The Big Boo Cast
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.

Well, welcome to our Christmas hodgepodge.

In this episode <a href="http://thebigmamablog.com" target="_blank">Melanie</a> and I talk about Christmas preparations, Christmas menus, the A&M quarterback situation, my favorite way to cook steaks, Mel's upcoming trip to the AT&T store, a couple of apps that I'm enjoying, writing software, and our favorite Christmas songs.

We also talk briefly about the rumor that Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry are ALLEGEDLY dating in real life.

This could change everything, y'all.

I'm not doing any links this time because we don't really talk about any products or websites or anything like that. Remember, the word for the day was "hodgepodge;" this episode really is a little bit of everything and a whole lot of nothing. However, it's over an hour of nothing, so hopefully that counts for something.

See what I did there?

Direct download: thebigboocastdec18.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:32pm CDT

Y'all, I don't even know.

This is a whole conversation about Melanie going to look at a tunic and then deciding to focus on foundational garments - all of which leads, quite frankly, to a LOT of talk about underwear.

We also have some thoughts about football and skincare. And then we talked a lot about my eyelashes because what could possibly be more riveting than that.

Also, I think that Melanie may have a career as a Revitalash consultant, so we may need to break down that particular topic at a later point in time.

Hope y'all enjoy it!

 

Direct download: thebigboocastnovember3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:17pm CDT

On this episode Melanie is live from Sacramento, so this is pretty much our fanciest podcast ever.

We talk about our road trips across the US, our theories about air travel, the relaxing properties of Candy Crush, our 40-something eyesight and its unwillingness to cooperate, the Mississippi State / Texas A&M football game, and the fashion courage required for an open-toe bootie.

We also discuss red lipstick, the intensity Melanie brings to any college game day experience, and a a completely random assortment of various delights.

Enjoy, y'all!

Direct download: thebigboocastsept30.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:55pm CDT

Well, we hit the ground running in this podcast, and while you might initially think we've detoured into techy territory, we find our way back to our normal podcast pastures: fashion (specifically, we talk A LOT about jeans and booties), make-up, college football, and tailgating foods that we're planning to make at home for next week's game day.

And if all that weren't enough, Melanie's iTunes goes rogue a couple of different times during the podcast and causes all sorts of tomfoolery and also shenanigans.

Hope y'all enjoy it!

Direct download: thebigboocastaugust29.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:18pm CDT

The Big Boo Cast, Episode 52

Earlier this week Melanie and I tried to record a podcast, and I don't really think it's hyperbole when I say it was the most boring 40 minutes in the history of podcasting. In the history of ALL PODCASTS EVER.

So today, we tried to rebound, and things were considerably more upbeat.  We talk about our current and  very fun stage of raising preteens (seriously - this is my favorite - THE BEST), a favorite sandwich we've rediscovered, an exciting and new-to-me cooking show, how our love of pajamas keeps us from taking fancy trips, the joy and wonder that COLLEGE FOOTBALL, IT IS ALMOST HERE, and a whole bunch of other stuff I can't remember.

Oh. Windows. We talk a lot about windows. Not the Microsoft kind. The ones in our houses.

Also, I feel like I need to warn you that I accidentally hit a button on the back of my microphone before we started recording, and I sound a little quieter than normal because of that. You can still hear me fine. But if you notice a difference between Melanie's volume and mine, that's why. I didn't realize what I'd done until I was editing the podcast, so I've now returned my microphone to its original setting, and I have also decided that even though the sound isn't optimal, WE WILL ALL SURVIVE.

Direct download: thebigboocastaugust6.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:20pm CDT

The Big Boo Cast, Episode 51

After a couple of weeks away, Melanie and I finally found a good time to sit down and podcast and talk about all the things. We rehash our magical Thursday with Christy Nockels, we discuss Piper and Mabel's new doggie daycare possibility, and Melanie shares a frankincense update along with a new and exciting skincare product.

On top of all that excitement, we catch up on the latest with Martha, our continuing efforts to develop an organizational method for writing books, my complete inability to write fiction, and our mutual fascination with Alicia Florrick's eye make-up.

