New Horizons: A Metaverse Podcast Experience at the Killer Bee Studios
Welcome to the “New Horizons" podcast we're life stories and experiences are shared LIVE from the Metaverse, at the Killer Bee Studios. This Metaverse podcast is hosted by Brian Curee and Shawna Curee, also known as Mr.KillerB and Mrs.KillerB in virtual reality.
Join us for this live, one-of-a-kind interactive podcast experience where the lines between virtual and reality blend in the pursuit of understanding, inspiration, and true connection. Featuring diverse guests—from musicians and celebrities to best-selling authors, athletes, and entrepreneurs. Each episode is a journey through true, compelling life stories and experiences.
If you’re intrigued by the synergy between technology and human connection, looking for help navigating life’s ups and downs, or support, “New Horizons” offers a unique space to connect and grow together. Be sure to follow this podcast or join us LIVE in the Metaverse at the Killer Bee Studios on Meta's Horizon Worlds.
New Horizons: A Metaverse Podcast Experience at the Killer Bee Studios
Finding Connection Through Laughter and Faith with "The Dad Dork" Lance Howell
Text Brian & Shawna (Fan Mail)
Get ready for a hearty dose of laughter and joyful insights as we chat with Lance Howell, better known as the "Dad Dork" on TikTok & Instagram. Lance, a social media sensation known for his "doorbell jokes" and "driveway jokes" captured by his home security camera, shares the delightful story of his accidental rise to fame. From light-hearted family antics to viral internet celebrity, Lance's journey is a testament to how genuine humor can connect with people worldwide, all while staying true to his wish of creating content that brings families and friends together through laughter.
Join us in exploring how Lance's unique brand of humor and infectious spirit has made him a beloved figure, both online and in his local community. We reminisce about our first encounters with his content and how it has become a treasured part of our daily routines. Lance opens up about his creative process and the importance of embracing one's roots, discussing how a carefree mindset ignited during the pandemic has allowed him to produce family-friendly content that resonates with a broad audience. Along the way, Lance shares amusing anecdotes, including the unexpected comedy of being confused with a friend, Reagan, who looks strikingly similar to him.
On a deeper level, we reflect on the importance of community and connection, both in physical neighborhoods and virtual spaces. Lance's signature sign-off, "Later Gator, see you at church," has sparked meaningful conversations about the role of humor and faith in building community ties. We share personal stories and highlight the power of simple gestures in fostering love and unity, encouraging everyone to embrace the joy of neighborly connections. This episode isn't just about laughs—it's a celebration of authenticity, the power of humor, and the lasting impact of spreading joy.
Ways to Join Us LIVE 👇
Live shows are on Thursdays at 8pm EST (unless it's a holiday or fifth Thursday of the month)
- Join us LIVE on your mobile phone
- Buy your own VR headset & earn some reward points from Meta!
- Apply to be a guest
- Join us on Instagram
Affiliate links are used when possible to help support this podcast.
- Get Your Own Podcast on BuzzSprout
What inspired you? I want to ask you what inspired you first to start making these videos.
Lance:Okay, well, I have to be honest with you. There was no initial inspiration for making videos, Brian. My whole inspiration, I guess, in regards to my family, was just to make them laugh, Like. I've always loved to make everybody laugh if I could, and sometimes to my detriment.
Brian:Welcome to the New Horizons Podcast. I'm Brian Curee.
Shawna:And I'm Shawna Curee, also known as Mr and Mrs Killer Bee, in virtual reality.
Brian:So this podcast is recorded live from the metaverse at the Killer Bee Studios.
Shawna:Where real life stories and God experiences are shared in a way only the metaverse can offer.
Brian:With that, let's go ahead and dive into today's episode. Hey everybody, welcome to the Killer Bee Studios. So glad to look at the cameraman's right here. Let's see if I can get this lined up right.
Shawna:Okay, that is not nice.
Brian:Hey, we're so excited everybody's here tonight. Thank you guys all for joining us. Mrs Killer Bee, it feels like it's been forever.
Shawna:It has been forever All join us.
Brian:Mrs Kilby, it feels like it's been forever. It has been forever. All right, you guys, I've been psyched about our guest that's joining us tonight. He is the dad dork. So how many of you are on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook? Throw some confetti. Probably every single one of you are, Well, the dad dork, his real name is. Am I allowed to say his real name?
Shawna:I don't know. Did you ask him? Hey, am I allowed to?
Brian:say your real name. Well, of course. He said well, of course. Okay, his real name is Lance Howell, I believe that's how you pronounce his last name. So Lance is our guest, but he'll be coming out here in a minute, but on the social media platforms he is known as the dad dork. Now I want to share with you guys I love his bio and we're going to share a little bit about how we came across the dad dork. But his bio this is what he says in his bio. He says I'm a believer, husband, dad dork I love that part I do too and a goofball just trying to spread laughter in a world that needs it. Now, how many of you would agree that we're in a world that really needs laughter? Throw some confetti there. Yes, I agree too, and I I think that I know you guys probably get plenty of it here. But yeah, I'm telling you this guy, he's professional, he's a different sort of laughter it's not.
Brian:It's like laughing at me, not with me okay, where was it the other way around? Well, we've been big fans of the dad dork for a long time now, and tonight what we're going to be talking about is we're going to actually get into talking about being a good neighbor. Now, does anyone here know the dad dork? Has anybody here seen the dad dork Throw some confetti? Oh, okay, we do have some people out here that have seen some of the dad dork videos Awesome.
Brian:They're not all complete newbies, but any of you newbies that are out there, you're definitely going to make sure you look him up on instagram and stuff the dad dork. It's really simple. It's almost spelled the same way as my name, right? The dad dork. Yeah, but yes, and on tiktok right yeah, tiktok as well.
