AUDIO:
"Live at KHUM," June 21, 2025.
The following is a rough machine transcript. Click the words to skip to that point in the audio.
DJ TOBY:
Good morning Ike. How are you sir? Great. Nice to see you again. Has the dust settled a little bit on your adventures having everything to do with spelling bees? Are you calm down?
IKE SPERLING:
Not even close.
DJ TOBY:
Not even close? So are you still involved in everything and getting crazy with it all?
IKE:
I'm restarting for next year.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, that's ... I talked to the, the, the listeners this morning about one of the major things I wanted to find out is how do you feel about things going forward? And we're going to get there in just one minute, but I just want to let the listeners know if you haven't tuned in before, just now, if you'll recall, Ike was our Humboldt County spelling bee champion in fourth grade. He went in against all the big dogs from seventh grade and lower and got ...
IKE:
Eighth grade and lower.
DJ TOBY:
I apologize. I'm so glad that you're here to, to fix that part because we don't want to omit anybody. And handily took care of becoming our county's spelling bee champion. Right. What was the word again that you, that you won on?
IKE:
Continuum. It was not the hardest that there was.
DJ TOBY:
But I guess that that would happen that sometimes you know luck of the draw right sometimes you're gonna get one that ... kind of like your Scripps experience, I suppose
IKE:
Although the UU was pretty hard.
DJ TOBY:
Two u's back to back. That's right. I remember you telling me about that.But I would have lost in the first round. I am NOT a speller. I'm such a bad speller, Ike, that my spell check on my phone doesn't even know what to correct it to, to suggest what's right or wrong. But in doing so in and in winning that the county spelling bee championship You got a chance to go to Scripps, right?
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
Tell us a little bit about how that experience was. I'd like to know how the preparation for Scripps ... was it different than prepping for your county's?
IKE:
Absolutely.
DJ TOBY:
Yeah, how so?
IKE:
I had to study more, there were harder words, there was a completely new category...
DJ TOBY:
Now, is Scripps set up the same way that the Spelling Bee was set up in here in the county?
IKE:
No.
DJ TOBY:
And I mean more as like, obviously the rooms are different, the tour, all of that is completely different, right? You're in front of lights and cameras and stadium, right?
IKE:
They make it look like a game show.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, is that right? That was the feeling. It was a game show.
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
That's a very cool analogy. So how does it differ? How does the way that it's run in Scripps differ from the county level?
IKE:
In Scripps, in the first few rounds, they're more like, you're out, don't even consider the fact that you could get back on.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, so one and done.
IKE:
Yep. But in the county if you got out they ask you to stay on in case everybody missed it.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, interesting. So what, what happened in the intro? Well, I guess that somebody's, they could just assume that in Scripps that somebody's going to get it right. Someone's going to get the word, right. You don't see many instances of like a whole bunch of them not getting it right.
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
How is it scheduled? I want to know how far in advance do you know how, when you're going on stage?
IKE:
I knew about the week before.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, so they send you out in like an itinerary and say you're gonna be in this group.
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
And then this group goes on at this time.
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
How many kids in a group?
IKE:
50.
DJ TOBY:
50, so they're knocking out blocks of 50 at a time.
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
My gosh, that's like a massacre. Okay, you get the group. When do your nerves come into play?
IKE:
I...
DJ TOBY:
Or if ever. I mean, I know you well enough now to know that it's gonna take a lot to rattle you, right? But when you get your group of 50, are you like, oh my gosh, it's real or you're like right on business as usual?
IKE:
No, I got scared when I heard the first word.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, so you okay, so let's get there. Okay, so you you've got your group you show up. What time of day did you go on?
IKE:
Nine in the morning.
DJ TOBY:
Nine in the morning, so you're there and it's at a hotel, I'm assuming?
IKE:
Gaylord.
DJ TOBY:
OK, in Maryland. So you get there and how early did you get to the Gaylord to prepare?
IKE:
I got there on Sunday at 10 o'clock at night.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, and then what time did you go on stage?
IKE:
Tuesday 9 o'clock in the morning.
DJ TOBY:
Did you get to stay at the Gaylord?
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, that's fantastic. So you didn't have to even get in a car and have to worry about city travel. You got to like take an elevator.
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, so nine o'clock in the morning, your group comes in. When do you find out what number you are to go up?
IKE:
Right when I go on.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, so what time did you actually get on stage?
IKE:
9:15.
DJ TOBY:
OK, so you didn't have to wait around too long, okay? So you get, it's your turn next, okay? How are you feeling watching the first, the couple people go before you?
IKE:
I feel a few words that I know, but a ton more words that I do not.
