When The News Hits Home

A missing teen found in the Fox River. A viral parade stunt that costs someone their job. A World Cup tipping clash that exposes how service workers are paid in the United States. This episode moves through heavy news and lighter headlines, but keeps landing on one question: what kind of community are we building, and who pays the price when accountability breaks down?

We begin with the heartbreaking case of 16-year-old Destiny Neal in Elgin, Illinois, and talk about why stories like this hit so close to home for parents, teachers, and neighbors. We also discuss media blind spots around missing girls and young women of color, the need to rebuild a real “village,” and how communities can support grieving families without falling for donation scams.

Then we turn to a viral Knicks trash can incident and the reported workplace fallout that followed. It opens a bigger conversation about integrity, public behavior, social media consequences, and how quickly one moment can become professional risk. We also honor the legacy of music executive Clive Davis, unpack World Cup tipping culture and auto-gratuity, and ask why so many hospitality workers still depend on tips instead of a livable wage.

We close with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce marriage rumors and what celebrity obsession says about us when people are searching for something joyful. Subscribe, share, and leave a review if you’re enjoying these real conversations, and tell us: what is one change that would make your community feel safer and more connected?

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Transcript

Welcome And A Real-Life Check In

SPEAKER_01 1:18

Hello, everyone. Welcome to this week's episode of Thirsty Topics. Hi, Wonder.

SPEAKER_00 1:24

Hey Lawrence, how are you, my friend?

SPEAKER_01 1:26

I am doing great. How about you?

SPEAKER_00 1:28

I'm doing good. Had a great, great, busy day today. You know, kind of remind me of um uh Frankie Beverly, Joy and Pain, Sunshine and Rain. That's the way I felt. But overall, hey, I'm blessed. I'm here. And what about yourself?

SPEAKER_01 1:47

You know what? I'm blessed as well, too. Um, working on a few things uh on my end, starting to see some daylight. So very, very um happy about that and looking forward to what's what's gonna be read around the corner.

SPEAKER_00 2:00

Oh, absolutely. And you know, it just felt so good uh being able to encourage people because I know I was in a situation where I needed to be encouraged, so it's just really nice as we were uh being blessed today, just you know, encouraging people.

SPEAKER_01 2:14

Yeah. Absolutely, absolutely. Um well, I'm gonna go ahead and let you start off, Wonder.

SPEAKER_00 2:21

All right, man. Welcome to Thursday Topics. Uh, everyone, I'm your host, Wanda P and we have with uh also Lawrence uh Elrod here. Our first topic today, Lawrence, is really sad and it kind of hits home. Uh, we want to talk about the body of a missing teen girl that was found in the Fox uh River uh here in Elgin, Illinois. That was according to the uh the coroner. The body of a teen girl who went missing over the weekend was found in the Fox River in Elgin, Illinois on Sunday. The Kane County Coroner's office announced on Monday. Elgin police on Friday responded uh to the 1200 uh block of Abbott Drive to report the missing person who was last seen walking in the area around 7 p.m. The search for the missing teen continued during the weekend before she was uh recovered on Sunday. Coroners identified the teen as 16-year-old Destiny Neal from Elgin. An autopsy was performed on Monday, and the officer said that the

Missing Teen Found In Fox River

SPEAKER_00 3:33

toxology samples were uh collected and sent to a national forensic laboratory for extensive analysis. Her cause of death is pending the taxology uh report. So the death still remains under investigation uh at this point in the court um the Kane County Coroner's office. And you know, Lawrence, that just brings us to the point, man, life is just too short. Life is too short. And when you think about uh a young lady, the age, I mean, any of our children or grandchildren go out at seven o'clock in the evening. I don't know the circumstances why she was uh walking alone at seven o'clock, not not like it was dark, because you know, we didn't we're dealing with the summer, and it it's just heartbreaking, and it it brought tears to my eyes because I remembered uh on my prayer call on last Wednesday, and I was reading the article where it showed, you know, about this young lady, just another life gone, another young life gone too soon. And my prayers go out to that family, uh, to anyone that was affected. I didn't know her, but I felt like I was affected because it just reminded me so much of this could have been one of our children, you know, being a former teacher. I have students her age, you know. So it is it's just really uh sad not knowing where your child is. Could you imagine looking for your child? So I don't know the circumstances why seven o'clock is when they were looking for her, or she was last seen. What's your thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_01 5:19

I mean, it's definitely sad, no question about it. And I think it it kind of goes back to the same issues that keep coming up over and over again. And there is a lot of young girls, young women of color that go missing all the time. And for whatever reason, you never hear about them in the news. No, and don't get me wrong, you know, it is good when troubling situations like this, missing people do get news coverage. All I'm saying is that you know, people who look like me, it would be kind of nice if they got that same coverage and them same resources as well. Oh, yeah, it'll know what the answer is to that, but it would be nice if those same resources um were evenly distributed.