Brian:Uh, so all right. So, mrs killer, killer Bee, yeah, I'm going to ask you a question before we bring out the dad dork. Okay, so do you call? When we first stumbled across the dad dork on Instagram, do you remember that time?
Shawna:Okay, what I specifically remember is you showing me this video and saying who is this, and I watched it and I said, oh my gosh, that's Reagan, our friend Reagan. And he said, nope, it's not. And I was so shocked because it was so funny, Like if you guys have not watched these videos, I mean I laugh so hard, I cry honestly. And he looks so much like our friend Reagan and his mannerisms are similar, His voice sounds similar, but he has a style all his own and every time a new one pops up.
Shawna:Brian runs into me and we watch it together. We love to watch the videos, like right before we're going to sleep. It's just a nice. Like you know, we get a laugh and you'll see like he's just so funny and you're not going to get to see his funny uh dancing and his mannerisms because of course, in VR it's very different.
Brian:He's trying to coordinate.
Shawna:Yeah, watch the videos. They are so heartwarming and funny and we just love them Like we share them with our friends all the time.
Brian:That means a lot to Lance. I know you're listening. I'm just like I'm like looking at nobody, like I'm talking to God, but it's just Lance. It's just Lance, the dad door. Let you know we, we, we think of you before we go to bed. That's kind of weird, isn't it? Well, he's in here, no more.
Shawna:Yeah he left.
Brian:But enough with that. Are you guys ready for us to bring out our guest? Throw some confetti if you're ready. Oh yeah, I see some people dancing out there. So what we want you guys to do it might take them a little while to get out here, so we're going to play the guest music, but I want you guys to reign him with some confetti. Let's show him a Hold on a second. Hear it, G1,. Do you hear it?
Shawna:I don't hear any music, okay, well, come on out.
Brian:Don't worry. Okay, I can't hear it, but we hear it coming.
Lance:All right, give me a second, give me a little break.
Brian:It's so hard for me to do a big intro when I don't. When the music stopped, mrs, it stopped, okay.
Shawna:All right.
Lance:This is insane guys. Oh my gosh, how did I get to this point?
Shawna:Well, you uploaded a video onto TikTok and here you are and here you are.
Lance:Here you are, from there to here.
Brian:Who says there's not a God. Who says there to hear, who says there's not a god who says there's not absolutely. And you wouldn't believe how hard it was for us to make your shirt. We were trying to make it dorky, really, and like, because it's ai, like there's a new thing they added. But the only way you can make ai spell a word right is by spelling it wrong. So I had to like spell dork with like d-o-r-i-i-i-i and it finally came out d-o-r-k.
Lance:Oh, wow, okay yeah.
Brian:Isn't that? Crazy yeah, that is insane, yeah, and I do love your shoes too. I love the, even though.
Lance:I kind of dress true but that's weird.
Brian:That was on the app you did a great job.
Lance:I'm actually going to look into getting some T-shirts that replicate what you did, brian. That is fantastic. The dorkier the better, the dorkier the better.
Audience:The dorkier the better, that's awesome, yes, sir.
Brian:Well, lance, we're so glad that you joined us tonight. For our audience here, would you mind to take about 30 seconds to just kind of introduce? Tell us a little bit about who is the dad dork.
Lance:Well, the dad dork is just a regular dad from Oklahoma and you know I've got a regular job, a real job, a full-time sales job, and I absolutely lucked into whatever this is that I'm doing on social media I mean it was just by mere accident and by the grace of God. And I'm having a blast being able to make people laugh, give them a little bit of joy, a chuckle, especially nowadays when it just everything is so divisive and just so serious. I'm just having an absolute blast.
Shawna:So it's awesome.
Brian:Well, I tell you, we actually have a blast watching the videos.
Shawna:And she misses on it.
Brian:She's not, she's not like she's not holding back at all, like when there's one that comes on, I'm running there like hey, we got a new one.
Lance:We on. I'm running there like, hey, we got a new one, we got check it out, and then she's like we already seen this one, but let's watch it again because, like, there's so many good ones in there.
Lance:How many videos do you have? Well, you know, I number them because I'm not smart enough or creative enough to give them titles, and so I number them and I'm up to as far as the doorbell jokes, I'm up to 145 and, uh, I do some driveway jokes as well, and I'm up to 12 of those. So you know roughly 150, 160. You know post, yeah, yeah, over about a two and a half year span.
Shawna:So so the camera that you like climb up the ladder to get to? Is that like over a garage or something?
Lance:it is.
Shawna:It is okay, it's my driveway, cam your driveway cam, so that one is is numbered separately from the doorbell cam yeah, I, I titled that uh, driveway dad joke, and then I put a number you know next to it yeah, just so I can differentiate.
Lance:But did I gotta meet this reagan guy I want to talk about?
Brian:oh man, yeah, oh he, he was like flipping out when he's like the dad door's coming to your show, I was like yeah.
Lance:He was so excited. He looks just like me. Oh my gosh, that's fantastic.
Shawna:Listen, we have to introduce you guys. Yeah, because when we started showing him your videos. He lives like about four or five hours away from us. So when we went to visit the last time we showed him your videos and he kind of seemed like wounded, like like who is this? Guy impersonating me.
Brian:He really did. He took a step back.
Lance:You weren't offended Like you think. I look like this idiot.
Shawna:No, he wasn't offended. He was like what?
Brian:is happening here. Even your voice sounds the same, like that's very similar.
Lance:Like a hick from Oklahoma. Okay, gotcha, he is a hick from.
Brian:Northern Florida, that's where he's from.
Shawna:He's a hick from Northern Florida, I mean most of our family's from Kentucky, so you sound very civilized compared.
Lance:We're all from the South.
