Welcome to Whine & Wine, an unfiltered podcast where we talk about real life using real words that are sometimes not appropriate.

In this truly "all over the map" chat, Jyl is joined by Raising His Kids host, Toni Australia, to discuss the intricacies of blended families, the importance of community, and the whackadoodle differences between American and Australian culture.

They share personal anecdotes, the challenges of navigating relationships in a public space, and the joys of podcasting. The conversation also includes a fun lightning round where they explore everyday terms and their meanings in both cultures, highlighting the humor and connection that comes from their friendship.

Make sure you tune into Toni's podcast, Raising His Kids, where Jyl spends a loads of time with Toni as they give listeners a glimpse behind the blended family curtain.

Key Takeaways

• Community is essential for blended families.
• Cultural differences shape parenting experiences.
• Inclusivity in schools is vital for blended families.
• Personal growth often comes from sharing experiences.
• Humor can bridge cultural gaps.
• Parenting is a universal challenge, regardless of family structure.
• Building a supportive network is crucial for success.

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Personal Updates

02:51The Birth of Raising His Kids Podcast

05:30Building Community in Blended Families

08:20Personal Growth Through Podcasting

10:56Cultural Differences in Parenting

13:48Navigating Relationships and Public Platforms

16:27Lightening the Mood: Fun Cultural Differences

19:03Lightning Round: Normal, Confusing, or Absolutely Not?

21:00Exploring Everyday American vs. Australian Terms

25:43Final Thoughts and Future Plans

Can’t get enough of us? Well, you’re one of very few.

Get to know us! 

• ⁠⁠⁠Jyl Barlow⁠⁠⁠ is a best-selling author and master of hindsight living a (mostly) unfiltered life. Uncomfortable conversation? Yes, please! Get to know her at jylbarlow.com and subscribe to her blog, ⁠⁠Which Way's Up. ⁠⁠⁠ 
• ⁠⁠⁠Kathy Crowley⁠⁠⁠'s Thought for the Day (accessorized with a favorite timepiece and signature scent) is a favorite among her followers. Watch this unedited episode of Whine & Wine on her YouTube⁠⁠⁠ channel⁠⁠⁠!

Whine & Wine is part of Bearlow Productions and is hosted by Jyl Barlow and Kathy Crowley.

Welcome to Whine & Wine, where two real women talk about real stuff, unfiltered. This episode is rated PG-30 because if you’re under thirty, we’re probably going to piss you off.

In this episode of Whine & Wine, Kathy & Jyl dive into the importance of Bullshit Buddies! What's a Bullshit Buddy? Well, if you're asking, then...maybe you need one.

• A Bullshit Buddy is someone who is not afraid to point out the thoughts gone rogue that often hinder our relationships. 
• The Bullshit Buddy is an art that has been lost over the last decade as we entered a world of affirmation friendships meant to validate every single story, feeling, or narrative. 
• With a decrease in Bullshit Buddies, we have seen an increase in the normalization of embellished stories, false narratives, and straight up lies–a dangerous result.

Did you know that you can be your own Bullshit Buddy? Listen along and find out how. 

***

Can’t get enough of us? Well, you’re one of very few.

Get to know us! 

• ⁠⁠⁠Jyl Barlow⁠⁠⁠ is a best-selling author and master of hindsight living a (mostly) unfiltered life. Uncomfortable conversation? Yes, please! Get to know her at jylbarlow.com and subscribe to her blog, ⁠⁠Which Way's Up. ⁠⁠⁠ 
• ⁠⁠⁠Kathy Crowley⁠⁠⁠'s Thought for the Day (accessorized with a favorite timepiece and signature scent) is a favorite among her followers. Watch this unedited episode of Whine & Wine on her YouTube⁠⁠⁠ channel⁠⁠⁠!

Whine & Wine is part of Bearlow Productions and is hosted by Jyl Barlow and Kathy Crowley.

We're back with the second Alaskan-story-filled episode!

This time, we'll take you from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle to Wiseman (population eleven) to Denali to Anchorage as we wrap up a true life-changing adventure.

Did Jyl continue to dissociate? Obviously. From a flight in a tuna can to a tour of a sustainer's home to a horse that keeled over mid-tour, there were plenty of opportunities to tag out.

But, there was so much joy!

• Denali Jeep excursions showed us an inside view of Denali...including THE MOUNTAIN!
• Black Diamond excursions treated us to an old school covered-wagon ride with Roy Kent himself!
• Alaskan Railroad's glass-top train ride from Denali to Anchorage? Unreal.

