The Big Boo Cast

College football persisted in its craziness this past weekend while I traipsed around NYC and Melanie enjoyed a relaxing weekend in San Antonio, so on this episode we discuss all of it: the games, my traveling, and Mel's elite-level nesting. We've watched some things, we've read some things, and, as far as D and me, we've seen an aggressive number of Broadway shows. 

Also, I share about my evening with World's Loudest Laugher at the Nederlander Theatre, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

This past weekend in college football was absolutely crazytown bananapants, so naturally Melanie and I discuss all of those developments as well as MSU's injury situation (it's not great, Bob). I talk about my long weekend in Asheville, North Carolina (I saw the dining room of Melanie's Gilded Age dreams), and Mel updates us on the latest in San Antonio. 

As an added bonus, Jackson has been in Birmingham for a visit, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

College football is a game of mountains and valleys, and this week it just so happens that Melanie - thanks to Texas A&M - is walking through a bit of a valley. So for the first half hour-ish of this episode, Mel and I talk about the valley, we analyze it, we speculate on how there might be a way out of it, and we also manage to work in about 472 references to the Nick Saban documentary on ESPN. Coach Saban is a teacher, he is.

We also recap our respective weekends, and it's Melanie's turn...

Melanie and I both went to games at our alma maters this past weekend (worked out better for Mel than it did for me despite the Aggies' questionable uniforms), so on this episode we talk about our times in College Station and Starkville - along with other college football developments from this past week - and throw in a couple of Side Eyes and I See Yous as well.

We also discuss our latest TV show finds, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

Melanie and I have a gracious plenty of college football news to discuss this week, so we break down all the latest developments with the Aggies and the Bulldogs as well as sharing our latest round of Side Eyes and I See Yous. On top of that, Melanie tells us all about a wedding shower for Gulley's older son, and I talk about my weekend at a wedding in MIssissippi. 

As always, there's Five Favorites (it's Melanie's turn), and we hope you enjoy this episode!

Melanie and I know all too well that college football can be frustrating at times, and we're talking about that this week as Mel reflects on A&M's loss to Kentucky. We break down a few other games as well, and I continue to marvel at what's happening (so far) (could turn on a dime) with my beloved Bulldogs. As usual, side eyes and I see yous abound.

We also discuss why video content creation probably isn't my calling, we talk about Melanie's quick trip to Houston, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Hope...

On this week's episode Melanie and I talk about the weekend in college football, and Melanie's reaction to the Ohio State / Texas game may just surprise you (it surprised me for sure). We discuss the Aggies and the Bulldogs, of course, and in non-football news, Melanie shares an update on her dining room table situation. 

On top of that, I talk through a new shopping habit that David has developed, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Enjoy, everybody!

College football has officially returned, so on this week's episode Melanie shares all about her weekend in College Station - complete with a side trip to Houston - and I relay the exciting details of watching the games from the comfort of my air conditioned home. Two different paths to the same destination, you understand - and a lot of discussion about what turned out to be a news-heavy weekend in college football.

We also jump back into Side Eyes & I See Yous, I recap the old-fashioned Sunday lunch that I cooked, and it's my turn for...

This past week, thanks to a trip to Michigan, I enjoyed a break from surface-of-the-sun temperatures, but the Shankles have had to deal with some severe summer weather in San Antonio. Melanie and I talk about both of those things in this episode, along with Mel's newfound interest in a previously unknown-to-her historical figure. We also discuss the fact that I discovered the cheeseburger of my life in Gallant, Alabama.

On top of all that, I have many thoughts and feelings about a Netflix documentary I watched over the weekend, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.<...

Melanie and I were together in Nashville this past weekend, and on this episode we talk about all the fun we had at our friend Annie's wedding. We saw so many people we love, we did some really excellent shopping, and we also got in our feels a little bit because sometimes you get to have a moment (or an event) that reminds you - on a lot of levels - that life really is so rich and full and good.

On top of all that, it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Enjoy, everybody!

On this week's episode Melanie and I are astounded by the bid day balloon art at the University of Arkansas, not to mention that Melanie teaches me some things about how to list clothes on Poshmark and she has approximately 48 TV show recommendations* since I am in a TV slump. 

*This is a slight exaggeration.

I also rave a little bit about our latest Patreon book club book, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

This week Melanie and I are both awash in the most tender feelings about friendship, so Melanie shares all about her weekend at the lake with friends - and I share (part of) a poem, written back in the year of our Lord 1990, that Emma Kate recently discovered when she was cleaning out her parents' house. 

Also, Mel tells us about spending a day at the Hotel Emma pool with Caroline, we discuss that we're both in a rut with earrings, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Enjoy, everybody!

On this episode I give an update on post-surgery Lucy, Melanie relays the details of a Lionel Richie concert, and we speculate maybe way too much about what Lionel's health concerns might be. We also talk about Melanie and Caroline's great decorative achievements with a gallery wall.

On top of that, we discuss a current frustration I have with Amazon, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites. 

Hope you enjoy!

This week Melanie shares about her pool day with Caroline, I talk about my weekend with Lucy (she's really warming up), and we both have watched way more TV than is probably wise.