DJ TOBY:
So you're watching spellers get words that some you know, some you don't.
IKE:
And they're incredibly hard, no matter what.
DJ TOBY:
In the first round.
IKE:
Half of them are French.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, you're kidding. Now, did you do anything to prepare or study French, the French aspects?
IKE:
I study French a bit with my friend, who goes to France every summer.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, okay, well, that's good preparation, but I mean, how do you possibly study in two languages, right?
IKE:
And then I studied the words to themselves.
DJ TOBY:
You don't speak French, do you?
IKE:
Nope.
DJ TOBY:
Okay. Okay, so now you... Steven.
(DAD):
Just to clarify, they're words of French origin in the English language.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, okay.
(DAD):
So, to be clear, he's not having to learn French.
DJ TOBY:
They're going like, that sounds like a big curveball, right?
(DAD):
But they're not common words in the English language, so they are very-
IKE:
Not all of them.
(DAD):
Okay, fair enough, but you don't have to speak French to compete in the bee.
DJ TOBY:
Phew! That's a good clarification. Awesome, awesome. Okay, so you get your, no you're up, you get up on stage, the lights are up there, are you feeling, how are you feeling being up on stage, being in the spotlight, all of that, all the things that come with that. How are you feeling?
IKE:
I'm feeling, I felt good about it, but then when I realized the words, I got scared. I started running through the stuff I knew in my brain.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, this is before you were given your word.
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
Okay. So you start to run through, kind of categorically cataloging the words that you know, wondering which words you're going to get.
IKE:
And the one I got, I had no idea what it was.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, that's what I want to get to. Here's the meat and potatoes. Ready? What word did you get assigned to you for your first ever national spelling bee?
IKE:
Co-in-oor.
DJ TOBY:
Say it again.
IKE:
Co-in-oor.
DJ TOBY:
Co-owner?
IKE:
Co-in-oor.
DJ TOBY:
Co-in-oor. What does it mean?
IKE:
It is the largest diamond in the British Crown jewels.
DJ TOBY:
And what types of questions are you allowed to ask to really get to understand that word a little bit before you spell it?
IKE:
I can ask the definition, the language of origin, the ... definition ...
DJ TOBY:
No ...
IKE:
... pronunciation ...
(DAD):
What do they give you and they ask for all the ...
IKE:
... pronunciation, definition, language of origin.
DJ TOBY:
What did you ask for? What did you... Did you ask any clarifying questions or did you just jump right in and try to spell it?
IKE:
I had no idea what it was. I asked for all the information.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, so you get all the information for this word. Say it one more time.
IKE:
Co-in-oor.
DJ TOBY:
Co-in-oor. You get all of the information for that word. What do you do with that information when you're ready to pull the trigger and begin to start spelling it? You start to see it in your head, you start to be like, okay, it looks maybe this way. Walk us through that process a little bit.
IKE:
I didn't really listen to the information, I just used it as time to think.
DJ TOBY:
I got it. Oh, that's interesting. That's an interesting tactic. So you didn't listen to what they're saying because you just wanted to buy some time to work through your own process, 'cause that's where you're comfortable.
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
And how did it go? You just went straight for the jugular, just spelled it the way that you thought that you wanted to spell it.
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
And it wasn't right.
IKE:
Nope.
DJ TOBY:
Didn't get it right. How do you remember how you spelled it versus how it's actually spelled?
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
Go ahead.
IKE:
C ...
DJ TOBY:
Is this, I'm sorry. Is this how it's actually spelled or how you spelled it?
IKE:
This is how I spelled it.
DJ TOBY:
Okay
IKE:
C-O-I-N-N-E-U-R.
DJ TOBY:
And how is it actually spelled?
IKE:
K-O-H hypen I hyphen N-O-O-R.
DJ TOBY:
My jaw is on my keyboard. Are you supposed to say hyphen?
IKE:
No.
DJ TOBY:
So, oh my, okay, that's ridiculous. Bro, that doesn't even come close to anything. I'm dumbfounded that that's a first round word. They are really like slashing and burning, aren't they?
IKE:
Actually, not really.
DJ TOBY:
Tell me.
IKE:
The first and second rounds are the only studied lists.
DJ TOBY:
Then what?
IKE:
And then the dictionary is your study list.
DJ TOBY:
Oh my goodness.
IKE:
Although, what's good with the next few rounds, after the first, is I'm good with the vocabulary. And that would get me through the second round, because I only have to spell one. And then I'm good with the structure of words, so that would probably get me through the other sections.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, how big is the list that you have to study from on the first and second rounds?
IKE:
Not too big. Seven pages.
DJ TOBY:
And that word was on that page?
