Episode 10: The Shed, the Bullfrog, & the Margaritas

This week I'm recording from what might be the greatest podcast studio we've ever had...my friend Colin's Chili's-themed shed.

Yes, you read that correctly.

What starts as a conversation about our shared love of Chili's quickly turns into one of my favorite episodes yet. We talk about the story behind the Chili's-themed shed, our favorite menu items, ECU memories, grocery store impulse buys, and, naturally, margaritas.

But somewhere between canned pineapple, an unexpected bullfrog interruption, and queso strategies, the conversation shifts into something bigger. We talk about leaving corporate careers, starting businesses from scratch, building creative careers, using AI as a marketing tool, and learning to create a life that actually feels like your own.

Whether you're in the middle of a career pivot, dreaming about doing something different, or just here for the Chili's lore (and maybe a surprise amphibian cameo), this episode is for you.

Grab a margarita, pull up a seat, and join us in the shed.

Connect with Colin:

Instagram: @lakehousesocial

lakehousesocial.com

Episode 9: Unfuckwithable: Turning Pain Into Purpose

What happens when life forces you to stop, rebuild from the ground up, and figure out who you are on the other side?

This week, Courtney sits down with her former coworker and friend Sarah Weygandt for an honest, funny, and deeply vulnerable conversation about layoffs, burnout, addiction, recovery, mental health, and the power of turning pain into purpose.

Sarah shares her journey from working in employee engagement and encouraging others to prioritize their well-being while quietly struggling with her own, to spending 83 days in inpatient treatment, getting sober, and rebuilding her life one day at a time. Now, she's using her lived experience and passion for helping people to pursue a new path in the recovery space.

They also talk about why community matters, the courage it takes to ask for help, the importance of sharing the messy parts of our stories, and how one very special bracelet became a reminder of resilience, friendship, and being completely and utterly unfuckwithable.

Plus: fake job postings, personality-hire rejections, emotional breakdowns over John Cena, Diet Dr. Pepper, and the life-changing freedom of remembering that you're an adult who can have chips, salsa, and a molten lava cake for dinner if you damn well please.

Connect with Sarah:
Instagram: @wanderwithcuda

Episode 8: The Story Behind Crying in Chili's

This week, you're getting something a little different.

When a last-minute guest cancellation left an unexpected opening in the schedule, Courtney decided it was finally time to answer one of the questions she gets asked the most: Why is the podcast called Crying in Chili's?

In this solo episode, she shares the real story behind the name and how one particularly chaotic season of life became the reason Crying in Chili's exists.

From growing up with an entrepreneurial dad and working in restaurants and marketing to losing her brother as a teenager, navigating breakups, layoffs, a broken foot, and today's impossible job market, Courtney opens up about the experiences that shaped both her and the podcast.

She also answers a few rapid-fire questions so you can get to know the person behind the microphone—including her favorite Chili's order, her biggest irrational fear, and why Uncrustables absolutely should give her a sponsorship deal.

Whether you're here because you've been laid off, gone through a breakup, started over, or just need someone to split chips and salsa with, this episode is the heart of what Crying in Chili's is all about.

Connect with Courtney:

Instagram: @cryinginchilis

TikTok: @c_hillll

Email: cryinginchilis@gmail.com