Have Coffee Will Travel

Episode 46: Showgirls VS AlienThis week, we dove headfirst into the neon chaos of Showgirls. Leah had seen it years ago. Shawn had not. We pressed play with cautious optimism. That optimism did not survive.The acting feels loud, awkward, and strangely theatrical. The story wanders. Characters make choices that defy logic. And yes, there’s plenty of nudity. That alone does not save a film.We spent time unpacking Elizabeth Berkley in the lead role. She often seems uncomfortable. At moments, she feels like she’s still channeling Jesse Spano from Saved By the Bell — especially that infamous caffeine pill spiral. The intensity never quite fits the scene. It’s fascinating. And not in a good way.But wait. We didn’t stop there.We also reviewed the made-for-TV gem Amanda and the Alien, which we found on VHS at a thrift shop. The selling point? Michael Dorn. That matters because he played Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Shawn will watch almost anything adjacent to Trek.Sadly, Dorn could not beam this one to safety. The story makes very little sense. The tone wobbles. We will not be revisiting it.After two questionable 1995 experiences, we pivoted to real life. Etsy sales have slowed. We talked honestly about the frustration. Then we touched on the recent Supreme Court ruling that said Trump’s tariffs are illegal, and we wondered what that might mean for small online sellers like us. The future feels murky.Finally, after three years of collecting, Shawn is done buying Hot Wheels. He’s turning 50 in September and questioning how much stuff one person needs. The collection may be heading out the door.It’s a chaotic episode. Bad movies. Business stress. Mild existential reflection.You know. The usual.This week's podcast promo: Luke Skis Animation and Stuff

Episode 45: 50 First Dates kicks off with a very important update: Shawn’s hair. After shaving his head since his twenties, he finally let it grow out. The results land somewhere between Captain Picard and a clown, and yes, that comparison sets the tone for what follows.From there, we move into the heart of this Valentine’s Day special. A few years ago, Leah gifted Shawn The Adventure Challenge: Couples Edition, a book packed with creative date ideas. One challenge asks you to uncover a memorable date from your parents’ past. That leads us to a recorded phone call between Shawn and his dad, who shares some surprisingly cool and thoughtful date stories from his younger years.Naturally, that sparks a bigger conversation. We reflect on our own memorable dates, including first dates, misfires, and moments where reality didn’t quite live up to the fantasy. Some dates felt magical, others felt awkward, and all of them taught us something. Along the way, we talk honestly about expectations, effort, and why no relationship follows a perfect script.Next, we dig into the history and meaning of Valentine’s Day itself. We explore where it came from, how it evolved, and why it still manages to stir up so many feelings—both good and bad.Then, the conversation takes a practical turn as we chat about our Etsy shops. Sales, views, and visits are all down, which leads us to wonder out loud: did Etsy change the algorithm again, or is something else going on?Finally, we wrap things up with future plans and daydreams. An anniversary road trip in May is on the table. Shawn might hit the road to Toronto in June with his brothers for a Godsmack concert. Plus, he reveals his newest obsession: buying a metal detector… even though he has no idea which one to get.This week's podcast promo: The Flopcast

Episode 44: Observed BehaviourIn Episode 44 of Have Coffee Will Travel, Shawn and Leah settle in to reflect, react, and observe what happens both onstage and off. To start, they revisit Popcorn Falls, the play discussed last episode, now officially wrapped. While both performances were strong, the experience wasn’t identical. The first night’s audience brought big energy and enthusiastic reactions. However, the second night felt quieter, and that shift mattered. As a result, the actors noticed the difference immediately, proving just how much an audience shapes a live performance.From there, the conversation widens into Leah’s theatre journey. She looks back on her performance history and the launch of her company, Let’s Put On A Show, which began in 2022. Popcorn Falls marked the second production under that banner, and importantly, it won’t be the last. Leah explains why theatre continues to matter so deeply to her. For her, it’s more than entertainment—it’s therapy, connection, and community all rolled into one.Meanwhile, Shawn flirts with the idea of stepping onstage himself. Although he worries about memorizing lines, Leah pushes back. Surprisingly, she says, people often remember far more than they expect once rehearsals begin.Next, things take a lighter turn with a round of “The Couple’s Quiz.” Shawn and Leah fire off roughly 15 questions to test how well they really know each other. Some answers come easily. Others? Not so much.After that, the focus shifts to Etsy. Leah’s shop continues to perform well, while Shawn admits January has been slower than hoped. Still, inspiration keeps flowing. Shawn’s brother Robin has been offering steady t-shirt design ideas, even while facing serious financial stress. Currently on the verge of eviction, Robin has a GoFundMe set up by his friend Tracy. Although the goal is $5,000, the campaign has only reached $265 so far.As always, this episode blends creativity, honesty, and real life—one observation at a time.This week's podcast promo: EnterpriseSplaining