SPEAKER_00 6:13

Yeah, well, you hit on uh point

Who Gets Coverage When Missing

SPEAKER_00 6:16

uh very well because when this was happening, it was just like somebody I knew. You know, she went to my grandson's school, and when I think about the coverage, and I was talking to someone else, I went out earlier that day, and I was out talking to another lady, she was from California. She said, When I moved here, people were telling me, uh, you be careful of Chicago, Chicago, but I'm in the suburb. But she said, but did you know also in Schomburg, Lake of the Hills? I think I sent you something about Lake of the Hill, and there are other suburban areas as well, uh Lawrence, that people have been found in these uh retention ponds. They have recovered bodies that they don't even talk about in Schomburg. I Googled what she was saying, I didn't see as many as she said, but there certainly were bodies found in retention centers and in the suburbia areas of Chicago, and you don't hear people talking about that. And you know, is there so much violence going on? We don't know. Everything we talk about in this show, as we always say, has been alleged. So we don't know uh what happened to her, but you know, it takes a village, it takes a village, man, for us. Uh, and not just when tragedy happens, it's we should come together uh all the time. That's what it's all about. Us coming together to find out what's what's happening in your neck of the woods, you know.

SPEAKER_01 7:47

You also have to have to share information too. I remember growing up, the neighborhood was a village, it really was. People looked out for each other. Now you don't have that anymore. Everyone's pretty much on their own, everyone's trying to get as much as they can get for themselves, and the whole feel for the neighborhood is totally different than when we grew up. Totally different.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

Yeah, but you know, but the thing about it, man, we better wake up. We talk about topics every week, and they all blend in or they they all are parallel with each other sometimes because when we're looking at, like I said, the atmosphere that we're in, we had better wake up because even like in the churches, man, the churches of the community, everybody has a level of accountability, starting with the homes, you know, and and some people differ from that, but you know, I I I I can't, we we we you can never, I

The Village We Used To Have

SPEAKER_00 8:48

can never find the words when a child they should be looking uh to graduate, uh, go to college, have a future, and they end up somewhere like a Fox River or in Tennessee, the Cumberland River. I don't know if we found in the Cumberland. But we we just have to really be truly our brothers and sisters keeper and be neighbors to our neighbors. Like you said, there was a time if my neighbor called my mother and told her, because she saw what we did down the streets. By the time we got home, not only was that neighbor able to scold us or rebuke us or uh discipline us, we're gonna get it when we get home. So the teachers, you know, I don't know, the paddling, all that's gone too. But even in the village of the teachers, everything has been just been taken away uh from uh from some of our leaders, and people just don't trust. They don't they don't trust you in the church, they don't trust you in the church. Don't you touch my child? And unfortunately, we just saw on the news earlier tonight where a six-year-old girl was uh thrown to the ground and groped from a man just walking by, he pretended that he was falling, he grabbed onto her. He's in jail now. So, yeah, so so we're living in an atmosphere where it's just ugly. And I would love to hear, because there was a lot of people that comment when I put that comment out. What what what are your thoughts about uh our teens and how vulnerable they are? What what what does the audience say? You know?

SPEAKER_01 10:32

That's true, that's true. And the other thing to consider too is even if you don't allow someone to discipline your child, because some people don't allow that, and I get that, I understand that, but we're at the point where an adult can't even say anything to a child without that child going off, or and this is even crazier if a child does something wrong in school, and the teacher contacts the parent, which they supposed to do, and tell them what their child did, and the parents are ready to fight the teacher. I mean, when did we get to that point?

SPEAKER_00 11:06

Right. You know, it was so funny. I was talking to one of the ladies in the um cafeteria where I work, and um, we were just all sitting down talking, and we were talking about this topic, and then just talking about children, how nobody would, and she was a Caucasian lady, and she was saying that when she was younger, her son, all her kids are great, they're doing wonderful things in life. But as a little kid, she told the story of how this one little boy that her son was hanging out with, and the little boy had no training. And every time the little boy would do something, like he, I think he scratched up her brand new car. She bought a brand new car, and this kid scratched up her car. So, and this is like I said, she's in her 90s, so her son, her kids are in their 50s and 60s, so she went and called the young man's mother. Oh, my son wouldn't do that, and he did something else to somebody else later on down the line, and several people saw it and went to the woman. Oh, my son wouldn't do that, and she slammed the door on him. So I said to myself, I wonder, your kids are girls. Where's that little boy today? Or where is he today? Did he repent? You know, but yeah, so it's just really sad that that we can't say anything to them. And one of the things I wanted to ask too, Lawrence, what can we do? Because people were asking, does that family, does Destiny Neil's family need anything? I can't even imagine because it was on my heart. So when I saw the reply, I said, I I want to call, I want to get in contact with them, but I do have contact with one of the teachers at the school who was in her class. And I I I reached out to him. I got to go see if he responded back. But what can we do to help that mother, man, or in any kind of way? Uh, we can't bring her back, of course, but can we support her by, you know, uh sending a donation or sending food, whatever they need? We don't know what they need at this point. I can only imagine this vibrant young woman left out of her house and never returned, 16 years old.

SPEAKER_01 14:12

I would say the easiest thing would be to contact the school because they're going to know any fundraisers or anything that they would need. And also it's a trusted source, too, because unfortunately, there are people that take advantage of situations like this for their own

Helping The Family Without Scams

SPEAKER_01 14:27

good.

SPEAKER_02 14:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

So you definitely want to make sure that you're not talking to any scammers.

