The Big Boo Cast (podcasts)
Authors / speakers Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson - also known as Big Mama and BooMama on their blogs - talk about all the important stuff: faith, family, friends, football, fashion, and food. Plus, of course, their hair.

I don't mind saying that I'm a little punchy in this podcast. In fact, I had to sort of dial myself back a few notches about midway through. Please pardon all my very strong opinions about and objections to things that are really not important at all.

I like to think that my absence of charm is connected at least in part to the antibiotic I've been taking this last week. Apparently it's turned me into FEISTY MCGEE.

Anyway, we talk about sandals, musicals, Melanie's debut as a clue on Let's Make a Deal, my misguided experimentation with hairspray, our mutual love for crackers, Mel's cough syrup preferences, Noonday jewelry, and Talenti gelato (which is UNBELIEVABLE). 

Hope y'all enjoy it!

 

Direct download: thebigboocastfeb25.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:14pm CDT

Yeah. We know.

It's our first podcast in a year. 

But you'll be happy to know that the last year hasn't done a single thing to diminish our collective crazy.

Or our rambling.

You're welcome and the end.

Direct download: BigBooMay10.m4a
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:18pm CDT

We are oh-so-delighted to have our buddy Travis aka FryDaddy with us on episode 16 of the podcast (2 years, 16 podcasts - clearly we are very prolific). And basically what we have this time around is a run-down of reality shows (including why we've given up on The Real Housewives of New Jersey), an itemized list of our summer TV plans, a thorough analysis of our sleeping issues AND a whole lot of discussion about how STINKIN' PROUD we are of Travis and his new CD. Add it all up and you have a big ole platter of our usual brand of random topped off with a sizable dollop of sarcasm. And we do hope you enjoy it.
Direct download: bigboofry16.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:28pm CDT

Sometimes we decide to record a podcast because we want to talk about some specific things. Today we recorded a podcast because I had been in the kitchen all day long and wanted to pursue some sort activity that didn't require mixing a softened stick of butter with sugar. And Mel wanted to do something that wasn't watching the same episode of "Friday Night Lights" for the third time in a row. I'm telling you: sometimes boredom will just propel you into all manner of podcasting ambition. Anyway, this one is completely random (SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW?). We talk about my search for a birthday gift for my sister-in-law, our mutual disdain for coconut, Mel's hunt for a maxi-dress and how her shopping habits eerily resemble a woman I know who likes to sign cards and letters like this: Love, Mother "Martie." It's all very big fun. As long as you remember that the words "very," "big" and "fun" are completely relative.
Direct download: bigbooeaster.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:42pm CDT

We couldn't stand it. We had to talk about The Bachelor. Which led to sort of a late-winter-ish TV report card. Please do prepare to be underwhelmed.
Direct download: bigboocastbachelor.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:18pm CDT

At this point in our podcasting careers we're pretty similar to a white sale at your favorite department store: a SEMI-ANNUAL EVENT. And truth be told, I'm not entirely sure what we talk about in this episode, though it seems like John Hughes movies and breakfast foods came up an awful lot. Not to mention our respective addictions to Pathwords, a game that I'll be playing just as soon as I hit "publish" on this bad boy. So we hope you sort of enjoy this. Just like we sort of record podcasts from time to time, then sort of publish them when the mood strikes. Because we? ARE PROFESSIONALS. In the absolute least professional sense of the word. Merry Christmas, y'all.
Direct download: thebigboocastdecember08.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:25am CDT

Okay. We recorded this last week. And it took a sweet forever to get it edited and uploaded and whatnot because we forgot to record an ending, so then we had to go back and record an ending, and then we chased about four hundred rabbits when we recorded the ending, so I decided to just tack on all that stuff, too, because SWEET MERCY, HAVEN'T THE SIX OF YOU WHO LISTEN TO THESE THINGS WAITED LONG ENOUGH?

So besides that, I really don't know what else to say. Except that Travis does an imitation of Neil Diamond that makes Melanie and me laugh until we wheeze. And we talk about American Idol and NASCAR and our ongoing sound issues and the songs Travis sang in 8th grade chorus. We also answer some of your questions (thanks for those, internets), repeat some stories we've told before (JUST LIKE YOUR GREAT UNCLE LARRY! ONLY NOT!) and laugh sort of an obnoxious amount. You should expect no less.

Also: Travis wants the whole world to know that HE PLANTED SOME TREES.

Hallelujah and amen.

Direct download: thebigboocast12_1.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:31pm CDT

Now you may feel like we hardly ever podcast anymore. But the the truth of the matter is that we <em>record</em> plenty of podcasts, but we don't necessarily post them because, well, they're lame. Or the sound's even worse than usual. Or we were interrupted 421 times by preschoolers who wanted juice or Goldfish or whathaveyou while we were trying to record.

