Dry Storage Confessionals

Trent Thrower is a true local industry warrior. From fast-food trenches to some of the most talked-about kitchens and dining rooms in town, his story hits every stage of the grind. We trace his path through unforgettable shifts at Hamilton’s, The Hound, Baumhower’s, and right here at the pub—swapping memories, chaos, and hard-earned lessons along the way.This episode dives into the realities behind longevity in the service industry: the burnout, the comebacks, the people who shape you, and the moments that stick long after clock-out. We wrap it all up with a no-holds-barred Shift Note Rapid Fire, where nothing is safe and everything comes out.If you’ve ever worked a line, ran a floor, or survived a double—you’ll feel this one.

In this episode, Courtney steps out from behind the bar and into the mic for a grounded, documentary-style look at who she really is—beyond the blonde hair, the small-town roots, and the assumptions people make before she even speaks.We trace her path from Mississippi to Auburn, through the culture shock of SEC-town nightlife, the realities of Skybar chaos, and the quieter, more human moments inside pub life.Courtney reflects on the first time she learned to stand up for herself, the shift that nearly broke her, the relationship that taught her what she won’t tolerate, and the unexpected confidence the industry forced her to find.It’s personal, vulnerable, and honest—an inside look at the woman who learned how to protect her peace in a world that rarely offers it.

UPDATE TO ADD: My audio was lost at around 41 mins (shocker, right? what's new.) Please forgive me!It’s a solo night on Dry Storage Confessionals and I’m spilling every damn thing I’ve been holding onto. Holiday party chaos? Yup. Event booking drama? Absolutely. A little personal tea? Unfortunately. I’m also giving props to The Burnt Chef Project and their “drinking at work” convo, AND reading your answers to “What really pisses you off in a kitchen?” This one’s unfiltered. And probably too relatable.

This episode of Dry Storage Confessionals starts with longtime server Tim Dozier breaking down the real differences between the Montgomery and Opelika pubs — the culture shifts, the chaos levels, the crew dynamics, and what it’s like working under Chris in two completely different environments. Tim shares some of his wildest stories, from porch fires and break-ins to showing up to work with a lock on the door.Right as we dive into the Cartagena era and the downtown Montgomery ecosystem — the rumors, the danger, the characters, the whole vibe — Audie jumps in and the conversation instantly shifts into full-blown storytelling mode. Together they give an honest, hilarious, and sometimes insane look at what it was really like working through that era and how it compares to the safety and calm of Opelika.We wrap with a round of “Montgomery or Opelika?” that reveals exactly which city is more likely to produce a spiritually altered cook, a problematic table, or a synchronized server walkout.It’s fast, chaotic, honest, and everything you never hear servers say out loud.

This week’s home-bar edition of Dry Storage Confessionals is equal parts boozy truth serum and married chaos therapy.We break out the Old Forrester Hot Toddies and dive headfirst into our “True or False / Shot or Spill” and “Never Have I Ever” rounds — exposing everything all the way up to the real reasons we both finally hung up our aprons.Nothing’s off limits: the shift horror stories, the shifts we almost killed each other mid-rush, the gut-check moments that made us walk away from restaurant life, and the kid who changed everything.It’s personal, it’s unfiltered, it’s funny in all the wrong ways — and yeah, the camera died halfway through because technology is unreliable as faaawwwkkk 😅 So bear with us this week, pour a drink, and settle in for an hour and a half minutes of video-less truth, love, and a little leftover bar trauma.

Meet Chad Peoples — Opelika native, dad, contractor by day, one-man bar show by night. In this unfiltered and hilarious 10th episode, Maggie sits down with the man who somehow juggles kids, tequila, and tile grout without completely losing his mind.From “bartending for a little extra cash” to running an entire cigar bar solo, Chad spills (literally and figuratively) on the wildest guest stories, the chaos of working alone, and the moments that actually make it worth it. Expect stories of nicotine-fueled miracles, dad-level patience, and confessions that probably shouldn’t be said out loud.Segments include: “What’s Harder?”, “Bartender Math,” “Confession Cam,” and the fan-favorite “F*, Marry, Kill: Bar Edition.”This one’s equal parts heart, humor, and hangover recovery.Pour yourself something strong — Chad’s doing it all by himself.