Alicia Florrick is not in fact a real person, but her smoky eye is fantastic.

Enjoy y'all!

Direct download: thebigboocastjuly24.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:55pm CDT

This is our 50th episode, only I didn't even realize it until Alex mentioned it to me, and then I forgot to say anything to Melanie until about 2/3 of the way through the podcast.

So clearly we've planned an enormous celebration.

We did make a very impromptu (and somewhat unorganized) decision to do some special giveaways, though, and you'll find out how to enter if you listen to the podcast. You can enter on my blog and Melanie's blog; there will be four winners total. 

And somehow, considering that this is our 50th podcast, it seems fitting that the content is absolutely all over the place. YOU SHOULD EXPECT NO LESS. We talk about Mabel and Piper's trip to the Pawderosa Ranch, my many hair-related insecurities, the wonder that is Apple Music, my Power Ballad Mix Tape playlist, our enthusiasm for Top 40 radio, and so much more. 

Thanks so much for listening, y'all. And for being patient when we'd take a year-long break between podcasts. And for not being critical when the sound was terrible. And for consistently encouraging us like crazy where this silly little podcast is concerned. In its own unique way, it has been and continues to be a blast.

 

Direct download: thebigboocastjuly1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00pm CDT

Well, if your idea of a good time is hearing <a href="http://thebigmamablog.com" target="_blank">Melanie</a> and me talk about how we can barely muster the will to leave the house this summer, then this podcast is for you!

And really, we are leaving the house. We would just not choose to leave the house, necessarily, if we weren't responsible for the care and socialization of some very active pre-teens. 

We also talk about how we met (I thought most people who read our blogs knew that story already, but I'm always happy to share it), a video thing that we're doing with Christy Nockels and my resulting hair insecurities, the holy re-do of Melanie getting to spend time with Christy and her hair, and the very exciting possibility of Melanie making a guest appearance on John Tesh's radio show.

I also have some disappointing Sheerlume news. I just want to prepare you for that in advance. 

We also discuss our favorite summer candles and answer a few more questions from y'all, too.

 

 

Direct download: thebigboocastjune23.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00pm CDT

The Big Boo Cast, Episode 48

Melanie and I definitely want to record podcasts more frequently this summer, but even still I'm a little shocked that we managed to put together one last week and this week, too. 

IS THIS WHAT PRODUCTIVITY FEELS LIKE?

Continue to keep those expectations low, though. It could very well be next April before we get our act together again. We're gonna try to do better, but keep in mind that we kind of pride ourselves on our consistent inconsistency.

On this podcast we answer more of your questions; we talk about Melanie's experience with Mr. Pillow, our favorite summertime breakfasts, Melanie's new couch, and my brief foray into obsessive scrapbooking. We also address Melanie's Aggie baseball heartache and discuss our commitment issues when it comes to our calendars.

And of course we talk about Sheerlume. However, we fail to mention either Amy Grant or Christy Nockels, so we probably need to pay some sort of podcasting fine.

Enjoy, y'all.

Direct download: thebigboocastjune9.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00pm CDT

The Big Boo Cast, Episode 47

Y'all were kind enough to submit a whole bunch of questions for this podcast, and we managed to answer about eight of them over the course of 50-ish minutes. We're gonna do our best to re-visit the list-o-questions next week; maybe the question answering will become a summertime tradition for us.

Honestly, that possibility sounds close enough to an actual plan that it makes me a little bit nervous. We do like to fly by the seat of our podcast pants, you know.

Anyway, we talk about Melanie's washing machine, the Sheerlume, how we (try) to balance the things that we do, what we're (maybe) writing next, what we're (probably) talking about at dotMOM, our favorite Starbucks drinks, and a whole host of other stuff. 

Please do enjoy.

Direct download: thebigboocastjune2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

The Big Boo Cast, Episode 46

You know what happens when you record a podcast without a plan?

You wind up talking about things like sparkling water and frankincense and grocery lists and Kate's post-childbirth public appearance - and somehow you convince yourself that all of those topics just flow effortlessly from one to the next.

