Crossing the finish line of ep. 51 w/ "Alive & Running Iowa" co-founder Troy Belmer. Lot's of fun in this episode include the story of how Troy got fired from the strawberry farm for starting a "strawberry fight." Not to mention his pet peeve of people talking on speakerphone in public! The discussion gets serious at the end as we do a deep dive in…

Spring has sprung and time to get outside and get "running!" We got Co-founder of Alive & Running Iowa, Troy Belmer on this episode of the best up and coming podcast on the market! Troy's passion is improving mental health and preventing suicide but do you know where that passion came from? Some of our worst moments in life can produce the very bes…

Want to get to know one of the best sports anchors in the business??? You are in the right place if you do! To wrap up episode 50 with KWWL Sports Anchor and "Friday Night Heroes" legend Mark Woodley, we get into his segments and have a ton of fun! We get his opinion on everything from dark chocolate and toilet paper to Waffle House and hiking some…

For our 50th episode we are spiking the football with KWWL Sports Anchor and "Friday Night Heroes" legend, Mark Woodley! Mark is just one of the guys when it comes to sports but in this episode you will get to go behind the camera and find out what he is really like. (spoiler alert-humble and funny) Remember that viral weather video from the blizza…

On this episode, we collaborated with a very special YouTuber. Ayden Powell, also known as "A Pizzle Dizzle" has over 1,000 subscribers and he want's to take that number as high as it can go! So go check him out and give him a follow: https://www.youtube.com/@AydenPowell Ayden is 21 years old, full of life and always ready to surprise ya! In this s…

What is Truth??? If there is no God...then truth can quickly turn into whatever we want it to be because we get to determine the standard for everything. Who or what else could there be to tell us anything different. We would all live by what we deem as "my truth." Today, many people believe many different things, so how do we know who is right and…

On this episode, we go back to 2020 when a series of events was sent in motion that eventually led to the start of this podcast. When Pastor Ron at First Baptist Church in Dunkerton, IA needed a fill-in preacher...he asked me. So with no prior experience preaching, I delivered a message that centered around the basic principles of Christian living …

We landed a couple of good 'ol Texans, Keelyn & Allison McInroe who happen to be the owners of "Knitted & Known," the best pro-life, bamboo pajama company around! With a couple of youngsters of their own, waiting until after their bedtime to record pushed the limits of our ability to stay awake and still do something productive. This will be our bi…

Move over Macaulay Culkin...we got the best guy north of the border back on the Podcast! Canadian Christian influencer, gym owner, business mentor, life coach and entrepreneur Matt Chenard comes back for part 2 of his episode. During his hand picked segments, Matt shares that he loves "Lord of the Rings" and "Home Alone." When it comes to hidden ta…

Our FIRST international episode!!! No, we didn't actually leave the country, but thanks to technology, we were able to connect online with one of the best guys in all of Canada! Matt Chenard is a former hockey player turned highly successful entrepreneur, influencer and mentor. This guy has it all...but some of the best parts of his story came at a…

Part 2 with legendary trick shot artist and Tiktok sensation Mike Sorenson was a slam dunk! In addition to being an autograph aficionado, Mike seems to be a Jeopardy level wiz when it comes to sports trivia! Along with all the other fun segments, Mike wanted to give his take on Caitlin Clark and her impact on women's basketball. One of our goals in…

Enjoy this compilation of interviews taken at the season-end celebration for another great season of Wapsie Valley wrestling including a state championship at 175 lbs for Kanen Decker. We were able to interview coaches, parents and a few senior wrestlers to get their take on this season and just what wrestling means to all of them. Follow/Like/Subs…

We got our first viral TikTok sensation with a massive following to step into the "What Is Up" Podcast studio! Mike Sorenson has made a name for himself and amassed over 1 million likes on TikTok with videos of his epic basketball trickshots. Those skills along with his incredible collection of autographs, make Mike one interesting guest. Other tha…

What is up with the idea of Universal Basic Income? As we finish up Jim & Dale's episode, we ask that very question and the great debate ensues! This is a perfect reminder of how people can discuss their difference of idea and opinion without yelling, insulting, fighting or shooting. Debates used to be commonplace and the very best way to get lots …

Part 2 with Jim & Dale was a blast! Who would have thought you could have so much fun with this "Odd Couple." Jim goes back to the days of the neighbor kid beating on him until his dad had enough and took Jim to buy a brand new pair of boots to take care of business...needless to say, Jim went looking for a fight. But that story doesn't end the way…

You all know Bubba has a theory that in order to move forward in our country...we need to go back somewhat. Back to a simpler time where we focused on what really matters in life with less distractions. So for our 43rd episode, we got a couple retired teachers who have something to say about that. Jim Gillespie and Dale Rueber from the Steve Brown …

This week, as we inaugurate a new President back into the highest office in the land, we wanted to bring in our political analyst and field correspondent to share his thoughts and opinions on everything we saw this past election season. And who better to invite back into the basement than the former guest who holds the record for most viewed episod…

