This week Melanie updates us on Caroline's Fish Camp experience, and I talk about the restorative powers of the lake. We also discuss how a recent book promotion video has taught me some hard truths about the current state of my face. And on top of all that: we process Alex's last first day of high school, and Melanie shares her Five Favorites. Enjoy, everybody! - Our Amazon Shop - Become a Patron Show Notes: - Alex's first day of his senior year - Texas A&M fight song - Jan Morton's caramel...
Aug 12, 2021•54 min
This week Melanie reminisces about Fish Camp (she also explains what Fish Camp is), I talk about my 24-ish hours in Nashville this past weekend, and we both dig a little deeper into our feelings about 80's music. Which is interesting because I didn't necessarily think I had many feelings about 80's music. Also, Melanie reveals a new Netflix fave, and I share my Five Favorites for the week. Hope y'all enjoy! - Our Amazon Shop - Become a Patron Show Notes: - A&M Fish Camp - Living Proof Live w...
Aug 05, 2021•52 min
Sometimes life is so uneventful that we talk about cereal, and then other times there's a news leak during SEC Media Days that the SEC might expand to include Texas and Oklahoma. That is to say: we're not talking about cereal this week, everyone. And also I would like to introduce you to a little something I like to call MELANIE HAS SOME THOUGHTS. In addition to the SEC news, we discuss TV (Ted Lasso is back!), the Olympics, and Melanie's Five Favorites. Hope y'all enjoy! - Our Amazon Shop - Bec...
Jul 29, 2021•54 min
This week - following last week's discussion about cereal - we really step it up and talk about Melanie's recent eye doctor appointment. Up next week: favorite soups. The eye doctor appointment isn't all there is, though: we also discuss Martha's recent 90th birthday party, the second season of Never Have I Ever , and a pre-birthday trip Melanie is taking with her friends Gulley and Jamie. Plus, it's my turn for Five Favorites. Hope y'all enjoy! - Our Amazon Shop - Become a Patron Show Notes: - ...
Jul 22, 2021•59 min
So it hasn't been the most eventful week for us, but that doesn't stop us from finding new and exciting things to talk about - like favorite cereals, favorite milk, and I'm not even kidding about those first two things. We also discuss Melanie's most recent trip to the ranch and the extended quality time Hazel and I spent in the car last week. On top of all that, Melanie updates us on Dorm Prep '21, she shares her Five Favorites, and I offer an exciting update on toast. Just look at us go. Hope ...
Jul 15, 2021•54 min
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD, but Mississippi State won the college baseball National Championship last week in Omaha, so Melanie and I talk just a *little* *bit* about that on this week's episode. We also discuss the fact that lo, the Olympics are almost upon us, which means that Melanie will be living her best life as she learns about all the Meaningful Life Stories and cheers for athletes from all around the world. Let's be honest: watching the Olympics is pretty much a Shankle-tacular. In ...
Jul 08, 2021•55 min
Last week we took a little time off from the podcast, and we had ourselves some adventures, we did. Melanie and Caroline went to a resort for a Mother / Daughter getaway, and Alex and I went to Omaha to see Mississippi State play in the College World Series. So, you probably won't be surprised to hear Melanie and I talk about all the things related to both trips on this episode - including my enthusiastic but somewhat unfortunate reaction to Tanner Allen's 3-run homer against Arizona. We also di...
Jul 01, 2021•58 min
We are always so happy when our good friend Travis Cottrell joins us on the podcast, and TODAY'S THE DAY. In what turned out to be an extra-long episode, we talk about closet clean-outs and furniture shipping delays and college baseball (update since we recorded: Mississippi State is going to the College World Series!). We also discuss our kids (the Cottrells and the Shankles are about to be empty nesters with some travel goals), our dads (FEELINGS ALERT), and I share my Five Favorites. As does ...
Jun 17, 2021•1 hr 7 min
This week Melanie shares all about her trip to A&M for Caroline's New Student Conference (to use baseball terminology, it was a real home run). We also talk about TV (I finished watching Breaking Bad and HAVE SOME THOUGHTS), and we dig into our current summer reading situations. Plus, we discuss our current state of contentment with our beauty products (I KNOW), and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites. Enjoy, y'all! - Our Amazon Shop - Become a Patron Show Notes: - Chopt - Campbell Univer...
Jun 10, 2021•58 min
Well, Caroline has graduated from high school, which is shocking considering that it seems like yesterday when she was telling Alex about "bad twaffic" in "San Antone-yo" on an early episode of the podcast. Anyway, Melanie brings us up to speed on the graduation festivities, and we also talk about last week at the SEC baseball tournament as well as some of Melanie's initial reactions to the Friends reunion (we'll do a Patreon episode about that very thing later this month). On top of all that, w...