SPEAKER_00 14:32

Right, right, right, right. I would go with the school, and that was a great idea because I did think about the teacher, but I would go through the school to see if it's something that we can do, uh, especially with what what I do with my community. And I didn't know the young lady, but wow, that's just really sad. It's really sad, brother.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

Yeah, I agree.

SPEAKER_00 14:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:51

Well, I know we talked about the Knicks winning the championship, but the big headline right now is a Knicks fan. Her name is Angie Biaz. She's going viral now. And the reason she's going viral is that she went and emptied a trash can. There was a trash can that was painted the next colors in celebration of the team. So she dumped all the trash on the street and left with the trash can. They even showed her on the subway. Now, besides the obvious, nasty, and disgusting, I don't know why you would do that. Um, but there was also consequences for what she did. So Angie B. S. 40 was identified as a person seen dumping in one of the special edition trash cans during the Knicks celebration parade in Manhattan. And this is according to the New York Post. The blue and orange bins were put out last week

Knicks Parade Video And Job Fallout

SPEAKER_01 15:55

by the New York City Department of Trans uh Sanitation to come uh commemorate the Knicks first NBA championship in more than 50 years. As a result of what she did, a spoken for JP Morgan Chase told NBC News on Wednesday that Baez, formerly an executive director of community and industry uh engagement, no longer works for a company. The spokesperson would not comment on whether she left the company as a result of the video. So Baez did not immediately return a call or email requested pressing comment from NBC News. The Department of Sanitation confirmed that the trash can was returned to the city Wednesday morning. Um now there's a a statement here from them that says, first, we would reiterate reiterate previous comments that dumping trash onto the street and stealing public property for your own personal use are both illegal, uh antisocial behaviors, and not what New Yorkers do. The department said in a statement, on top of all that, doing both on camera is incredibly stupid. That's actually an understatement, but I know there was a whole lot in there. What do you think about that one?

SPEAKER_00 17:23

Man, you know what? What may have seemed funny, ha ha ha, turned into a whimsical kind of funny because that was really odd. That was an odd thing to do. Trash, New York already has a rep, so we don't need you on camera trying to be funny, and not to mention, cameras are everywhere, big brothers watching everywhere, everybody has a camera, so it that wasn't even worth it. And did you say she worked for JP Morgan? She she did work for so we we all just like even look with my tweet, we gotta be so careful what we say and do in this public of cameras everywhere. Somebody's always listening, always watching, you know, and and this is bigger than just stealing the trash can. It speaks to the times we're living in. As I just said, social media uh has changed everything. So the things that we thought we can do and get away with, there's an old saying that you can poop on the side of the road, there's another word, on the side of the road and blame on the dog. But now with cameras everywhere, you can't blame it on uh on Spud. You can't blame it on Spot. You know, everybody has a camera. Did we freeze up here?

SPEAKER_01 18:48

I'd like to hear you your camera went out, but it'll come back in one second.

SPEAKER_00 18:53

As I was saying before I got rudely interrupted, and it's we got good weather today. I don't know why uh why that went out. But you know, as I was saying though, I think it's very um unwise for someone who has so much to lose. You have to be careful of your actions. We have to be very careful of our actions because you know, the bigger you are. I was listening to an interview, a young lady, she's a star, and she talked about her personal life, and she goes like she swinging the bat both ways, right? And she went on on alive and was talking about they both know about each other, and she's trying to make up her mind. Then when she they they interviewed her and never talked with her, she didn't realize I'm in the public, like they're not. And what she did by opening up that her private life like that, you know. I don't know if it broke up the relationship to with one or the other, but the bottom line, we guys we just have to be careful what we do in the public's eye because that was, and it certainly wasn't worth you quitting your job or getting fired, whichever the two. Either way, it wasn't good.

SPEAKER_01 20:02

Yeah, uh, and the sad part about it, Wanda, is people get so excited and they want to do something crazy, they want to be on social media to kind of show stuff. Everything doesn't have to be on social media. Now, granted, in what we do, social media is a part of what we do, but we're also mindful of what we put on there as well, too. We don't put just anything on there, yeah. And that's what people have to understand is okay, you went viral, but was it worth it? And I guess here's here's another question I would love to find out from you, Wonder. Do you think that they they were a little bit too harsh in either letting her go or encouraging her to leave? Or do you think that the the punishment fixed the crime of what she did?

SPEAKER_00 20:56

Well, that depends because we know excitement, you know, because you you could as the police say there are other crimes out that you can really be, you know, make light of. But the thing about it, that's the chance you take. Were they too hard? That depends. You're talking about JP. That's that's a reputable company, and somebody could really make a lot of noise about it. So I don't know how much flack she got in order for them to step in. So we don't even know about that either. So depending on my company, because I think about if I had a company, I don't know. I don't, I think she she may have gotten what she deserved. Because if I had a company, my reputation means a lot to me. And you have and so she should have been thinking about that. Is your livelihood worth it? Was she drunk? I don't know. You can't blame on alcohol, so you can't, you know, really blame. And in depending on the instances, but be being that this was a reputable company, uh yeah, uh, you know, so I they're looking at their name, yeah. And the thing about it, and and like I said, she wasn't even thinking about her livelihood, and it it goes deeper, it goes about integrity. So that's probably why the job did it. Your integrity. This this speaks on your integrity.

