Bourbon Bottles and Mind Boggles

Katy and Erin welcome back their longtime friend and returning guest Jennifer Hill for a conversation about the ever-elusive work/life balance. You know, that magical state of existence where your career is thriving, your personal life is flourishing, the laundry is folded, and dinner isn’t whatever you found in the back of the fridge.  

But what does work/life balance actually mean? Who came up with the idea, and were they even busy? Get to know how these three very busy ladies juggle work, life, and all the chaos in between without completely losing their minds?  Join them for an honest, laid-back chat about finding balance, redefining priorities, and setting boundaries.

Did you know peaches come from a can? And that they were put there by a man? Well, Katy and Erin are talking all about canned peaches today.  No, not really.  On this episode the ladies welcome back returning guest Jennifer Hill for another round of mocktail-making and questionable life choices. On the menu today, a Peach Smash Mocktail.

Tune in for this fruity beverages, peach-related disbelief, and a potentially life-changing first bite. Because on Bourbon Bottles and Mind Boggles, you just never know what you’re going to get.

Ingredients

• 3 ounces of chilled Earl Grey tea
• 3 Peach slices
• 6-8 mint leaves
• splash of simple syrup

Instructions

• At the bottom of a shaker glass muddle the peaches and mint leaves.
• Add a couple splashes of simple syrup and a few ice cubes
• Shake for 15-20 seconds
• Strain into highball glasses
• Add a few ice cubes and the iced tea
• garnish with a mint sprig

Are you a neat guy? Do you know your preferred mouthfeel? And, most importantly… do you know where Harry Potter went to school?

When Katy and Erin have the “guys” join the pod to casually talk bourbon, naturally things get a little spirited.  Join them for the laughs, the bourbon banter, and maybe a chance to learn a few things you never knew you needed to know about whiskey. 

A big thanks to Mark, Andy, Doug, and Mike for sharing their bourbon wisdom, opinions, experiences, and, of course, giving the ladies plenty of opportunities laughs.

Celebrate with the ladies as they talk about their first year of the podcast.  Join them as they look back on the journey so far. What they’ve learned, the moments that made them laugh, and what they’re dreaming up for the future.  Most importantly, they want to say a huge thank you to all of our listeners for coming along for the ride. Your support, stories, and encouragement mean so much!

Share with Katy and Erin your thoughts….

What would you like to hear in future episodes? 
Are there topics you’d love them to explore? 
Guests you’d like to hear from? 
Questions you want Katy and Erin to tackle?

Add to the comments or send them a line at [email protected]

Katy and Erin may know a thing or two about the power of networking.  They practically have relationship selling in their DNA, but even seasoned connectors know there’s always more to learn.  Enter Jason Zygadlo: nationally recognized speaker, sales trainer, career development coach, and all-around branding enthusiast. Jason joins the ladies to unpack the power of building your own brand; because if you’re not defining your brand, someone else probably is.

They’ll explore how creating an experience can speak louder than a sales pitch, why the little details can make a big impression, and how one simple street vendor hot dog might just change the way you think about doing business.  So, top off your glass, put your feet up, and get ready for a spirited conversation about branding, business, and standing out in a world.

In this episode, Katy and Erin set their sights on becoming billionaires one libation at a time.  They are joined by the endlessly energetic and entertaining storyteller Jason Zygadlo of build.your.own.brand.  Together, the trio dive into the simply sweet, stunningly colorful world of the Billionaire cocktail.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of bourbon 
• 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce of Grenadine
• 1/2 ounce of simple syrup
• 3-4 dashes of bitters
• Garnish:  Lemon wheel

Instructions

• Add a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker, 
• Pour in the bourbon, grenadine, lemon juice and simple syrup
• Add bitters
• Shake vigorously
• Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with lemon wheel

Are the people we see on social media happy?  Does doom scrolling leave you with a serious case of FOMO? And is there no end to the algorithms?   Katy and Erin are definitely not social media experts, but that has never stopped them from voicing their opinions. In this episode they are diving into the good, the bad, and maybe other things that are not related to this topic.   Join the ladies on their journey down the rabbit hole of social media happy.

The Midwest summer thunderstorm may be bringing the drama, but Katy and Erin aren’t letting a little thunder and lightning muddle their spirits. They’re shaking things up with a fruity, dangerously delicious Strawberry Bourbon Smash.

Fresh strawberries, a splash of flavorful additions, and a healthy pour of smooth rye bourbon come together in one smashing combination. It’s sweet, spirited, and just sassy enough to make you forget you were ever hiding from the storm.

So grab your glass, embrace the weather, and enjoy the Strawberry Bourbon Smash.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces of rye bourbon 
• 1/2 ounce of Grenadine
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
• 2 dashes of angostura bitters
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 3 medium strawberry hulled
• 6 mint leaves
• Crushed ice

Instructions

• In a rocks glass muddle the strawberries and sugar together
• Fill the glass with crushed ice
• In a cocktail shaker, add torn mint leaves, bourbon, grenadine, lemon juice and bitters
• Add some ice to the shaker
• Shake vigorously
• Pour into a rocks glass over crushed ice

In this episode, Katy and Erin head to the home bar of amateur bartender Greg, where they chat about his love of cycling, his adventures across Europe, and the friendly cocktail competition he keeps going with his dad. Greg mixes up his go-to game day drink for cheering on his beloved Buffalo Bills. Grab a seat, raise a glass, and enjoy the Buffalo Juice Box.

Special Thanks to Carl Kriss of Heartland productions for the professional recording and editing of this episode!

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of Buffalo Trace bourbon
• .75 ounce of Orgeat (almond syrup)
• 1 ounce pomegranate juice
• .75 freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Garnish: Maraschino cherries

Instructions

• Add ice to a shaker and combine all the ingredients.
• Shake until chilled.
• Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
• Garnish with a cherries.

In this episode, Katy and Erin hit their flow state when they sit down with endurance athlete Katie Spotz. Katie is a world‑record‑holding, boundary‑breaking, “Oh sure, I’ll just casually do the impossible” kind of human. She’s the first female in more categories than we can list without needing a hydration break, and she treats challenges the way most people treat snacks, she just keeps going back for more.

Join the ladies as they dive into how Katie uses mindset to power through feats that make the rest of us feel winded just hearing about them. And if you think her past achievements are wild, buckle up for Katie’s next mission - Row for Water. It is a 10,000‑mile solo row across the Pacific Ocean, to raise $1 million dollars to help 100,000 people get clean water. Please visit her website to learn more. 

⁠Katie Spotz | Join the Clean Water Movement