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 behi...

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 ins...

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 readin...

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...

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 shi...

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,...

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 t...

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 insi...

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 encounter...

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...

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 fa...

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 sha...

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 industr...

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...

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 mana...