SPEAKER_01 22:31

That's true. And what's surprising to me is the type of position that he holds that she holds within the company. Uh I mean it's a very position that she has. So I can see how the optics would be very unappealing. And we all know that once certain people get to uh um a certain level in a company, they may not be fired, but what they may do is say, okay, here's your option. You can either leave or we can let you go.

SPEAKER_00 23:03

But can you be can you imagine your job and you uh you went viral? It's like my mother used to tell us when somebody got in trouble and nobody wanted to own up to it, she get everybody got it right. Well, I'm gonna get in left, I'm gonna get the right person. So, could you imagine the influence she would have on other employees to do something what she didn't and got away with it?

SPEAKER_01 23:29

Uh, that's a good point. That's a good point.

SPEAKER_00 23:32

So, yeah. So I think it it goes back into her core tag, you're it, and goes back to um if you're in a position like that and you shouldn't let alcohol or drugs take you to another world and do something and regret it. Because you think about people who commit crimes, uh crimes of passion or that in uh a temporary insanity. They don't let them necessarily get off. You know, you did something wrong. So she did something that, you know, warranted uh uh response, I would think. And then, like I say, with JP Morgan, is it JP Morgan she was working for? Uh yeah, you you you tampered with our name. So people take their name and their position seriously, and some people have probably gotten fired for something less than that.

SPEAKER_01 24:21

That's true. And I'm a huge, huge Bears fan. You know, when the Bears made it to the playoffs, I mean, I was screaming, I was swearing I was having a great time in my house. Right, right, right, right. I wasn't outside, you know, screaming and yelling and cursing, because you know, obviously I can't do that outside. In my house, totally different thing. Yeah, but that's a great point as far as being aware of your surroundings and where you're at, because there's certain things that you can't do outside your home that you can do in your home because there are real consequences to those actions.

SPEAKER_02 24:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 24:58

I remember um, I want to say it was Ice T. He was on the view, and this was shortly after the slapping incident that took place between Chris Rock and Will Smith. And what Iced T said, when we're in this entertainment game, we have to be careful what we do and say. I could be sitting here right now, I can take my keys and I throw them across the room. That could potentially end my career, just that one little act right there. Well, we have to pay attention to what we do at all times and be aware of what we're doing and how we're doing it. And I thought that that was so perfectly said because that is 100% true, even if you're not in entertainment, as you see with this young with this woman here. Again, things you do out in public have consequences, good or bad.

SPEAKER_00 25:54

Good or bad. I tell you what, so yeah, it's unfortunately that she um that she lost um her uh her job, you know. Um, you know, and and you and I can say when you when you think about your livelihood and all that, just rejoice. Why can't you just be happy? Go out and have a drink, uh hey, uh shake your pom-poms and just be. But again, as I started off, it's the environment that we're in, man. Everybody's got a camera, everybody feels like they can do some things and and they they're invincible, and you see that you're not. So hopefully, if nothing else, other employees at that place are thinking about their actions out in the public. If not, they should be.

SPEAKER_01 26:38

Absolutely. I I don't think anyone that works with JP Morgan's chase is not gonna be doing anything like that anytime soon.

SPEAKER_00 26:46

Nah, no, yeah, because they that's a serious business, man. Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:54

Well, I want to take some time here to give my condolences and also condolences from Searchy Topics podcast to the family and friends of music mogul Clive Davis, who passed away. So, legendary music executive and producer Clive Davis passed away on Monday, June 22nd, 2026, at the age of 94. His family and publicists confirmed that he died peacefully at his Manhattan home following a brief hospitalization for upper respiratory problems earlier in the month. Now, I'm quite sure most people know who he is, but just to kind of touch on some of the things about him, he was um a record label type. After rising to the top of Columbia Records, he went on to find uh found Artista Records and J Records leaving an indelible

Remembering Clive Davis And His Reach

SPEAKER_01 27:59

mark of top rock, RB, and hip-hop. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

SPEAKER_02 28:09

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 28:11

Well, yes, and and you know, everybody knows he um gave Whitney Houston her their share, her her chance, and Alicia Keys, and just so many, all right, Aretha Franklin, Janice Joplin, Barry Manilo, you know, Carlos Santana, uh Bruce Springsteen. I didn't even realize so many people in uh that arena uh that he gave that opportunity uh to uh be on a uh a national platform and and following the announcement, uh you know, a lot of people poured out uh tributes to that. And then you know you also got your naysayers. The naysayers, uh uh some of the the dark, and and and in Hollywood, I think we would probably talk about that, and I'll probably leave it for there because my respect also goes uh for the dead. But there's a lot of other things that's happening in Hollywood that's not so bright, but he did some wonderful, wonderful things. Um, and we will hear more about that, a Grammy, Grammy Award winner, uh man, just you name it. And and even one of the um one of the other areas that uh that like I say, people don't really realize uh with P. Diddy. I think that P. Diddy got his start uh up under uh Clyde Davis, Clive Davis, you know. So yeah, it's just a lot. Uh he he touched a lot of people's lives.

