Dave by the Bell

On this super spooky Halloween episode Dave interviews unsuspecting Appalachian State students as they wait to board the Appalcart and uncovers bone chilling Appalcart tales of terror.

Music Credit:

Dave Blanks: Well hello once again folks it’s me Dave Blanks with another Dave by the Bell, a podcast where I walk around Appalachian State's campus and ask Appalachian State students a single question. On today’s Dave by the Bell the question is what's the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you on an Appalcart, not necessarily scary but just something weird that has occurred aside from it being late which is probably not the weirdest thing in the world.

So my plan was initially to ride the Appalcart but I don't really want to get stuck on a route for like an hour. I thought maybe instead I could just ask people who have ridden the Appalcart for their crazy tales and then maybe actually go talk to some people that are waiting at the appalcart stop. There are a few of them so that's what I’m doing.

Voice 1: People sit down and talk to you about like the weirdest stuff and you’re just like okay have a good day.

DB: And then you get off like immediately at the next stop.

Voice 1: Yeah definitely. Yeah.

Voice 2: Probably the worst is people talking to themselves or like I had this one guy he was like arguing with no one like screaming on the bus and like yelling aggressive stuff about somebody that was not there.

DB: So you talk to him frequently now?

Voice 2: Yeah he’s my best friend.

Voice 3: So it was my freshman year about three years ago I forget how late it was but I feel like it was around midnight to one in the morning because it was on a Sunday and they run later but I was the only person getting on the bus at the time what happened was two times on the ride the cord pulled. I wasn’t the one who pulled it. The bus driver swears it was a malfunction but at the same time as someone who does believe in the supernatural I’m not exactly sure. But yes, twice it rang, I didn’t pull it.

Voice 4: Okay well there’s just this guy and this woman who the guy just started weirdly slapping random parts of her body like over and over and it wasn’t in like a kind of antagonistic harmful way it was just like pop pop pop pop pop but it went on for like fifteen minutes and I was just sitting there like uh why is this going on right now?

DB: What happened?

Voice 4: Uh i don’t know I don't know his hands were loose and uncontrollable it was strange.

DB: What was she doing?

Voice 4: She was just sitting there like nothing was happening.

DB: Oh my God that's really weird.

Voice 4: I don't know what to make of it. They got off first and it continued as they got off the bus it continued.

DB: So that was a weird story.

Voice 5: No I see people barefoot all the time getting on the bus and I don’t understand that but...

DB: Does it frighten you?

Voice 5: Yeah they might step on glass or my feet would hurt if I was barefoot all the time.

Voice 6: There was one time that there was so many people on it that we were all like so close to each other and falling all over each other but that wasn't super weird. It wasn't too bad but it wasn't great.

DB: It wasn't supernatural you don't think?

Voice 6: No. I don’t think so.

Voice 7: There was on time this guy on and he looked like a teletubby because of his hair that doesn't really count I guess.

DB: It totally counts! A teletubby got on the bus! Where was he?

Voice 7: Um he rode it like at Walmart.

DB: Are you still friends?

Voice 7: I mean I wasn't his friend he just he looked awkward.

DB: I didn't figure you were actually friends. Alright that was good...teletubby! Well what about you aside from the teletubby, have you ever had a crazy experience on the Appalcart?

Voice 8: I don't think so. That Teletubby was *laughs*

DB: So you can confirm that there indeed was a teletubby?

Voice 8: There was a teletubby on the Appalcart.

DB: Terrifying. I’m so glad yall survived it. You be careful out there.

DB: Alright I’m getting rained on. It’s an overcast fall day here in beautiful Boone, North Carolina.

Voice 9: Uh this guy was being really loud about his girlfriend or something like and it was just like, I was like where is this guys story going and like everybody was on the bus listening to this guy’s crazy story ended up just being a joke and I was like what?

DB: Was his girlfriend on the bus too?

Voice 9: No no no, he was talking to a whole bunch of guys and I was just like this story is just kind of like.

DB: Terrifying.

Voice 9: Uhh yeah!

Voice 10: So we were riding on the bus coming into work and I pulled the switch and it went off and he just mysteriously didn't stop. Just kept going, kept going and you know I kept saying “stop, stop” and he was like.. he didn't hear me! It was crazy!

DB: That was a good one alright.

Voice 11: One time it like went back to the Appalcart homebase and chilled for like fifteen minutes and then continued on its route I don't know what that was about.

DB: You were sitting on the Appalcart and...

Voice 11: You know where they keep all the Applacarts it drove there and maybe needed gas or something I don’t know but it drove there and chilled for like fifteen minutes and I was just like did I get on the wrong bus? I was very confused.

DB: You just hung out?

Voice 11: Yeah and then it took me home and it was fine.

DB: Perfect.

Voice 12: I was getting on one to come to campus as usual and I get on and I sit down and I feel some pang on the back of my head and I know from past experience that someone is staring at me and I have no idea who so I casually pay no mind to it I don't want to turn around and start a scene or anything so we get to here actually the traffic circle and I get off the bus and as I get up to turn around it’s my aunt. My aunt’s on the back of the bus.

DB: Wait so she's not dead right?

Voice 12: No she's alive, she's alive!

DB: Okay! So she was just like hanging out to surprise you and she knew the route?

Voice 12: I told her like what bus I took and she just showed up she's like alright let's go get some food I'm like how are we getting back she's like I guess we're waiting on the bus I was like alright.

DB: So there you have folks some terrifying tales from the Appalcart you could totally be riding when suddenly your aunt who is a ghost dressed as a teletubby boards the bus and invisibly starts pulling the stop cord. It could happen to you. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow. But probably on Halloween. Thats a wrap. I’m Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell.

Special Thanks: David, Jayden, Kameron, Bethany, Alexis, Haley, Kaitlyn, Alphonso, Daniel, Ashley and Evan.

Dave interviews Appalachian State University students on campus to get to the bottom of why hammocking and slacklining are popular at App.

Dave Blanks: Well, hello once again folks it’s me, Dave Blanks with another Dave by the Bell. A podcast where I wander around Appalachian State’s campus and interview Appalachian State students about a single solitary question. The topic today is hammocks or hammocking also slacklining. Both have seen a huge surge in popularity in the last few years. If you walk around Appalachian State’s campus when it’s not freezing outside, or sometimes even when it is really cold, you are sure to find somebody in a hammock or bouncing on a slackline. Both very popular at many college particularly at Appalachian State. Why is that? That is the question for the day let's hear what Appalachian students have to say about it.

Voice 1: I think people at this school are a lot more laid back than farther east in the state. That is what I’ve noticed. People try to relax a little bit more. You do not even actively have to be doing something outdoors that is why hammocking is so popular. People just want to be around grass, sunshine and the fresh air.

Voice 2: It is a way for people to have their own little cocoon to be by themselves, but still in nature.

Voice 3: I do hammock on a regular basis. I think it is just a really good way to be outdoors first off and also a good way to relax in a space of your own to do homework. A lot of times living on campus with a roommate you don’t have your own personal space.

Voice 4: It is my own personal escape from the hustle and bustle of being a music major surrounded by everyone who is freaking out. That’s why I do it.

DB: That’s a great answer. Now here are some people slacklining on Sandford Mall. Why don’t we talk to them about slacklining? Let’s talk to some of the spectators first.

Voice 5: I think it is just a relaxing thing to do and it gets your mind off of school work for a minute.

Voice 6: I think slacklining is popular because Appalachian State is more of an outside school. It is something fun to do and I think the community here likes to try new things because it is college. I think it is just something fun to try out and do in between class.

Zachary Stanley: I’m Zachary Standley.