Listen along while dreaming of your own adventure, which I'll be happy to plan for you (wink, wink).

Our Nonsor for this episode is ⁠Holland America Cruise Line⁠! Fine, I'll say it: Holland America (and its sister line, Princess) has earned all the accolades on Alaskan adventure travel.

***

Can’t get enough of us? Well, you’re one of the very few.

Get to know us! 

• ⁠⁠⁠Jyl Barlow⁠⁠⁠ has all things Jyl! Also, it’s pronounced, “jill.”

• ⁠⁠⁠Which Way's Up⁠⁠⁠ is Jyl’s blog, home of weekly epiphanies and often overshares

• ⁠⁠⁠What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting⁠⁠⁠ is Jyl's best-selling memoir about her hilarious struggles as a (step)mother. Buy it online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and Target!

• ⁠⁠⁠Kathy Crowley⁠⁠⁠'s Thought for the Day (accessorized with a favorite timepiece and signature scent) can be found on⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. Watch videos of all our Nonsor products on⁠ ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠!

Whine & Wine is part of Bearlow Productions and is created Jyl Barlow and Kathy Crowley.

FINALLY!

Finally, we are back from Alaska, the Yukon, the Arctic Circle, and Denali. What a ride...and by ride, I mean on all the things: ship, trains, buses, shuttles, horses...all the things.

Today, we'll start the unpacking, but you are going to have to tune in TWICE, as there was just too much to stuff into a single episode. Listen along as we discuss:

• How many times Jyl pretended to be somewhere else.
• Kathy's ability to talk the group into doing things that seemed, well, questionable...
• ...Including taking a shot that had a human toe as garnish in Dawson City, Yukon.
• Learning the proper way to eat wings at the Cactus Cafe in Vancouver, CA.
• A ping-pong tournament that didn't end as planned.
• Making sure you have pants on when viewing the Northern Lights.

***

Our Nonsor for this episode is Holland America Cruise Line! Fine, I'll say it: Holland America (and its sister line) has earned all the accolades on Alaskan adventure travel.

***

Can’t get enough of us? Well, you’re one of very few.

Get to know us! 

• ⁠⁠Jyl Barlow⁠⁠ has all things Jyl! Also, it’s pronounced, “jill.”

• ⁠⁠Which Way's Up⁠⁠ is Jyl’s blog, home of weekly epiphanies and often overshares

• ⁠⁠What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting⁠⁠ is Jyl's best-selling memoir about her hilarious struggles as a (step)mother. Buy it online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and Target!

• ⁠⁠Kathy Crowley⁠⁠'s Thought for the Day (accessorized with a favorite timepiece and signature scent) can be found on ⁠Instagram⁠. Watch videos of all our Nonsor products on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ or⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠!

Wine & Whine is part of Bearlow Productions and is created Jyl Barlow and Kathy Crowley. 

On a special episode of Whine & Wine, we tackle…the Poop Cruise.

Does Jyl know someone everywhere? Possibly. 

Listen along as we chat with Debbie Moyes, a participant on the Carnival Triumph’s Poop Cruise and also Jyl’s proofreader. 

Train Wreck, a Netflix show, explores the 2013 debacle that left over 4,000 guests stranded at sea for days during which they experienced a lot of firsts…such as pooping in biohazard bags. We talk to Debbie about the vacation that went awry, the accuracy of the documentary, and what changes she made when cruising again. 

What’d we ask Debbie?

• Does the documentary tell the whole story?

• Were passengers alerted that the story was coming out?

• Where was she when the first “Alpha, Alpha” alarms were sounded?

• How bad was that smell on the ship?

• Where was the Coast Guard?

  
  

We also get her thoughts on Carnival and how they handled the aftermath. Spoiler alert: Debbie is now a Disney cruiser.

Our Nonsor, appropriately, is TravelGuard. While we’re not actually sure if travel protection would have been helpful on the Poop Cruise, it is absolutely a MUST PURCHASE any time you travel. 

PS–if you need a great proofreader, Debbie is the best! Reach out to the show for her contact information. 

Can’t get enough of us? Well, you’re one of the very few.

Get to know us! 

• ⁠⁠Jyl Barlow⁠⁠ has all things Jyl! Also, it’s pronounced, “Jill.”