I was raised on barstools, not bleachers.If babysitters were bartenders, if lullabies were last calls — and somehow, you find yourself right back where it all began.This week on Dry Storage Confessionals, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it’s really like to grow up in the industry. From being the kid who knew the smell of fryer oil better than crayons, to learning how to lead a team in the same kind of space that raised me... This episode is for every industry kid, every parent trying to balance it, and everyone who’s ever said “once you’re in, you never get out.”Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.#DryStorageConfessionals #ShiftBabyToShiftBoss #HospitalityLife #IndustryKids #BartenderStories #RestaurantLife #BehindTheBar

This week on Dry Storage Confessionals, Maggie sits down with longtime bartender turned photographer Matthan Brown — a man who’s poured drinks for the living and maybe a few for the dead.From the late nights behind the bar to long exposures in abandoned buildings, Matthan’s journey blurs the line between spirits in bottles and spirits that linger in the dark. He shares stories from his years inside a haunted hotel, his pull toward capturing beauty in decay, and the eerie moments that still make him question what’s real.As the pub lights dim and the ghost stories rise, this episode dives deep into bartender folklore, haunted spaces, and the art of finding meaning in the forgotten.Whether you believe in ghosts, or not, you’ll feel the chill when the bottles stop clinking.

This week, Maggie sits down with Opelika’s own James Young, a local comedian and former back-of-house veteran, who’s swapped the line for the limelight. From kitchen chaos to bar-top banter, James shares his unfiltered journey through the restaurant trenches and into the world of stand-up comedy.He opens up about the moments that became punchlines, the lessons that stuck, and the wild encounters that prove you really can’t make this shit up. With sharp humor and raw honesty, James reminds us that the service industry is full of characters, resilience, and stories worth telling.💬 Favorite quote:“I think everyone in this business should try stand-up once... It’s the same chaos, just with a mic instead of a ticket machine.”If you’ve ever clocked out wondering how your shift could double as a comedy set, this episode’s for you.

This week we sit down with Chad, who’s spent 18 years in the industry... Long enough to see everything from FBI jackets in the bar to the night he met his best friend and, eventually, his wife.Now standing at a crossroads, Chad shares what might be his “final tour” behind the bar. With sobriety reshaping his nights and family guiding his days, he’s learning how to swap the late-night Uber ride for the drive home, and the constant hustle for something steadier.It’s a conversation about legacy, growth, and what happens when the bartender finally orders water for himself.

This week on Dry Storage Confessionals, I sit down with my friend Lindsay — once known across the industry as Bones Jones. She reflects on that unforgettable era: the late nights, the friendships, the love and heartbreak, and the wild persona that came with the name. Now, she’s laid those bones to rest, stepping into a new chapter as a mother and a warrior: Showing up stronger than ever for her family and her friends, while never fully losing the fire that made Bones Jones who she was.

In this episode of Dry Storage Confessionals, Maggie sits down with her longtime friend Aiyanna—better known as “Yams”—a front-of-house powerhouse balancing restaurant life with being a full-time student. From navigating old high school faces in a college-town dining room, to setting boundaries with difficult guests, to the wildest nights out (sparkly dresses and bar fights included), Aiyanna shares candid stories, sharp insights, and heartfelt lessons from her years in the industry. Tune in for a conversation about mentorship, empathy, and why hospitality is always more than just service.

Mathan’s restaurant story starts at just 16, greeting guests as a host, and quickly moves behind the pass—onto the line, into the kitchen, and up the ranks as a chef. By 21, he was behind the bar, shaking cocktails and managing the floor, eventually stepping into a general manager role, handling everything from truck orders to team leadership. After nearly a decade of wearing every hat the industry had to offer, Mathan traded late nights and ticket times for fatherhood and a new path as a contractor. In this episode, he reflects on the chaos, community, and lessons from a life spent in hospitality before pivoting to building something entirely new—at work and at home.

In this episode of Dry Storage Confessionals, Maggie sits down with Zack to talk about what it really means to navigate the restaurant world as a gay man. From finding community in the chaos of the service industry to dealing with stereotypes and breaking norms on the floor, Zack shares his perspective with honesty, humor, and heart. Whether it’s handling late-night regulars, the unspoken codes of back-of-house culture, or claiming space in a fast-moving environment, Zack brings a raw and relatable take on what it’s like to show up authentically in an industry that’s equal parts brutal and beautiful.Dry Storage Confessionals is your front-row seat to the wildest stories the service industry has to offer. From espresso martini chaos to bar-top dance disasters, we spill the drinks and the secrets. It's comedy, it's catharsis, and it's everything you wish your bartender would tell you after closing time. Behind every shift, there's a story management doesn't want told.Dry Storage Confessionals is the unfiltered voice of the service industry — the late nights, the burnout, the regulars you'll never forget, and the chaos you couldn't make up if you tried. These are the stories whispered in the walk-in and shouted after last call.

Where the shift ends, but the stories keep pouring.Dry Storage Confessionals is your front-row seat to the wildest stories the service industry has to offer. From espresso martini chaos to bar-top dance disasters, we spill the drinks and the secrets. It’s comedy, it’s catharsis, and it’s everything you wish your bartender would tell you after closing time.Behind every shift, there’s a story management doesn’t want told. Dry Storage Confessionals is the unfiltered voice of the service industry — the late nights, the burnout, the regulars you’ll never forget, and the chaos you couldn’t make up if you tried. These are the stories whispered in the walk-in and shouted after last call.