DB: I understand you are a sponsored slackliner, is that correct?

ZS: Yes, that is correct.

DB: That’s cool! So you’re actually so good that somebody pays you money to slackline.

ZS: I haven’t gotten straight checks, but I have gotten materials for slack lining.

DB: Sweet. Why is it so popular at college campuses and in particular at Appalachian State?

ZS: I think it is so popular here because of the sense of community. Everyone that slacklines here is super friendly and super open to teaching people. When freshman get here this is a place where they can hang out and they just kind of stay.

Voice 8: Hammocking and slacklining are not specifically a western North Carolina thing, but especially here is Boone it is a big part of the culture. I don’t know anyone in Boone who doesn’t have an ENO or isn’t out here slacklining. It is a great way to get some casual exercise and be outdoors. Just because you’re outdoors doesn’t mean you have to be out here running or doing something crazy. It is a good way to be casual and still have a great time outside.

Voice 9: I think hammocking, slacklining and all the other outdoors activities that people do here are so popular because this campus is so beautiful. I know it does get pretty cold here and in the second semester a lot of people stay inside for a good part of the year. During this part of the year it is fall it looks so great outside, it feels good and everyone just wants to be outside.

Voice 10: I think slacklining is popular around here because it is a fun way to hang out with your friends and meet new people.

DB: Have you ever done it?

Voice 10: I have not.

DB: You never have?

Voice 10: I’ve always wanted to.

DB: You just go over there man they almost tried to make me do it... Oh there are people hammocking right now, let's go talk to them about it.

Voice 11: It is convenient. It’s less than a pound in your backpack and you can set it up anywhere on campus. Helps you to unwind, relax and enjoy the beauty of our campus.

Voice 12: I think hammocking is so popular at App State because of the number of the number of trees that are the perfect distance from each other for hammocking. You can hammock like millions of places on campus because they’re so many places for it. It is the perfect thing to do between classes, it is comfortable and easy.

Voice 13: I think hammocking is really popular at Appalachian State because it is always nice here and it is a good way to relax. It is a portable way to do it as well.

DB: Do you do it?

Voice 13: I do, I love my ENO very very much!

Voice 14: I think it is really popular at App because they’re a lot of people who are into outdoorsy activities. It is nice up here when you can see the mountains in the distance. It is relaxing and just a good way to relax between classes and even to do homework and other stuff.

Voice 15: I think hammocking and slacklining are so popular here because at App or in Boone because we have such a beautiful place to be outside in. Those are just two wonderful things that you can do outside. I think they really embrace the idea of relaxation and self-care you know the whole Appalachian spirit.

DB: Hammocking and slacklining are all about being outside and also about community which I didn’t really expect. I thought most people would just say it’s a cool way to hangout and chill which a lot of people did say, but the community aspect of it is really cool and it’ clear that people hammock which seems like a solitary thing to do they will be in a little group. They have their cocoons in a group. It’s individual and social simultaneously. Slacklining just looks like a ton of fun. Thanks for listening I’ll talk to you next time. I’m Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell.

Dave is joined by University Communications own Chris Grulke as they wander about the campus of Appalachian State University in search of Pokémon but mostly Pokémon players in an attempt to figure out what people like about the game and how it works.

Dave: Hey folks! It’s me Dave Blanks and I’m joined my Mr. Chris Grulke from University Communications. Hey Chris!

Chris: Hello.

Dave: We haven’t done a Dave by the Bell in a long time but this one had to be done.

Chris: I’ll tell you what Dave there is a new craze that’s sweeping the nation and it’s called Pokémon Go.

Dave: That’s right and if you’re not familiar with Pokémon Go, it’s a game that is played on your phone and it uses Google Maps and you walk around. It makes people actually have to do something physical and it encourages social interaction. It’s an unusual sort of game.

Chris: Yeah. I hear our campus is a hot spot for it. I will say, gone are the days where people look and watch where they are going.

Dave: It’s true there are a lot of very distracted college students walking around campus right now so let’s head outside.

Chris: So what’s the big deal? Why is it so fun?

Dave: An all-new Dave By the Bell begins right now.

Dave: Pokémon Go…how do you say it?

Voice 1: Pokémon Go?

Dave: Pokémon okay she say it that way. Pokémon is very popular and a lot of people on campus are doing it. Are you yourself playing Pokémon Go?

Voice 1: I have.

Dave: You have!!? It’s been out for how long?

Voice 1: It’s like a week. “Day eight of Pokémon Go and we are now in a world of…haha”

Dave: …of people wandering around not really paying attention. That’s the concern you’re hearing a lot. People saying that players are going to get run over or something like that.

Voice 1: Oh yeah! There are crazy people out there. People have been robbed. Then peoples houses that used to be old churches are now Pokestops and it brings up a really cool question. What are your cyber rights? I’m definitely a huge fan of the concept. It think it’s genius. I mean, there are people running around. That’s crazy…to actually get people to run around? It’s a nice hug for the world.

Voice 2: You could in theory just say I’m standing here and there is a bench over there. A Pokémon could pop up on that bench and I would see him through my phone chilling on a bench next to a person. It’s very integrated into real life. You do see a lot of people that you normally don’t see in a lot places. They’ll be going around in parks or at different art installations. I think it’s very good for the community. Gamers can meet each other aside from screens.

Voice 3: I think my favorite thing is just the popularity of it. I like being able to walk around with my friends and meet people I think just the social experiences I have gotten out of it have been the most enjoyable.

Dave: How many people are outside the library at night playing this game?

Voice 3: I’d say anywhere from 50 to a few hundred. And I mean that’s not just at the library. That’s just the center point. There are tons of groups walking around yelling at each other for fun. It’s a lot of good times. I’d say there are always around 50 or so sitting at the library but there are easily a few hundred campus.

Dave: So you are playing Pokémon Go as a couple?

Voice 4 and Voice 5: Yeah! Hahaha

Dave: Cool. So what do you like about it?

Voice 4 and Voice 5: I like that you have to find them…just walking around and what not. I didn’t really do cardio before this.

Dave: So what Pokémon have you caught that is your favorite so far?

Voice 4: I mean…my Charmander. That’s my favorite but I haven’t seen a single one since I got that one.

Voice 5: What about your high powered ones?

Voice 4: Well the coolest one I have is probably an Aerodactyl but that’s not that great. All I want are Charmanders and sadly I’m Charmanderless.

Dave: But you still like him though right?

Voice 5: Haha oh yeah!

Dave: Okay good. Thanks for your time! Hey, don’t walk into traffic okay?

Voice 4 and Voice 5: Haha okay!

Dave: Do you want to go this way?

Chris: Yeah.

Dave: Okay… Hey how’s it going?

Voice 6: Good!

Dave: Are you playing Pokémon Go by any chance?

Voice 6: I am but I am also working.

Dave: Awww Okay that’s cool.

Voice 6: There’s a Squirtle over by Duck Pond so there are a bunch of people over there.

Dave: Okay thank you! Dude! The mythic Squirtle!

Chris: Do you wanna head over there?

Dave: Sure! All right as we’re approaching the Duck Pond we see…I don’t know…I’d probably say 30 people?

Chris: All on their phones.

Dave: Haha everybody staring at their phone. Hey excuse me. Are you playing Pokémon Go?

Voice 7: I am

Dave: Have you done a lot of walking?

Voice 7: I have. Yeah.

Dave: Oh what’s that you have there?

Voice 7: That’s an Abara.

Dave: He’s pretty cool looking.

Voice 7: Yeah, Lets see if I can catch him.

Dave: You got him!

Voice 7: Maybe. Sometimes they escape the Pokeballs.

