A Portfolio Life (and a Few Public Failures)

Picking Up Where We Left Off (with Nicole)

This week on Fries & A Glass of Wine, I’m sitting down with my friend Nicole—someone I’ve known since university, but hadn’t actually caught up with in years. And somehow, within minutes, it’s like no time has passed. We get into everything: destination weddings in Italian castles, travel highs and lows (from luxury stays to food poisoning), and the reality behind solo trips that don’t always go as planned. Along the way, we unpack how our lives have evolved, what’s shifted since our early twenties, and how certain friendships can pick right back up—no matter the gap. It’s nostalgic, honest, and a little chaotic—in the way only long-overdue catch-ups can be.

A Portfolio Life (and a Few Public Failures)

From college athletics to ESPN commentary, Lululemon leadership, and now coaching—Sydney’s career path is anything but linear. Over fries and wine, Mel and Sydney talk about what it actually looks like to build a “portfolio career,” how community can follow you across cities and chapters, and why failure - especially the very public kind - ends up being your greatest teacher. This episode dives into identity, performance, body image in fitness culture, and the art of listening (to others and yourself). It’s honest, a little chaotic, and a reminder that you’re allowed to evolve… as many times as you need to.

Life in Rhythm: Purpose, Pain, and Finding Your Way Back

After a six-month hiatus, Fries & A Glass of Wine returns with a deeply personal and reflective conversation. Mel sits down with returning guest Terry Williams to talk about what happens when life forces you to slow down. Over fries and wine, they explore career pivots, grief, nervous system regulation, and the quiet signals life sends when it’s time for change. Mel shares the evolution of Evergreen and her unexpected shift toward personal styling and helping people show up as their most authentic selves. Terry opens up about closing his gyms, stepping into executive coaching, and writing his new book Life in Rhythm—a philosophy about balancing ambition with rest and learning to move with life instead of against it. Together they unpack: * Why burnout often comes from ignoring life’s “yellow lights” * The role of play, creativity, and stillness in healing * Navigating imposter syndrome when you pivot careers * How pain can become the root of purpose * What it really means to stay “evergreen” through life’s seasons This episode is about transition, resilience, and learning to listen when life asks you to move differently. Grab a glass of wine, a plate of fries, and settle in.

Near-Death Escapes, Cult Confessions & Aliens (The Chaos Episode) Part 2

Craig is back for round two, and this conversation does not disappoint. We trade near-death travel stories (yes, buses flying off cliffs and fish-tailing trucks), laugh through some seriously wild twists—including Craig casually dropping that he grew up in a cult—and wander into chats about intuition, Reiki, and even aliens in the ocean. It’s the kind of conversation where one minute you’re gasping, the next you’re giggling, and before you know it… the fries and wine are gone.

Life’s a Movie (The Chaos Episode) Part 1

What happens when you mix Ibiza bachelor party stories, old dinner party nostalgia, flirtatious-but-just-friendly banter, and a wildly awkward tale about fake text messages to end a “situationship”? In this laugh-out-loud, delightfully chaotic episode, Mel sits down with Craig for a rollercoaster conversation on dancing like no one’s watching (even on a platform full of strangers), navigating misunderstood vibes, and the evolution from charming rake to devoted husband and dad. Equal parts hilarity, vulnerability, and “did he really just say that?”, this one’s for anyone who loves a good story—and maybe a little life lesson hidden in the laughter.