Brian:We're all from the South, and just so you know, I tested him earlier as I was getting, do you know your left hand from your right hand, and he did so there you go.
Lance:Yeah, I'm a functional human, I didn't.
Brian:I kept messing it up back there. I'm like oh wait, a minute, that's not my left, that's my right, and so maybe you should just host this. You want to just host it tonight, lance?
Lance:you can just go. Let me get my bearings a little better All right?
Brian:Well, lance, would you mind like? How do you? What inspired you? I want to ask you what inspired you first to start making these videos.
Lance:Okay, well, I have to be honest with you. There was no initial inspiration for making videos, brian. My whole inspiration, I guess, in regards to my family, was just to make them laugh, like I've always loved to make everybody laugh if I could, and sometimes to my detriment. I mean, I've been told that, you know, by teachers, by especially my mom, like okay, that's enough, we've had enough.
Lance:But anyway, I really, when I started a family and they got older, my whole goal was just to be able to make my boys I've got two boys and my wife If I can make them laugh then I was. That was a successful day for me. So basically, you know, long story short is we installed the security system just for security purposes and it was day number one. And I'm doing the typical dad thing, I'm putting my hose up and and right in front of the doorbell camera and I hear this camera recording and something triggered in my mind like Ooh, I've got an audience, you know. And so I just walked up to it and I still have this video. And I was like I go up to him like camera, camera recording, what are you recording? And I'm just being an idiot, you know. And so I show, like look at this, this records me and the audio is great. And I'm showing my boys and they're like, yeah, dad, yeah, that's great you know, and my wife you know my wife bless her heart.
Lance:She gave me the like uh-huh, but I was enthralled by like. I have like something recording me and you know it's. It's high, high res and let's have fun. So I walked up to it and I did a dad joke, but it was just for the purpose of my family. There was no intention initially of like I'm going to start this and I'm going to put it on social media because I really was not a big social media guy.
Lance:I mean, if you would have told me back then, ooh, you're going to be on Tik TOK, I would have slapped myself. I mean just because in my mindset it was Tik TOK was for young kids and you know I'm 50. I do appreciate you insinuating I was in my thirties, brian, but I'm 50 as of this year. But anyway, thank you very much. Thank you very much 50 physically, 18 mentally.
Shawna:But hey, we respect that.
Lance:But no, I started posting my personal Instagram. That's all that I had at the time. And so people are like, oh, that's funny. But then over time I could tell that my close friends and family were like why don't you start your own separate account? And so we don't have to follow like we've seen you grow up, and this is not nothing new to us so I started I started on instagram and then tiktok.
Lance:And tiktok is really where it it took off and just it baffled me. I didn't know what to do, like I really was, so was so scared I was going to cancel the account, like I didn't. I didn't intend for it to to get as big as it did so fast. But, um, yeah. So that's again to answer your question. I was not, you know, striving or set out to become some social media, whatever you want to call it. I just was having fun and I think the Lord interjected and I can talk about how I really figured out that it was the Lord using me as a conduit when it really blew up and then the response that I got from it.
Brian:So yeah, yeah, I would love for you to share that, because I think that that's a beautiful thing, like I love that you point out that we're in a world that is lacking laughter and we need that, and I would love to hear more of that. So, yes, please share that with us.
Lance:Well, I mean, I was having fun with it and I have that tagline that says see you at church. Okay, and I think I told you on our initial interview that I did not walk up to that porch that day after church expecting to say see you at church. I mean, that is the God's honest truth. I just walked up there and I heard a good joke and something, just something just happened and I said see you at church, you know, and I was like that's, let's post that and see the reaction. I got such a positive response from that, Like thank you for saying that, See you at church.
Audience:See it, I'm like people are just, you know, repeating it in the comments.
Lance:I'm like people are resonating with that. You know they're not offended, they're not offended, and so, um, that's when it really started taking off on all platforms Facebook, instagram, tik TOK, and I'm on YouTube as well, and, uh, I'm like, okay, okay, I get it dummy.
Lance:It took me a while to figure it out, but this is not about me, you know, this is about other people and the Lord has been, you know, in play gave me the platform, not for my own success and and I don't plan on, you know, ever I guess if you want to call it monetizing or trying to do it for profit, it really is just for service, and that's how I view it and that's how I'm going to continue to do it until people say all right, we're done, we're tired of you, and I'll have no qualms about moving on.
Shawna:I have loved to see the evolution of how you've gone through the videos and you know recently how you started singing.
Audience:See you at church, oh my gosh, I cry, I cry, it is so funny and I wish I could do it.
Shawna:I really want to say that.
Brian:You don't have to do it, he's right here, Everybody. You guys want to hear him sing his tune. See you at church.
Shawna:Who wants to hear this? It's so good Okay.
Brian:Yeah.
Lance:Because, mrs, you guys, you guys, you guys cover your ears, but I'm going to attempt to sing, so uh, later Gator.
Shawna:Was that singing, or it was perfect. It's like not only singing, it's like emoting, like this. Yeah, I just love it, yeah.
Lance:And that was all happenstance too. I did not. I sometimes a lot, of, a lot of my antics and and just like that it's all on the you know. I should say off the cuff, and just you know a lot of things. She'll, Shelly, you know who is my filter? My wife, the wifers, if you will, the wifers.
Shawna:Sugar britches, sugar britches, if you will, the sugar britches. Yes.
Lance:Yeah, I'll show her. And she's like why did you just do that? I said I have no idea. Why did you just gyrate like that? I have no idea, I don't know, oh yeah.
Shawna:That brings me to your dancing Like have you always just been like so free with your movements, like that.
Brian:Well, freestyle, I thought it was called freestyling.
Shawna:but you're saying it's free movements like. Well, freestyling is like I think of rapping when I think of freestyling but like he's like so great with this, like, like it's dancing.