Dave: Looks pretty good!

Voice 7: And he just disappeared.

Dave: Oh no! So you didn’t get him?

Voice 7: No

Chris: Dave is bad luck.

Dave: Yeah, maybe it was me.

Voice 7: It’s okay.

Dave: I owe you one…what is it?

Voice 7: Abra

Dave: I owe you one Abra. So what is the coolest Pokémon that you have so far? Do you have a lot of them? Have you caught them all?

Voice 7: I have not caught them all. I only have 70 out of 250. This guy is my favorite.

Dave: What’s that?

Voice 7: Vaporeon

Dave: Oh he’s cool looking. Can you describe him?

Voice 7: He’s a water type. That’s pretty much it.

Dave: Did you catch him here?

Voice 7: I did not. He was actually in my bathtub.

Dave: No way! Well thanks for your time.

Voice 8: The interaction with people that you haven’t even met. It’s kind of uniting the campus over this game at all hours of the day and it’s good exercise as well.

Dave: So yeah you’re sitting here in a group with these people. You’re all staring at your phones but you do seem to be aware that there are other people around you. That’s good. So what is your favorite Pokémon that you’ve captured so far?

Voice 9: My favorite one is probably the Eevee. They evolve into four different types of Pokémon.

Dave: So what do you like about the game?

Voice 9: There are so many new people that you can meet just because of Pokémon. Even people who never played or watched Pokémon are getting into it now and it’s just a big community.

Voice 8: If there’s a rare Pokémon people will just shout to everybody in the near by area…even to people they don’t even know informing them of where the Pokémon is and you’ll just see a crowd of strangers just rushing toward the same Pokémon.

Dave: So if there’s one Pokémon and you capture it, somebody else can capture it as well right?

Voice 8: Absolutely. It stays in a certain spot for a short amount of time. They just kind of spawn.

Chris: Somebody said there was a Squirtle over here…

Voice 8: Yeah there was a crowd recently across the pond there going for a Squirtle.

Dave: Do you think the Squirtle is still there?

Voice 8: I think it went away a few minutes ago.

Dave: Dang it! I was going interview that Squirtle but…man…

Dave: Well Pokémon Go seems like a cool game that people are enjoying Chris.

Chris: it really does Dave and I think it keeps coming back to the theme of uniting people.

Dave: Yeah! It’s bringing folks together that might not normally have talked to each other.

Chris: Friendships…Relationships

Dave: That’s what college is all about right?

Chris: And Nintendo making a lot of money.

Dave: I’m Dave Blanks and this has been. Dave by the Bell…and you’re Chris!

Chris: Chris by the Bell.

Dave heads to the Duck Pond on the campus of Appalachian State University to interview post plunge participants as well as event coordinators and facilitators at the 2016 Polar Plunge to benefit the Watauga County Special Olympics.

Dave: I'm going to the Polar Plunge, Wes!

Wes: Oh, Yeah the Polar Plunge?

Dave: I'm going to the Polar Plunge, Jim!

Jim: What happens at the Polar Plunge?

Dave: You get to push whoever you want in the pond. That’s not true.

Jim: Oh, it’s not?

Dave: Hey, Derek!

Derek: What's up?

Dave: I'm going to the Polar Plunge!

Derek: Nice!

Dave: Hey, Chris!

Chris: Ready!

Dave: My friend Chris from University Communications is coming to the Polar Plunge with me.

Chris: Going to the pond

Dave: *Singing* mer ner mer ner mer ner mer ner and I need to go to the pond, and I'm going to the pond right now.

(Dave by the Bell theme song plays)

Dave: So we've made the journey from Ucomm in Anne Belk Hall all the way over here to the duck pond for the 18th annual Polar Plunge.

Chris: I'm going to be up here.

Dave: All right that’s cool.

Dave: Has anybody jumped yet?

Voice 6: No. It's not starting till 4, so

Dave: It should be like any second now I guess.

Voice 6: Yep, 4'oclock exactly.

Dave: All right

Chris: It's pretty chilly

Dave: Huh, yeah it does look cold right?

Chris: You should go to the end of the dock over there

Dave: Where? Is there anybody there? What, right at the end of the dock? I'm not doing that. So it appears as though people are starting to jump. They are plunging in a polar fashion and the water temperature is 39 degrees.

Voice 7: Wesley, Wesley, Belly flop Wesley!

Dave: Hey, man! Were you the first one to jump?

Voice 8: First group over here, ROTC is always the first to jump.

Dave: Oh ok! Right on, ok cool. Well, how was it? Was it cold?

Voice 8: Oh not at all 39 degrees is ya know right above freezing.

Dave: Not too bad.

Voice 8: It does take your breath away. The entire time you're under water you don't even realize what’s going on.

Dave: Well was it fast or did it seem like it took a long time.

Voice 8: Uh, it was real fast but when you're under just time just didn't go.

Dave: Weird.

Voice 8: Yeah.

Dave: Hey man excuse me, How was it?

Voice 9: It was great. I got a good solid belly flop in.

Dave: Very good.

Voice 9: That took the shock away from the cold.

Dave: Yeah, were you one of the ones that came in over here?

Voice 9: Uh no I wasn't that’s actually our Commando Club that did that.

Dave: Oh ok cool well all right. Get dry, man.

Voice 9: All right, thank you.

Dave: Take it easy.

Dave: Hey how was it?

Voice 10: It's very cold but not as cold as last year definitely.

Dave: So this is your second year doing it?

Voice 10: This is my second year participating. I'm with WASU.

Dave: Ohhhhhhh right on. Ok cool. What’s WASU's part in the Polar Plunge?

Voice 10: Well we board-op. We broadcast live every single year. This is the first year staff members have gotten together to put in money for the Polar Plunge so we want to give back to the people who are here to watch or participate and also give back to the cause.

Dave: And what does it benefit?

Voice 10: It benefits the Watauga County Special Olympics.

Dave: Now I'm going to ask you a variety of trivia questions, I just want you to uh, nah I'm just kidding. Get dry. Get warm all right?

Voice 10: Thank you so much

Dave: Yeah absolutely, have a good day.

Chris: I have no desire to do that.

Dave: None what so ever.

Dave: You did the plunge? Obviously you did it. How was it?

Voice 11: It was so much colder than I thought.

Dave: It was colder than you thought? Or was it more fun than you thought it would be?

Voice 11: It was way more fun than I thought but definitely colder yeah.

Dave: Oh Okay. Cool all right. So uh did you do it just on your own or did you do it with a group?

Voice 11: I did it with my sorority.

Dave: Ok, What are you?

Voice 11: Kappa Delta

Dave: Is this the first time you have ever done it?

Voice 11: Yes. It is.

Dave: Would you do it again?

Voice 11: Yes of course!

Dave: Awesome all right thanks.

Dave: Here is another person that jumped. Hey excuse me was it cold?

Voice 12: Umm...Yeah.

Dave: Yeah yeah, are you one of these people who takes super cold showers so you like prepared for it?

Voice 12: No, Opposite of cold.

Dave: Well why did you do it? Did you do it by yourself or did you do it with a group?

Voice 12: Uh, the swim team did it together.

Dave: Oh ok well ya'll ought to be used to it right?

Voice 12: No! Our pool is like 79 or 80.

Dave: Nice

Voice 12: And this was…39?

Dave: Well all right, get warm.

Voice 12: Yeah. Thank you.

Dave: Hey excuse me how was it?

Voice 13: Oh it was good.

Dave: It was good? You enjoyed it?

Voice 13: Yes, I'm like tingling all over.

Dave: Hey excuse me how was it? How was your experience jumping?