Part 2 of Episode 41 w/ Dr. Jenna Schares was interesting to say the least. By the time she was done telling stories and going through her segments...it was a pretty fun episode. I told the audience she was probably the most interesting dentist you will ever meet and she started this episode off by sharing her first step in prepping for the apocaly…

On this first interview episode of 2025, Bubba is joined by Dr. Jenna Schares. It takes a lot of guts to ask your Dentist to come on your podcast as she is finishing up your 6 month check up. (awkward) Jenna has done a lot, seen a lot and accomplished a lot...so it's no surprise that she has a lot to share when it comes to the ups and downs of real…

Time to ring in 2025 "What Is Up" style! With so many episodes in the works and none quite ready to record...we had to go into the vault and pull out some never before seen segments. Goals for 2025, favorite commercials and future guests that are way out of our league...that's what is in store for this episode. But we can't ignore the horrible trag…

***Bonus Episode*** Our first ever "What Is Up" Christmas Trivia Game Show!!! Enjoy this special gift on Christmas Eve-Eve as you prepare for the pinnacle of the Holiday Season! We got the whole family together then divided into teams and we tested their knowledge on all things Christmas! The trivia questions covered everything from Christmas movie…

It's time for our annual "What Is Up" Podcast Christmas Episode! We got the whole family in the basement to discuss all their favorite Christmas memories, traditions, movies and music. Let me tell ya, there were some passionate opinions tossed around about our most disliked Christmas songs of all time! When it comes to making memories around the Ch…

Christmas is almost here and you can consider this one part episode a gift! Long time "What Is Up" fan Dallas Tisue steps into the basement for his chance to talk about whatever his little heart desires. Dallas shares what is was like growing up in Dunkerton, wrestling for East Waterloo MATPAC then transferring to Wapsie Valley. He almost let the f…

To wrap up episode 36 with Taylor Sickles, we get into some pretty fun segments, share some good memories and Taylor asks "what is up with parents trying to be their kid's friends these days?" Great mix of fun and serious discussion in part 2 of this great episode. We learned that one Taylor's sons also had brain surgery! Taylor still views Marty M…

This should be fun...Bubba goes on a rant since this episode was recorded the night after election night. A great start to an episode indeed. On this episode, Bubba sits down with a friend he made during his short career in the laundry business. Actually...neither of them lasted very long! Taylor Sickles was a gifted athlete at Wapsie Valley and ev…

As we wrap up episode 35 w/ Clint Bunting, we have the perfect mix of laughs and serious discussion. The "guess that song" segment was a blast...Clint knows his Motown music! Clint has a couple good takes when asked what is up with "Coach Prime" and the way he shook up college football the last couple seasons. Then to get a little more serious, we …

What on earth would prompt a man to leave the sunny skies and and sandy beaches of California for Iowa??? Listen to Episode 35 w/ Clint Bunting and find out! This local Pastor at Jesup Bible Fellowship has an encouraging story to tell so be sure to listen/watch and share with everyone you know! When life was beginning to get out of control, Clint l…

Part 1 of episode 34 with legendary state champion point guard Brian Brungard was a slam dunk! Part 2 looks to be the perfect mix of laughs and serious discussion. Every kid dreams of putting their teacher to the test so Bubba tests his knowledge of American History with some trivia. Does he pass or fail??? Listen or watch to find out. Brian also s…

As the Iowa High School Football Playoffs begin and the Wapsie Valley Warriors get on the war path...Bubba looks to talk to a guy who actually won a state championship back in the day. Episode 34 welcomes legendary Dunkerton Raider point guard and 2004 Iowa High School State Basketball Champion, Brian Brungard. The discussion isn't just all sports.…

The conclusion of episode 33 with Ashlea Jones was the perfect mix of laughter and serious discussion! Find out what book by a former fat kid turned Navy Seal is one of her favorites. Is she into Christmas music??? What about the most embarrassing moment from her childhood. It's all in this episode! To wrap things up, Ashlea asks what is up with th…

Ask and you shall receive! You wanted more female guests on the podcast so we are making that happen this month. Ashlea Jones steps into the basement to share her life story and experiences. Ashlea is a Wapsie Valley mom busy with 3 kids and a husband in law enforcement who is the mastermind behind the Warrior defense. On this episode, Ashlea share…

In this episode we try High Definition again. The audio held up just fine...but the picture got worse as the sun went down. Another lesson learned. The return of the "Dumb Dad" segment is long overdue. If you heard that car alarm going off at a JV Football game recently, it was probably Bubba, and he tells the whole story. Bubba gets into some seri…

Here we go with our first attempt at recording an entire episode in 4k. All I can say is, mistakes were made. Somehow the audio did not sync even though I planned for that. And a couple minutes of the audio was terrible and I had to re-record it. But we have a new plan for better video and audio going forward. On this, the first episode in October,…

