Milwaukee, WI
How two Milwaukee friends took the Crash Dummies podcast from zero listeners to millions
MILWAUKEE — In the past few years, podcasts have become incredibly popular. Like really popular. You’ve probably even heard someone say, “Oh yea, I would have such a great podcast” or “Yea, me and my friends would have the best show”. Although, they never actually do it. Except for two friends from Milwaukee. They started a podcast about three years ago and now reach millions of people.
Introducing the Crash Dummies Podcast. It’s hosted by longtime friends Michael Esiobu and Patrick Johnson. They talk about current events and random topics. In three years, they have filmed 172 episodes and have gained more than 2 million followers across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
“There was a point where we were talking to no one, and now we’re talking to millions of people,” Michael Esiobu said.
The two film inside a Milwaukee studio. As far as podcast setups go, it’s not fancy. And that probably helps their case. The Crash Dummies Podcast is all about being authentic, genuine, and impromptu. It’s not overly produced and that’s the point.
“I think about 99% of the time I don’t know what his topics are and that’s what we like. I’ll hide something from him. He’ll hide something from me, and then he’ll like in the spur of the moment he’ll be like I’ve got a question for you,” Patrick Johnson said.
They are just two friends cracking jokes, taking viewer calls, and not taking things too seriously.
“If you watch us with a guest, I guarantee you leave that podcast knowing little about that guest’s personal life,” Johnson said.
Watch to see what makes the Crash Dummies Podcast so special…
The Milwaukee friends behind the Crash Dummies podcast
That’s why so many watch and listen every week. They mess around. They invite viewers to call and they roast them. They pick a few topics and dive into them whether they know a lot about them or not. In fact, they prefer not to do a whole bunch of research first.
“I think sometimes it’s more fun for us when we don’t actually Google everything, and we’re just going off the top of our head,” Esiobu said.
As the show continues to grow, they want to have more guests. Also, Johnson and Esiobu want to take the podcast on the road and host live shows.
Viewer calls are a big part of the show. Every episode features a few different calls from fans. They believe in-person interaction would be even more entertaining.
“We don’t really make hard-cuts edits on our YouTube. We just let (the show) flow, and people still enjoy that. So I know that if they enjoy that through a screen, it will be 10 times better live,” Johnson said.
It’s that unpredictability and humor that’s caused millions to tune in and will hopefully help them sell out theaters nationwide.
Talk to us:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip
Milwaukee, WI
Fox Point fire Sunday night, multiple crews respond
FOX POINT, Wis. – A fire broke out in a Fox Point neighborhood on Sunday night, Dec. 22.
The Brown Deer Fire Department and Milwaukee Fire Department confirmed multiple units responded to the fire in a neighborhood on Barnett Lane.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
It’s currently unclear what started the fire.
Milwaukee, WI
Wisconsin holiday gas prices falling as thousands hit the road
MILWAUKEE – Thousands across Wisconsin are expected to hit the road for the holiday. The travel comes at a good time – because GasBuddy experts predict nationwide gas prices will be at their lowest point on Christmas Day since 2020.
At Good Hope and Green Bay roads, Victor Tran is filling up – and it’s not a bad time to do so.
“The gas right now. Very, very good right now. They’re getting lower. Better than they were before,” Trans said.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
According to AAA, the average for a gallon of regular gas in Wisconsin is around $2.82 per gallon. The average in Milwaukee County on Sunday, Dec. 22 was around $2.79. That is lower than Ozaukee County with an average of around $2.93. All those prices are below the $3 per gallon national average.
Patrick De Haan is the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
“It’s the seasonality that’s really been the primary reason for gas prices that have fallen compared to where they were this summer,” De Haan said. “In the last couple of days we have seen a big jump in some parts of Wisconsin ahead of the holiday. That has to do with oil prices jumping up.”
But De Haan believes prices will once again fall in Milwaukee. He suggests waiting until closer to Christmas to fill up.
GasBuddy suggests people always check fuel prices before filling up – especially when crossing the state line.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android
“I do think a high number of Americans are likely going to be hitting the road in light of the relatively low gas prices,” De Haan said.
De Haan predicts prices will rise after the cold winter months.
“What goes down eventually will go up in the spring,” De Haan said.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee shooting near 14th and North; 25-year-old accused
MILWAUKEE – A 25-year-old Milwaukee man is accused of shooting another man near a gas station near 14th and North. The accused is Dreaten Burch – and he faces a single charge of first-degree reckless injury.
According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police responded on Sunday evening, Dec. 8 to a shooting near 14th and North Avenue. Officers spoke with relatives of the shooting victim who came home with a gunshot wound to his face. They believed he had been at a nearby gas station.
That same night, a detective went to Froedtert Hospital where the shooting victim was being treated for his wound. He indicated he “exchanged words with the driver of a white vehicle, then ran west on North Avenue and got shot in the face as he ran,” the complaint says. The victim said he did not see who shot him.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
Milwaukee police responded to the Citgo gas station near 14th and North and reviewed surveillance video showing the suspect and victim. The complaint says the “video shows that at about 5:31 p.m., a man walks into Citgo, then leaves and walks through the parking lot. At about 5:33 p.m., a white vehicle turns into the parking lot and appears to nearly strike the man in the parking lot, who has to avoid the vehicle. The vehicle parks, then a suspect exits the driver’s door, then heads in the same direction as the first man.”
Investigators found a casing and unspent cartridge northeast of the intersection of 14th and North. Police “later found additional surveillance video showing the man and suspect heading to this location, and showing the man returning to the white vehicle,” the complaint says.
Investigators reviewed photos of the suspect vehicle. They also queried the Flock Safety database and found a matching vehicle within three days of the incident. Officers had previously stopped the vehicle — and identified the driver as Dreaten Burch.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android
Burch was arrested on Dec. 9. When police tried to question him about the shooting incident at the gas station, Burch “said he may have been at the gas station and may have been in the car, but he didn’t know about anything else,” the complaint says.
Burch made his initial appearance in Milwaukee County court on Saturday, Dec. 14. Cash bond was set at $10,000.
-
Politics1 week ago
Canadian premier threatens to cut off energy imports to US if Trump imposes tariff on country
-
Technology1 week ago
OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever says the way AI is built is about to change
-
Politics1 week ago
U.S. Supreme Court will decide if oil industry may sue to block California's zero-emissions goal
-
Technology1 week ago
Meta asks the US government to block OpenAI’s switch to a for-profit
-
Business1 week ago
Freddie Freeman's World Series walk-off grand slam baseball sells at auction for $1.56 million
-
Technology1 week ago
Meta’s Instagram boss: who posted something matters more in the AI age
-
News1 week ago
East’s wintry mix could make travel dicey. And yes, that was a tornado in Calif.
-
Technology2 days ago
Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps