The Big Boo Cast

This week Melanie and I both have tried some new things: Mel has ventured into a new workout experience, and I have decided to pick (back) up a hobby I enjoyed back in high school and college. There's also a mouse update (in light of the Polar Vortex), and Mel shares a great recipe for a dinner party. Mel also has a new nighttime skincare ritual, and it's her turn for Five Favorites. Enjoy, everyb...

Our dear friend (and most frequent podcast guest) Travis Cottrell is with us this week, and what a treat it was for Melanie and me to get to catch up with him. We talk about college football, NFL football, what we've been watching lately, and how we feel about looking up setlists before a concert. We also discuss 80's music (WHO AMONG US IS SURPRISED), and it's my turn for Five Favorites. Hope you...

On this week's episode Melanie and I talk about my snow days here in Birmingham, her playroom clean-out in San Antonio, and our thoughts about the upcoming national championship college football game. We also discuss a couple of epiphanies I experienced this past week (and, as a follow-up to our last episode, one of them is Wicked -related).  As if that weren't enough, we have an exciting heating...

Clearly the Lord is up to something in 2025, because on this episode Melanie shares a tip for cooking with a rotisserie chicken, and I talk about seeing a movie that I had been resisting because of its rampant popularity (so sorry, I'm weird, still haven't seen Titanic , etc.). On top of that, we recap our exciting New Year's Eves ("exciting" is a relative term, but alas).  We also get an exciting...

It's our first regular episode of 2025, and we're off to a strong start with some inconvenient (though entertaining) challenges. The Aggies lost their bowl game, one of Mel's refrigerators has gone on to its eternal reward, and the Shankles have had some unexpected visitors in their laundry room. VIVA LA 2025! We also reflect on our words / phrases for 2024, discuss our words and phrases for the n...

When we recorded this episode, Melanie was making cinnamon rolls, and I had just completed a grocery run full of vegetables and several different kinds of sugar. In other words: Christmas Day is upon us, and on this episode we talk about all of our last-minute preparations and even some plans that have gone awry. It's also my turn for Five Favorites. Merry Christmas, everyone - we are so grateful...

'Tis the season to record an audiobook and do a little bit of hostessing - or at least that's what Melanie and I have been up to this past week. On this episode we talk about our college kids' laundry situation (it's bad here in Birmingham), what we've been reading and watching, and why Melanie needs a new rug in her dining room to help with podcast recording quality. We also discuss a fantastic c...

Since college football is starting to move into the rearview mirror just a tiny bit, this week Melanie and I discuss our end-of-year Spotify and Apple Music info, we consider my new maximum volume hair product strategy, and Melanie talks about an audiobook she absolutely loved.  We also take a look at what's ahead for both of us this week, and it's my turn for Five Favorites. Hope y'all enjoy!  -...

This week Melanie recaps her time in College Station - though she wishes the game had gone a different way - before we break down our respective Thanksgivings and I lament the Egg Bowl (on top of lamenting a two-win season for my Bulldogs).  Melanie also shares a flat tire situation she had to deal with, and it's her turn for Five Favorites. Enjoy, everybody! - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop...

Earlier this week Melanie and I recorded with our friend Cole Cubelic for a Patreon episode - and then Cole's audio upload proceeded to get caught in an internet no-man's land for several days. This morning, though, we got news from our friends at Riverside.fm that they were able to recover Cole's audio, so I put together a quick bonus episode in the event that you're bored / traveling / curious a...

Melanie and I spent our weekend in the loveliest village on the Plains, so this episode is chock-full-o-details about our time in Auburn, including our shenanigans with Caroline and Ella and the Aggies' unfortunate loss in four overtimes. FOUR OVERTIMES.  We also discuss all the fun we had in Birmingham, and it's my turn for Five Favorites. Enjoy, y'all - and Happy Thanksgiving! - Join Us on Patre...

This week Melanie and I talk about the latest with college football, the latest with what we're reading, and the latest with my very early Christmas decorating. We also discuss the fact that Melanie and Caroline are headed to Alabama this weekend so we can take a little road trip to the loveliest village on the plains.  On top of that, I share some of Hazel's most recent issues (the separation anx...