Lance:I love it fluid and I guess it it goes back to my, my breakdancing days. You know I grew up a product of the 80s and 90s, and you know I was one of those typical suburban you know, suburban kids. I just was enthralled with breakdancing Like it's the most fantastic thing ever. And so me and my buddies, you know, would get their piece of cardboard out there and we'd, you know, spray paint it, put graffiti on there and play our rap music and breakdance.
Lance:And thankfully I'm blessed that I can still somewhat do it. You know, for my age I can still do the the worm that we used to call it a centipede. I can still do that. But I've just always enjoyed dancing. I mean, it's just it's.
Audience:Yeah, you know that's the way to have fun yourself and uh yeah you know, until I break something, I'm going to continue to.
Brian:You know, still try it I don't really do the dancing thing because my expression is very bad. I'll leave that to you, lance, that's for sure.
Shawna:We'll leave it to you, Lance.
Brian:There's a big story that we had when me and Mrs KillerB got married. She was huge into line dancing. Her dad and him did all these dancings. Was it your mom and dad's?
Shawna:It was their 25th anniversary. Your mom and dad's. What was it? Their 25th, uh anniversary anniversary 25th anniversary.
Brian:So for our wedding, her and her dad did this really fancy dance and he was twirling around. Well, I was like, hey, teach me that dance for your 20, your mom dad's 25th anniversary. So when your dad comes to dance with you, I'll be like I'll dance with her, you dance with your wife and it's gonna be like a really cool you know it's a moment to yeah well, we got up here to do the dance and he was like really, I was like, yeah, she taught me it.
Brian:Well, I think we spent like three months teaching me it and she taught me it backwards completely backwards. So think about that. He's like what are you doing? That's all backwards. And she's like I was like what? She's like, just do it in reverse. I'm like no, I'm done. Sorry, that.
Lance:Sorry, you started out in reverse, not not intending to be reversed.
Brian:You just play it back and rewind and it is perfect, right.
Lance:So you were just starting your own, your own new craze, brian. That's all, that's right, that's right.
Shawna:It was like the whole thing. You know, really, my dad was leading me through that dance the whole time and I didn't realize it, so when I was trying to teach him, I just got it all wrong.
Lance:Yeah, so I can appreciate that, Shawna, you and you and the wifers would have a lot in common, because our first dance back in 90 I'm sorry, our first date back in 92 was at a country dance club and I had to watch her and all these other people line dance and I had no idea what they're like, how to do any of it. She was a big line dancer from way back, oh my gosh, I'm going to come out to Oklahoma.
Shawna:We can go line dancing together, me and the wipers.
Brian:We'll do our free dancing, whatever you call it.
Lance:We'll break dance, Brian, and they'll line dance the achy breaky and all that. There you go.
Brian:There you go, there you go. That sounds good, all right. So what I'm going to, what I'm going to do, is I've got I've got a couple people lined up for questions right now and we haven't even got the topic yet. This is going to be great guys. So let's go ahead and bring up the Q and a, mike Diener, and we're let's bring up lost virtually first loss virtually. Come on down and thanks for joining us at the killer bee studios. Just let you know you are muted.
Shawna:so uh lost. How are you doing? Hey, hi, thanks for joining us.
Audience:Yeah, I had a. Uh, a comment or a question for the um dad dork, yeah go for it. Uh, I'm trying to look at you.
Shawna:Is Arcane anywhere?
Audience:Oh, there you go, I got it now. Okay, I didn't know if I needed to do anything.
Lance:How you doing, buddy.
Audience:Good, I was looking at your movies and they're pretty funny, Thank you, which one had, which ones have a lot of views, which ones have little views, and then kind of do kind of like an analysis to see what content really people like. Because that one I noticed that your biggest one you're wearing those socks and those sandals.
Shawna:Yes.
Audience:That was pretty funny on its own. Well, thank you, and like if you could bring that back. I think the socks and sandals and dancing, yeah. The socks and the sandals. I mean, there's really nothing else to do with socks and sandals except cut the rug like you did.
Lance:Absolutely, and nothing else says dad more than socks and sandals, right?
Audience:Right, that's the way to go, but anyway, I thought that was funny.
Lance:Well, sandals right.
Audience:Yeah, that's the way to go, but anyway, I thought that was funny.
Lance:Well, thank you very much. Thank you very much. I I tried to, yeah, I tried to change it up every now and then, but I'm. The socks and sandals are definitely one of my favorite, for sure.
Brian:So well, I'm gonna line up the next guest and while while she's coming up, I'm gonna ask you a question. Yeah, uh, yvonne, if you want to come on up and then. So I'm gonna ask you do you have a? Do you have a favorite? Do you have a favorite video? Does he bring up the socks and sandals? Is there one that's like? That's just one of my favorites.
Lance:Well, yes, there is one of my favorites, and it's actually the one that really took off and made me realize that, ok, this is, this is something that you can do some really good things with Now. It is toilet humor based, and Shelly warned me she's like don't do a bunch of toilet humor jokes, but you know, I'm a dad.
Shawna:That's so funny, you know.
Lance:so the one, if you're okay with a little bit of toilet humor, just go for it. The one that really took off and I guess, if I were to get recognized, which doesn't ever happen is the one that I told her. I walked up. It was after church and I said just came back from church I heard a good one Uh, do trees poop? Do they poop? Well, of course they do. How do we, how would we get number two pencils?
Lance:That one just really just took off and you know, because it was so successful and it reached so many people. I guess that would be my favorite, but I have other favorites, you know it's.
Brian:What's your favorite?
Lance:number two, my favorite number two Did you hear the movie Constipation?
Brian:Don't worry about it. It never came out. It never came out, that's great.