SPEAKER_01 29:44

Oh yeah, just just giving a brief, brief, very brief, because he worked with so many people. Some of the ones that you that you mentioned, Bruce, uh Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Chicago, Earth, Winning Fire, Whitney Houston, Barry Manilo, Rita Franklin, Deion Warwick, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson. Yeah. And again, this is literally just a handful. This isn't close to everyone, but this kind of tells you the power and influence and the key nine to find talent that most people in his position don't have.

SPEAKER_02 30:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:26

And I have not personally heard of anything negative about him over the years. Now, I'm not saying this it is or isn't out there. That's just me personally, so I don't know. But I do like the fact that he's helped a lot of people either start or revive their careers. And he's very well respected in the in the record community.

SPEAKER_00 30:50

Yeah. And you know, what one of the things that um that I can say is that again, how he touched so many people's lives. He was, oh my God. Like I said, when you think about uh the record labels and some of the negative things that people you know have said about record labels and all that, he has given especially a lot of the African-American people that we know of that have really hit the charts. And I just can't get past Whitney, was one of the biggest stars. She was one of the biggest stars that he uh uh uh touched her life, you know, when you think when you think about that. But I'm I'm like I said, I'm saddened by it. Um I I pray for that family and just wish them wish them well uh as they move on uh with services and things of that nature.

SPEAKER_01 31:47

Yeah, it would be interesting to see with everything going on in the in the record industry right now, between you know, PD going to jail, Clyde Davis passing away. There's a lot of things going on right now. So it'll be interesting to see what the new Titans look like on the way up. Who's gonna be the next person that's gonna be that go-to person that can really spot talent and really help people uh jumpstart their careers?

SPEAKER_00 32:16

Yeah. And and my thing is uh in that, because you have to understand, people will sell their souls to become famous or rich. Because I even listened to some of the like uh American Idol or what's the other one, The Voice, and you hear some of the backstories of some of these singers, and every now and then you will hear one, oh, I was on drugs and I did this, I turned my life around, and they can sing, right? But don't you know that once you get into that Hollywood life, if you have those issues, if you're not grounded, you know, it would take you to the dark side real quick. The fame is there, but you have to be very careful with that. But I uh again, no uh have faith when you go into this this business and don't sell your soul because this is what I'm sure we're gonna talk about this on uh thirsty topics because it's a lot of darkness in Hollywood in that in that arena. Oh yeah, oh yeah, allegedly.

SPEAKER_01 33:26

That's sure we make we gotta make sure we say that, allegedly, yeah. Well, now everyone is really excited about the World Cup. A fact I have never seen people this excited before. It's actually really nice to see, but there is a special issue with a lot of people that's coming here from overseas. So World Cup fans visiting from overseas are frequently failing to tip U.S. hospitality workers, propping prompting restaurants in host cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Kansas City, to automatically add 20% gratuity to bills. So what a lot of people don't understand that there's a different mentality overseas than it is here when it comes to tipping. So in Europe, Asia, and international destinations, workers are paid a standard livable wage. Okay, well, let me let me repeat that for the people in the back here. In Europe, Asia and other international destinations,

World Cup Tipping Culture Clash

SPEAKER_01 34:37

workers are paid a standard livable wage, and tipping is either non-existent or amounts to rounding up change for exceptional service. Now, a lot of the people coming here from over from overseas don't understand that, and I really don't even know why this is a thing. Waiters don't get minimum wage, they actually get paid less than minimum wage. I don't even know about how that's legal, but whatever, we'll talk about it on another show. But yeah, they make their money from tips. So there's to me, there's a cultural type clash going on in there. What do you think about that, Wanda?

SPEAKER_00 35:19

Well, I think it is. And being a server or waitress puts me in mind of being a caregiver, which is a thankless job. And I can remember when my son and his mini jobs that he had, and he was working at O'Charlie's in Brentwood in Nashville, right? In in Tennessee, right outside Nashville. And Rich, I mean, a lot of people live. I think Tony Braxton has a house in Brentwood uh out there. So it's a it's a high-end uh suburbial area. And this one waitress told my son they saw about 10 black people coming in. They went over to my son, he was at a table. Oh, can you take the table over there? Because that's the same. They say that about black people don't like the tip. Yeah, that's the thing. They said black people don't like the tip. So it's a thankless job. And I and I hate that people uh would category, no, put put you in a category like that. But as you just said, we have to understand that they they don't get paid, you know. Uh uh, they get paid undermining. I think they they may have changed the laws with that now. Uh with I think the tips tips are uh included in some meals, and some people don't like that either. But you have to think about that, they're bringing your food because I don't want nobody bringing in my food, and I made them mad. And I'm pissed up and I got friends, and they try to say something. Look, uh that you're talking about my food is fine, even if it's not. I won't say necessary if it's not, because if it's not, I gotta send it back. But I'm not the one that's gonna uh complain too bad about my food, and if I am, I'm gonna be nice about it. But I was with a group of ladies and they were not nice, and they're you know, people do stuff to your food.

