In Episode 151, I finish telling the story of C&M Entertainment—one of the most important chapters of my life and my podcasting/content-creation career.Before continuing the story, I take accountability for some things I said about Marcel in my original 2018 podcast episode. Looking back with nearly a decade of hindsight, I realized that anger affected how I told that story, and I felt it was important to correct the record and apologize for the things I got wrong.From there, I pick up where Part 1 left off: C&M Entertainment becomes an actual episodic YouTube show.I talk about creating the characters, filming Season One, the challenges we faced behind the scenes, Season Two, the plans we had for Season Three, and why I genuinely believed C&M had a future.Then everything changed.My 2020 car accident changed my life, both of our lives became increasingly busy, and the future of C&M Entertainment became uncertain. Eventually, the creative partnership ended—and so did my friendship with Marcel.But this isn't a story about blame.It's a story about friendship, creativity, ambition, disappointment, accountability, and letting go.Looking back in 2026, I can recognize where Marcel was wrong, where I was wrong, and where both of us simply made mistakes while trying to figure out life.I still miss my friend. I miss what we built. But C&M Entertainment was a chapter of my life—and even though that chapter ended, the lessons I learned from it became part of the foundation for what I'm building today with the Springer Podcast Network.This is the downfall of C&M Entertainment—and the story of what it left behind.

For Episode 150 of The Cody Springer Show, I take a trip back through one of the most important chapters of my podcasting and content-creation career: C&M Entertainment.Before there was The Springer Podcast Network, there was C&M.In Part 1, I go all the way back to 2017 and the creation of The Visionary Network, my first attempt at building a network of creators. I talk about what went wrong with that project, including the mistake I made with a 9/11 conspiracy video, and why I take responsibility for how that situation unfolded.From there, I tell the story of how Marcel Salcido and I decided to build something of our own, creating C&M Entertainment, multiple YouTube channels, and eventually the C&M Podcast.I also open up about what it was like living with Marcel, the difficult period he went through, the problems that eventually caused us to fall out, how we reconciled, and how our friendship continued to evolve.Eventually, we came up with what I believed was our biggest idea yet: turning C&M Entertainment into an episodic YouTube television show.And that's where Part 1 ends.We'll get into the actual production of C&M Entertainment, Seasons 1 and 2, my life-changing accident, the eventual breakdown of our friendship, and what C&M ultimately taught me in Part 2 next week.This isn't an episode about attacking anyone. It's me looking back on an important part of my life with a much more mature and reflective perspective than I had when I originally discussed these events in 2021.C&M Entertainment was only one chapter of my story—but it helped build the foundation for what I'm doing today.

Sometimes people leave your life because they hurt you. Sometimes life simply takes you in different directions. And sometimes, you have to be honest enough to admit that you played a part in why a friendship fell apart.In Episode 149 of The Cody Springer Show, Cody Springer gets personal and reflects on three very different friendships from his past.Cody talks about Jake, his best friend from high school, and how two people can grow apart without anger, betrayal, or resentment. Sometimes friendships simply fade as life takes people in different directions.Then Cody shares the much more complicated story of Allyson, a former friend and coworker whose relationship with him became increasingly toxic and destructive. Cody reflects on manipulation, dishonesty, unhealthy relationships, addiction, bad decisions, and eventually realizing that he had to remove himself from the situation before somebody else's choices consumed him.Cody also talks about Marcel Salcido, a former close friend he considers like a brother. Rather than rehashing the entire story, Cody focuses on his own role in the friendship falling apart. Looking back, he recognizes that he had expectations of Marcel that weren't always fair, that he sometimes viewed the friendship too much from his own perspective, and that those expectations may have clouded his judgment.The episode also explores forgiveness, boundaries, closure, and the important difference between forgiving someone and allowing them back into your life.Sometimes you have to let people go.Sometimes you have to set boundaries.And sometimes you have to look in the mirror and ask yourself what role you played.Not every person you lose was supposed to stay.

What happens when something that looks like children's entertainment turns out to be something much darker?In Episode 148 of The Cody Springer Show, I take a look at Plushy's Playground, a disturbing analog-horror ARG created by filmmaker Jordan Graham. What initially appears to be a colorful children's playground quickly turns into a much darker story involving children, a fictional predator, kidnapping, death, and murder.I discovered Plushy's Playground after seeing a TikTok from user @katiee_maee0, whose six-year-old daughter reportedly stumbled across the website. After investigating what her daughter had found, Katie became extremely concerned about the content and raised allegations that the project was grooming children.I want to make my position very clear: I am not accusing Jordan Graham of being a groomer. I don't know his intentions, and I don't believe we have enough information to make that claim as a fact. At the same time, I can't ignore how disturbing this material is, especially when we're talking about children potentially being exposed to it.