• ⁠⁠Which Way's Up⁠⁠ is Jyl’s blog, home of weekly epiphanies and often oversharing.

• ⁠⁠What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting⁠⁠ is Jyl's best-selling memoir about her hilarious struggles as a (step)mother. Buy it online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and Target!

• ⁠⁠Kathy Crowley⁠⁠'s Thought for the Day (accessorized with a favorite timepiece and signature scent) can be found on ⁠Instagram⁠. Watch videos of all our Nonsor products on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ or⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠!

  
  

Wine & Whine is part of Bearlow Productions and is created Jyl Barlow and Kathy Crowley.

Jyl called an emergency recording session this week as, well, it was a hell of a week in which she was called a bitch, given the finger AND urged to leave the country.

What the actual eff?

Kathy had her own thoughts and complaints, especially when she realized Jyl was trying life without a watch.

Listen along as we talk about:

• The importance of returning your cart (or thanking the person who does).

• Judging someone for the car they drive. Does the middle finger mean Jyl's Tesla is #1?

• Why telling someone to leave the country only makes YOU look like the dumbass.

• Family dynamics and Jyl's inability not to step in a pile of shit.

• No watch week.

  
  

Can you say riveting??

Because this month’s episode of Whine & Wine is RIVETING. 

It was so riveting that I'm going to put the link to our guest's services up here at the top:

Crossover Doula Services

This month, we were so happy to welcome Reamey B., owner of Virginia's Crossover Doula Services…a service that is essential for those experiencing the transition from this life to the next. 

We had a long list of questions for Reamey that included:

• Discovering the difference between a Crossover Doula and Hospice (spoiler: totally different)

• How, when, and why someone might engage a Death Doula?

• How, when, and why someone might become a Death Doula?  

We also asked Reamey about her personal experiences and how she takes care of herself despite being surrounded by death for a living. We had about a million other questions, but mainly, we just listened (for once) because it was RIVETING!

***

You can find Reamey at:

Crossover Doula Services⁠ 

804-404-2628  

[email protected]

and follow her on:

Facebook, Instagram , or LinkedIn.

***

Our Nonsor this month was a two-fer! 

• Peach Schnapps, anyone? A shout out to Kathy’s many near-death experiences courtesy of Peach Schnapps. 

• Our second Nonsor was an updated throwback to organizing your post-death wishes BEFORE you die. Kathy found a journal that allows users to not only add the housekeeping items but also includes an additional section to write letters to loved ones, leave wishes, and more. Stop sitting on it and get your post-life plans in order. Seriously. Get that estate squared away. Click here as we’ve already done the search FOR you and JUST PICK ONE. 

***

Can’t get enough of us? Well, you’re one of the very few.

Get to know us! 

• ⁠⁠Jyl Barlow⁠⁠ has all things Jyl! Also, it’s pronounced, “jill.”

• ⁠⁠Which Way's Up⁠⁠ is Jyl’s blog, home of weekly epiphanies and often overshares

• ⁠⁠What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting⁠⁠ is Jyl's best-selling memoir about her hilarious struggles as a (step)mother. Buy it online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and Target!

• ⁠⁠Kathy Crowley⁠⁠'s Thought for the Day (accessorized with a favorite timepiece and signature scent) can be found on ⁠Instagram⁠. Watch videos of all our Nonsor products on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ or⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠!

Wine & Whine is part of Bearlow Productions and is created Jyl Barlow and Kathy Crowley. 

Jyl & Kathy are back after a quick break because...life.

This month, we explore our feral childhoods and why today's generations could benefit from a more free-range approach while being raised.

Signs of a Feral Childhood? Well, for one, you were probably born in the 70's.

• We left the house after breakfast and didn’t return home until someone’s mom rang a bell (or the streetlights went on).

• We rode our bikes to the corner store, but we didn’t always clarify which corner.

• We walked a mile to the local pool with a dollar in change for lunch from the vending machine, which was located further down the street.

• We had no need for bus notes. We just got on a different bus if we decided to go somewhere else after school. Later, we'd ring our mothers to let them know where we were.

• Our main source of hydration was the water hose.

• Our parents had no way to contact us once we were out of their sight. We typically had to be out of their sight within ten minutes of finishing breakfast.

• Televisions broadcast a message at 10:00 pm asking, “Do you know where your kids are?” 

• Latchkey kids wasn't a term; it was just how we lived.

We were free-range children, and we are better because of it. Why? 

• We can solve any problem at any time.

