Big Fan

Beach Trips, Big Wins and Bracket Busters!

Chad and Hank are back from their March Madness getaway weekends with plenty of stories to tell. From beach house poker games and golf trips to late-night laughs, bar stops, and unforgettable group traditions, this episode is packed with the kind of weekend recaps only Big Fan can deliver. The guys also break down brackets, Final Four predictions, Hickory High sports, Masters talk, songs dudes hate to admit they like and a legendary 50th birthday celebration in Charlotte.
Music included in this episode: Natalie Brooke "Hands"

March Madness, NYC Mayhem & Beach Trip Traditions

On this special March Madness edition of Big Fan, Chad and Hank swap stories from two very different weekends. Chad recaps an unforgettable first trip to New York City filled with airport hustles, legendary bars, steakhouse splurges, Madison Square Garden, and a courtside brush with basketball royalty. Meanwhile, Hank shares tales from the baseball field, a mountain of mulch, and Big Fan’s growing fanbase in Lincoln County. The guys also dive into their favorite March Madness traditions, beach trip plans, bracket picks, upset predictions, and Final Four favorites. 
Music included in this episode Luther Vandross' "One Shining Moment"
 

Opening Day, Olympic Glory & The Great Tipping Debate

BIG FAN returns! Chad and Hank kick things off with the excitement of Hickory High baseball opening day and the pride of watching young athletes step into their moment.They look back on the thrill of Team USA’s Olympic hockey gold and celebrate everything that made this Winter Olympics memorable. The guys also break down this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees and make their picks for who should get in. Along the way, they talk tennis season, a New York City trip, and local playoff basketball. They wrap it all up with a funny and very relatable debate about modern tipping etiquette.
Music included in this episode
Billy Idol: Dancing With Myself
Phil Collins: A Groovy Kind of Love
Wu-Tang Clan: Triumph

Snow Day Weekend, Lost Keys, and Super Bowl Munchies

BIG FAN has returned (and on schedule) from their “after Super Bowl” hangover: Hickory weather whiplash, an all-time snow-day weekend (bowling + Bootleggers + golf simulator + Golden Tee), and Chad’s brutal key fob saga that nearly turned into a $900 mistake—until a clutch mobile key-fob truck saved the day. Plus: Hank’s Super Bowl munchies hierarchy, Olympics talk, Valentine’s Day opinions, local sports updates, and what’s ahead for the Big Fan crew.
Music included in this episode: Michael McDonald "I Keep Forgetting"

We’re Back: The Lost Summer, Health Scares, and a Fresh Start

After a six-month hiatus, BIG FAN is back! From a brutal diverticulitis ER visit to a terrifying mystery pressure issue in the brain that led to MRIs, a spinal tap, and ultimately surgery, this episode is a funny, honest reminder that if you don’t have your health… you don’t have much. Plus! Hickory winter storm chaos, the new MESH studio next to a historic theater in Newton, and what we're looking forward to in 2026.
Music included in this episode: I Dont Need No Doctor - Ray Charles

Midsummer Madness, DMV Drama, and Mustard on Watermelon

It’s a midsummer edition of BIG FAN and the guys are heating up! Chad enjoys fireworks close enough to singe your eyebrows while Hank recounts the DMV disaster that almost derailed his son's big driving test. The boys swap Fourth of July memories, debate peaches vs. watermelon, and dive into Hank’s Hierarchy: Summer Edition. From lake noodling to movie nights at the Big D, this one's packed with laughs, nostalgia, and a splash of chaos.
Music used in this episode: Tribe Called Quest "Electric Relaxation"
#BigFanPodcast#MidsummerEdition#DMVDisaster#FireworksFail#PoolLife#HanksHierarchy#WatermelonVsPeaches#DadLife#SmallTownSummer#TheMeshPodcastNetwork

Sweat, Sunburns & Superstar Spouses

We're back for a sweaty edition on BIG FAN! In this episode, Chad debuts some truly terrible summer poetry, Hank sweats through Atlanta traffic, and the guys debate who they’d marry if they could be a stay-at-home spouse to a superstar. Plus, fake tattoos, fantasy football drama, a giant toddler, and sunburns so bad you question your life choices. Summer’s heating up—and so is this episode of BIG FAN!
Music included in this episode: Nelly: Hot in Here

Hot Dogs, Blockbusters & The Big D: Your 2025 Summer Movie Survival Guide

It’s the 2025 Big Fan Summer Blockbuster Movie Extravaganza! Chad, Hank, and movie guru Camden Tucker break down the can't-miss flicks and the duds to dodge this summer. From Superman and Jurassic World to Megan 2.0 and Naked Gun, they rank, roast, and rave over everything coming to a screen near you. Plus, find out who conquered a nine-dog challenge at a Crawdads game and what movie snack is worth sneaking past security. This one’s got action, comedy, horror—and ketchup.
Music included in this episode: Spafford "Slip and Squander"
#BigFanPodcast #SummerBlockbusters #Superman2025 #JurassicWorldRebirth #CamdenReviews #CrawdadsChallenge #MovieSnackConfessions #DolbyCinemaVibes #HickoryNC #TheMeshNetwork

Metallica, Muffin Tops & Mother’s Day Buffets

Hank and Chad are back—eventually—for another unforgettable BIG FAN episode!
From lonely studios to Metallica tailgate woks, they cover it all.Chad relives an epic stadium concert that ended on the field, while Hank breaks down buffet math and fake cherry blossoms in Gastonia.
They debate the worst songs of all time, shout out Daniel Willis (congrats, dad!), and get hyped for the hum’s grand opening.
Oh, and Chad's insurance saga? Turns out miracles do happen.
 
Music included in this episode: Boyz To Men Motownphilly

Member-Member & The Great Car Insurance Robbery

Chad and Hank are back with tales of car insurance heartbreak, HVAC meltdowns, and midlife tennis comebacks. Chad’s headed to see Metallica at Lane Stadium, Hank’s pressure washing like a suburban warrior, and both are praying their air conditioning holds through member-member weekend. There’s drama over golf invites, shady Rock & Roll Hall snubs, and a heroic dog finally free of his cone. Hickory’s hottest podcast covers everything from the Kentucky Derby to Salt-N-Pepa.
Helpful links from the episode: the hum, Hickory FC, Derby Party
Music included in this episode: Warren Zevon "Excitable Boy"
#BigFanPodcast#MetallicaAtLane#MemberMemberDrama#HVACHorrors#CarInsuranceScam#RockAndRollHallOfSnubs#PressureWashingWarrior#ConeOfShame#KentuckyDerbyParty#HickoryNCEvents