In 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.

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It’s an episode about creativity, community, work, winter, and figuring out what’s worth holding onto.

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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. ☕🎙️

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In 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.

We 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.

After 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.

With snowbanks everywhere, we talk about retiring somewhere warm. Portugal and Ecuador are currently winning the no-snow fantasy draft.

We chat about upcoming Christmas plans and how Etsy sales are going this season. Small business life doesn’t pause for the holidays.

We hired snow removal help. They exist… in theory. Reliability is questionable, and timing is optional. Canadian winter problems at their finest.

Shawn 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.

We 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.

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