We also discuss what could potentially be an exciting new angle for SEC Media Days coverage (you'll understand why that's a pun when you listen), and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Enjoy, everybody!

On this week's episode, Melanie has been to Colorado, I have been at the house (hoping that our new dog will love us), and we've both been thinking about the upcoming college football season and SEC Media Days.

We also discuss what we've been reading (I'm sad to say that I haven't watched a thing other than Bravo), and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

This week we have a new family member in Birmingham, Melanie has done the Lord's work with furniture assembly, and we both discover that we apparently share a theory about why we continue to be fairly decent at stretching. Not that we're bragging, you understand. 

We've also read some things and watched some things, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Enjoy, everybody!

There's been a whole lot of life since last week's episode: Melanie moved Caroline into a new apartment, I've had a ton of soccer-adjacent fun in Birmingham, and we've both made the Taylor & Travis wedding coverage into a full-fledged hobby at this point. On top of that, we've celebrated the 4th of July, and I've done an unprecedented amount of dog-sitting.

We also discuss what we've been watching (the World Cup and more), and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

On this episode Melanie says that I am "one seat shy of a beanbag" because I do not follow our typical recording protocol. That is to say: I recorded this episode while sitting on my bed. NEVERTHELESS comma we cover so many topics where we were in need of a catch-up: my family time with Jackson's dog, Oakley; the latest in San Antonio; and our ongoing efforts to appreciate and understand the Summer House universe.

We also discuss our plans for the 4th of July, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!<...

This is our 500th regular episode (technically we've recorded more than that because 1) we've done some special episodes and 2) we've recorded over 200 bonus episodes on Patreon - but you know we are never going to burden ourselves with any unnecessary math), and hopefully you'll be delighted to know that it's business as usual for this particular podcast milestone. Melanie has sprained her ankle, I've done a whole lot of cooking, and we've both watched all the college baseball (not to mention DCC) that we possibly can.

Mel also shares about Caroline's trip to Brazil, and it's her...

This week Melanie and I talk about how (and why) we love to pack for a trip; I share some observations about the Men's College World Series; and Melanie tells a sad-but-true tale involving a plumbing issue and a very unfortunate skunk. It feels like a lot has happened over the last week. 

We also discuss what we're enjoying about the World Cup, and it's my turn for Five Favorites. 

Enjoy, everybody!

This week Melanie and I discuss my trip to Athens, Georgia (it was the best of times, it was the worst of times) and the end of Mississippi State's 2026 baseball season. We also cover some related topics: how we feel about baseball fields that lack dirt and grass, my appeal to the University of Georgia to install some cup holders, my friend Tracey's idea for a new cheer for our Bulldogs, and the fact that I'm in a fight with the NCAA.

On top of all that, Melanie loops us in on life in San Antonio, and...

On this episode Melanie and I enjoy the company of the leaf-blower guy in her neighborhood (HE WAS REALLY OVERACHIEVING) as well as a car playing very loud music as we talk through our respective weekends at our alma maters and all the fun therein. We saw friends, we watched baseball, and Melanie and Gulley met the Aggies' basketball coach's mom. In short, we made ourselves some memories. 

We also discuss the Aggie fan we love to see at every single baseball game, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

On this episode I talk through some of the most memorable parts of this past week in Hoover at the SEC Baseball Tournament, Melanie fills us in on what she's been up to in San Antonio, and we're both gearing up for what we hope will be very fun weekends for our respective teams as they each host an NCAA regional baseball tournament. 

Also, I have done some reading during Birmingham's (many) rainy days, we have a lot of thoughts about college baseball uniforms, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope y'all enjoy!

It's been a FULL and COMPLETE WEEK since Melanie and I last talked, so on this episode we catch up about college baseball, college softball, the weddings we attended over the weekend, and my introduction to a very different (and fun) (and physically exhausting) (but really so fun) side of book publishing. 

We also discuss our new book club pick for Patreon, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Enjoy, everybody!

If you'd like to listen online, you can do that here.

Show Notes: 

This week Melanie and I talk about my ongoing post-live show / post-graduation recovery efforts (so much sleeping) and how I accidentally created a challenge for myself when I went to a movie with Alex. We also discuss how we can either be birds or squirrels in this life, and lo, the nature continues to teach us.

Plus, Melanie shares her A&M baseball thoughts and concerns, we both offer some updates on what we've been watching and reading, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

This past week has been graduation-palooza at the Hudson house, and as it turns out, there has also been an exciting development with the Shankle family. On this episode Melanie and I discuss all of the above, and also, we don't know if you're aware, but college baseball can be dumb.

We're back with Five Favorites again (it's my turn), and we share some graduation gift ideas, too.

If you'd like to listen online, you can do that here.

Show Notes:

If anyone has been on the lookout for an episode that breaks down our most recent Birmingham live show along with our (magical!) time in Starkville, LOOK NO FURTHER. On this supersized episode, Melanie and I recap all of our Birmingham fun - including our post-show party at Gus Mayer on Friday - and one of the most memorable Mississippi State sports weekends OF MY LIFE. 

We don't have Five Favorites on this episode, but we'll get back to our normal routine next week.