Melanie and I both have happy live show hangovers this week, so we break down all of our Dallas fun as well as some fantastic memories from not even 24 hours in College Station. We had time with our friends Beth and Ree, we had time with each other and our friends and family, and we saw some amazingly talented college students perform in Chi O Songfest. It was quite a time. We also wrap up our gif...

Oh, how the college football turns have tabled. Melanie's Aggies traveled from the football mountaintop to the (temporary, we believe) valley this past weekend, so as you can imagine, she's still processing her emotions re: the loss. However, the good news is that this week marks the first installment of our annual holiday gift guide, and we're just as happy as we can be about that. Plus, we talk...

The Aggies are at the top of the SEC football standings, so naturally Melanie and I talk all about that on this episode - along with the state of her legs and feet after walking about 13,000 steps in her full-length cowboy boots. And in my neck of the woods, I cooked for Alex and his buddies this past Sunday night, so it's been BUTTER AHOY here in Birmingham. We also discuss reading ruts and how t...

For the second year in a row, The Big Boo Bowl was the Aggies' time to shine, but there was still a fine time to be had in Starkville. So this week Melanie and I discuss my very brief interaction with Dan Mullen, my enduring affection for the 2014 Mississippi State Bulldogs, and why it's bad form to throw objects on the field during a football game. Hypothetically.  We also talk about the non-foot...

On this episode Melanie and I discuss the variety of smells that greeted me during my travels last week, and of course we talk about college football: Melanie's high level of relaxation during a bye weekend, LSU's overtime win, the upcoming Big Boo Bowl, my current fight with Kirby Smart, and the fact that I accidentally messaged Dan Mullen on Instagram. Naturally there are Side Eyes and I See You...

This past weekend delivered in terms of COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAOS - which, as we all know, is Melanie's favorite. So on this week's episode we talk about the chaos, and about our weekends, and about the latest with all my traveling. Plus, Side Eyes and I See Yous. We also discuss my weekend in Melanie's favorite city (not) - and it's her turn for Five Favorites  Enjoy, y'all! - Join Us on Patreon - O...

It was football shenanigans aplenty over the weekend, so of course Melanie and I share our thoughts about the games and the calls and the Pat McAfee antics. Plus, we discuss a Netflix show that has our whole hearts and break down the pieces and parts of our weekends.  Melanie also shares all the things she loves about Leanne Morgan's new book, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.  Enjoy, y'all! -...

On this week's episode Melanie and I talk about college football (sad trombone for me), Melanie's unprecedented closet clean-out, and my latest travels related to book-related fun and shenanigans. Plus, Melanie shares a Twitter account that has added some joy to her life - in addition to an explanation about why bird hunting is not what the Lord has for her. As an added bonus, it's Melanie's turn...

Well, college football is pretty much all wrapped up for me this season, so this week Melanie and I discuss that unfortunate development as well as the very positive turn of events for her Aggies. Plus, we discuss my book launch week and all the reasons it basically has been an absolute delight. On top of that, there are Side Eyes and I See Yous, and it's my turn for Five Favorites. Hope y'all enj...

This week Melanie and I bring back our college football Side Eyes and I See Yous as well as recap her weekend with Caroline home and my weekend at a conference about the Enneagram and Spiritual Disciplines. On top of that, I have a new book that's out this week, so Melanie makes us talk about that despite the fact that it wasn't on our episode outline.  We also discuss a couple of shows that have...

This week Melanie processes her A&M / Notre Dame feelings (in addition to her game-time dehydration issues), and I'm ticked that my beloved Bulldogs are not, in my opinion, receiving the recognition that a lifetime member of the Southeastern Conference should receive. Mostly, though, we're just delighted that college football is all the way back - and we continue to be curious about how Nick S...

Melanie and I are coming in hot with this week's episode because our quick trip to Dallas meant that we had to record today (Wednesday) - which is also when the episode releases. Add in the fact that Mel had to record outside and I was babysitting Hazel while window cleaners were working at our house, and you have a real audio masterpiece right here in episode 405. We talk about our time in Dallas...

Melanie and I were a little tired when we recorded this week, but all it took to create a little energy was a conversation about big trucks that carry limbs or maybe even gravel. We found our voices for sure and then managed to have discussions about what went on this past week as well as fashion trends for fall that leave us a little unsure. We also talk about move-in for Alex's junior year, and...