Voice 14: It was cold.

Dave: Yeah it was cold all right that’s the general consensus I'm thinking.

Dave: Hey what’s up man, you did it right? You went for the plunge so uh did you enjoy yourself?

The Dark Knight: I caught the Joker

Dave: You are dressed as Batman. So did you do it by yourself or did you do it with a group?

DK: Did it with a friend.

Dave: Cool. All right. Is there any particular reason you chose to jump and is this the first time you've ever jumped?

DK: I was just getting coffee in the library and my friend was like "you wanna do it?" and I was like "yeah."

Dave: Just today you found out or?

DK: Yeah like 3:30

Dave: Oh, wow, man! How did you get a costume together so fast?

DK: ...It's not a costume. I am the batman.

Dave: Thanks man

Dave: Hey excuse me. Are you the Pepsi guy who plays a big part in this?

John Shaw: Yeah.

Dave: What’s your part in the Polar Plunge?

John: I go speak to different organizations and try to get them to come out. Mainly Greek Life but we worked with club council this year. They were a pretty big help too.

Dave: So you just try to rally people to the cause and get them to come out and participate?

John: Yeah they usually raise seven or eight thousand dollars or so.

Dave: Wow! So that’s probably a big help. It’s for the Special Olympics of Watauga right?

John: Yeah all of the money goes straight to the athletes.

Dave: Cool. So it helps them to be able to participate in the Special Olympics?

John: Yeah it goes for equipment, travel expenses and stuff like that.

Dave: If people want to help out with the Special Olympics after the Polar Plunge how do they do that?

John: The lady you need to talk to is Keron.

Dave: How do you get in touch with her?

John: Her office is at the Parks and Rec off of State Farm Rd. Or email her at [email protected].

Dave: Thanks man. I really appreciate it.

John: All right!

Dave: Hey Jason.

Jason: Hey man!

Dave: What’s up man?

Jason: Not much brother. What are you up to?

Dave: I’m doing a Dave by the Bell.

Jason: Awesome man!

Dave: So how do the App State Police participate in the Polar Plunge?

Jason: We take donations. We also had a couple of officers jump this year. Parker Huffman and Travis Osborne jumped for us this year.

Dave: Very cool! So have you ever jumped yourself?

Jason: I have not. I’ve been around for several years but I have not jumped myself.

Dave: There’s always next year dude.

Jason: That’s right!

Dave: We should just do it right now!

Jason: Well…let’s wait till it’s colder.

Dave: Oh yeah! It’s too…

Jason: It’s too nice for us to do this.

Dave: It’s too warm for us to do this!

Jason: Exactly. Not a challenge

Dave: Thirty-nine degrees? That’s just phoning it in practically.

Jason: Good to see you Dave.

Dave: Good to see you too. Thanks man.

Chris: Are you getting anything good?

Dave: (nods head with confidence)

Chris: Gold.

Dave: I think everybody jumped that was going to jump. What did you think of it, Chris?

Chris: It was great a lot of support out there. I’m sure they made a lot of money. And there are a lot of cold people.

Dave: So you didn’t jump this year but do you think you might jump next year?

Chris: Yeah. I’m definitely going to jump last year for sure.

Dave: Ha-ha The eighteenth annual Polar Plunge. It raises money for a great cause and you can find more information online if you want to get involved in Special Olympics Watauga County then you need to talk to Keron Poteat and she works for Watauga County Parks and Rec. I’ll put her contact info in the notes of this podcast. Have a great day! I’m Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell!

On this episode of Dave by the Bell, Dave once again interviews recent graduates at Commencement 2015 at the George M. Holmes Convocation Center in Boone. This time he asks them, "If you could travel back through time to deliver one piece of advice to yourself at the beginning of this journey...what would that piece of advice be?"

Dave: Hi folks it’s me Dave Blanks back with another Dave by the Bell a podcast during which I wander about interviewing unsuspecting App State students and attempting to have them answer one question per episode. I’m once again at the George M. Holmes convocation center here in Boone for Appalachian State University Commencement 2015. These people made it through college...what's their secret? I try to figure that out by posing this question. If you could travel back through time to deliver one piece of advice to yourself at the beginning of this journey...what would that piece of advice be? Let’s find out what they have to say.

Voice 1: Study alot.

Dave: Did you study?

Voice 1: Uhhh eventually.

Voice 2: Have a recorder to help with teachers who ramble. That way you can listen back to a lecture later on.

Voice 3: Don't stress so much.

Voice 4: Take five classes a semester and definitely go to grad school.

Voice 5: uhhhh Study hard? I don't know!

Voice 6: Join a lot of clubs, meet a lot of people and make a lot of friends.

Voice 7: Twenty page papers are not as hard as they sound.

Voice 8: I think that piece of advice would probably be persevere. Keep going because it gets better and it's worth it.

Voice 9: I guess just to have a better idea of what you're going to do when you get there.

Voice 10: Follow your dreams. Follow your heart and go for it.

Voice 11: Oh now I remember. The library has graduate desks. Get one of those at the very beginning of the semester because they are awesome. They're on the third floor. Graduate research desks. Get one of them because they are awesome.

Voice 12: To breathe and to not be hard on myself. Every now and then just take moments to breathe.

Voice 13: That one piece of advice? Kick the procrastination habit early because it will stay with you for a while.

Voice 14: Don't stress. It will wear you out.

Voice 15: Just be more open to new things and experience new things here. I came from a different country so just experienceing a different culture and getting to know people here has been amazing.

Voice 16: Keep going don't be afraid and overthink things. Just do your thing. You are doing the right thing right now.

Voice 17: Be more social. I was really shy when I first came here I didn't like talking to people.

Dave: So you're totally over it?

Voice 17: Yeah! No! Mostly! Hahaha

Dave: Thanks Again to the class of 2015 for allowing me to interrupt your celebrations and answering my question. Congratulations to the class of 2015. It was fun. Best of luck to you all.

Dave: This podcast is a produced by Appalachian Media Productions a division of University Communications at Appalachian State University. Discover more of our podcasts videos and other cool App related content at appalachianmagazine.org and subscribe to us on iTunes. Just search for Appalachian State under podcasts. I look forward to talking to you folks next time. I’m Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell.

Special Thanks to: Daneille, Selena, Adam, Lauren, Megan, Grayson, Susan, Branson, Justin, Christian, Sandra, Earle, Katrina, Nkem, Allison, Linwood, Brian, Nathalie and Jennifer

On this episode of Dave by the Bell, Dave interviews recent graduates at Commencement 2015 at the George M. Holmes Convocation Center in Boone. He asks them, "Was there a professor who taught you something you know you'll never forget? Who was that professor? What did they teach you?"

Dave: Hi folks it’s me Dave Blanks back with another Dave by the Bell a podcast during which I wander about interviewing unsuspecting App State students and attempting to have them answer one single solitary question per episode. Today I’m at the George M. Holmes convocation center here in Boone for Appalachain State University Commencement 2015. Having just shaken hands with Chancellor Everts these brand new graduates are currently wandering the concourse post hat toss. They’re likely searching for their families in a sea of people and I am waylaying them strictly for your entertainment and edification. Today’s charge: Was there a professor who taught you something you know you’ll never forget? Who was that professor? What did they teach you? Let’s find out what they have to say.

Voice 1: There are so many but I guess I’ll give a shout out to Professor White of the Department of History for teaching me how to write an excellent history paper.

Voice 2: Bill Post for the course Police Process. I’ve used his information multiple times in my internship for Criminal Justice.

Voice 3: Katherine Ledford was my advisor for the whole process. She taught me everything I needed to know about Appalachian Studies.