This week, however, we're actually posting the WHOLE ENTIRE THING. Even though the sound's still sort of bad because Big Mama and FryDaddy couldn't hear me, but I could hear them fine, so I had to turn up my sound output, only on the podcast I'm VERY, VERY LOUD and they're not as loud, only I wasn't trying to be loud, and IS THERE AN A/V PERSON IN THE HOUSE?

Also: we laugh a sort of obnoxious amount at things that probably aren't particularly funny. However, we're always happy to cast on the pod with our buddy FryDaddy, who has all sorts of great perspective about American Idol and also manages not to SCREAM HIS HEAD OFF when Big Mama and I go ON and ON and ON about a pair of fab wedge sandals.

We also talk about music we loved in high school, Christy Nockels (SHOCK. SURPRISE.), our favorite AI moments of years' past and our NCAA tourney picks, despite the fact that I had a devil of a time locating my bracket online.

It is also worth noting that Big Mama and I managed to record an entire podcast without mentioning our hair. Clearly the Lord has done a special work in our hearts.

And seriously, thanks for your patience with our sound limitations. Big Mama and I would like to tell you that we're diligently working on our sound ish-ahs behind the scenes, but the truth of the matter is that we're pretty much flying by the seat of our pants. However, when we are flying by the seat of our pants, we try to wear pants that are sassy. Because that's important to us when podcasting.

Direct download: thebigboocast11.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am CDT

This is our first podcast with A Very Special Guest Star.

Ladies and gentlemen, Travis Cottrell.

{wild applause}

{and also, quite a bit of woo-hoo'ing}

And while you might think that Big Mama and I tried to be all subdued and professional and calm during this podcast, you would be wrong. Travis, God love him, had to listen to a great deal of Talk About Dresses that I edited out, but we were kind enough to not drag him into some sort of discussion about our hair. That would have been cruel and unusual punishment indeed.

However, we do talk about The Office, Angela's Legendary Jeans, and the fact that my town is about to get a fancy new department store.

I know. Travis was probably screaming on the inside, desperately pleading with God for one of us to PLEASE TALK ABOUT FOOTBALL.

And if the beginning of the podcast sounds disjointed, that's because it is. You will think, "I don't believe they mentioned that before," and you will be right. I had to do some serious editing to the very beginning because of all our talking and rambling and rambling some more, but after about five minutes, the narrative structure will be CRYSTAL CLEAR, my friends.

Or not. But still. We can pretend.

And once we get going, the three of us spend a lot of time on the internets' (great and oh-so-fun) questions; there's all sorts of cool info about how Travis and Angela met, what happened when they went to American Idol, and how Travis started doing ministry with that girl named Beth who has written some Bible studies and EVEN SOME BOOKS, Y'ALL. They say she speaks, too, but I'm not sure that I believe them.

We didn't get through all the questions - not by a long shot - and that is why we've already planned a part 2. And a part 3. Because for Big Mama and me, this whole process has been like finding a brother we never knew we had.

And for Travis, this whole process has been like finding two sisters he's not entirely sure he wants. Because he has plenty of real sisters already. And Big Mama and I can be a little loud.

Oh, it is a precious time.
Direct download: thebigboocast10.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:37am CDT

Well, after a six week-ish hiatus, Big Mama and I return to the wonderful world of podcasting by covering a completely random array of topics for your listening pleasure. And we use the word "hiatus," by the way, to make it seem like our podcasting break was TOTALLY PLANNED, but the fact of the matter is that we just never got around to recording anything because we were too busy eating cakes and watching TV. We also did a good bit of sleeping. This week we talk about Big Mama's hair woes, our teenage fondness for writing notes in church, how chocolate chip cookie dough and Cheetos can completely derail parenthood, blog-related Google searches that crack us up, our deeply academic appreciation for the Old Testament, and why you wouldn't want either one of us to ever be in charge of starting some sort of fire. In short, it's the least entertaining entertainment that the interweb has to offer. Which makes us understandably proud. And I'll go ahead and warn you that I had some microphone ish-ahs on this podcast, so I apologize in advance for the technical difficulties. You can rest assured that I will work tirelessly to fix those ish-ahs just as soon as I can tear myself away from my Dairy Queen chicken tenders. My, they are tasty. And as always, we thank you for your patronage.
Direct download: thebigboocast9.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:39am CDT

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. We have actually recorded and posted podcasts TWO WEEKS IN A ROW. Because we're givers, people. And as such we are giving you yay, even MORE unstructured, unorganized ramblings from the two of us. We like to think it's the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. Whether you want it or not. This week we talk about what music we've listened to the most over this last year and thereby remove any remaining doubt in regard to our complete and utter lack of coolness. We also have a (way too long) discussion about celebrities who we'd like to invite to a dinner party, we speculate about why Anthropologie tries to be so edgy, and then we cap off the podcast action with some stellar observations about being a Southern girl. In short, it's yet another laugh-an-hour episode filled with the first-rate mediocrity you've come to expect from us. And we could not be any more proud to bring you our own unique brand of third-rate entertainment. Thank you and have a lovely day.

