Stretched Thin

This week on Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon tackle marriage, AI, mental health, and the apparently timeless marital advice to "fight naked." After missing a week of recording, Joel explains what actually happened: a massive argument with Joanna that stretched across several days because, as anyone with young kids knows, resolving conflict is a little difficult when someone is constant...

This week on Stretched Thin , Joel discovers there actually is a limit to how many BMWs you can drive around a track before your body revolts. After getting invited to a BMW performance driving experience, Joel spends the day drifting, racing, networking, and trying desperately not to reach "stage three" of motion sickness. Along the way, he makes some promising connections for STAY and...

This week on Stretched Thin , Joel is back from London after a whirlwind 72-hour work trip that somehow included international travel chaos, two and a half hours of sleep, getting stuck in the rotating door of the wrong building, British people passionately defending American tailgating, and an idea he'd been working on for months finally coming to life. More importantly, the trip gives Joel...

This week on Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon talk about showing up, even when there's nothing impressive to show for it. Shannon shares a heavy story about Raymond, a homeless man who had been part of the Cadence Coffee and church community for years. After receiving an unexpected call from the hospital, Shannon learns that Raymond isn't going to make it. With no family to call and no...

Sometimes the win isn’t accomplishing something huge. Sometimes the win is simply not giving up. In this episode of Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon talk about what it looks like to keep showing up when you’re tired, discouraged, or wondering whether you’re actually doing anything right. Shannon shares what it’s been like returning to the classroom after 30 years while running a business, pastori...

In this episode of Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon talk about what happens when your mind turns one bad moment into a much bigger story. Joel shares a parenting scare that immediately sent him into self-blame, while Shannon reflects on grief after helping lead the funeral of a longtime church member. From there, the conversation moves into suicide, the people left behind after loss, and why pers...

This week on Stretched Thin , Shannon is back from a whirlwind father-son trip to New York City that included Yankee Stadium, the Statue of Liberty, 20,000-step days, a lost favorite hat, some questionable late-night navigation, and 72 hours of uninterrupted time with his son. Joel, meanwhile, is navigating a different kind of adventure at home: helping his wife prepare for their first week of hom...

This week on Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon talk about the sweat equity that goes into building something you actually care about, and the complicated realization that sometimes you become part of what you've built. Joel shares a major win for the STAY Project as its branded calling feature finally gets approved, meaning an SOS call can now show up as STAY Project instead of a random phone...

This week on Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon explore what it means to truly be present in a world that's constantly demanding more of your attention. Fresh off a three-day fast, Shannon shares how one simple book challenged him to recognize just how distracted he'd become. That realization leads to a quiet sunrise with his daughter before she heads back to college, intentional conversa...

This week on Stretched Thin , Joel is fresh off a songwriting retreat spent writing nearly twenty worship songs from the book of 1 Peter, while Shannon reflects on one of the most challenging seasons he's faced as a small business owner. What begins as a conversation about exhaustion, songwriting, and coffee shops quickly turns into something much deeper.  Joel shares stories from the retreat...

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In this episode of Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon talk about what it means to move forward even when you don't know how things will turn out. From broken air conditioners and business headaches to anniversary getaways and nonprofit dreams, this conversation is all about taking the next faithful step.  Joel shares a major milestone for the STAY Project as months of development finally lead...

After a few weeks apart, Shannon returns from a mission trip to Nicaragua with a fresh perspective on gratitude, listening, and what really matters. Joel shares an update on life at home, finally making progress on long-awaited projects while wrestling with the tension between productivity and simply being present with his family.  Together they talk about the surprising lessons that come from slo...

In this episode of Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon talk about the frustrations of waiting, the challenge of trusting God when nothing seems to be moving, and the importance of recognizing the small wins that keep us going.  Shannon shares a powerful story about making difficult financial decisions and then experiencing an unexpected act of generosity that reminded him that God often provides in...

In this episode of Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon dive into the frustration of feeling stuck, the danger of trying to do everything yourself, and why asking for help is often the breakthrough you've been looking for.  Joel opens up about his struggle to launch the STAY app and the anger that came from being fixated on one solution. Through counseling and honest conversations with friends,...

In this episode of Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon tackle parenting, pressure, and the importance of having people in your life who are willing to tell you the truth. The conversation starts with stories from the front lines of fatherhood. Wrestling sons, stubborn daughters, discipline, consequences, and the realities of raising kids in a world that often sends mixed messages about parenting. Fr...

In this episode of Stretched Thin, Joel and Shannon talk about what happens when you finally stop comparing yourself to everyone else and start appreciating what you've built. Fresh off a trip to California for one of the world's largest coffee expos, Shannon shares an unexpected realization. After years of building Cadence Coffee, he found himself surrounded by industry experts and awar...

In this episode of Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon talk about the search for purpose, the importance of perspective, and why recognizing your wins can change the way you see your life. The conversation covers everything from CrossFit quarterfinals and surprise 5K performances to AI, old movies, surfing, and the strange ways technology has changed how we experience the world. Along the way, they...

In this episode of Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon show up even when they do not feel like it. Both come into the conversation tired, stretched, and honest about the kind of week that tests you. Joel opens up about anxiety, exhaustion, and battling intrusive thoughts while navigating travel, work, and the ongoing tension around medication. Shannon shares the weight of financial pressure as a bus...

In this episode of Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon dive into what it feels like to carry the weight of life while still trying to move forward. From sleep struggles and anxiety to burnout, birthdays, and business stress, this conversation is an honest look at the reality many men quietly live with every day. Shannon reflects on turning 51, the health changes he has made over the past year, and t...

Episode 5 brings Shannon and Joel together in the same place for the first time in a while, recording from a quick getaway in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. They talk about what it looks like to step away from the noise of everyday life and how a change of place and pace can reset your headspace. From CrossFit drop-ins and unexpected connections to quiet moments of reflection, this episod...

In this episode of Stretched Thin , Joel and Shannon talk about everything from CrossFit workouts and getting older to sleep struggles, time management, and learning how to navigate changing relationships with grace instead of frustration. Shannon opens up about trying to reclaim control of his chaotic schedule with an old-school paper planner after missing out on opening day for Chattanooga’s new...

We talk through the whiplash of real life, from staffing gaps and business pressure to birthdays that bring both gratitude and heavy mental health triggers. We share what helps us bounce back, why sleep and family matter so much, and how weekly wins can build the kind of community men actually need.  • scaling a multi-location coffee shop and learning when not to fill every gap  • the stress of st...

In the second episode, Joel and Shannon talk about their weeks and introduce the best part of show - sharing wins from other guys in their networks! Make sure to text "WIN" to 423-210-4777 so that you can receive the weekly win text, simply asking for your win (that we will share on social media or the podcast)

Episode 1 sets the foundation for Stretched Thin . Joel and Shannon share the real story behind the podcast, how two guys in different seasons of life both hit the same wall and realized they weren’t alone. They open up about who they are, what brought them here, and why this conversation matters. They also break down what you can expect each week, the structure, the rhythm, and the purpose behind...