Great Lakes Geek Fest

Combining Households, Family Heirlooms & the Great Furniture Debate

After an unexpected delay, we're finally back with a new episode! Leah shares stories from her recent deployment to Toronto, where she spent ten straight days working long shifts supporting evacuees from Fort Albany. Unfortunately, she returned home with a nasty cold and a serious case of exhaustion, which explains why this episode is arriving a little later than usual. We also catch up on Shawn's new mail route. Two weeks in, the verdict is still out, but one unexpected benefit is passing by the house his grandparents built in the early 1970s. That sparks a conversation about nostalgia, family heirlooms, and whether sentimental furniture deserves a place in a modern home. The debate gets interesting when Shawn wants to bring home a piece of furniture that belonged to his grandparents, while Leah argues that after combining two established households in their 40s, it's time to start choosing pieces they both love rather than hanging onto everything from the past. We'd love to hear where you stand on this one! We also celebrate the arrival of yard sale season, swap stories about recent thrift store and garage sale finds, and talk about the treasures (and temptations) that come with hunting for bargains. To wrap things up, we chat about one of our favourite activities as a couple: cooking together. From planning meals to working side-by-side in the kitchen, we discuss why sharing the cooking duties has become one of our favourite ways to spend time together. Grab a coffee and join us for a conversation about nostalgia, new beginnings, second-hand treasures, and building a life together one day at a time. IN THIS EPISODE ☕ Leah returns from Toronto after assisting Fort Albany evacuees ☕ Why Episode 52 was delayed ☕ Shawn's first impressions of his new mail route ☕ Passing by the house his grandparents built ☕ Nostalgia and family keepsakes ☕ The great furniture debate: sentimental value vs. practical living ☕ Combining two households later in life ☕ Yard sale season officially begins ☕ Recent thrift store and garage sale finds ☕ Why we love cooking together as a team #Podcast #CouplesPodcast #Marriage #Relationships #Nostalgia #YardSales #Thrifting #ThriftStoreFinds #GarageSaleSeason #VintageFinds #SecondHandTreasures #MailCarrier #FamilyStories #CookingTogether #CanadianPodcast #LifeStories #SmallTownLife #FortAlbany #CoffeeAndConversation This week's podcast promo: Watchathon of Rassilon ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Late Episode, Big Stories: Flood Evacuations, Anniversary Adventures & Yard Sale Letdowns

This one’s a few days late—but for a really good reason. Leah’s been out of town working as a nurse, helping care for First Nations evacuees from Fort Albany. Every spring, flooding forces northern communities out of their homes. This time, many were relocated to Toronto—about eight hours from us. Leah stepped in as a care coordinator, supporting families during a tough and uncertain time. She’s home for a quick four-day break… then it’s right back for another 10-day stretch. We also squeezed in something a little more fun—our 2-year anniversary on May the 4th (yes, that May the 4th). We tried to go out for a nice dinner, but Smelt season had other plans. Every restaurant was either packed or closed. After a bit of running around, we finally landed somewhere and made a night of it. Bonus: we tried Wayne Gretzky’s salted caramel liqueur. Worth it? We’ll let you know. In this episode, we also catch up on: * The early days of Shawn’s new YouTube channel * Starting a brand-new mail route this week * A trip to the Echo Bay town-wide yard sales… with more disappointment than treasure It’s a bit of everything this week—real life, small wins, and a few laughs along the way. 🔗 LINKS & MENTIONS * Shawn’s YouTube Channel: The Long Way Around @thelongwayshow [ www.youtube.com/@TheLongWayShow] * Shawn’s Etsy Shop: rustedrobottoys https://www.etsy.com/shop/rustedrobottoys [https://www.etsy.com/shop/rustedrobottoys] * Leah’s Etsy Shop: collectandcaston https://www.etsy.com/shop/collectandcaston [https://www.etsy.com/shop/collectandcaston🧭 What We Talk About] 🧭 WHAT WE TALK ABOUT * Why the episode is late this week * Leah’s work with Fort Albany evacuees * Flood season in Northern Ontario * Our May the 4th anniversary * Smelt season taking over every restaurant * Wayne Gretzky salted caramel liqueur taste test * YouTube channel updates * New mail route beginnings * Echo Bay yard sales recap Podcast Promos: Tales From Hollywoodland, ESO Patreon ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Side Hustles & Big Decisions (Episode 50)

Episode 50… and it feels about right that everything is a little chaotic. Leah’s got a decision to make. She just started a part-time job—but now a friend has offered her a short-term opportunity with better pay. The catch? She’d have to delay the job she just committed to. We talk through what you do when timing is terrible but the opportunity is real. On the business side, we catch up on Etsy sales—and Shawn shares how trying to “simplify” shipping turned into a $200 mistake involving two swapped orders, a refund request, and a package stuck in customs. (There’s also now a full video about it over on his YouTube channel, because of course there is.) Spring has technically arrived in Northern Ontario… but no one told the weather. Snow, freezing temps, and migraines are still very much part of daily life. We also talk about the annual flooding in northern communities, and how entire reserves are forced to evacuate year after year. Somehow, in the middle of all that, we’re thinking about starting a vlog to document this northern life. Leah accidentally ordered everything in her Amazon cart (not just one item), so now beekeeping season is officially happening… as soon as the weather cooperates. We wrap things up with an update from Canada Post—contract ratification is coming up, big delivery changes are on the horizon, and Shawn’s got just over 10 years left until retirement. It’s one of those episodes where life doesn’t slow down long enough to figure it out… so we just talk it through. Grab a coffee. 🔗 LINKS 🛒 Shawn’s Etsy Shop (Rusted Robot Toys) https://www.etsy.com/shop/rustedrobottoys [https://www.etsy.com/shop/rustedrobottoys] 🧶 Leah’s Etsy Shop (Collect and Cast On) https://www.etsy.com/shop/collectandcaston [https://www.etsy.com/shop/collectandcaston] 📺 Shawn’s YouTube Channel – The Long Way Around https://www.youtube.com/@TheLongWayShow [https://www.youtube.com/@TheLongWayShow] Search: @thelongwayshow ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Bees, Bills & YouTube Thrills