Shawna:Okay, wait, I'm sorry, I mean I don't even like bathroom humor. I'm with Shelly but listen, the one that you did that was German for constipation yes, that one the way you said it and I went far from heaven and and.
Lance:I had so many people say that is a Swedish accent.
Brian:I'm a dork. What can I say? What can I say? What can I say? I love it. I love it. Yvonne, thanks for joining us.
Audience:Would you like? To ask or share a thought or ask a question. Part one of my part one of my question was actually what you just asked about.
Lance:What was your favorite video? So part two of my question is what do you think made it connect so well with your audience? I really just think the combination of it was somewhat unique in the fact that I was coming up to a doorbell camera. I think that kind of caught people's attention and it's like what is this dork doing, you know. But also, just I really pride any member of the family you know can watch and not have to worry about, um, you know, being offensive or dirty or there's too much of that already. And I think I at least that's the feedback I get is is that that really resonates with people, that you know anybody and everybody can can enjoy the humor if they do. You know. Awesome, so cool.
Brian:Awesome Thanks.
Lance:Yvonne.
Brian:All right if they do. You know awesome, so cool, awesome. Thanks, yvonne, all right, so you guys, we're going to continue with the the discussion here. If you guys have any questions or thoughts, just click the kiosk and we'll bring you guys up a little bit later. Um so, dean, are you going to take the mic down if you want? And Mrs Killer Bee, as we get ready going to the discussion about being a good neighbor, I want to ask you what? What is your favorite video? Now? I just want to point out, just let you know, did you realize that Lost virtually referred to his videos as movies?
Audience:So I don't know, you might want to be thinking about a movie deal because I think that might have been like a hint there.
Lance:I'm no actor. I'm no actor, I'm just a dork. I don't know, I don't think you should limit yourself like that.
Shawna:Okay, so I have two favorites, and one is based on the joke which is um. Today I was washing the car with the wifers and she said you think we could use a sponge? And I love that one Cause I told Brian I was like been there, I just love that. I thought that was funny. And the other one was more based on style, like how you did the video, which was and I might get this a little wrong, so correct me if I'm wrong but you said um, people say grass don't be wet, but it do people say grass don't be wet in the morning, but it do.
Shawna:It's the way you say it. I can't say it like that. Say it one more time.
Lance:It's my favorite people say grass don't be wet in the morning. But it do and it's a play on words d e, w.
Brian:Yeah, exactly, I love it. I love it and this is what I love about the videos because the other thing is after a long day you need a good laugh, and it brings in that joy. After all the heaviness that a day can bring, I love it. That's why.
Lance:I do it, brian, and I finally got to the point where, you know, when we're younger, we kind of give a rip about what people think and we care way too much about what everybody you know, whether it be in the world or online or your bosses, what they care and what they think about you. And I just finally got to the point. Maybe COVID was the final nail in the coffin, but I just I don't give a rip anymore. Just to be frank with you, and once you have that freedom and you don't have that pressure on you, it's amazing what you'll allow yourself to do.
Brian:That is so true the older we get. We talk about that. It kind of frees you and opens you up right it does you don't have that pressure and you don't have the the stress.
Lance:I mean, there's enough stress in the world uh, let alone worrying about like that. You know somebody doesn't like you or not, you know. So, yeah, I think it's.
Shawna:It's really opened up something beautiful in your case, lance, because like you've opened up like this portal of joy and laughter and connection, like we talk about your videos and we laugh about them, and you know, we told you the story show people all the time. Like I told you before that, brian used them in a presentation to a church.
Brian:And we use the poop ones at the church.
Lance:So, and that's another thing I want people to, I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt, but I get really passionate, really passionate, about this.
Lance:I want the stereotype of people that attend church to to, you know, to to lift, to go away, you know we are there may be some very legalistic churches out there that you know have kind of contributed to this negative you know negative stereotype of people who attend church. But I want to break that. I want church to be seen as a place that is, that is accepting, and you know, you know, come as you are and and and I don't want it to be scary I want them to look at me and be like, okay, that dork is very strong in his faith and goes to church. Maybe I should give it a try and that's kind of what I realized.
Lance:You know, this platform should be about.
Brian:So I love that. I love every single part about that Cause I think that you know, I think for too long and I know exactly, I think a lot of us will know that like, yes, there's churches that can be very legalistic and I used to. I used to attend a church, attend a church like that, and it's like we want people to be able to. People should be able to look at us and say we are joyful people, but that's not really the case a lot of times. But I love that when that's one of the things I love when you, your signature sign off is the way I wrote down, like he's a signature sign off of later Gator, see you at church. I'm like I was like I'm curious with that statement. Has that led into conversations of people asking you?
Lance:about church? Yes, it has. It has. I will get DMs or comments and I do my very best to comment on every single one, or at least respond to every single one. But I do get DMs asking me where I attend church. I do get direct messages of people saying that I just need to spend time to thank you, uh, because they were going through something tough and I came across one of your videos and you helped me.
Lance:I mean, I've even been accused of curing somebody's depression and I'm just like that. I look at Shelly. I'm like this is unbelievable. I mean I I don't know how to respond to this or react to this, but then you know she's like babe, this is God, this is God at work and he's using you. And then you know, so I take it very seriously, even as dumb as I act. But yeah, absolutely I'll get direct messages all the time. 99% of them are positive. But there are people who you know I've had people in the past that are legalistic tell me that you know they'll uh scriptures saying that you know what you're doing is mocking god, and you know I don't want to pay attention to that, but very, very, very well, you know what's a beautiful thing is like.
Brian:I wanted to ask you that question because, uh, one of the things that we look at here, even as you're seeing right now in this virtual space you know, we, we work with churches in virtual reality, we have small groups, we have this show as like church is like the message behind god and jesus and what, who the church is is the same, but the way we do church doesn't have to be the same. I was like what you're doing on your social media is you're not only are you, you're inviting people like hey, I see you at church, but you're being the church in a way that people have never experienced, absolutely.