IKE:
Yeah.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, so I do like, and I've always liked, at the national level, when you spell a word incorrectly, it's not like a big, it's not that big, they do the little bell, right? So the bell means that you did not get it right.
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
What was your initial thought when you heard the bell?
IKE:
My initial thought was, well, I could try again next year.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, that's my man right there. That's my guy right there. That's why you're back in this chair, because you are telling us two things right now. A), that you have the fortitude to look at it from the proper perspective as it's happening. You didn't even allow yourself to be disappointed or feel gut punched. I mean, I'm sure that you are a little disappointed.
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
I mean, you have to be, right? But you're also letting us know that you are planning on coming back for next year.
IKE:
Yes, I am.
DJ TOBY:
So did you stick around and watch the rest of the round? Did you watch the rest of the spelling bee?
IKE:
I watched the rest of the round figured .. And then there's this ... That reminds me. There was this one ridiculously easy word on the hardest list
DJ TOBY:
Really?
IKE:
WAF.
DJ TOBY:
What is it? What does WAF mean?
IKE:
Women's Air Force.
DJ TOBY:
W-A-F.
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
And that's the proper spelling?
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
And if somebody said the definition, please, they would say Women's Air Force.
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
Well, I guess at that point you got to assume that someone's trying to trick you, so you might throw in an extra letter or something in there.
IKE:
Yeah.
DJ TOBY:
That's bonkers. How was the rest of your time in Maryland after the spelling bee, after the dust settled?
IKE:
Good. Very good.
DJ TOBY:
Yeah, did you have a good time there?
IKE:
Yes. I dedicated my time to museums, went to the Natural History Museum twice.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, nice.
IKE:
Once to see the outside area and once to get a behind-the-scenes tour.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, you got it behind the scenes. Was it because you were with Scripps?
IKE:
No.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, just because.
IKE:
It was because my mom knew a person who had moved away from Cal Poly Humboldt and became the curator of the museum.
DJ TOBY:
That's fantastic. It's always good to know people, then. Now, did you cut your stay short in Maryland or did you stay there the whole time and end up...
IKE:
I stayed there the whole time.
DJ TOBY:
Did you watch the finals of the Scripps?
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
Fantastic.
IKE:
Got to see the winner floor himself.
DJ TOBY:
What does that mean?
IKE:
He fainted when he won.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, he did not.
IKE:
He did.
DJ TOBY:
Oh my gosh that oh that's awful that oh how was that did everyone like rush up on stage and ...
IKE:
Now he got two seconds later.
DJ TOBY:
OK. It wasn't, it wasn't a medical emergency.
IKE:
No.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, I mean, I can understand you're on the biggest stage in the world, right?
IKE:
And they just say you've won.
DJ TOBY:
That's it. You've won. That's, that's way more harsh than a bell. So next year, what is the proper process and what's going to happen next year to get you ready? Well, let me, sorry, I'm sorry to interrupt. Let me, what, what type of ... are you, do you have to go through it all from the very beginning, like you did here? What does it look like?
IKE:
I'm already studying this year's words because only 20% of them are changed, so that's 20% I won't need, and 80% I will, 80% I'll be knowing.
DJ TOBY:
And it's going to be structured the exact same as it was this year. It's going to be eighth graders and lower.
IKE:
Yep, although school and up to county will still be split into two groups.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, and then it's only one person from Humboldt that gets to go, is that correct?
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
Okay.
IKE:
It used to be three.
DJ TOBY:
And then you're going to make your way back to the Scripps?
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
That's my man right there. You're hoping to. Yeah, no, I mean, that's the thing, right? I mean, you prepare as much as you can and you take the good with the bad, but as long as you're prepared, you've got nothing to feel ashamed about, you have nothing to feel bad about.
IKE:
Plus it would actually be nice if I got out before or in County for once because then I wouldn't have to study so much and spend all of my time studying.
DJ TOBY:
That makes perfect sense. And you've got four years left to do this, right? Yes. And Scripps is also eighth grade.
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
That is...
IKE:
There was second grader this year.
DJ TOBY:
The winner was the second grader?
IKE:
There WAS a second grader.
DJ TOBY:
Was a second grader. How old was the winner? What grade?
IKE:
Eighth grade.
IKE:
I think he deserved to win.
DJ TOBY:
Excellent.
IKE:
He had gone in second place for the last three years.
