Dinerpod #29: New Years Eve

Join Red Velvet on New Year's Eve as he pops some Tums fresh off conquering the Hot Ones Challenge (with Coach Luke Carmody officially declaring him the winner after "reviewing the film") and sits down for an honest, heartfelt solo reflection on 2025.

From the emotional highs of his son's senior year, graduation, and military transformation (including Red's first-ever plane ride to Georgia for the turning green ceremony) to the financial lows of a brutal winter that tested the family business, 2025 was a true roller coaster.

Red opens up about the grind: buying the long-dreamed-of property next door, niching DinerPod down to sports, food, and fun, reigniting his passion for football, announcing games for North Central, diving deeper into independent wrestling, vending at conventions, emceeing unique shows, starting an Amazon delivery hub side gig, and expanding coverage from a handful of teams to 28 across the Wabash Valley.

He gets raw about the mental battles of self-employment and content creation – the dark days, the tears, the doubts – and how an incredible support system of coaches, wrestlers, podcasters, and friends pulled him through undefeated.

Looking ahead to 2026, Red is fired up: more live streams, food challenges, wrestling talk, youth and high school coverage (aiming for 32–34 football programs), growing Ever Haute Co.'s new letterman jacket services, and building an even stronger community around local sports.

It's a long, rambling, deeply personal episode full of gratitude, laughs, shout-outs, and resilience. If you've ever chased a dream, battled hard days, or just love Wabash Valley sports and wrestling, this one's for you.

Happy New Year – let's make 2026 the best yet!

Thank you to our sponsors:

Wabash Valley Plumbing

RJs Formalwear

Varsity House Outfitters

Ever Haute Co.

#happynewyear #newyears #newyearseve #lookingback #reflection #resilience