Episode 43: Popcorn FallsIn this episode, Shawn and Leah catch up over coffee and cover a little bit of everything—from community theatre to winter woes, side hustles, and big-picture life planning.Leah shares exciting news about the play she’s directing with her producing partner RJ. The show is called Popcorn Falls and will be performed in support of the RNAO – Algoma Chapter (Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario). The play runs for two nights, January 23 and 24, at The Grand Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie. We talk about the process, the cause, and why this production means so much to her.Next up, Leah talks about how her foot care business, Complete Sole Serenity, is really ramping up. She’s seeing more clients, building momentum, and actively looking to grow even further. Yes, we talk about feet. It’s more interesting than you think.From there, things take a turn into neighborhood drama. Our next-door neighbor bought her house without a home inspection, and winter is now exposing every problem at once. A leaking roof, pigeons living in the rafters, and snowplows dumping road snow into her driveway because she’s on the corner. She’s overwhelmed, frustrated, and having a rough go of it.That leads into winter weather talk and Shawn’s perspective as a mail carrier. Delivering mail in Canadian winters is no joke. Snow, ice, and brutal conditions spark a conversation about whether it’s time to apply for a supervisor position and move indoors. With 10 years left until retirement and Canada Post restructuring, the timing may not be right—at least not yet.We wrap things up by talking about our Etsy shops. We chat about what’s been selling, what’s currently listed, and how we’ve been sourcing more inventory. Shawn reflects on being a lifelong collector, turning 50 this year, and feeling ready to start purging. There’s just too much stuff, and no one else wants to deal with it. Plus, retiring to Europe someday means traveling lighter—physically and mentally.https://www.etsy.com/shop/Collectandcastonhttps://www.etsy.com/shop/RustedRobotToyshttps://lets-put-on-a-show-108707.square.site/It’s an episode about creativity, community, work, winter, and figuring out what’s worth holding onto.This week's podcast promo: Earth Station Who

In this episode, we hit pause on the year and take a look back before charging ahead.We kick things off with Christmas. Specifically, the kind with too much food, loud games, and a Boxing Day party packed with friends. Shawn asks Leah what she got for Christmas. Leah does not return the favor. Classic. She did, however, score some LEGO and gear to support her growing beekeeping ambitions.From there, we talk shop. Etsy sales were solid, but holiday shipping delays were not. We vent a little about customers blaming sellers for postal delays. Once a package is dropped off, it’s out of our hands. If only everyone believed that.A major conversation centers on parasocial relationships and how deeply people connect with online personalities. This comes up through discussion of the reported death of YouTuber Adam the Woo and how quickly misinformation spreads, especially when audiences feel personally invested in creators they’ve never met.Closer to home, we talk about Algoma Steel announcing major layoffs this spring and what that means for our community. We also reflect on the passing of the last surviving Dionne Quintuplet. Shawn shares some perspective from his years living in North Bay, where they were born.Looking back on 2025, we run through some big milestones: road trips, Florida travel, a cruise, a quick hit at Halloween Horror Nights, and planting a pear tree in our backyard to celebrate our first wedding anniversary.Shawn also shares an update from the postal world, where after two strikes and nearly two years of negotiations, the union and corporation finally reached a contract settlement.We wrap things up by looking ahead to 2026. Bees are coming to the backyard. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premieres soon. And in August, we’re heading out to the World’s Longest Yard Sale, because of course we are.Thanks for being part of the ride—past, present, and what’s coming next. ☕🎙️This week's podcast promo: Earth Station Trek