Voice 4: Dr. Lisa Gross taught me all about being a teacher.

Voice 5: Dr. Lisa Curtin was my thesis advisor. She taught me to persevere and do whatever you can and you will get through anything.

Voice 6: Andrew Ferguson is the reason I am sociology major.

Voice 7: Dr. Ammon was my thesis advisor and she taught me how to approach students with compassion and to reach out to them and be there for them no matter what they are going through or what they need.

Voice 8: Dr. Kortering in Special Education was wonderful.

Dave: What did he teach you?

Voice 8: He taught me how to deal with each student as an individual. I hope that’s what I can do as a teacher is love them and accept them as who they are where they are and take them where they need to go.

Voice 9: Dr. Mike Potter from the Masters of Public Administration taught me a lot about civility and critical thinking is really the biggest thing I took away. He taught me to be able to look at any problem and look at it from all stakeholders’ perspectives to come to the best compromise.

Voice 10: My psychology advisor for my psych lab Dr. Shawn Bergman was always very energetic and even though we always got work done we were always having fun at the same time.

Voice 11: It was Dr. Gross who always taught me no matter how hard it can be; you can always get through it.

Voice 12: Specifically Derrick Lail my internship coordinator assisted me very well.

Voice 13: I think I’ll say Professor Bergman because I’m Psychology with a business concentration so I’m within industrial and organizational. He helped me with furthering my education and developing strategies to get into grad school.

Voice 14: Dr. Skip Beck is a Social Psychology professor. He was very inspiring and motivated you to keep going and never give up and teaching you where resources are and telling you to come to him if you needed anything. He was very open and a person I would definitely want to go back to.

Voice 15: I would say Dr. Tashakkori for his work ethic. He is always in his lab. I like that a lot.

Voice 16: I wouldn’t say there was any one professor in particular but all of my professors were very good at preparing me for outside of college.

Voice 17: There are so many but the chair of my doctoral dissertation and I shared a moment when she broke down in tears and said that she wanted me to stand in who I am with confidence and I went on to defend my dissertation. It was one of the strongest moments that I’ve had in my life up to this point.

Voice 18: Jeff Goodman taught me to be weird! (Laughter) It’s basically a cliché but just do what you want and you will be happy.

Dave: Congratulations to the class of 2015. We are proud of what you have accomplished and know you’ll go out into the big ole world and do some wonderful things. On the next Dave By the Bell we’ll ask the class of 2015 for advice on making it through college!

Dave: This podcast is a produced by Appalachian Media Productions a division of University Communications at Appalachian State University. Discover more of our podcasts videos and other cool App related content at appalachianmagazine.org and subscribe to us on iTunes. Just search for Appalachian State under podcasts. I look forward to talking to you folks next time. I’m Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell.

Special Thanks to: Daneille, Selena, Adam, Lauren, Megan, Grayson, Susan, Branson, Justin, Christian, Sandra, Earle, Katrina, Nkem, Allison, Linwood, Brian, Nathalie and Jennifer

Dave walks around Appalachian State's campus asking students what they are doing this holiday season to help someone else.

Dave: How’s it going folks it’s me Dave Blanks and I’m back with another Dave by the Bell. On this episode of Dave by the Bell I’m going to be asking App State students, “What is something you’re dong to help others over the holidays?” Hopefully we’ll get some cool answers. Lets talk to some students and find out.

Voice 1: Okay so this holiday season I was the committee chair for the Angel Tree Shining Light Committee here at App State, which gave 120, kids Christmas.

Dave: Cool! Is this the first time you’ve done that?

Voice 1: Yeah. It is.

Dave: Are you going to participate again?

Voice 1: Yeah. It was a really great and it was a really awesome experience.

Voice 2: My mom is actually the chief of police in Fuquay-Varina, NC. On December 17th she partnered up with people at the local Wal-Mart and for two kids, a four year old boy and a five year old girl they each get $100 and we’re going shopping for them.

Voice 3: So this holiday season I’m going to be helping out at my church. We have a local ministry where we help a family each Christmas. We provide Christmas presents for the kids that most of the time would not have a chance to have Christmas.

Voice 4: Over the holidays I plan on spending more time with my grandmother. She’s been in the hospital a lot. I’ll be helping her out by cleaning the house and making sure she’s as comfortable as possible.

Voice 5: Every year my family and I go to the food bank.

Voice 6: I haven’t really thought about that. I guess I’ll take my brother out for dinner. I haven’t seen him in a while. I’ll hang out with him a little bit.

Voice 7: Over the holiday season I will be going to my grandmother’s who I have not seen since last Christmas. I’m very excited to see her. She likes spending time with me and I like spending time with her so it’s going to be a fun time to spend time with each other.

Voice 8: For Christmas I’m going to be donating to the YMCA Angel Fund for Kids.

Dave: What does that do?

Voice 8: You pick a gift off the Christmas tree and you donate it to a kid at the YMCA.

Dave: Cool. Which YMCA?

Voice 8: Kraft YMCA in Raleigh

Voice 9: Hamm

Dave: I put you on the spot. Haha

Voice 9: Yeah…oh my gosh.

Dave: Some people have one like (snaps fingers) “Oh yeah I’m doing that.” Other people are like, “Wait…I should maybe do something.”

Voice 9: I don’t really have anything.

Dave: You got nothing? Well have a good break. Thanks for your time.

Voice 9: Thanks for making me think about that.

Dave: Seriously?

Voice 9: No. It’s good.

Dave: I wouldn’t have thought about it. This gets the wheels turning and you think, “Maybe I should.”

Voice 10: I go to a Quaker church in Greensboro and we are going to the local food pantry to serve a meal.

Voice 11: I’m volunteering at a soup kitchen.

Dave: Cool. Do you do that every year?

Voice 11: My family does it every year.

Dave: That’s an excellent tradition.

Voice 12: Over the holidays my family helps out at a soup kitchen around Christmas time.

Voice 13: Over the holidays I plan on going out and trying to spread joy and smiles and making people happy. Hopefully it’ll work out.

Voice 14: For the holidays one of the things I’ll be doing is working on a project that I have been putting together for the past few months. It’s an app. The purpose of it is to bring students and other people motivational speeches and content to inspire them and light that spark in them to help them chase their dreams. We should be fully running by Christmas time and people will be able to use it for the holiday season and hopefully that’ll spread some cheer and inspiration and get people ready for the New Year.

Dave: What’s the name of your app?

Voice 14: It’s called Pro-Mo.

Dave: Where is it available?

Voice 14: You can download it from the app store. It should be out in about a week and a half.

Dave: That’s crazy that you’re doing that!

Voice 15: All right let me think about it. I don’t know what I’m doing.

Dave: I know. That’s how I felt. “I don’t think I’m doing anything to help other people over the holidays.”

Voice 15: Yeah. “I’m not a good person.” (Laughter)

Dave: But it kind of makes you think…

Voice 15: Maybe I need to do something right?

Dave: Maybe.

Voice 15: Okay. Hmmmm Okay. Over the holiday season I’m going down to Florida to help my sick grandma feel better and just spend some time with her.

Dave: …

Voice 15: She really is sick! I’m not lying.

Dave: I feel like the people that don’t have anything planned are like, “I’m going to visit my grandma.” That has happened I’m like, “Hey what are you doing…” Then they’re like a deer in the headlights then their like, “Oh yeah”

Voice 15: Grandma!

Dave: “You know she’s old you know and I’m going to clean up.”

Voice 16: I plan to volunteer at a local library over the break. It’ll give me something to do.

Voice 17: Over the holidays I am playing my instrument at churches for people to listen to Christmas carols.