Lance:And the church, the church is. I mean, we are the church you know, it's not about a structure, it's about the people you know the believers, we are the church in any, any walk of life. Wherever we are, we are the church, and that's what I'm trying to, you know, to get across too, but also make people feel comfortable enough to enter that structure where they can find community and they can find healing, and they can get saved and baptized and everything that comes along with. You know, Christianity.
Brian:Yes, 100 percent. I love that, I love that. I'm so glad we get to that question and I do. Ok, so we're going to move on to our our, our main topic Cause, but I haven't got to share my favorite.
Shawna:Oh yes, oh yeah, I should definitely.
Brian:Well, there's so many of them, but the one I've I keep thinking about all the time is the. You talk about number twos a lot, but this one, if you don't see, if you remember it, you casing a toot whistle oh yeah yeah, yeah and. And the joke was hey, uh, what makes me you know, what really makes me throw up? I can't do it as good as you, but do you remember the joke?
Lance:uh, yeah, dartboard on the ceiling.
Brian:Yeah, I was like laying in bed and I was like I just started cracking up and usually our son can know he'll know he's like, oh, they're watching the dad door because he'll hear us in our bedroom and it just starts cracking up, laughing and stuff like that.
Lance:So yeah, so it was, it was, it was. Thank you. And just a little added tidbit, because there are, like I love dad jokes obviously, but I really lean into the ones that are really, really bad, you guys, because I tried to kind of work in some type of you know action and some you know shenanigans to make like to make it funny. To make it funny. My challenge is how can I make this horrible joke funny? By my antics, or I? I love sitting down and trying to create something in a scenario wrapped around the awful, awful joke.
Shawna:So, yeah, well, check done, you've done it. They're all hilarious. We love them.
Brian:I appreciate it. We love all of them. There's so many. So you guys, we covered some of them, but trust me, there's plenty out there. Go check him out on social media. Just look up the dad door. You're going to find his videos on Tik TOK Instagram, Facebook, Uh, and they're just great. So we thank you so much for sharing that.
Brian:Now, when I first, we love what you're doing on there. And when we first got to meet out, well, mrs Killer B said you have to. She's like I think she hounded me for like six months. She's like, babe, I'm going to, I'm just busy, I'm going to reach out to him. And she's like have you reached out to the dad? I was like not yet, but I'm going to reach out to him.
Shawna:Wait a minute, let me just set the record straight. That is true.
Lance:I did keep saying that.
Shawna:But also he kept saying, like man, wouldn't it just be amazing if we could get the dad dork? I doubt we could ever get him on our show. So, yes, everyone, we are geeking out because this has been a long time coming, we've been talking about it forever, and so when you were up for it and you were interested, we were just so excited. I mean just crazy excited.
Lance:Well, the honor is mine. I mean, I'm absolutely honored, and it's not like I get a ton of like requests to be on podcasts and so I'm really just a normal guy. This is fantastic. So thank you guys.
Brian:Yeah, absolutely. I think I told Ms Kudryas like I think I'm so excited because he gets my humor probably so I can be friends with this guy. So let's talk about the friends, because when we met, so to kind of give you guys a set up here of what happened we met. Usually when we have a guest that has not ever been in horizons we'll meet with them on zoom first, kind of paint the picture of what we're doing in here and see if it's a good fit for what the studio is about. And when we first met over zoom, I couldn't help but notice first your heart for people and you and your wife's heart for people. And I think probably everybody here can already hear this with what you've already been sharing. Thank you, you have a beautiful heart for people. And then I also, when we were talking, you mentioned being a good neighbor and your definition of a neighbor. I know this might be a lot different from how others see neighbors these days, so can you share a little bit about what being a neighbor means to you?
Lance:Well, I mean, it's been a process of learning. You know over time when you're living in a community, you know when you're younger you don't really.
Lance:When you're on the go hustle and bustle and you're raising kids, you really maybe don't appreciate who your actual neighbors are, or you take them for granted, but as we we grow older and we mature, um, um, your neighbors are essentially almost like your family when you're in your neighborhood, when you're in your home, they can become your, your family If you just, like everybody, agrees, let's take the time, like it used to be. Um, you know, probably in a generation before us, if you will uh to and get to know our neighbors, take time to stand on the sidewalk and talk, talk, you know, face to face. There's not enough. You know, face-to-face interaction and just getting to know one another, loving one another.
Lance:And you know our, our two biggest commissions or commandments is love God as yourself and love your neighbor. And you know and it took me a while, cause I told you I'm not very sharp, but I thought when I first heard that, oh well, just just love your, your, you know, like one or two, three neighbors, no, love everybody. That's essentially what he's telling us to do is love everybody. And if we can just take the time to get to know, to watch out, to love, to protect, and we all look out for one another, I mean it can be a beautiful thing and where I live right now it's a prime example.
Lance:I have some fantastic neighbors and it was a process. But if I were to tell you that um process, but if I were to tell you that, um, in my individual cul-de-sac we are, I have like very, very close friends that I hang out with on a regular and I'm the only, uh, true Okie in this entire cul-de-sac. I mean, I've got a guy across the street that grew up in Ohio. The one to my right grew up in green Bay, Wisconsin. Next to him grew up in India. The one to my right grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Next to him, grew up in India. And then, down the street, a guy grew up in Puerto Rico and we all meet.
Lance:We all meet in my neighbor Tim's garage on a regular and we either just just hang out and talk, or we'll watch football, or we go to, you know, baseball games, Oklahoma softball games. I mean we just got to the point where when we're in this neighborhood, we're family, we're family, we all know when the other one's going on vacation, so on and so forth. Hey, I'm in the hospital, Can you take care of my dogs? That's, I think, how it was initially supposed to be and was created, and we just need to get back to that and it can be an awesome way to live.