Our first episode filmed in 4k...well sort of. To try out the new camera we actually only filmed for about 10 minutes then we included the video when I was on the Steve Brown Art Center Podcast. It was nice being on the other side of the microphone for once. Jim and Dale were great interviewers and asked some good questions which led to some good c…

As we wrap up episode 29 with local legend Mike Buenzow, we have some laughs and maybe even shed a few tears??? Whatever happens in this episode...Mike wants you to know that you NEVER GIVE UP! Whenever you take a retired person and quiz them on Gen Z slang, you are in for an entertaining ride. We also talk about Mike's love for the Mcdouble and pr…

We are going old school with this episode and talking to long time, proud Wapsie Valley local Mike Buenzow. He might be old fashioned but he supports every new class of kids as they come up through the school district. Now that Mike is retired, all it took was his wife Deb to leave the state in order for him to have to come on the podcast. And we c…

Part 2 w/ Keith Weiland really "drills" down to some core issues! LOL We go from talking about the horrors of the border crisis...to the controversy surrounding the "over/under" debate when it comes to how people prefer the placement of their toilet paper! It's pretty clear that we have way more than we actually need in our country. When talking ab…

On this episode, we are talking with a guy who has quite the resume. Keith Weiland is a military vet who signed up after 9/11 and has been all over the world. Yet somehow, he ended up back in small town Iowa. Keith has a lot of experience in the oil & gas industry, so we talk about the carbon pipeline that has everyone worked up. When it comes to t…

Ok, Ok, so it wasn't THE Matthew McConaughy, but this one is worth listening to! As we wrap up Episode 27, one thing is clear, both Bubba and Matt love them some Waffle House! Matt shares a coffee hack that will change the way you order it next time you are at "Fat Cup Coffee." (shout out) On a more serious note...Matt thinks things would be a lot …

Our biggest "name" yet! Bubba never once lied about that and it still stands a true statement. Misleading...yes, but that is how you peak listener's interests. Even though it's not THE Matthew McConaughy, you are still gonna love this episode. Bubba and Matt go way back. This guy is the official scorekeeper/ statistician of the Waterloo Bucks and i…

What a response to the first part of Brock's episode! Truly impressive! I hope you are ready for round 2??? We are gonna start with a deep dive into his kickboxing career and yeah...he is him! Brock loves the adrenaline rush, the roar of the crowd and the support of the community around him. If you want to have some laughs, just wait till we get in…

This episode is not for the faint of heart! And it definitely isn't just for "clicks." As we run right past episode 25, we wanted a guest who could truly uplift our listeners. This individual reminds us that no matter our struggles, we can press on without falling into despair or throwing in the towel. Rumors had circulated about this family's situ…

We made it to episode 25! Who would have thought that we would make it this long??? On this special video episode, we discuss the original plan for episode 25 and why it just isn't the right time to release it. With the Olympics about to kick off, we have to reminisce a little about our favorite moments. Then we will give you some super encouraging…

***Special video episode*** What the heck are we doing??? We have got to get back to debating ideas instead of attacking those we disagree with. If you think you are in the right...prove them wrong and do it in a civil manner. We can do better in this area...we have to. Enough with the violent rhetoric and demonization of those we disagree with. Do…

In Tim Leah's part 2 of their episode, we get into some stuff that you won't be able to "un-hear." Listen in If you want to find out why Leah was always working raffle ticket sales at Ducks Unlimited banquets in college. Tim decided to tackle a topic no one has touched on the podcast yet...Aliens, UFOs and UAPs! Did you know they both are in to old…

One of our most important episodes to date! Local Wapsie parents Tim & Leah Schneider let us behind the curtain and into the life of a family with a special needs child. And Evan is pretty darn special! So are Caleb and Taylor while we are giving shout outs. If want some real world experience to help you better understand how you should actually fe…

Turns out that Iowa's version of Johnny Cash, "Empty Smith," is a pretty funny dude! Lots of laughs were had during his segments in pt. 2 of his episode. Micah Smith definitely takes the trophy for "Most embarrassing moment from childhood." I couldn't believe it myself! And "What Is Up" with the mullet coming back into style??? Everything comes bac…

Our first interview over Zoom!!! Can you believe it??? We got Iowa's version of Johnny Cash pouring himself out on this episode! Micah Smith, the sole creator behind "Empty Smith" music has quite the story to tell. Growing up in small town Iowa as a kid, just waiting for the day when he would get his freedom and leave the uncomfortable pews of FBC …

Part 2 with the crew from "Talk of the Tribe" Podcast was fantastic! We challenged them with some intense sports trivia, and I ensured they understood Bo Jackson's legendary status. A bonus video was added at Zack's request, featuring the shout-out given to the Wapsie JH Football team on The Dan Patrick Show for their two-year undefeated streak! Th…

Let's kick off the summer with a blast! We got our first 2 guest episode with creators of the "Talk of the Tribe" Podcast, Zack & Ryker. We talk sports and broadcasting, but I had to make sure these boys know just how great Bo Jackson was. We also get to some of their hobbies and interests as young teenagers. Sit back, relax and enjoy this special …