Dave: Cool. What do you play?

Voice 17: Trombone.

Dave: Nice. Are you part of a group maybe an ensemble or something?

Voice 17: Yeah I’m part of the marching band here and the jazz ensemble but at home it’s just me and a couple of locals.

Dave: Right on. Well, have y’all been practicing?

Voice 17: Not yet. We will!

Dave: All right well ya got time. Take it easy. Have a good one. Play well.

Voice 17: Thank you.

Voice 18: I have a friend back home that I took care of this summer as a home health aid. She can’t take care of herself so over the holidays I’m going to go take care of her a little bit and make sure that she has a good time over Christmas. She doesn’t have a lot of family.

Dave: I think we got some really good answers on this Dave by the Bell. I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday break and that if you weren’t planning on volunteering and helping someone else out that maybe you’re planning on doing that now or maybe you at least gave it some consideration. Anyhow I will talk to you folks next time. I’m Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell.

Thanks to: Jessica, Victoria, Sam, Layson, Reece, Kelly, Nathan, Sydney, Joe, Rachel, John-Henry, Ben, Eli, Libby, Keegan, Wilton, Sara and Caitlin

On the latest DBTB Dave discovers that for some roommates clothing is optional and dirty dishes can be handled simply by placing them in a trash can.

Dave Blanks: All right. I’ve been criticized. Everybody is saying I’m no standing by the bell so (bell dings) there it is! I’m standing right beside the bell.

(Theme music)

Dave: Hey everybody. It’s me Dave Blanks and I’m back once again with another Dave by the Bell. On this edition of DBTB…is that a thing? People are saying that right? I’m going to be talking to students about their roommates. I’m going to be asking them what their number one roommate pet peeve is. The odds are pretty good that there are going to be some students out there who maybe do not have the best relationship with their roommates. We’re going to find out what they have to say. What is their number one gripe about their roommate?

Voice 1: Leaving dirty dishes in the sink. That’s the worst.

Dave: Okay so that is the number one worst thing?

Voice 1: They get all crusty and then it’s harder to get them clean.

Dave: Ewww. So are you picking up the slack for your roommate?

Voice 1: Oh no it’s a standoff.

Dave: yeah. So you’re waiting to see…

Voice 1: Yeah. I’m digging my heels in on this one.

Dave: But it’s taking them a long time

Voice 1: Oh yeah.

Voice 2: She doesn’t do the dishes.

Dave: No dishes?

Voice 2: nah. I’ve got to do the dishes.

Dave: that’s it? Is she dirtying the dishes?

Voice 2: No she usually buys pizza so she accumulates all of this trash but I take the trash out too you see?

Dave: Gah! So have you confronted her about the dish issue? The dish-ue?

Voice 2: Occasionally. I have but she like, “Yeah…” I mean she see’s the mountain of dishes there and those dishes need cleaning. That’s the only problem I have.

Dave: Well really in the grand scheme of life if that is the worst beef that you have with your roommate then…

Voice 2: Well, I’ve been roommates with her for a long time. She’s my sister so…

Dave: Ahhhh okay wow and you get along with her that well?

Voice 2: Yeah.

Dave: Sweet.

Dave: Hey how is it going?

Voice 3: Good how are you?

Dave: Good. My name is Dave. I’m with App State’s social media team. Would you mind if I asked you a quick question?

Voice 3: Cur…Sure.

Dave: Cur?

Both together: Cur…cool and sure!!!

Voice 3: How’d you know???

Dave: It’s also a dog right? I don’t know it was on Jeopardy the other night.

Dave: All right what is your first name?

Voice 3: Lindsey.

Dave: Lindsey do you have a roommate?

Lindsey: Yes.

Dave: You do? Okay what is your number one roommate pet peeve?

Lindsey: The fact…

Dave: Is she pretty cur or…

Lindsey: She’s cur. She’s really cur but she doesn’t take out the recycling and I have done it at least four times in a row and I’m like, “Dude…it’s your turn.”

Dave: And it’s just the two of y’all?

Lindsey: Yeah. I can’t have that just chilling around so.

Dave: You’ve got to do something about this.

Lindsey: I know. I do.

Dave: It’s awkward right? You don’t want to be a jerk but she is kind of taking advantage of you.

Lindsey: You don’t you know…that’s your best friend. That’s your roommate.

Dave: Are y’all best friends?

Lindsey: Yeah.

Dave: Well I’m sure this whole recycling thing won’t be the end of ya.

Lindsey: Ain’t nuthin but a G-thang.

Dave: That’s right. Thanks Lindsey.

Voice 4: I had a roommate my freshman year that was naked constantly. She never wore clothes.

Dave: What? No! So did you know her?

Voice 4: We emailed a couple of times and she never mentioned that she liked to be naked and then day one she was naked all the time.

Dave: Day one? Wow. Right out the gate. Gosh. How did you address that?

Voice 4: Usually she wasn’t in the room that much so I could kind of live with it but if I had friends or family coming over I would have to text her and be ice, “Hey, put on some clothes.”

Dave: Gosh. Did she wear clothes outside the dorm room? Of course right?

Voice 4: Yes she did wear clothes when she left.

Dave: That was really fun. I liked that one. Most people are like, “Oh the dishes.” But you’re like, “She’s naked!”

Voice 5: He never lets me close the window.

Dave: Why do you want to close the window?

Voice 5: Sometimes it gets cold and I’m a cold-blooded person.

Dave: What are you going to do come winter?

Voice 5: Tell him to close it.

Dave: You’ve got to lay down the law.

Voice 5: Totally.

Dave: All right well good luck.

Voice 6: Their cleaning habits.

Dave: They clean too much.

Voice 6: No. They don’t clean enough.

Dave: They’re always cleaning. “It’s two in the morning. Stop cleaning!”

Voice 6: That’s what they say to me. “Why are you sweeping the floor? It is midnight.” And I’m like, “ It is dirty!”

Dave: What’s your number on roommate pet peeve?

Voice 7: Messiness.

Dave: Yeah? Can you be more specific?

Voice 7: I can’t get in my doorway.

Voice 8: She snores loudly and it sometimes keeps me up at night. I love her but you know it’s just too much.

Dave: Does she know that she snores?

Voice 8: Yeah. Very recently she found out. She was asking me like, “Wait do I snore at night?” and I’m like, “uhhhhhhhh…”

Voice 9: When they eat my food. I hate when they eat my food.

Dave: That’s brutal.

Voice 9: (exacerbated) ugh! It’s fine though. It’s fine. I love them all. They are super great.

Dave: I mean do you buy like way better food than they buy?

Voice 9: I get the good brands. You know what I’m saying?

Dave: If you could change one thing about your roomie what would that one thing be?

Voice 10: Well she is my girlfriend so I’d better not say too much.

Dave: Oh! Haha no pet peeves at all right?

Voice 10: None!

Dave: She’s perfect.

Voice 10: Amazing.

Dave: Good Answer.

Dave: A lot of dish-ues, general messiness and people not being quiet but I would have to say the number one worst roommate issue would have to be naked roommate. Naked roommate takes the cake. (bell ding) That would definitely be the worst roommate. If you’re naked roommate took your cake. I’m Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell. I’m back at the bell. I’ll talk to you next time.

Dave interviews brand new Mountaineers in the freshmen move-in special edition of Dave by the Bell. Featuring a special appearance by Chancellor Sheri N. Everts!