What are your personal boundaries—and are the people in your life respecting them?In Episode 147 of The Cody Springer Show, Cody dives into the importance of setting healthy boundaries and why they're essential for protecting your peace. From people showing up unannounced, guests who get a little too comfortable, and spoilers that ruin movies and video games, to relationship expectations and personal space, Cody shares real-life experiences and explains why respect is the foundation of every healthy relationship.This isn't about controlling other people—it's about communicating what you're comfortable with and surrounding yourself with people who respect those limits. If you've ever felt like someone was overstepping, this episode is for you.

We've all heard the saying: "Work hard, keep your head down, and you'll be rewarded." But is that really how the workplace works?In Episode 146 of The Cody Springer Show, I take a deep dive into the reality of workplace politics, favoritism, promotions, and why hard work isn't always enough to move up the ladder. Drawing from my own experiences at McDonald's, Papa Murphy's, and Panera Bread, I share moments where promotions didn't always seem to come down to merit alone—and why I refused to compromise my principles just to get ahead.I also discuss the culture of "kiss asses," why staying out of workplace politics may have worked against me, and the leadership qualities I believe companies should actually reward. If I were running my own business, what would I look for in a leader? And should seniority matter when promotions are on the line?Whether you've been passed over for a promotion, dealt with favoritism, or simply wondered why the hardest worker isn't always the one who gets ahead, this episode is for you.Topics CoveredWorkplace politics and favoritismMy experiences at McDonald's, Papa Murphy's, and Panera BreadWhy hard work isn't always enoughThe problem with "kiss ass" cultureMerit vs. personality vs. seniorityThe qualities that make a true leaderHow I would promote employees if I owned a company

Have you noticed that getting good customer service feels harder than ever? From endless automated phone systems and AI chatbots to outsourced call centers and longer wait times, it seems like the customer experience has taken a backseat.In this episode, Cody Springer breaks down why he believes customer service is in decline. Drawing from his own experiences as both a customer and a former McDonald's manager, Cody shares stories about dealing with angry customers, being threatened on the job, and even having nugget sauce thrown at him through a drive-thru window. He also discusses the rise of AI in customer support, corporate cost-cutting, outsourcing, and why respect seems to be disappearing on both sides of the counter.Is customer service really dying—or has the way we treat one another simply changed?Join the conversation and let us know your thoughts.

We've all been told to be kind, help others, and treat people the way we want to be treated. But what happens when being "too nice" starts costing you your peace?In this deeply personal episode of The Cody Springer Show, Cody shares the hard lessons he learned from years of putting other people before himself. From being taken advantage of by a former roommate to struggling as a manager who wanted to be everyone's friend, he opens up about how people-pleasing and avoiding conflict ultimately held him back.More importantly, Cody explains how those experiences changed the way he approaches life today. He discusses the philosophies he now lives by—including why respect is a two-way street, why loyalty should be earned instead of freely given, why healthy boundaries aren't selfish, and how there's a big difference between being assertive and simply being an asshole.If you've ever struggled with saying "no," felt taken advantage of, or worried about disappointing people, this episode is for you.In this episode:Why being too nice can become a weaknessThe roommate who taught me a painful lesson about trustWhat managing people taught me about leadershipWhy respect and loyalty have to be earnedThe importance of setting boundariesThe difference between confidence and arrogancePractical advice for breaking free from people-pleasing.

Have you ever picked up your phone to check one notification, only to realize 30 minutes have disappeared? In this episode of The Cody Springer Show, Cody Springer explores why so many of us struggle to put our phones down—and why the real issue may not be our phones at all, but the apps competing for our attention.From the rise of smartphones and social media to the endless scroll of TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Shorts, Cody discusses how modern apps are designed to keep us engaged, how short-form content may be changing the way we consume information, and why many of us are missing conversations, moments, and memories while staring at our screens. He also examines the impact technology can have on attention spans, relationships, boredom, memory, and genuine human connection.This isn't a call to throw your phone away—it's an honest conversation about becoming more intentional with how we use technology and asking one important question:Are you using your phone... or is your phone using you?

Check out Phantom Lines TattooIs modern dating actually broken... or have dating apps made it that way?In this episode of The Cody Springer Show, Cody shares his own frustrating experiences with dating apps, from unread messages and conversations that went nowhere to the unrealistic expectations that leave so many people feeling discouraged. He dives into how both men and women often chase perfection instead of genuine connection, why endless swiping has changed the way we approach relationships, and whether dating app companies are more interested in keeping users subscribed than helping them find lasting love.Cody also explains why he believes people looking for marriage, casual dating, hookups, or simply validation shouldn't all be thrown into the same dating pool, and even pitches his own idea for two dating apps that could make the experience more honest and effective.Finally, he shares the story of how he met his wife while working at McDonald's, proving that sometimes the best relationships happen when you least expect them—not through a swipe on your phone.If you've ever been ghosted, ignored, frustrated with online dating, or wondered if there's a better way to meet someone, this episode is for you.Topics include:Cody's personal dating app experiencesUnrealistic expectations in modern datingWhy perfection doesn't existThe business model behind dating appsHookup culture vs. serious relationshipsCody's concept for better dating appsHow he met his wifeWhy patience and authenticity still matter