Jun 03, 2021•47 min
It's a big week for The Big Boo Cast: Caroline's high school graduation and the SEC Baseball Tournament. Not that those two things are of equal importance, of course (I mean, graduation = milestone). But Melanie and I talk about graduation and the tournament and TV and so much more on this week's episode. We also discuss an exciting new find in the way of summer shorts, and Melanie shares her Five Favorites. Enjoy, everybody! - Our Amazon Shop - Become a Patron Show Notes: - SEC Baseball Tournam...
May 27, 2021•50 min
This week we talk about the different ways we're aware that MAY, IT IS UPON US - graduation and office clean-out for me, Caroline's soccer all-star game and pre-graduation festivities for Melanie. Melanie also shares an exciting new charcuterie idea (GENIUS), and I talk about some shorts that are suddenly everywhere and clearly taking summer by storm. We also discuss what we're watching (of course), and it's my turn for Five Favorites. By the way, I didn't have my microphone on for the first fou...
May 20, 2021•55 min
Well, it was a formal event extravaganza for Caroline this past weekend in San Antonio, and on this episode Melanie and I spend some time breaking down the details. We also talk about college baseball (such a surprise this time of year, right?) and Alex's spring football practice. On top of all that, we discuss what we've been watching this past week as well as some celebrity news that has intrigued us (please see: Bennifer). Plus, Melanie shares her five favorites. Hope y'all enjoy! - Our Amazo...
May 13, 2021•54 min
In this episode we talk about the strange adjustment to speaking in public again, and we also discuss this past weekend's baseball series between the Aggies and the Bulldogs (spoiler alert: the winner was a team wearing maroon). Plus, we break down some of the events surrounding Alex's junior prom - and, on a much grander scale, how the pictures of Alex Drummond's wedding were the gift we didn't know we needed. We also continue our discussion (from Patreon) about Melanie's feelings about inanima...
May 06, 2021•54 min
The two of us had fairly boring weekends, but that didn't stop us from rambling about our everyday concerns: our (previously undeclared) fondness for certain Old Spice products, our difficulties finding (and ordering) some products we really love, and our realizations that certain pandemic practices may have changed us in ways we didn't expect. Also, we talk about how I've rediscovered a 70's TV classic, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites. Hope y'all enjoy! - Our Amazon Shop - Become a P...
Apr 29, 2021•53 min
This week we talk about Melanie's long-standing feud with a large electronics store, the highlights of this past Sunday's State / Ole Miss baseball game, and a couple of new recipes we've recently tried. We also discuss our personal comforter and duvet preferences, our feelings about matte vs. dewy finishes with make-up, and I share my latest round of Five Favorites. What a thrill. What a time. Enjoy, y'all! - Our Amazon Shop - Become a Patron Show Notes: - Tanner Allen's triple - Logan Tanner's...
Apr 22, 2021•57 min
It was such a treat for Melanie and me to close out Five Questions - a six-week bonus series of The Big Boo Cast - with our longtime friend Annie F. Downs . Annie is a podcaster, a New York Times bestselling author, and an Instagram delight. We loved getting to reminisce about our old blogging days (Bloglines and Google Reader, anyone?) and the first few years of Annie's writing career in Nashville. We also talk about writing in the here and now; Annie has some great perspective about rejection ...
Apr 19, 2021•37 min
Here's what I'll say about this week's episode: it's a whole lot. Melanie and I both talk about our weekends, I offer a (nerdy) update on my June's Journey progress, and then we both share graduation gift ideas. It's that time of year, y'all. Plus, Melanie shares her Five Favorites, and the end result of all of that content is a pretty long podcast episode. We'll be back on Monday with our final installment of the Five Questions series (Annie Downs is our guest!), and then next Thursday we'll be...
Apr 15, 2021•59 min
This week on the fifth installment of Five Questions - a six-week bonus series of The Big Boo Cast - we're talking with Lisa Jackson, who just so happens to be our literary agent. Lisa works in Colorado Springs with Alive Literary Agency, and I know Melanie would agree that, in so many ways, she is the wind beneath our writing wings. You might even convince us to sing a duet about how much we love her. On today's episode, we talk about how publishing has changed, what agents and publishers are l...
Apr 12, 2021•33 min
We have a special guest on this week's episode, and we couldn't be happier about it. Sharon McMahon ( @sharonsaysso ) has taken Instagram by storm over the last few months - she is a funny, wise, non-partisan former government teacher - and she has created such a beautiful online community. Melanie and I have gotten such a kick out of following her and learning from her, so when it worked out for us to get to actually talk to her, we couldn't say "yes" fast enough. And listen - we cover a lot of...