SPEAKER_01 37:09

Yeah, I worked at a uh Sizzler years, years ago. I can't tell you the stuff that I've seen, but I always say to people, get your food first, then you complain. Because I've seen some stuff, and yes, they will do something to your food. They will, but yeah, they will.

SPEAKER_00 37:32

See, I I love coleslaw. I love coleslaw, and we were in an area, a friend was uh was purchasing a truck at some part in near Memphis down there. So we stopped. I want to I love KFC, so shout out to KFC. So I went uh went to KFC. Nobody's in line, I don't know what took so long, but I was with an impatient driver, and they go up what the blah blah blah blah blah curse words, all the I wanted to shrink in the car, so they gave the food, so I'm reluctant, like I said. Well, I opened them a coleslaw and it was slimy, it was slimy. I said, I will get next time I'm riding with you, I will go in and get my food. I don't like the drive-thru anyway because something it was a video that went out when they purposely mess your food up. You go through a drive-thru and they go when you're driving off. It was a funny video. So, no, I don't like going to drive-throughs anyway, but no, don't fool, don't mess with my food. Pay the waits, give them their tip. That was wrong that they didn't pay these people their tips.

SPEAKER_01 38:47

And I don't think it was malice, I think it's really just cultural thing.

SPEAKER_00 38:54

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_01 38:55

So I know not over here. That's a different situation. But what uh what what restaurants are doing now, like I touched on before, countless bars and restaurants and host hubs are preemptively adding mandatory 20% service charges to all bills to protect their staff's take-home pay. Also, many of them putting out signage, saying that many venues place clear warnings on tables, menus, and at the register, explaining that gratuity is customary in the U.S. and is crucial for paying local workers. Also, what they're doing is they're educating the managers and the staff. So managers and owners are actively training their wait staff to explain the American tipping system to confuse foreigners without making them feel unwelcome. I think that's a great way to approach it because I really do believe. Now, don't get me wrong, they are a-holes everywhere, all over the world. But I do think that most people that come from these countries that don't have this issue don't understand how we do things, and somebody just needs to explain it to them.

SPEAKER_00 40:12

Yeah, and you know what? This story also expresses something deeper in America. Why do we have a system where so many workers depend on the kindness of a stranger just to make a living? Why don't they just pay the people? And if somebody feels like they want to tip, they can tip. I'll tell you another one that that that right here in America. You go to the airport, and I don't want to be dragging my luggage all throughout the place. If I can put my luggage, uh, what what do they call it? On the um, when you first get out your car, the the the the the you can do a check-in right outside before you go inside. Tip the people, they're taking your heavy bags. I just don't know. You know, yeah, it's just bad. So the the airport, they don't get a lot of and I'll tell you another one. I I go and I think this guy just totally tripped. My my tire was low on my car. So I went to um the place that they do they check your tires for free. Okay.

Why A Livable Wage Matters

SPEAKER_00 41:17

I pay the guys, I I tip them. The guy looked at me like like like what? I gave him five dollars. I could have given him a couple dollars, but I gave him five dollars, you know, young man. So yeah, I'm I'm I'm I'm a big tipper. I I am I'm big on tipping because I was a waitress, so I've I've I've been in that situation in my many jobs I've worked up. So I'm a big tipper. I I like to I like to help people.

SPEAKER_01 41:40

Thank you. I appreciate that because my wife gets on me because she thinks I overtipped too.

SPEAKER_00 41:45

So oh, do you no? Because you guess what? You'll get that money back in a heartbeat, you'll get it, you get that blessing back, and you just don't know how you probably gave somebody gas money.

SPEAKER_01 41:57

Well, you know, me and I was in sales for so many years. I understand how hard it is to work, how to to make ends meet, pay your bills. And many years ago, when I was a young teenager, young adults, I worked uh McDonald's, I worked Sizzlers, you know, I've worked those different places, yeah, and I understand how it works and how hard it is to try and make ends meet when you're working minimum wage. I understand that very, very well.

SPEAKER_00 42:25

And they work like dogs, yes, they work very hard. Oh my god, I've I've done the menial jobs. Oh no, I'm working smart, not hard now. But I could just remember doing that. But it's like I say it goes beyond just what happened overseas there, but it also happens we need to be more mindful of the people that are uh are giving us service. Man, tip them, man, tip them. You get better service.

SPEAKER_01 42:53

Well, you know the other thing too, I don't think it'll happen anytime soon, but I do love the model that they have overseas. Why not just give them a livable wage? And if they do exceptional service, then it's up to the customer whether or not win a tip, but they're not dependent on the tips anymore. I would love to see that. Don't know if that happened, but I would love to see that.

SPEAKER_00 43:19

And I'll tell you something. We went to Jamaica and it was all inclusive, right? We're at the bar drinking, and it was like just keep keep dollars. They were just this one bartender, he was jumping up and down. You gave him that one dollar tip, and you got a much better drink. So if you're nice, it's just nice to be nice, you know.

SPEAKER_01 43:42

I agree. What you give out, you do give up. So I definitely agree with it 100%.