Enjoy, everybody!

If...

On this week's episode, Melanie and I are gearing up for our Birmingham Live Show (so much planning for a couple of Enneagram 9s). We discuss the latest in college baseball for the Aggies and the Bulldogs, of course, along with my recent two-trips-to-Starkville-in-one-day, Melanie's packing preparations, and our Birmingham post-live show plans.

We also talk about a recent discovery that is really working for Mabel, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites. 

Hope you enjoy!

If you'd like to listen online, you can do that he...

Well, it was the best of college baseball times for Melanie, the could-be-better of college baseball times for me, but thankfully it was happiness all the way around when we got to go to Nashville together last week. On this episode we talk about all of the above - plus our weekends, my time in Houston, and Melanie's quest for new towels.

We hope you'll enjoy a special appearance by an Alamo Heights lawn mower (I did my best to edit it out, but it was a force stronger than Garage Band), and it's my turn for...

On this episode Melanie and I recap our Easter Sundays, I share about my recent trip to Montgomery, Alabama, and Melanie fills us in on a recent plumbing situation in the Shankle house. The excitement never stops.

We also discuss our thoughts about the Final Four's music offerings, how Mabel is doing, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

It's been a sad week in the Shankle house - they had to say good-bye to their beloved Piper - so on this episode Melanie talks about how they're doing (and how Mabel is doing, too). Over here at the Hudson house, we've had a full week in very different ways, and I break down all of that (including my first-ever visit to a podiatrist, because glamour). 

We also discuss Melanie and P's night out at a Nate Bargatze show, the latest with the Aggies and the Bulldogs and college baseball, and it's my turn for Five F...

On this week's episode we discuss Melanie's big, fun, eventful weekend in College Station and Round Top as well as my much more home-focused weekend (that is to say: kinda boring but delightful). Mel details all the charms of the Junk Gypsy Prom, and - well, I probably talk way too much about pizza dough and asparagus. 

We also (naturally) discuss the latest in college baseball, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Enjoy, everybody!

On this week's episode Melanie and I process the latest SEC baseball developments as well as talk through the events of our respective weekends (Melanie shopped for jean shorts and I had a really bad headache, so clearly it was some top-notch excitement). On top of that, I share some June's Journey news, and we dig into our feelings about Mary Janes.

Melanie also offers her thoughts on a Netflix show I mentioned several weeks ago, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Hope y'all enjoy!

Melanie and I recorded this week's episode approximately four minutes after I walked in the door from our family Spring Break trip, so you'll hear all about said trip (so many rollercoasters) as well as Caroline's travel woes and Melanie and P's night out at a concert.

We also discuss college baseball (because of course), and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

Well, Melanie has been to Dallas, I have been to Auburn, and we have both watched our fair share of college baseball in our ongoing efforts to keep up with the Aggies and the Bulldogs. Naturally we talk through our most memorable moments from the weekend, including a Popeye's experience that I'll hold near and dear to my heart forevermore.

We also talk about what we've been watching and listening to, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Enjoy, everybody!

On this week's episode Melanie and I delight in the fact that both of our college baseball teams swept their weekend games, we celebrate some of the memorable moments from the Winter Olympics (WE SEE YOU, ALYSA LIU), and we discuss our friend Cole's frustration that his wife Katherine and I aren't interested in rare collectibles.

We also have some very important information for those of you who want to make Helen reservations when you're in Birmingham for our live show, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

This week Melanie and I happily discuss the beginning of COLLEGE BASEBALL SEASON (pretend we have a confetti cannon), which means we break down my trip to Starkville and all of the opening day merriment. Plus, Melanie recaps her weekend in San Antonio (and at the ranch) with Perry, Caroline, and two of C's friends. We've lived a lot of life in the last week, apparently.

We also talk about why I watched The Prince of Egypt this past Sunday afternoon, and it's my turn for Five Favorites.

Enjoy, everybody!

This week Melanie has some thoughts and feelings about A&M's parking situation at basketball games, I have (once again) fried some chicken, and both of us are delighted by the prospect of college baseball's opening weekend (as well as captivated by the winter Olympic games - where we have both become experts in a wide array of events thanks to several consecutive minutes of viewing). 

We also talk about Super Bowl commercials (GET THEE BEHIND US, Manscaped), what we've been reading, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you enjoy!

On this week's episode I recount a very exciting Step Sing weekend in our family, Melanie shares a delicious new dip discovery, and we both try to make our peace with who we didn't know at the Grammys.

As always we deal with the low-level hum of a leaf blower (and a vacuum!), and it's my turn for Five Favorites. 

Hope you enjoy!

If you'd like to listen online, you ca...

On this week's podcast episode, in the midst of unusually cold temperatures in San Antonio and Birmingham, Melanie and I discuss recent NFL developments (not our regular wheelhouse), Indiana's national championship, and - what we've all been waiting for - an update from Melanie on the racoons next door. Hydrate, grab a snack, and settle in, everyone.

We also talk about Melanie's return to World War II books, David interrupts our recording not once but twice (the Hudsons were trying to get some business-y things handled), and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites.

Hope you...