Life's Grape

Sam’s Vulnerability episode! He explains what it was like growing up gay in the country in the mid-late 2000’s. Sam shares his coming out story… the struggle and the beauty. It’ll make you want to give your bestie a hug. This episode was recorded in March 2025 and it’s been a while (like years), but we couldn’t let this one sit in the closet!

Oooooo love is in the air! We felt like spreading the love by sharing how we met our beautiful partners - spoiler alert, one of us met at Cricket and the other had the first date at a Music Festival - but which origin story belongs to who?! Pop the headphones in, get some sunshine and feel the looooovvvvveeeee!

In this deeply personal episode, Katie opens up about her experience with her miscarriage. This is not an easy conversation, and it may be triggering for some listeners. Katie and Sam want to acknowledge that the topic of pregnancy loss can evoke strong emotions, so please proceed with caution if you think it might be difficult for you to hear. Though this episode is heavier, it’s an important con...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!...Can we still say that?! OF COURSE! Join us as we reflect on how we ended 2024 - from protecting dogs from Fireworks in Hawaii to a 4-level nightclub in Japan. We delve into our plans for 2025 - stop people pleasing and start stepping! And to round it out Katie seen WICKED and shares her hot takes on the musical sensation!

And as we close out 2024 and head into 2025, Katie and Sam want to share some of their holiday plans and traditions, including decorations, movies, and food but they also want to hear yours as well! They are incredibly grateful for all the listeners of the pod and want to thank you for your positivity and kind words - so THANK YOU! And we can't wait to bring you more consistency and crazy topics,...

What do Wicked, Health Care, Fergburger, Weddings, Seven Jobs, and Mozzarella Sticks ALL have in common? … NOTHING but they are all featured in this episode when Katie and Sam ketchup after what feels like months apart! Grab a sparkling water or coffee, get cozy and catch up! It's the KETCHUP Episode!

From reminiscing on what movies used to mean to us to our modern day theater rituals (snacks and socks included), Katie and Sam breakdown their movie preferences, must-dos and absolutely cannots, and what it's like if you went to the theater with them. What are their favorite genres? And what recommendations do they have for YOU to watch this weekend? Tune in to find out!... And CUT!

What do Tasty, Paneer, Haloumi and Mozzerella all have in common? Besides that they’re all cheeses, they were spoken in length on today’s episode of Pearls of Wisdom: Cheese and Strangers . Katie and Sam are not promoting Stranger Danger. Instead, this episode shares heartwarming stories, including their own friendship origin story, of strangers becoming friends. And how leading with your heart ma...

Katie and Sam tackle the one topic guaranteed to make you break out in a cold sweat: politics . With a mix of deep breaths and clammy hands, they touch on the wild world of American politics and highlight some main differences between the US and Australia. But fear not, it’s not all serious! Things looking a little too colorful for you? They've got just the thing: a stylish new sunglasses brand—pe...

In this episode of Life's Grape , hosts Katie Shannon and Sam Merryfull dive into the rollercoaster of career changes from their two different hemispheres—Maui, Hawaii and Sydney, Australia. As Sam prepares to leave the stable job he's held for over three years, and Katie juggles four part-time gigs, the duo shares their candid thoughts on the uncertainty, excitement, and hilarity that comes with...