SPEAKER_00 43:47

Absolutely, brother. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 43:50

Well, we are going to end our segment with this topic, and of course, people are talking about this as well. The rumors seem to be true that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey are getting married at Madison Square Garden. Wow. Based on multiple sources, the events are scheduled to kick off July 2nd and continue through July 3rd. Sources report report a smaller intimate gathering of about a hundred people on July 2nd, followed by a massive splashy celebration with roughly 1,000 guests on July 3rd. Now, permits applications have been filed with New York City to close streets surrounding the venue from July 2nd to midday, July 4th. Insiders point to the arena's secluded underground access and

Taylor And Travis Wedding Rumors

SPEAKER_01 44:54

lack of windows as the perfect way for the high-profile couple to ensure privacy. What do you think about that, Wanda?

SPEAKER_00 45:04

Well, in this, we we'll we're living in a uh in um an age of speculation uh and obsession with celebrities, right? And so even though the article doesn't say you know for sure, but they they speculate that it is, what stands out to me is how society has become so invested in the personal lives of celebrities that rumors can become headlines before facts are even established, you know, and it makes you think how often do we uh how often do this doesn't happen in everyday life? We hear something, assume it's true, and then we run them with it. Now, if it's true, congratulations uh to both of them because marriage is beautiful and That sounds like a hey, I'll whoever was the lucky ones to get inside that Madison Square Garden, that's an awesome, awesome thing to do. I'm happy for both of them and they're celebrities, right? So they they're they're mega celebrities, both of them. So they're a power couple. So yeah, so people are gonna talk about every little thing that they do, you know. Uh, so I think it's a great thing if the if it's in fact the truth. And you you talked about two days. Uh a friend of mine, well, I won't call her name out, but she she had a three-day wedding. A three-day wedding. I told her, I said, I know it wasn't no honeymoon because I was tired. She just started laughing. I was tired, but she gave me hope because she was an older uh lady when she got married. She was in her 60s. No, she was 70, 75. She was 75 when she got married. Cream dressed at the church wedding, everything. And she had a three, she's a delta, so they had like a three-day wedding. So it was like really, it was a lot of people, and she was not a celebrity, but she's a celebrity to us. And she knew a lot of people, so she ended up with a three-day uh three-day wedding. So, yeah, so if she can do, I mean, and if you have the money to do something like that, why not go all out? Because at 75, she gave me hope. Like, whoa, if you can do it, that means it's still hope for me. Because I thought it was too late for me, you know.

SPEAKER_01 47:19

I don't think it's ever too late. Wonder. Yeah, I think that a lot of people are really interested in this story for a number of reasons. One, because of the obvious Swifties. There's a lot of Swifties out there that love Taylor Swift, but also with all the craziness that's going on in the world, all the negative stuff that you see on the news every day, different reports of stuff going on. I think people are really trying to grasp something positive, something to smile about. Yeah, because you can't watch bad news all day long. So it will take a toll on you. It will. Me personally, I love coming home and watching something funny. I like to smile every year. I want to laugh every day. One of my shows that I love watching, I haven't watched it in a while. I love watching the King of Queens. I've probably seen every episode probably 10 times, but I still like watching it. I like watching the original Kings of Comedy when it comes on. Again, another show I've seen many times, but it makes me laugh, it makes me smile. And you need that because life is so serious with everything going on.

Needing Laughter In Dark Times

SPEAKER_01 48:32

You need something to de to to decompress and just laugh and just relax. Because I don't think that as Americans, we don't do enough of that. We need to relax sometimes and just enjoy the moment.

SPEAKER_00 48:46

And you know, uh, Lawrence, you you just had a mouthful because that that's laughter is life, you know? And it it takes more to put a frown on your face than it is a smile because that that that it should just happen automatically. And I love comedy, I love a cussing comedy. I love it all. I love kind of love to laugh, like you said, because we're we're in such a dark time of our life, and you don't want to look at, and that's what some people want, they want to weigh you down so that you would be tired. I just told you I had a day, man. Remember sunshine and rain because I have to stay positive. I I get bad news. I I even had a dream last night, and I'm I the dream was interpreted. I'm I'll go deeper into it, but it was a it was a cartoon mouse, it was like an animated mouse. I was coming back into this place. I guess it was my house. I was coming back into this place, and it was this and it was the big old ears. I won't say like mighty mouse, but it was like big old ears, and it came out and looked at me. I'm like, you're not even real. And then there was a snake, or something that it was slurring, it looked like a snake. But what I did, I took the door, a door appeared, and I slammed it and cut it in half. Then I woke up. So when I interpreted, it was telling me it was the mouse because the interpretation of the dream, because the mouse appeared in your dream as animated, it's not like it was harmful, but it is uh some type of um something to get your attention. Pay attention to the people in your life. So I'm gonna go back and go deep into it because this has been a real busy day. And I just want to go back on it and now since the day is gone, and just revisit that interpretation of what that dream was about. And it was just funny. And and and today, so as I can even go back today, just like I said, the sunshine and rain situation that was happening, the negativity, there was so much good happening today, but I was still finding myself thinking, God, I had the energy to be able to help somebody, to encourage somebody, a couple of people who really needed to be encouraged today because they were at their witch end, and I can remember being like that. So it's kind of nice as being able to laugh. Like I say, I could I tell you what, uh, what's his name? He was a comedian. Uh oh my god, uh, earthquake. That wasn't an earthquake, it wasn't earthquake, it was one of the guys that was with him, Bruce Bruce. Oh my god, he came out the gate. I was in Nashville and I was in the balcony, man. He came out the gate and he didn't even stop laughing. And so I was hanging over the balcony. I said, wait a minute. He said, let some of y'all uh let some of y'all catch your breath. I said, please, please, because he came out the gate just laughing. So it's just nice to be able to laugh, forget about your troubles. This is why I watched some satire movies and stuff to get my mind away from the news, but I gotta know what's going on. I gotta know what's going on, but I have to be able to know that balance, man, and be able to laugh. Or talk about Taylor Swift or some of our favorite uh uh artists or celebrities that are doing some great things or maybe some funny things. So, yeah, it's kind of nice to know the world is still moving in 2026.