DJ TOBY:
There's absolutely no doubt that I'm speaking on behalf of my listeners because I'm sure that they feel this way. We got a lot of response to when you first came on the show, and we ran the interview and the paper and all of that stuff. I got a lot of support for you coming back from that. So I'm speaking on behalf of them. We're extremely proud of how far you went, yes. We're very proud to have you represent Humboldt County, yes. But we're even more proud of the young man that you are and the way that you handled yourself in the face of adversity and defeat. You really get to know a person's character in the way that they handle defeat. And it sounds like you handled it exactly the way that you're supposed to handle it. So I hope that you feel extremely proud about that. Do you?
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
You should. And you know what to do next year.
IKE:
Yep. In fact, I've found a new studying strategy.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, really? Do you want to share with us, or is it like secret sauce?
IKE:
I'll be sharing.
DJ TOBY:
Go ahead.
IKE:
First things first, the person who came in second in my class spelling bee doesn't really want to do spelling anymore. However, the person who came in third, he's studying as hard as he can. If I study with him, that gives me a better chance.
DJ TOBY:
Are they going to be receptive to you studying with them?
IKE:
Nope.
(DAD):
Go to work.
IKE:
I know him. He's Enzo.
DJ TOBY:
That's amazing. And you just called him out.
IKE:
And then my other tactic is it there was a person in the finals who inspired me to do this. Sarvodnaya?
DJ TOBY:
Yeah?
IKE:
During one of the.. During the Memorial Day picnic. He went to suck behind the scenes with the pronouncer and they read a dictionary.
DJ TOBY:
Oh, really?
IKE:
Yep. You wanna know what he said before they read it?
DJ TOBY:
Tell me.
IKE:
Oh, I haven't read this edition of the dictionary before.
DJ TOBY:
You can tell between editions?
IKE:
Exactly. Meaning that he's read the others...
DJ TOBY:
Of course, yeah, if he can pick up the nuance and be able to say that with confidence, that's next-level.
IKE:
Yep. So, during the finals, he knew root words. He was asking them left and right.
DJ TOBY:
Really?
IKE:
Yes.
DJ TOBY:
So does that mean that you have to start studying different editions of the...
IKE:
No, I've got a dictionary of word origins and root words.
DJ TOBY:
Wow. Unbelievable. Well, I listen, I can't thank you enough for coming back in and letting us know because we were wondering how it all went. We did watch that, you know, that it ended quickly, but I wanted everyone to make sure that they heard straight from you that it was not a leveling that day. You are still standing strong and coming back hard. Yeah.
IKE:
There is something else I'd like to say about my defeat.
DJ TOBY:
Please, please.
IKE:
When I lost, it showed me that I can't just rely on being smart the whole time.
DJ TOBY:
Mmmmm!
IKE:
I have to truly work hard to get far.
DJ TOBY:
Brother, you are letting the K-HUM kids know exactly what they need to know, and that is applicable throughout life. You know, that is a huge life lesson.
IKE:
The people who made it farther, made it to the finals even, they probably won't learn that lesson for a few years.
DJ TOBY:
Maybe! That could very well be! But you got to ... In fact, in hindsight this could have been the best thing that could have happened because it allows you for the next three to four years to prepare with that in the back of your mind, right?
IKE:
Exactly.
DJ TOBY:
Yeah, that's that's tremendous. The the fact that you have pulled these life lessons out in which to make you a better person ... Sslid, man. You should feel very proud of that.
IKE:
I am.
DJ TOBY:
Well, then you're going to keep coming back and keeping us in tuned in abreast of what's happening with you and and how that When when does the next when does it start? What month? Do you know when the spelling bee for Humboldt starts?
IKE:
The spelling bee for Humboldt, the county, it starts in February.
DJ TOBY:
February. So....
IKE:
But my class is in December, and the school is in January.
DJ TOBY:
Okay, so it's pretty quick.
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
Yeah, and your dad will keep me up on everything and let me know what to look for, when to look, and let us know, and...
IKE:
I have all summer to study 80% of the words.
DJ TOBY:
That's the way to looking at it, you are gifted ...
IKE:
80% of the new words will come out in September.
DJ TOBY:
So they haven't released those yet.
IKE:
For ten bucks instead of waiting till the school gives it to you in January.
DJ TOBY:
That's and that is a $10. Well spent, right?
IKE:
Yep.
DJ TOBY:
Well, I ... you are the man. I appreciate you coming in today. Steven, thank you very much for bringing him back in. You guys have an absolute open door. That one's open for you, Steven, if you like.
(DAD):
Thank you. Thank you, Toby. Yeah, Ike didn't get a chance, but I think he, wanted to give a thank you. You want to ...
IKE:
I'd like to thank Jacoby Creek, Coast Credit Union, and ...
(DAD):
Humboldt County...
IKE:
... Humboldt County Office of Education.
DJ TOBY:
Fantastic.