Hey, it’s Dave—and on this episode of Building a Better Dave, I talk all about the weirdness that is Halloween in my neighborhood lately. As October rolls in, I’ve noticed a crazy escalation in skeleton yard decorations. What used to be simple six-foot skeletons have turned into these massive twelve-foot giants. I can’t help but wonder if this is just the middle-aged version of keeping up with the Joneses.

Halloween itself has always struck me as strange, especially when you factor in how expensive candy has gotten (seriously, $15 a bag now?!) and how we’ve all just accepted feeding our kids mountains of sugar as tradition. Confession: If I buy a bunch of candy, I’m probably just going to eat it myself, which is why I might skip handing it out altogether and let myself get "tricked" this year.

This episode, I also reminisce about the good old days of Halloween pranks—TPing houses, knocking and running, and my brother’s infamous police escort home after getting caught. My dad was definitely not amused. It feels like those harmless pranks just don’t happen anymore—probably because today’s doorbell cameras have killed the fun.

Of course, I have to mention bobbing for apples, which, looking back, is basically waterboarding with fruit. Pump enough apple cider into a kid and you end up with what I like to call the “Runs” (and I list every synonym I can think of—because why not?).

And what’s up with every costume needing to be "slutty" these days? Slutty nurse, slutty librarian, even slutty Daffy Duck! Not sure when that trend started, but it seems to get more out there every year.

I wrap up by admitting I bought a new Christmas tree—when all I intended was a little four-foot tree, I walked out with a seven-and-a-half foot beauty. Honestly, I think I’m trying to recapture one of my favorite childhood memories: coming in from the snow, curling up in front of the tree with a thick blanket and some hot chocolate from my mom. That feeling of safety just sticks with me, especially as the holidays get closer.

Hope you enjoy my holiday ramblings, stories of waterboarding for fruit, and my skepticism about modern Halloween. Until next time, hang in there—it’s going to get better.

Highlights:

• Giant skeletons and the one-upmanship of Halloween decorations

• The economics—and temptations—of Halloween candy

• How doorbell cameras ruined classic Halloween pranks

• Bobbing for apples: my take on this bizarre tradition

• The rise of “slutty” costumes and my bewilderment

• Reflecting on the holidays and chasing those cozy, safe memories

Did this episode make you laugh,cry, think, or groan? Consider buying Dave a coffee.

In this episode, I open up about a recent experience I had on Reddit where, despite my own advice, I ended up feeding the trolls. I share how I got pulled into a frustrating back-and-forth with someone who just wasn’t open to any input, and how that made me reflect on my own “educator mindset”—the urge to resolve every conflict or misunderstanding online.

I talk about the importance of setting boundaries not just with online trolls, but also when inviting podcast guests onto your show. Remember: if someone really wants to be on your show, they’ll usually find time that works for you.

On the personal side, I give an update about being busier than ever at my church due to a colleague’s health issues. I discuss how this has affected my routine, my stress levels (thanks for the heads up, Oura Ring!), and the push I’m giving myself to prioritize health and movement—even if it means just getting out to walk at my local park. Plus, I share a little inspiration from watching the Ozzy Osbourne documentary "Coming Home," which has me thinking about aging, health, and making time for what really matters.

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Key Takeaways:

- Don’t let internet trolls drain your energy—learn to recognize when to disengage (even if you think that last message might “fix” things).
- When it comes to podcasting, don’t be afraid to set your own boundaries around scheduling guests.
- Some people just aren’t open to feedback, and that’s okay—sometimes it’s best to step back.
- Make sure your social profiles link to your website to help connect with people you actually can help.
- Growth comes from noticing your own patterns—and learning from your mistakes.
- Keep prioritizing your health and well-being, even when life gets busy.
- Inspiration can come from unexpected places—even a documentary about Ozzy Osbourne.

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Links Mentioned:

Coming Home -Ozzy Osbourne documentary

Connect with Me:

betterdave.com

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the episode, do consider buying me a coffee :)

So I had no idea I would get backlash about saying, "Hey I think Charlie Kirk might be on to something about this we shold all talk to each other.." thing going on. I got TONS of people tell me to dig deeper and I found a black, gay dude standing up for Charlie.

Wait, I thought Charlie was a racist homophobe? Then I was told to quit cherry picking videos. Taylor Swift casting spells? Um, no.