Dave: And hello once again, everybody. It's me, Dave Blanks, with yet another Dave by the Bell. On this edition of Dave by the Bell, it's Move-in Day at App State. It's August the 14th and all the freshman and returning students are finding their way around campus and checking out their new digs in the dormitories. So the plan today is to talk to them and to ask them, "Hey, what are you most excited about, about college... about App State? What are you looking forward to the mostest?" Come along with me, won't you? (singing) Meetin' lots of people, learnin' lots of stuff. It's gonna be awesome, it's gonna be tuff. Leavin' friends behind, but makin' some new ones. Comin' to college, you're a freshman for real. Comin' to college, it's a pretty big deal. Comin' to college. That lady's lookin' at me like I'm weird. And she's right.

Dave: Hey, excuse me y'all...

Dave: The question is, what about App State has you the most excited?

Voice 1: Going to a school that is so beautiful and going to campus every day and seeing how beautiful my campus is.

Voice 2: I'm most excited about the community and meeting a ton of new people.

Voice 3: I'm most excited about going snowboarding.

Voice 4: I'm really excited about just being up here and just being a part of everything Appalachian, like being able to go to football games and being a part of the school.

Voice 5: I'm most excited about football season.

Voice 6: I think I'm most excited about coming to Appalachian State for the football.

Voice 7: I'm really excited about my fly-fishing class.

Voice 8: Well, I'm really excited to make close friends and get that tight-knit group and have those late-night fun and study sessions. I'm looking forward to that.

Voice 9: I'm most excited about no humidity, no mosquitos, no 90-degree weather.

Voice 10: I'm really excited about spending a lot of time outdoors climbing, whitewater rafting and hiking. A lot of that type of stuff.

Voice 11: I guess I'm excited about meeting lots of people, since it's a big school.

Voice 12: I'm looking forward to the good weather. I like the cold, so I'm waiting for winter.

Voice 13: Pretty much, PE here is awesome. I'll go fly-fishing - it's going to be awesome. And I love to snowboard. That's pretty much why I chose App.

Voice 14: I'm looking forward to being in the mountains, living so far away from them.

Dave: So, are you going to do snowboarding and stuff?

Voice 14: Um-hum. I already bought it.

Dave: Awesome.

Voice 14: Yeah.

Dave: Cool.

Voice 15: I'm really looking forward to playing softball at App State.

Dave: Is that what brought you here?

Voice 15: Yes sir.

Voice 16: I'm probably most excited about the mountains here. I get to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Voice 17: I'm mostly excited about snow.

Dave: I'm going to go over to the other side of campus. I can't be so partial to East side. Gotta check out West side.

Voice 18: It's really tragic, but I'm really excited about decorating my room. (Laughs)

Dave: That's it?

Voice 18: I'm also really scared that I won't be able to fit everything.

Dave: There's a lot of stuff in that truck.

Voice 18: I have more in another car. (Laughs)

Dave: Who are we talking to here? Is this Mom?

Voice 18: Yeah, that's Mom.

Dave: OK, alright. Are you making your parents carry everything?

Voice 18: Yeah, and my best friend and my boyfriend - they're going to help.

Dave: It's a team effort.

Voice 18: Yeah.

Dave: Alright.

Voice 18: I brought a crew with me. A moving crew.

Dave: Excellent.

Voice 19: I'm really looking forward to the environment, the people. This is clean air right now. I'm more of a city girl. I like this. I'm liking it here.

Dave: Glad you're here.

Voice 19: I'm glad, too.

Voice 20: Being here at App, I'm most looking forward to being on my own. Finally getting a sense of responsibility, I guess you could say.

Voice 21: I'm really looking forward to meeting all of the new people here, since I really don't know anybody and I'm excited to see all the new faces.

Voice 22: I'm really looking forward to the weather, cause I'm from the North originally. So we don't get much snow down in Charlotte, so I'm looking forward to that. And it's a lot cooler.

Dave: How does it feel today, here in Boone?

Voice 22: It's great.

Dave: It's so nice, right?

Voice 22: It's so nice. Yeah.

Dave: Well, welcome to campus. Thank you for your answer. Nice to meet you.

Dave: So, you're here at App as a freshman.

Voice 23: Yes sir, I am.

Dave: Welcome to campus.

Voice 23: Thank you. Thank you. It's awesome.

Dave: What is the one thing about App State that you are most looking forward to? What's gotten you the most excited about being here at App?

Voice 23: I'm really looking forward to the people. A lot of people have told me that this is a really well-rounded community and a really good campus.

Dave: Hey, excuse me y'all. My name is Dave. I work for the university. I'm with University Communications. I'm talking to incoming freshmen. Are any of you incoming freshmen?

Voice 24: We gotta go eat.

Dave: Go do it! Eat well!

Dave: Are you an incoming freshman, ma'am?

Voice 25: If it was 1969, I would be.

Dave: Did you come to App back then?

Voice 25: I did.

Dave: You did? What did you study?

Voice 25: Elementary Education. And I've been a teacher.

Dave: Did you bring a student to campus today?

Voice 25: I brought my nephew. (Phone rings)

Dave: Is that your nephew calling?

Voice 25: My nephew, John.

Dave: Talking to John.

Voice 25: This is his mom.

Dave: OK, talking to John's mom. Thank you.

Voice 25: Thank you.

Voice 26: I'm really looking forward to meeting new people and starting fresh somewhere new.

Voice 27: I'm most excited for my music classes.

Voice 28: I'm looking forward to meeting new people, experiencing new things. Kind of the freedom of college.

Voice 29: I'm looking forward to meeting new people and starting a new life away from friends and family back home.

Dave: From these people here? You want to escape these people?

Voice 29: Sometimes.

Dave: Yeah, occasionally. Are you ever going to come back home and visit?

Voice 29: Definitely.

Dave: Thank y'all.

Voice 30: I'm really looking forward to everything.

Dave: The whole thing.

Voice 30: The whole thing. All of it.

Dave: Anything specific at all? What dorm are you in?

Voice 30: I'm in Frank.

Dave: Did you meet your roommate?

Voice 30: Yes, sir.

Dave: Did you know your roommate prior to coming here?

Voice 30: We talked a little on Facebook, but not much.

Dave: Back when I came to Appalachian State, there wasn't Facebook, so I actually had to call the person and speak to them on the phone. it's totally different now, right?

Voice 30: Yeah.

Voice 31: I'm more excited about the weather. It's 65 and not humid. Feels good up here.

Dave: What is it at home right now, probably?

Voice 31: Probably about 90 and humid.

Dave: So humid. You could drag a bucket through the air...

Voice 31: Yeah. Yeah.

Dave: (singing) Comin' to App State. It's totally cool. I'm really glad I've been recording this. Volunteers from the community. People pitching in.

Dave: Hey, volunteers! Thanks for your time. So what are you doing here today, sir?

Voice 32: I'm helping people move in.

Dave: Now, is this just something that you just took it upon yourself, and thought it would be really cool and nice to help people out?

Voice 32: Yeah, my youth group decided to do it.

Dave: That looks like it's Chancellor Sheri N. Everts right over by the Yosef statue at the corner of Rivers Street and Stadium. And she's walking around talking to freshmen today, as well, and I think she's going to be going into some of the dorms. So, let's get her advice for incoming freshmen. Chancellor Everts, can I ask you just one quick question?

Chancellor Everts: Sure.

Dave: I'm producing a podcast called "Dave by the Bell" and I've been talking to incoming freshmen about their excitement about App State. So, if you had a piece of advice for incoming freshmen here at Appalachian State, what would that piece of advice be?

Chancellor Everts: Get involved. And whatever that is that they love, get involved in it. There is so much to do here. So, just jump right in. It'll be marvelous, good fun.

Dave: Thank you very much.

Chancellor Everts: Thank you.

Dave: I really appreciate it.

Dave: Well, that was sincerely a lot of fun. I really enjoyed hanging out with all the new freshmen and their parents. I appreciate everyone who took a moment out of their super-busy day to talk to me. And thank you very much to Chancellor Everts for taking time out of her visiting schedule to talk to me. That was a lot of fun. I had a good time. I hope you did, too. And I will be back next time with another "Dave by the Bell." Later.

Classes have yet to begin and students are scarce so Dave chats it up with Food Services employees hoping to discover the one thing they love the most about their jobs.

Dave: Hey ducks! What do you guys love the most about your jobs?

Ducks: Quack Quack

Dave: Uh huh…

Ducks: Quack Quack Quack

Dave: Riiiiiiight

Ducks: Quack

Dave: Anything else?..Hmmm the one is chatty but none of the other ones are. They’re all pretty tight billed. HuhHuhHuh

(theme music)

Dave: And hello once again everyone I am Dave Blanks. Welcome back to another Dave by the Bell. It’s a beautiful summer day here at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina and on this edition of Dave by the Bell, since there are scarce few students to speak with we will be chatting with food services employees here on campus hoping to discover, “What about this gig in Food Services do you really enjoy above all other aspects. “ So then we’ll see where that leads from there. Hopefully the jump off point will lead to some cool discussions about…I’m assuming that students and interacting with students will be one really big part of what they enjoy about their jobs. Maybe they’ll have some cool stories about students at App and then their coworkers? Maybe having some cool co worker stories. So we’ll find out what they have to say and hopefully it’ll be entertaining and cool. I’m sure it will. I’m sure we’ll have an excellent time. We’ll start it out in Roess Dining Hall…that’s where I’m meandering toward now. Here we go!

Voice 1: I definitely enjoy dealing with students. I used to work at another fast food place in town. I guess college students understand what it is like to be in Food Service so they’re more respectful and more understanding of my side of it. I really appreciate that.

Voice 2: Getting to interact with people. I love people I’m a people person. Actually since I’ve come here, I’ve adopted a bunch of kids or they have kind of adopted me. We even have a secret family hand shake.

Dave: Man! How many people know this secret family hand shake?

Voice 2: There’s about six or eight of us and that’s it.

Dave: A select few…

Dave: Awesome!

Voice 3: It’s like a home away from home. It’s like a new home. All these different cultures and all these different religions. I met a guy that actually works here. He’s from India. He’s an immigrant from the 80’s. He’s a very wonderful man. He works two jobs. He’s hustling. He’s the happiest guy in the world. He opened the door for me to communicate and talk and learn from other people. I’m a whole new person coming here and I’m better for it I think.

Voice 4: The kids!

Dave: Oh yeah?

Voice 4: I love the kids.

Dave: Why do you love the kids?

Voice 4: I have two teenage boys so I feel like I’m at home mothering my own children.

Dave: Perfect! Do you dole out advice frequently?

Voice 4: Oh yeah! If they come in upset over a test or something like that…I had a kid come in one day that was sick and I made him get orange juice and he said, “I miss my momma. I said, “I’ll be your momma while you’re here.”

Dave: Awwwww

Voice 4: yeah

Dave: That’s great.

Voice 5: Talking to all of the students and all of the people that come through. They come into a place like this and see us as happy as we can possibly be and hopefully…you know…a smile is usually infectious. Whether you choose to be happy or not it’s totally up to you. I can just say we have some wonderful people working here and coming through here. I mean we’ve got some top quality people. We’re just proud of them.

Voice 6: The kids. Interactions with the students.

Dave: what do you get out of talking with the students?

Voice 6: Oh, they’re wonderful you never know what they’re going to say. They are the biggest blessing. They really are.

Dave: Are you one to give out advice or do you mainly just…

Voice 6: I try not to but, you can tell if they’re having a rough day. Maybe they just need a kind word or maybe they just need someone to talk to for a few minutes. You know…just a little encouragement. We all need that.

Dave: Yes we do.

Voice 7: Probably the coolest thing is all the people that work here. We are all a family and we all get along so well you know. Work hard but play hard too. You know?

Voice 8: The students. They keep me feeling young. They keep me one my toes. You know I’m a little bit older than most of them. So I don’t know what’s going on these days. Every now and then they’ll surprise me and I’m like, “Really???”

Dave: So this is like your news source?

Voice 8: This is my news source. Exactly. They keep me in line. Like, you know, “You need an iPhone. Not that flip top any more.” So you know things like that. Like I just learned to text a couple of years ago. These young folks taught me that.

Voice 9: ASU is my alma mater. It’s cool to be on campus again. For the most part everybody is here trying to learn. They do keep you young. It’s just fun. And there is a great meal plan here for us so…

Dave: Oh cool! I didn’t know that.

Voice 9: It’s all about the food really.

Dave: What’s your favorite food here?

Voice 9: The bake shop here is phenomenal. I had a cookie…so they make these cookies that are as big as your head. I had one like everyday.

Dave: But they’re prescription cookies aren’t they?

Voice 9: They are. My doctor wrote me a note for it. It’s very important. No so I had to quit eating them because I did, I gained a lot of weight. Seriously it’s no joke. They mean business down there man. Yeah. It’s good stuff.

Voice 10: I work at McAlister’s Deli in the student union.

Dave: All right so this is the McAlister’s gang here?

Voice 10: Yes. Hahaha

Dave: All right. So what aspect of your job do you like the most what do you think is cool about your job?

Voice 10: I love when we have regulars that always come in like every single day and you have an inside joke and…I love the closeness that we have with the students.

Voice 11: What I like the most is that we are all a family. Everybody at this table is family to me. I spend more time with these people than I do with my wife.

Dave: Wow! She needs to get a job at McAlister’s.

Voice 11: Actually we met at McAlister’s.

Dave: Ohhhh really!

Voice 12: So we get to meet a lot of different characters. A lot of them have been pretty close friends. I’ve been up there for a few years now and I still talk to quite a few students from my first year so they’re like second family.

Dave: Well, thank y’all very much for your time. I appreciate it.

Group: You’re welcome. Yeah man

Dave: What is your first name, sir?

John: John

Dave: Okay John, so what is your job at food services?

John: I am the assistant food service director for Sanford Commons.

Dave: What is the one aspect of your job that you enjoy the most? What do you like more than anything else about working for food services here at App?

John: I just love the kids here…great student base…very diverse. You can learn a lot from all of our students. If you take the time and talk to all of these kids it’ll be amazing what you’ll learn.

Dave: But your interactions are pretty brief aren’t they?

John: Yeah but it could be up to 14 times a week. It only might be a couple of minutes but I see a student and I can see theyre having a bad day and that interaction just the two minutes with them?..It might make their day a little better.

Dave: I’ve heard a lot of people saying that. “If I see a student having a bad day then I’ll interact with them and give them a smile.” Is that something that you try to ingrain in your employees or is that just something that the people that work here just all happen to have in common?

John: Everybody that works here really cares about what they do. Some people get up and two in the morning to come to work. Some get up at three. Some get up at four so you obviously care about what you do and you see these kids everyday. This is their home so they just need someone to care about them sometimes. You know we love our job and we love the kids too.

Dave: Thanks John

John: You’re welcome

(music)

Dave: Thank you so much to everybody at food services who allowed me to come into your work space, take up a little bit of your time and learn something about you and your life. I sincerely enjoyed it. I will talk to you folks next time. I am Dave Blanks and this has been, Dave by the Bell.

Thanks to: Angus, Chason, Jay, Zach, Mariette, Paula, Robin, Tony, Donna, John, Shanon, Sheri, Christopher, Erin and Misty.