Apr 08, 2021•58 min
This week on Five Questions - a six-week bonus series of The Big Boo Cast - we're talking with Elizabeth Passarella , a contributing editor at Southern Living magazine and the author of Good Apple: Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York . We started this conversation a few weeks ago on Episode 224, so we are delighted to bring you part two today. Elizabeth grew up in Memphis, has lived in New York for the last twenty years, and talks to us on this episode about the best Memphis barbecue, th...
Apr 05, 2021•28 min
We're back with a new regular episode after a week away, and we catch up on all manner of things: Caroline's last soccer game, the weather in Alabama, college baseball, and what we've been watching. We also discuss what we're thinking about cooking for Easter, a new hidden object game that has captured my fancy, and Melanie's latest round of Five Favorites. Last thing: don't miss our latest Five Questions Bonus Episode with Retha Nichole - and we'll have another Five Questions this Monday. Hope ...
Apr 01, 2021•53 min
This week on Five Questions - a bonus series of The Big Boo Cast - we're talking with Retha Nichole , our favorite life and business coach who also happens to be the business manager for our podcast. Retha has a way of cutting straight through excuses and procrastination and helping people not just see their goals - but figure out how to make forward progress. So whether you've dreamed of writing or painting or starting your own business or running a half marathon, Retha has some great tips to h...
Mar 29, 2021•31 min
This week on Five Questions - our new bonus series of The Big Boo Cast - we're talking with Laura Tremaine , our longtime blog friend and newly published author. Laura is insightful, honest, and she has had such an interesting journey from blogging to podcasting to writing a book. We had an absolute blast talking with her. And just a reminder: there's no regular episode this week because Melanie and I are taking a little time off, but we'll be back again next week with a new Five Questions and a...
Mar 22, 2021•36 min
On this week's episode Melanie and I talk about how we're dealing with the things that signal Ye Olde Passage of Time - like Caroline's dorm room decor and Alex's 18th birthday. We also discuss some things we've been watching, and I of course feel like I need to rehash some recent Mississippi State baseball developments. Just a heads up about next week: on Monday we'll have the latest installment of our new Five Questions bonus series , but there won't be a new regular episode next Thursday (it'...
Mar 18, 2021•52 min
If you're wondering why in the world you're seeing a new podcast episode on a Monday, here's why. Melanie and I are doing a bonus series called Five Questions with some of our favorite writers - and some of our favorite people who are connected to our writing life. These are shorter, 25-ish to 30-ish minute episodes that we hope will brighten your day and encourage you, too. This week we're talking with our dear, brilliant friend Erin Moon. She is, as always, a delight - full of wisdom about wri...
Mar 15, 2021•32 min
On this week's episode we discuss Melanie's Spring Break getaway in Dallas, along with how breezy (not) I was on Alex's first college tour at Samford. We also talk about a couple of fun things I found at Target - and a TV show I recently watched and enjoyed. And just in case you're wondering: we oh-so-briefly discuss the Meghan and Harry interview with Oprah, but this is not the episode where we'll break down all of that (for one thing, Melanie hadn't seen it yet when we recorded, and for anothe...
Mar 11, 2021•55 min
It's quite a week on Ye Olde Podcast: Melanie shares an AT&T update, I reminisce about the South Central Bell customer service reps of my formative years, and Melanie gets us up to speed on Caroline's most recent soccer games. Also, I overshare about Mississippi State's baseball series against Tulane, but I trust you've grown to expect this kind of thing. And to top it all off, we have a long discussion about Italian food (I made a bolognese sauce, y'all) and catch up on Melanie's current Ne...
Mar 04, 2021•59 min
It seems like it's been forever since we last said these words, but college baseball season is here! On this episode we talk about opening weekend for the Aggies and the Bulldogs, and we also discuss our weekend outings to the State / Alabama women's basketball game (me) and the San Antonio rodeo (Mel). Plus, Mel shares some ways we can all jump in and help Texans who are recovering from last week's ice storm. AND. This week we get to spend some time talking with author Elizabeth Passarella. I m...
Feb 25, 2021•1 hr
This week we talk all about Melanie's Winter Extravaganza (TM) in San Antonio, which leads to a discussion about potential winter meals and our preparation (or lack thereof) for winter weather snacks. I also chronicle my Marvel Movie Plan (also TM but not really), and you'll be delighted (though not at all surprised) to hear me confuse the Captain America and Captain Marvel movies when I discuss what I've been watching. Bless my heart. On top of all that, I share my Five Favorites this week, and...
Feb 18, 2021•58 min