Direct download: thebigboocast8.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:47pm CDT

Is it just me, or does that title sound like a Star Wars movie? Anyhoo. What you've got here in episode 7 is a SUPER-SIZED podcast, a combination of the one we recorded right before Thanksgiving and the one we recorded a couple of days ago. Which means there is nothing even remotely resembling narrative structure. But then again, we never really had that before, even when we tried. So you should feel right at home. And what topics do we cover? Well, we spend a lengthy amount of time discussing Big Mama's hair (seriously, it is a WONDER - I'm thinking of erecting a memorial stone in its honor because it is a testimony to God's love and faithfulness), various and sundry perfumes we have worn through the years, recent college football coaching changes (OH, WE CAN'T HELP IT), Big Mama and Gulley's annual Christmas shopping extravaganza and last but not least, our pregnancy weight gains. Or in Big Mama's case: pregnancy "weight gain." Not to mention that Alex reminds Big Mama that he knows how to shake his bootie. He is his mama's child. http://bigmama1.com http://boomama.net
Direct download: thebigboocast7.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:31am CDT

On this week's podcast, Big Mama's Caroline and BooMama's Alex have a conversation with each other for the second time in their lives, though certainly it's the first time that their conversation has been recorded, what with four year-olds typically not doing a lot of podcasting and all. However, if you ask me, Miss Caroline definitely has a broadcasting career in her future. If she can just get over all that crippling shyness. We also talk about how we met our husbands, the joys of childbirth, the greatness that is chunky jewelry, and our upcoming hey-we-finally-get-to-see-each-other-in-person weekend. You know, the weekend when we're going to make Shannon podcast with us. Because it's fun. Also, we would love it if y'all would be so kind as to send us some new podcast questions seeing as how the six podcasts we've posted and the five podcasts we haven't posted have pretty much left us bone dry in terms of material. I mean, we can always talk about that coat from Anthropologie with which we are obsessed, but y'all might not want to hear about that. Again. For the seventeenth time. Have a lovely weekend.
Direct download: thebigboocast6.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:06pm CDT

Now this particular podcast is what you might call a hodge-podge. There's some Terribly Awkward Editing for several different reasons, so just know that if you're in the middle of the podcast and hear an electrical surge sound effect, that just means that the topic is about to change RIGHTNOW. Or possibly that you have some serious wiring issues in your home. Anyhoo, Big Mama (http://bigmama1.com) and BooMama (http://boomama.net) cover a wide and completely random range of topics, including but not limited to their "elaborate" "fitness" routines, an update on some of their latest fashion finds and the new Bible study that BooMama's mother-in-law and her friends are doing. Even better, there's an unexpected guest appearance by Big Mama's little girl that made me BooMama laugh so hard she couldn't remember how to breathe.
Direct download: thebigboocast5.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:49am CDT

This week Big Mama (http://bigmama1.com) and BooMama (http://boomama.net) tackle all manner of pressing issues: their children's Halloween costumes, how to make your hair sizzle - literally, the dilemma of using "y'all" and "fixin'" in places outside the South, the problem with body slimming undergarments, and whether or not the wide belt is a valid fashion option. They also analyze the post-'N Sync career of Justin Timberlake. Because that's what most 30-something mamas do in their spare time. And last but not least, there are bloopers. Oh yes ma'am there are.
Direct download: thebigboocast4again.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:32pm CDT

Coming to you live from Texas and somewhere on I-65, Big Mama (http://bigmama1.com) and BooMama (http://boomama.net) cover a range of Deeply Important Topics: what to do about bare legs in the wintertime, how they like to spend their spare time, their ongoing efforts to develop a vast media empire and why marriage seems to be so difficult for celebrities. Plus, they talk about Christy Nockels. But this is really nothing new. And as an added bonus for those of you who have had a difficult time telling Big Mama's and BooMama's voices apart, there's a dead giveaway on this podcast: BooMama is the one who is on a cell phone and sounds like she's participating in a really sub-par radio remote. It is sure to be a tender memory.
Direct download: thebigboocast3.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:42pm CDT

In their second whole podcast, Southern mama-bloggers Big Mama (http://bigmama1.com) and BooMama (http://boomama.net) talk about some special challenges of motherhood - including but not limited to vomit, the use of wild animals in home decorating, the ongoing debate regarding skinny jeans, and whether or not Hillary Clinton's hair can be helped. Plus, God love 'em, they've managed to include some bloopers. And even theme music. Oh yes ma'am they have.
Direct download: thebigboocast2.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:29pm CDT

In their very first podcast, Big Mama (http://bigmama1.com) and BooMama (http://boomama.net), two Southern mama-bloggers who have opinions on pretty much everything, take a look at the InStyle fall fashion preview, what to wear to a Deeper Still conference, their ongoing hair issues, and the hair issues of several presidential candidates. And they really will get a theme song at some point. As well as some better editing skills. But Rome wasn't built in a day, people. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Direct download: thebigboocast1.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:29pm CDT