's favorite redneck from Paul. From Paul. It's Paul from Paul from Beaumont, buddy. Uh, how did your uh your drug test go the other day?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, we had to come back and do it again because it was something with the paperwork. Uh yeah, something with the billing, so we had to come back.

SPEAKER_04:

So you had to retake your P test?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, yes. I I I did it. Now I'm waiting on uh the other guy to get done with his uh with his. And then well, head on back, and I'll start I'll get on my management uh duties.

SPEAKER_04:

Management. Did you hear uh Boo or Cool with Dave this morning?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, what's wrong with that guy, man?

SPEAKER_04:

What's wrong with you? Well, the cookie one? Yeah, he's good, D. It's got so all those cookies I read, you're totally cool with trying them.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm not no, not the avocado business. Oh no.

SPEAKER_04:

And then did you hear that it is uh random acts of poetry day? No, I didn't. Oh, yeah. I read an awesome poem that I wrote for uh Dave, and he said totally boo. I wrote one for you too. Would you like to hear it? Oh read. Sure. All right, here we go. Uh Beaumont's favorite redneck, Paul. Yee ye from Beaumont with Rhonda by his side, beer, pineapple drinks, and a big truck to ride. Hey, I like that. There you go. Heck yeah. Random acts of poetry day. You appreciated it. Dave, not so much.

SPEAKER_00:

You may be appreciative for what people do for you, Dave. I'm gonna order you a dozen, I'm gonna order you a dozen espresso cookies with all the stuff in it.

SPEAKER_04:

And then speaking of cookies, how's the weight loss journey going? You lose more weight since uh two days ago.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, yeah, man. Yeah, I'm down to 252. I weighed this morning.

SPEAKER_04:

Holy moly, before you know it, you're gonna be in the 240s. And when are you gonna stop?

SPEAKER_00:

Uh, about 235. All right. 230. All right, you're almost out. Or until the skin gets too saggy.

SPEAKER_04:

It is now time for Are You Smarter Than a Redneck? Uh, before uh we get started, Paul, you're you're freaking out about something. What's going on?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I'm sitting in my truck and I'm uh kind of flexing my muscle and my calf. And that looks cool, but the skin below it looks like a shark attack now. It's totally not cool.

SPEAKER_04:

I think you're losing weight too fast because then that makes your skin stretch. Yeah, or maybe I'm just ashy or something. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Well, we won't worry about that. But uh today is uh Model T day. So we're gonna do some Model T trivia to find out who is smarter, a handsome radio DJ or a redneck from Beaumont. Here we go. First question Who is who is credited with the invention of the Ford Model T? Is it Paul Paul? There you go. Henry Ford. Yeah, I knew that too, but I'm also the game show host, so I have to give all the answers. Uh, in what year was the Ford Model T first introduced? Was it 1913, 1923, 1908, or 1915?

SPEAKER_00:

Paul Paul. 1908.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh my gosh, how did you know that? Come mine up in Texas, man. I know about I know about trucks and stuff, dude. All right, man, you're one uh correct answer away from uh sweeping me for the second day in a row. Uh, what was the nickname given to the Ford Model T? Was it Old Betsy, Rusty Relic, Junkyard Jewel, or Tin Lizzie? Paul Pa. A. A, Old Betsy? No, I'm gonna say Tin Lizzie. It is Tin Lizzie. I'm still alive. Next question: What was the price of the Ford Model T when it was first introduced? 500, 1,000, 850, or 1500. Chris, I'm gonna say 500. Nope. It's either 850. Is it 850? There we go. He is smarter than a very handsome radio DJ, and he knows his Model T to the T. We love you, Paul. Have a great day and uh have fun. Going to go pee. Yeah, I will.

SPEAKER_00:

All right, dude. Hey, y'all all have a great day, and we'll talk to y'all hopefully tomorrow. Yeah, yeah, Big Tom.

SPEAKER_04:

All right, buddy. We love you. All right, bye-bye. Good morning. It's the morning brew with Chris. Who's this?

SPEAKER_02:

Good morning, Mr. Chris. It's best friend, Kirk Nermey.

SPEAKER_04:

Kirk Nermi. Holy moly. So good to hear from Kirk Nermey, our first ever Am I the Jerk uh judge on uh the morning brew? And uh you sound like uh you're calling from one of Paul's trucks.

SPEAKER_02:

No, I'm actually uh on the treadmill working out and uh losing weight uh the right way without an estrogen shot.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh, you're so so Paul hasn't really told us what shot. You know, there's the fat shot. So you're telling me that those fat shots people take, like Ozempic and stuff, that's just estrogen?

SPEAKER_02:

I don't know, isn't it? Well, I don't know. I'm not sure. I don't know which shot he's I don't know which shot he's taking. I don't know what he's doing.

SPEAKER_04:

I don't know, but you sound like he's you choose to do it the old-fashioned way with hard work and discipline. You don't want to take any shortcuts.

SPEAKER_02:

That's right, and that's why I do not have saggy thighs.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, Paul, Paul was uh saying off air he was accusing you of having uh saggy skin, but uh I don't see it. And he's he's getting saggy skin. That's what happens when you lose weight and you don't work out and have muscle to replace it, right?

SPEAKER_02:

That's exactly right. But Chris, I thought this might be a great business opportunity for you, which is why I'm calling.

SPEAKER_04:

Okay, perfect. Pitch your uh it's Shark Tank, pitch it.

SPEAKER_02:

For your famous Long John Song Company, and then it's it's heading towards winter. We're getting more 20 that season. Maybe some kind of special reinforced uh pantyhose for guys like Paul with uh with saggy thighs.

SPEAKER_04:

All right, I love it. I love it. I'm gonna take it to my uh research and development team and uh see what we can do, but I love it. For uh uh for the redneck on the run that's losing a lot of weight and having fun. We introduce Long Jong pantyhose.

SPEAKER_02:

And and we want Paul to feel pretty when he's monitoring all that PP.

SPEAKER_04:

So, you know. Oh, Kirk Derby, you are the best. Thanks so much for calling in and uh keep uh getting your pump on, buddy. Thanks, friends. All right, love you, buddy. Bye. Love you, bye.

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Chris Bennett

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