SPEAKER_01 52:04

That is so true, so true.

SPEAKER_00 52:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 52:07

Now, there was some people, some people saying that, well, Taylor Swift could be doing this to throw people off of where it's supposed to be. I truly believe, just my opinion, that it's probably gonna be at Madison Square Garden because permits are not free. So to get a permit to close off the venue around it, I think they're probably gonna have it there.

SPEAKER_00 52:29

Well, you know, when you say that, it just kind of makes me wonder. Being a celebrity like she is in the atmosphere of people uh that don't like her because of her uh outspokenness about uh uh uh issues that's going on in the world, you do have to be careful. So, you know, you do have to be careful. So it would it would be a ha ha ha psy cue because all the bombers are over here thinking they're gonna mess up my wedding, and the way I got married, I was married now, so that could be something to think about too.

SPEAKER_01 53:03

That's true. It's a shame that they have to even think about that. Yeah, but I remember when she was doing her world tour and she had one concert that was canceled because of threats to to blow up bombs and stuff like that at one of her concerts. I I don't remember what country it was, but it was a big deal because she had to cancel the the concert because of the concerns. I just don't understand why people just go crazy and just do stupid stuff. Yes, she's a big star. Yes,

Celebrity Safety And Public Obsession

SPEAKER_01 53:38

a lot of people love her, a lot of people follow her. But when it's all said and done, she's still a human being.

SPEAKER_00 53:45

Yeah, but I uh and we'll and I definitely definitely want to hit on this. Uh, maybe next week. Mental illness is real. Mental illness is real, and all somebody has to do is want to take one for the team, you know.

SPEAKER_02 54:01

So, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 54:02

So I'm I'm happy for her. The bottom line, I wish them well wherever they decide to get married to. But I just wouldn't be surprised if if it's it's if it is at another place and not um at Madison Square Garden, it'll be nice, or they got enough money to pay for security. Get a plane, flying them out of there. Don't they have don't they have a heli a helipad or something like that?

SPEAKER_01 54:27

Yeah, I know she has a private plane, and if there's not a helipad near the stadium, it's probably one close by.

SPEAKER_00 54:35

Okay, yeah, just to get them out of there or whatever. But I like I said, I just wish them well. I don't wish ill will on anybody, everybody has an opinion, and we should be able to say that. I I would really be so grateful when we get back to that stage in life and time. And like I said, I was talking to some people, I went to a plate last night, and they were like, when they saw the Obama uh library and all the things, these people they were crying. They said, I remember when life was simple and everybody got even when you disagreed, it wasn't to the point that you were trying to kill somebody, or you just like them, you had so much disdain for them that you wished them uh uh a hard, uh uh, you know, uh ill will or anything like that, you know. So it was just kind of nice. It'll be nice for us to be able uh to get back to that. But I know a lot has to happen between now and that time, and I'm I'm sure we'll be we'll be reaching for that because we're headed to the 4th of July, and we just have to be careful.

SPEAKER_01 55:36

We definitely have to be careful. I believe we will get to that point. Uh I don't think it's gonna be anytime soon, unfortunately. I hope I'm wrong, but I think at some point we will get there because we can't keep going the way we're going now. This is just not sustainable.

SPEAKER_00 55:52

It it's it's it's really not, but I like I say, and it's like I say, having the good news about uh Taylor Swift and just some some good news uh this weekend because this is the 4th of July weekend, isn't it? I guess we shouldn't get dates.

SPEAKER_01 56:06

Actually, not this, not this weekend. It's uh 4th of July weekend is next weekend.

SPEAKER_00 56:12

Okay, this this it's been tick-tock. This month has really been going by, even though it's going by fast, we're in the fourth week, third week. I don't know. Man, I'm I'm moving so fast, sometimes I'm kind of like my client. What I said, what I asked him something. I don't know. You know, if if if you don't know, if I don't know, you I'm in trouble right here. And we'll laugh things off like that. So I love working with my elderly people. I do have fun with that, yeah. So yeah, so I'm excited about uh where we're headed, you know, uh trajectory, even though the negativity is there, you just have to stay strong and there is sunshine in spite of the rain, you know.

SPEAKER_01 56:53

Absolutely, absolutely. Well, everyone, thank you so much for watching us. We really appreciate your support. I'm Lauren Selbrod.

SPEAKER_00 57:03

And I'm Wander P.

SPEAKER_01 57:06

Bye, everyone.