Brian:That's beautiful. I know, mrs, you may have talked about that before about how, uh, if you say hi to a stranger, it takes them like it can really set people back Like who are you Like people?
Lance:just aren't used to it, yeah. Or better yet, if, if, yet, if, if you say how's it going and you actually tell them how it's how it's going, you will get some looks like what are you? Doing I didn't really want to talk to you.
Brian:Yeah, totally 100 yeah, yeah, um, well, you know, I I love to like about the videos because it really feels like when you do the videos on the cameras, it feels like you're talking to us, like it feels like you're when you go to the camera you're talking to the neighbor and it feels like we're your neighbor.
Lance:Well, that's the intention, brian is. You know? Initially there was some confusion as to like is this really your neighbor's house?
Lance:Yeah, I wasn't trying to be deceitful. I didn't expect so many people to really take it like that. It is, you know, someone's neighbor going up to their house because it's so over the top. I mean, look at this guy, you know. But the whole intention when it started to develop was the viewer is the neighbor and we are all neighbors, and that that's what I want everybody to you know to understand is that we're all neighbors and I'm. I am speaking to each individual, one of you, and you don't have to think it's funny, but I'm still speaking to you.
Shawna:Yeah, that's good, that's beautiful.
Brian:And Miss Cleary, did you have a question about the camera?
Shawna:Well, I think you basically already answered it. I was curious about if you ever did go to your neighbor's cameras and do funny things like that, did you?
Lance:I do, actually, and I have my neighbor Wally and I've got about six. If you go back in the archives and I don't expect you to, but if you go back, there are some jokes at neighbor Wally's and he has a similar system as I do and I'll just walk up and go hey, neighbor Wally, how, he has a similar system as I do. And I'll just walk up and I'm like hey, neighbor Wally, how are you? And it's his house, and you can tell it's a different porch. And and he knows, as soon as I send him a text like you know done, he'll download it, send it to me and he'll he'll tell me if it was funny or not, like, eh, kind of corny. But here you go, you know, um. And then my neighbor Tim, the one that that really is the best neighbor out of all of us. He has a different system and I'll do it on his porch as well, but it's not the same system, so it's a different, you know, set up.
Lance:But yeah, I absolutely do. And I've dinged on, ditched Kenny across the street and I've done pranks on you know neighbors, that I've, that I've you know, kind of showcased and made a clip out of and we have fun with one another. Little, you know, even though we're different ages mentally, we're all just little boys having fun.
Shawna:That was the other thing I wondered a long time ago was you know the whistle and the camera recording? We talked about that? I was like, do you think that he just added that for the sake of the video, Because I didn't know any of the systems actually did that, Like our ring system doesn't do that, you know. But you already answered that.
Lance:So I have no more questions. Yeah, the company Vivint. They have lots of different greetings and that one was just the default and that was the one that got me. Like I heard the whistle, I'm like, oh, here we go. And that one was just the default and that was the one that got me. Like I heard the whistle, I'm like, oh, here we go. I get to act like a fool.
Shawna:I don't know how you recreate that so well too, when you did that a minute ago. It's perfect, it's exactly.
Lance:Camera recording, I think Mrs.
Brian:Killer Bee, you know we're looking at moving in February and we'll probably have to get a new tone anyway, so maybe we'll look at getting one of those systems instead, because that sounds so much more fun.
Shawna:Well, lance, listen. Just because you've heard it, that doesn't really excuse that you can do that perfectly, because I've heard it a lot of times too and I can't whistle, so I can't do that sound at all.
Brian:Try it, mrs Dobie, let's go ahead and try. Try whistling. That's a good job. That's the best in 22 years.
Shawna:That's very nice of you guys.
Brian:She shows up, well, you know. So, okay. So one of the things I noticed you said about one of your neighbors is like if they, if you do the video, they'll send it to you and say, yeah, it was all right, it wasn't that good, or you know so I guess, being honest. So I guess that kind of leads me to the next question is what, to you, would define being a good neighbor? I'm guessing first would be you.
Lance:Probably one of them would be honesty honesty and loyalty and again, all the, all the attributes and the attributes and all the qualities you would expect out of a family member, somebody that you know has your back, somebody who's going to protect you, somebody that will, you know, look out for you and love you. I mean that's, you know, in my opinion, what a good neighbor is and also you know kind of taking the initiative to hey, you know what? We haven't gotten together in a while. We haven't had an HOA block party or whatever in a while. We haven't had a, uh, an HOA block party or whatever. Let's just take the initiative and plan something, because, I mean, life is so stinking busy and it's just like you know that that movie groundhog day you really can get into a rut.
Lance:So let's do something and just take a couple hours out of the out of out of the week or out of the weekend and let's just all sit together and, you know, have fellowship, or just go out to eat. We, you know, on a regular, at least once a quarter we'll. You know Tim my, my neighbor, who's kind of the ringleader as far as you know. He's the retired guy that has time to do this, but he, he's a ringleader as far as organizing all of our get togethers and he's like hey, it's been a while, let's get together, let's go out to eat, and you know the people who can go say we're in, and sometimes we'll have four, sometimes we'll have 14. It's awesome.
Lance:You know, we get to know one another and it just makes, like I said, I hate to sound like a broken record, but it makes life better when you can walk out and you know there's just like a family, you know community, um atmosphere just surrounding you.
Brian:So, yeah. I love that. I love that. You know it's thank you. You know I don't like. We've recently in, uh, just like in our circle of friends and industry and stuff that we work in, there's been a lot of people that have passed away. So, just like last night, someone passed away and we're like seriously.