Episode 41 – From Snow Rescues to Freddy FazbearIn this episode of Have Coffee Will Travel, Shawn and Leah cover a little bit of everything. It starts with dinner and ends with animatronic nightmares. In between, there’s snow, side hustles, and a surprise rescue.☕ Date Night & Hotpot AdventuresWe kick things off with a rare date night. We tried Knife n Fork, a new restaurant in town serving hotpot. Hotpot is a brand-new concept here, and we had thoughts. Lots of thoughts.❄️ Accidental Snow RescueAfter dinner, the night took a turn. We helped rescue two people stuck in their snowy driveway. This winter has been relentless, and it sparks a familiar dream.🌍 Retirement Without SnowWith snowbanks everywhere, we talk about retiring somewhere warm. Portugal and Ecuador are currently winning the no-snow fantasy draft.🎄 Christmas Plans & Etsy Check-InWe chat about upcoming Christmas plans and how Etsy sales are going this season. Small business life doesn’t pause for the holidays.🚜 Snow Removal WoesWe hired snow removal help. They exist… in theory. Reliability is questionable, and timing is optional. Canadian winter problems at their finest.💇‍♂️ Shawn’s Hair ExperimentShawn is growing his hair out for the first time in over 20 years. Balding started in his mid-20s, and the clippers always won. This time, curiosity wins.🎮 Movie Review: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2We wrap up with a review of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. Leah’s son Wyatt joins us for this segment, offering fresh perspective and expert-level Freddy Fazbear knowledge.It’s a cozy, chaotic episode full of coffee, snow, and unexpected adventures. Thanks for listening.This week's podcast promo: Earth Station Boo

Episode 40 — Disney Fantasy CruiseWe packed our bags, grabbed our passports, and left snowy Sault Ste. Marie for a week of sun, sea, and Disney magic. Air Canada nudged us south with a layover in Toronto. From there, we dropped into Florida and spent two nights at the Country Inn & Suites in Port Canaveral. We needed that buffer before cruise chaos began.On Sunday, November 16, we boarded the Disney Fantasy and made it our floating home until Friday the 21st. Every day, we recorded a short recap. We wanted fresh details before the ocean breeze stole them.We met great people. The Disney staff impressed us at every turn. Most of the food hit the spot. The crowds? Less magical. Many kids screamed. Many adults stopped directly in front of us. We powered through with coffee and determination.The ship’s theatre played TRON: Ares, so of course we went. We also visited both private islands—Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay. Leah snorkeled at Castaway Cay, which felt like swimming in warm, clear bliss.One major highlight? The Rainforest Room spa. It was blissfully 18+. Heated loungers, quiet vibes, and zero children. We loved every second.We tried some cooking shows. We failed spectacularly at trivia. We laughed about it more than we should have.It was a full, fun trip. A little chaotic. A lot memorable. And perfect for our 40th episode.Check out our shops and support the show: RustedRobotToys on Etsy CollectAndCastOn on EtsyThis week's podcast promos: Cosmic Pizza Podcast, Dragon Con Report

🎧 Episode 39: The Wreck of the Edmund FitzgeraldFifty years ago, the Edmund Fitzgerald vanished beneath the waves of Lake Superior. This week, Leah dives deep into the story that’s haunted her imagination for years. She takes the mic solo for most of the episode, sharing the ship’s history, the mystery, and why this story still resonates half a century later.Then, we shift gears — from shipwrecks to sunshine — for a quick chat about our upcoming Disney Fantasy cruise. Because after all that tragedy, we definitely need a little sea breeze and soft-serve ice cream.Grab a mug, settle in, and join us for a reflective, slightly nautical episode of Have Coffee Will Travel.☕ Check out our Etsy shops:RustedRobotToysCollectandcastonThis week's podcast promo: Cigar Nerds

Animatronic Anarchy: Freddy vs WillyThis week on Have Coffee Will Travel, we’re diving deep into the chaotic, grease-stained world of murderous animatronics. That’s right — it’s Freddy vs. Willy, a movie showdown between Five Nights at Freddy’s and Willy’s Wonderland. One has a haunted pizzeria full of jump scares and lore; the other has Nicolas Cage silently demolishing possessed mascots while never saying a word. (Honestly, the man deserves an Oscar just for eyebrow acting.)Shawn and Leah compare storylines, themes, and the overall creep factor — from Freddy’s backstory to Willy’s unhinged energy — and try to decide which animatronic apocalypse they’d rather be trapped in. Spoiler: neither seems ideal, but at least one offers free soda.Outside the cinematic carnage, life’s been equally eventful. Leah’s stepping boldly into her new career path, officially launching her foot care clinic. She’s in that exciting (and slightly overwhelming) stage of ordering equipment and setting things up — basically building a business one callus at a time.Meanwhile, Shawn’s keeping Canada Post running and accidentally going TikTok viral in the process — with a video that’s hit over 63,000 views! From sorting mail to managing fame (kind of), he’s proving that postal work is far from boring.So grab a cup of coffee, hide from the animatronics, and join us for a mix of movie madness, career leaps, and unexpected internet fame.This week's podcast promo: The 42 Cast