Men, Money & Misunderstanding: A Raw Look at Modern Dating and Mental Health

LinkedIn: The New Good Old Boys Club?

On this episode of Backline's Bedtimes and Bourbon, hosts Stephen and Michael chat about parenting young adults, the role of LinkedIn in modern hiring and potential favoritism, insurance costs, college life skills, workplace production capacity, and colorful family stories — including a pepper-spray incident and classic car restorations. They mix humor, real-world observations, and practical advice while sipping bourbon. Part A wraps up after a lively 52-minute conversation, promising more in Part B.

Bedtimes & Bourbon: Hype, Scams and Cheap Cigars

Hosts Stephen and Michael riff on men's mental health month and dive into candid takes on overhyped bourbons (Blanton's, Angel's Envy), shady subscriptions (Disney arbitration), risky loans, golf gear flops, expensive youth sports, cigars, cars, and wild deployment stories. Raw, funny, and practical — personal anecdotes and buying advice combine with outrageous stories and straightforward tips for avoiding hype and bad purchases.

Men, Money & Misunderstanding: A Raw Look at Modern Dating and Mental Health

Michael and Stephen unpack how modern dating expectations, income pressure, and custody rules contribute to men’s rising mental health struggles and suicide rates. They discuss dating preferences (height, income, body type), the financial fallout of divorce, and how emotional isolation and feeling unheard drive the crisis. The episode highlights that June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month and stresses the importance of support, awareness, and understanding for men facing loneliness, financial strain, and emotional isolation.

Bedtimes & Bourbons: The Hidden Cost of Competitive Cheer

Hosts Stephen and Michael catch up over late-night drinks, covering a mix of personal stories and hot topics from their community. They dig into the rising costs and strict rules of competitive cheer, talk about local fundraisers and youth sports, and share amusing anecdotes about golf, relationships, and pop culture. The episode also veers into wild news — a cruise-ship incident, fan theories about superhero movies, and a dramatic Air Force organ transport — all wrapped up with updates on charity events and plans for future fundraisers.

Episode 2 – Unscripted (with Liz)

In this episode of Back Nine, Bedtimes, and Bourbon, Stephen is joined by a very special guest—his wife, Liz—for another installment of Unscripted. What starts as a casual conversation quickly turns into a relaxed and honest look at everyday life. Stephen and Liz talk about everything from welcoming a new puppy into the house to the behind-the-scenes realities of building the podcast and balancing life, work, and responsibilities. Along the way they discuss: The chaos (and comedy) of bringing home a new puppy How Stephen tends to take on too much at once The process of building and growing the podcast Upcoming plans for the show and community involvement A glimpse into their everyday dynamic as a married couple The conversation is light, genuine, and exactly what the Unscripted series is meant to be—two people sitting down and talking about whatever comes up. Sometimes the best conversations are the ones that aren’t planned.