They don't really flow effortlessly at all. But we're just as enthusiastic as we can be about every one of them, so surely that counts for something.

We also talk about the current trend of wedding hashtags, and I am still so tickled by the hashtag that Melanie came up with 18 years after the fact that I may start using it on Instagram. 

Once again there's not a single mention of Amy Grant. All I know to do about it is to apologize and assure you that we won't fail you in this way ever again.

 

Direct download: thebigboocastmay12.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00pm CDT

The Big Boo Cast, Episode 45

Melanie and I never really know what we're going to talk about when we start to record a podcast, so maybe that will help explain to you why we spend far too many minutes in this particular podcast talking about fruit kabobs.

Yes. I said "fruit kabobs."

We also talk about the books I read at the beach (I definitely don't recommend Gone Girl; it is a page-turner for sure, but the more I think about it the more I wish I hadn't read it), our expectations about Amy Poehler's book (I was sort of expecting something like Hilarious Hijinks with Tina Fey, and it's not that at all), and why we expect more out of book characters as we get older. 

I also make Melanie talk about her new book, Nobody's Cuter than You, which comes out Tuesday, April 7th and will basically make you laugh and cry and then plan a girls' weekend with all of your closest friends. It's wonderful.

And then, for some reason, we segue' into a lengthy conversation about brunch foods, the aforementioned fruit kabobs, foods that make us a little sick when we think about them, the resurgence of cauliflower, and why we're no longer very interested in lettuce.

It it every bit as compelling as you'd expect.

Finally, of course, we talk about our skin and sunscreen and basically WHY ARE WE OLD.

Shockingly, we do not mention Amy Grant even one time. I have no explanation for this other than pure negligence.

Enjoy, y'all!

Direct download: thebigboocastapril3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00pm CDT

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

I will go ahead and tell you that this particular podcast has a special place in my heart.

And I don't normally say that sort of thing. 

But here's why. When we started recording, Melanie and I just talked about our usual favorite topics: kids, dogs, writing, supper ideas, and decorative woes. Surprisingly, we did not talk about mascara, but that's probably because we just ran out of time.

Anyway, about halfway into the podcast, our friend Travis joined us. He was driving home after a night of interviewing folks backstage at the CCM "United" webcast to celebrate 40 years of contemporary Christian music. Travis was still beside himself about the whole thing, and it was so fun to hear him talk about the artists who have had such a big influence on his career and calling. Plus, Amy Grant was there, so you know we had to talk about that (OF COURSE WE DID).

So yes, we still laugh in this podcast, and there are couple of times when Melanie and Travis get me so tickled that I can't breathe very well. But there's also a little bit of tender, and it makes me happy.

Thanks for listening, y'all.

Direct download: thebigboocastjan22.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:27pm CDT

Well, we spent part of this one thinking that maybe <a href="http://traviscottrell.com">Travis</a> was going to be able to join us before it was all said and done, but alas, he had Skype issues and could not. It's a real shame he missed hearing <a href="http://thebigmamablog.com">Melanie</a> and me talk about cheese, my issues with a new love song that I heard on the radio, the details about Melanie's dog Mabel's run-in with a pack of javelinas, and our ongoing concern that the fire in Melanie's fireplace was going to follow Edith Crawley's lead and set the whole room on fire.

By the way, at one point I mention a little table that I bought to Melanie, and then I texted her a picture, and then I felt weird talking about it since y'all couldn't see it. So here's the table. I do hope that it proves to be a helpful visual aid.

<a href="http://boomama.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_3383-e1421015237669.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-23073" src="http://boomama.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_3383-e1421015237669-693x1024.jpg" alt="IMG_3383" width="420" height="716" /></a>

And just in case you would like more info, <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40260519/">the rug came from IKEA</a>.

We also talk about the college football national championship, my new book-related case of the crazies, a surprise gift that Martha gave me, and how Mel and I both feel a little indebted to Tina Fey. Plus, you know, some other stuff.

 

Direct download: thebigboocastjan10.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:21pm CDT