☕ EPISODE 49: BEES, BILLS AND YOUTUBE THRILLS This episode starts where a lot of conversations seem to live these days—YouTube. We dig into the world of influencers and content creators. Some are making amazing stuff. Others? Not so much. When you have to post to stay relevant, even the most mundane moments become “content.” We wonder out loud: has influencing gone too far… or is this just the new normal? Somewhere between algorithms and authenticity, we try to figure out where we fit in. That leads into Shawn launching a brand new YouTube channel: The Long Way Around (@thelongwayshow). It’s a fresh start, a new direction, and—like everything online these days—a bit of an experiment. If you like what we do, this is your gentle nudge to go hit subscribe. Every click helps more than you think. Meanwhile, real life doesn’t pause for content creation. Leah is starting a new part-time job this week. Her foot care business is still growing, and this extra income will help keep things steady while she builds it up. It’s one of those practical, necessary steps that doesn’t get talked about enough—the in-between phase where dreams and bills have to coexist. And speaking of busy schedules… we’ve got bees to pick up. In about a month, we’re heading south to grab a starter nuc for Leah’s new backyard hive. Yes, actual bees. It’s exciting, a little intimidating, and definitely a step into something completely new. From bees, we somehow find our way back to YouTube—and then into LEGO. We watched a video about a daughter selling her late father’s LEGO collection. The estimated value? $165,000. That sparks a whole conversation about collecting, nostalgia, and why tiny plastic bricks still have a hold on us even now. We talk about the sets we love, the ones we want, and how hard it is to let go of “cool stuff”… even when you’re trying to simplify your life. Because let’s be honest—decluttering is a lot harder when everything you own has a story. We also revisit our old podcast, The Soul Forge. Even though it ended in 2024, it somehow pulled in 900 downloads last month—more than it ever did while we were actively making it. Go figure. The internet works in mysterious ways. That leads us into creating and reading a brand-new promo for Have Coffee Will Travel, because apparently our network overlords require fresh promos every six months. So yes… we comply. (But we make it fun.) We wrap things up with Etsy updates. Leah’s shop has been picking up steam lately—outperforming Shawn’s this past month, which we’re absolutely fine with… mostly. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: * The reality of YouTube influencers and content burnout * Launching The Long Way Around * Balancing passion projects with paying the bills * Leah’s new job and growing her business * Road trip plans to pick up bees 🐝 * A $165K LEGO collection and why we still love it * The struggle of letting go of “stuff” * Unexpected success from The Soul Forge * Recording a brand-new podcast promo * Etsy wins (and friendly competition) 🚐 FINAL SIP Life right now is a mix of building, rebuilding, and figuring things out as we go. Whether it’s YouTube, bees, or just paying the bills, we’re taking the long way—and learning a lot along the way. This week's podcast promo: Monkeeing Around ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Great Lakes Geek Fest

☕ EPISODE 48: GREAT LAKES GEEK FEST Subtitle: Selling at the Con This week, we take Have Coffee Will Travel on the road—well… to a convention hall here in Sault Ste. Marie for the very first Great Lakes Geek Fest, put on by Kanto Kreations. And yes—we had a booth. Why? Because Shawn is turning 50, and apparently that means it’s time to start letting go of a lifetime of collecting. (Emotionally? Maybe. Financially? Also maybe.) We packed up a little bit of everything: Funko Pops, mystery bags, vintage diecast cars, plushes, action figures, VHS tapes, LEGO… if it lived on a shelf, there’s a good chance it made the trip. Leah joined in too, giving a little spotlight to her footcare business—because nothing says “comic con” like healthy feet and solid arch support. We’re also joined by our friend RJ this week, making this a rare three-host episode. Alongside helping at the booth, Leah and RJ drop a tease about the next play they’re directing. No title yet—we tried—but you’ll have to stick with the podcast for the eventual reveal. Somewhere between sales and storytelling, we dive into a classic debate: what is the best Star Trek series? Opinions are strong, as expected. We also talk about the surprising news that Starfleet Academy has already been canceled by Paramount+—so when season two arrives, that’ll be the end of the line. To wrap things up, Shawn shares a new adventure: a YouTube channel focused on life, turning 50, and figuring things out as you go. If that sounds like your vibe, you can check it out here: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheLongWayShow [https://www.youtube.com/@TheLongWayShow] It’s a little nostalgic, a little reflective, and a lot of fun behind the table at our first con. Grab a coffee and come hang out. ☕🎙️ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.