The Big Boo Cast

Well, on this episode Melanie and I are both at the mercy of our children's airline travel woes, which means we got interrupted by phone calls and texts while we were recording since we were trying to help with troubleshooting and whatnot. Besides that, though, we talk through Japan travel prep, David's best technological day, and Hazel's sassy new Pilates-esque accessories. We also learn about a...

On this week's episode Melanie and I recap our weekend travels: she and Caroline flew to Birmingham while I was driving to Baton Rouge, and then on Saturday we all met up in Auburn.  We got to watch a baseball game, we got to hang out with a real-live Auburn legend, we got to celebrate our friend Ella's birthday, and we even got to take a boat ride. We also talk through some San Antonio live show...

This week Melanie and I recap our weekend activities, Melanie shares all about the big fun of Caroline's senior portraits, and we talk about our upcoming trip to Auburn. Plus, the wallet that Melanie lost in Fayetteville has once again been found - an Easter miracle. :-)  We also discuss a difficult situation with Melanie's toenail polish color, and it's her turn for Five Favorites. Enjoy, everybo...

We've had some bluebird spring days in San Antonio and Birmingham over the last week, so on this episode Melanie and I talk about how we've been soaking up the great weather. Melanie also bemoans the endlessness of a day after waking up early, and I share about my harrowing unintended career change into world of first aid and medical transport.  On top of all that, we discuss the outstanding array...

This week Melanie and I have so many post-live show thoughts...about air travel, about the fun we had in Arkansas, and about all the basketball we've watched since we've been back at home. We also marvel at the ways our college baseball fortunes improved over the course of the weekend. On top of that, Melanie discusses the perils of losing your wallet, and it's also her turn for Five Favorites. En...

While Melanie went to Round Top with Caroline this past weekend, I watched a lot of basketball and Netflix, so we catch up on this episode about all of our respective adventures (on my end of things, to be clear, "adventures" is a super strong word). There's also a post-book club recap of our Here Be Dragons discussion with Perry, which was the 2025 gift we didn't even know we needed.  Also, I sha...

This week Melanie and I both have a case of the Basketball Sads, so we process our sports-related heartache before we catch up on the latest with Mabel and Hazel and discuss the details of our weekends.  We also talk through some activities that are potentially inspiring on the creative front, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.  Enjoy, everybody! - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - F...

This past week Melanie and I have done a little bit of traveling, and we've also had some quality familly time. In this episode we talk about our road trips, Melanie's shopping trip with Caroline, my birthday meal for Alex, and the SEC basketball tournament.  Also, Melanie shares about a new hobby that might be on the horizon for her, and it's my turn for Five Favorites. Hope you enjoy! - Join Us...

This week Melanie and I discuss our texting needs from people who aren't Enneagram 9s (just FYI: "Ok" as a response means we're going to think we're in a fight), we recap our time in Birmingham and Nashville, and we discuss how happy she is to be back at home.  Also, I share all about a little field trip I took to Montgomery this past weekend, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites. Hope you e...

What a week it has been! Melanie's book hit #5 on the New York Times bestseller list, I got a new HVAC unit (not as exciting, but still, significant), and Hazel has full-blown PTSD from all the people who have been in and out of our house. Life is a series of highs and lows, right? Anyway, this week we talk about all the Here Be Dragons fun, share our thoughts on some sports developments, and fina...

This past week Melanie's been to Austin and College Station, I've been to San Antonio and Auburn, and we've both gotten to spend time with our college kids. On this episode we recap all of the above, and we also discuss the fact that I have watched not just one but TWO movies over the last few days. The Lord is always doing a new thing. We also discuss some exciting new computer developments, and...

It's Here Be Dragons week, and Melanie is gearing up to be out of town a lot while I am gearing up for quick trips to San Antonio and Auburn. On this episode we discuss A&M's new basketball uniforms, college baseball opening weekend, and our critical computer situations (true story: Melanie's headphones wouldn't connect while we recorded, and my microphone didn't, either, so this week's sound...

This week Melanie and I dig into the dynamic between her and Caroline as far as wardrobe planning is concerned (it's a complex situation), and we talk through my recent discovery related to using mascara. We also discuss my Severance obsession, which is significant.  On top of all that, Melanie has a new book out next week (!!!), and it's her turn for Five Favorites.  Hope you enjoy! - Join Us on...

It's been a week full of cross-stitching and watching Samford Step Sing and catching up with friends since we last recorded, so Melanie and I talk through all of these things as well as how she might be able to deal with the handling of the chicken in a recipe I made over the weekend.  We also discuss what Melanie's been reading and watching, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.  Please do enjoy....

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...