• We rarely have to ask for seventeen different opinions in order to make a decision.

• We left the nest with confidence and zero thoughts of returning.

• We had more life skills before grade school than today’s baby adults have coming out of college

• We can get blood out of anything.  

Our Nonsor this week was Carpool Karaoke. We also talked about Jyl's amazing Ninja Thirst, our Holland America Cruise Tour, the Jefferson Hotel, and more.

Spotify:

Can’t get enough of us? Well, you’re one of very few.

Get to know us! 

• ⁠⁠Jyl Barlow⁠⁠ has all things Jyl! Also, it’s pronounced, “jill.”

• ⁠⁠Which Way's Up⁠⁠ is Jyl’s blog, home of weekly epiphanies and often overshares

• ⁠⁠What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting⁠⁠ is Jyl's best-selling memoir about her hilarious struggles as a (step)mother. Buy it online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and Target!

• ⁠⁠Kathy Crowley⁠⁠'s Thought for the Day (accessorized with a favorite timepiece and signature scent) can be found on ⁠Instagram⁠. Watch videos of all our Nonsor products on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ or⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠!

Wine & Whine is part of Bearlow Productions and is created Jyl Barlow and Kathy Crowley.

We are kicking off Season Three with a little help for your 2025 verbiage. Let's face it, there is a long list of phrases that we are so tired of hearing.

In this month's episode of Whine & Wine, Kathy and Jyl share their least favorite phrases and suggest some new ones to add to our vocabulary in 2025.

What are your least favorite phrases? What are your new faves?

Phrases we'd like to leave in 2024:

Everything happens for a reason

Those feelings are valid

I’ll pray for you

New Year, New Me!

It's going to be my year

Thoughts and Prayers

You knew what you signed up for

Phrases we'd like to add to 2025

I’m proud of you

Are you okay

How can I help?

Do you need a taco?

I like your shoes

No need to apologize

And a late but important add: Want to go get a tattoo?

Our Nonsor for this episode is Kohl's! Specifically, the Kohl's gift card Jyl's child used and how he turned that into her favorite crypto cash.

Also mentioned:

Taco Bell

Louis Vuitton

Five Guys

Can’t get enough of us? Well, you’re one of very few.

Get to know us! 

⁠⁠Jyl Barlow⁠⁠ has all things Jyl! Also, it’s pronounced, “jill.”

⁠⁠Which Way's Up⁠⁠ is Jyl’s blog, home of weekly epiphanies and often overshares

⁠⁠What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting⁠⁠ is Jyl's best-selling memoir about her hilarious struggles as a (step)mother. Buy it on Amazon in your preferred format today! Jyl's next book, Sparent, will be out soon!

⁠⁠Kathy Crowley⁠⁠'s Thought for the Day (accessorized with a favorite timepiece and signature scent) can be found on ⁠Instagram⁠. Watch videos of all our Nonsor products on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ or⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠!

Wine & Whine is part of Bearlow Productions and is created Jyl Barlow and Kathy Crowley.

Happy Holidays!

Our gift to you was discovering how few clips I had in our "not for the public" file. I guess that's good.

Our gift to us was skipping a formal recording this month.

As we head into 2025, look for some tweaks to Whine & Wine! Want to come hang out? Drop us a line!

Spotify:

Can’t get enough of us? Well, you’re one of very few.

Get to know us! 

Wine & Whine is part of Bearlow Productions and is created Jyl Barlow and Kathy Crowley. 

Recordings: 

Nonsor Break:

Let’s take a break and hear a word from our sponsor. I’m kidding. Nobody would pay for this.

Nonsor Return:

There you have it! Something else you didn’t even know you needed. You’re welcome. If there’s a link to be found, we’ll put it in the episode notes. Now, back to Whine & Wine.

End of Show:

Whine & Wine is part of Bearlow Productions and is created by Kathy Crowley and me, Jyl Barlow.

Check out Kathy’s thought for the day on all the socials under at Kathy Crowley one. Head over to her YouTube channel for videos related to our nonsors and more! That’s kathycrowleyone, Kathy with a Kay, Crowley with a Sea, and the number one.

Learn more about me, Jyl, at JylBarlow.com. That’s “Jyl” with a “Y”

Follow my blog at whichwaysup.com and grab a copy of my best-selling memoir, What to Expect When You Weren’t Expecting, at your favorite online bookstore.

All these details can also be found in our show notes.

Until next time, that’s Whine & Wine.