Brian:And thank you. And it's just like. It's also a reminder, like life is so short. It really is. It is so short. And I can think of many places that we've lived that we've tried to get to know our neighbors and some of them just like, nope, we're not talking. And there's been a lot of places we live where we really haven't got to know our neighbors that much and you can't force them on you. If you try to force yourself on your neighbors, you might get like what do they?
Audience:call that A restraining order.
Shawna:Maybe, shot.
Brian:Yeah, you probably get shot these days, but no Taste. Yeah, taste Maester. We could keep the list going. That's what we should have talked about tonight. Is what happens next? I think not.
Brian:The beautiful thing is is like there are people around us. Is is like there are people around us and I love that. When you're talking about your neighbor, it's not just the people that live next door, it's the people that's. That's around you, like right now, even in here, in virtual reality. So many of you here, like how many of you here would say you guys have made some just incredible relationships in here that you can connect with.
Brian:Yeah, see all the confetti and each one of us, like we're all neighbors and the people that we connect with in here are neighbors, we're in close proximity, and if you're a Christian, we should be excited to let people see that joy in us and let them see us as a good neighbor.
Brian:So, taking these characteristics and making sure we're passing it on, these characteristics and making sure we're passing it on, and we have to remember that even in here, we're going to come across people that aren't like we don't know what their life is on the other side of these headsets, and some of them are in really tough situations and it might come as a shocker when you're trying to show people that you care about them and and be okay that you don't understand where they're from you can still be a good neighbor and show them that, that love and that support, and let them see Jesus in you. Uh, I think that's such a a beautiful opportunity that we have in this virtual space as well. Um, I was going to ask you, lance do you think there's a difference between being a good neighbor on social media and in real life?
Lance:You know, I mean, I think that's both. They're both important, brian, I mean, because, in the whole scheme of things, the best ability is your availability. And so if, if, if you can only be available online because of of your, you know, geographical uh you know situation, then at least still be available. But nothing beats and I know I sound like an old fogey, but nothing beats face-to-face communication. You know I'm I'm in sales and I'm an outside sales and I see this every day in business.
Lance:You know there's way too much business is turning more towards texting and emails and just interpersonal interactions. But I make more of a difference in my business and also my personal life If I can be in front of somebody and stand in front of somebody, look in their eyes, see their facial expressions, you know, understand if they're, if they may, visually maybe going through something you know from their body language, and then we can maybe explore that. And that's the same thing with our neighbors. You know you might think that, well, we're both taking the trash out. That's, that's what we're doing. But a simple high can start a conversation and a relationship, and that's all that I'm trying to. You know, kind of lean into is is let's, let's not. And, like you said, you know, life is short and each day is not promised, and every day that we be able to, we're able to stand up and have breath in our lungs, that's an absolute blessing.
Brian:So let's make the most of it I love that and I love what you said there about the best ability. You said it's your availability.
Lance:Availability. I love that, I love it.
Brian:And I agree with you 100% Me and Mrs Killer Bee and you know she's Mrs Killer Bee my wife also works, you know under me at the business. No, I'm not just saying no, really she's like. She's like the boss.
Lance:We know who the boss is brian yeah, she's like married guys know who the boss is are you playing that two whistle in there again?
Brian:aren't you supposed to be on a zoom meeting? And I was like, okay, no, the uh. One of the things that we talk about often is you mean we do like that's what we do is digital and we coach and stuff on that. And one of the things that we talk about often is you mean we do like that's what we do is digital and we coach and stuff on that. And one of the things that we point out to all of our clients is I was like look, guys, if you want to stand out in the future and what you're trying to do as a business, it's going to come down to human connection.
Brian:I'm telling you like it's just really it comes down to that because nobody's doing it, and it is a game changer when you sit across the table from somebody, uh, and really get to get to know them personally.
Lance:So absolutely yeah, it'll make you stand out and that's sad, that simply just you know. You know, adhering to the golden rule as as as far as how we treat people will make you stand out. But uh, we're, we're in that culture where you know that that's how it is, unfortunately, you know we're, we're in that culture where you know that that's how it is, unfortunately, you know, we're just not as personal as we, as we used to be.
Brian:You know, I'd love, I'd love to change that you know, it's a beautiful thing too, like, if we look even back at the stories of jesus, the people that jesus connected with the most was the people that he went and he sat down with, you know, and broke bread and broke bread and uh, so it's just a beautiful thing. We think it's it's taking a step back, but taking a step back is actually a step forward in the right direction.
Brian:I think it really is first, we always like to have our guests have an opportunity just to share a closing thought lance. So if there's, out of everything that we've talked about today, uh, what is one thing that you would hope? I guess let me rephrase that. If there was one thing that you would hope, I guess let me rephrase that, if there was one thing that people would take away from our conversation today, what would you hope that would be?
Lance:You know, I think we I mean you said it actually like beautifully, right then the challenge to just reach out to one, and you know I'm I'm going to piggyback off of that, brian. I mean because you would be, you would be shocked at just simply reaching out to one, and you know I'm going to refer back to. You know the story of you know Jesus sermon on the mountain. Ninety nine and one. You know as far as his sheep, you know just that one that's lost. You just give it a shot and you may feel weird, but that's probably the Holy Spirit nudging you into just saying hello, just saying hello. And how are you? You'll be shocked at the doors that are open in the relationship. So I'm going to piggyback off, not to steal your idea, but I'm going to piggyback off that and just love one another. Oh my gosh, I, like a lot of people, are just ready for the divisiveness and the conflict to the conflict to be over. You know we're not here that long. Let's love each other and also have fun while we're here. Amen.
Brian:I love it. I love it. Thank you, I love it If you enjoyed this episode don't forget to follow this podcast and leave us a review.