This episode starts where a lot of conversations seem to live these days—YouTube.

We dig into the world of influencers and content creators. Some are making amazing stuff. Others? Not so much. When you have to post to stay relevant, even the most mundane moments become “content.” We wonder out loud: has influencing gone too far… or is this just the new normal?

Somewhere between algorithms and authenticity, we try to figure out where we fit in.

That leads into Shawn launching a brand new YouTube channel: The Long Way Around (@thelongwayshow). It’s a fresh start, a new direction, and—like everything online these days—a bit of an experiment. If you like what we do, this is your gentle nudge to go hit subscribe. Every click helps more than you think.

Meanwhile, real life doesn’t pause for content creation.

Leah is starting a new part-time job this week. Her foot care business is still growing, and this extra income will help keep things steady while she builds it up. It’s one of those practical, necessary steps that doesn’t get talked about enough—the in-between phase where dreams and bills have to coexist.

And speaking of busy schedules… we’ve got bees to pick up. In about a month, we’re heading south to grab a starter nuc for Leah’s new backyard hive. Yes, actual bees. It’s exciting, a little intimidating, and definitely a step into something completely new.

From bees, we somehow find our way back to YouTube—and then into LEGO. We watched a video about a daughter selling her late father’s LEGO collection. The estimated value? $165,000. That sparks a whole conversation about collecting, nostalgia, and why tiny plastic bricks still have a hold on us even now. We talk about the sets we love, the ones we want, and how hard it is to let go of “cool stuff”… even when you’re trying to simplify your life.

Because let’s be honest—decluttering is a lot harder when everything you own has a story.

We also revisit our old podcast, The Soul Forge. Even though it ended in 2024, it somehow pulled in 900 downloads last month—more than it ever did while we were actively making it. Go figure. The internet works in mysterious ways.

That leads us into creating and reading a brand-new promo for Have Coffee Will Travel, because apparently our network overlords require fresh promos every six months. So yes… we comply. (But we make it fun.)

We wrap things up with Etsy updates. Leah’s shop has been picking up steam lately—outperforming Shawn’s this past month, which we’re absolutely fine with… mostly.

• The reality of YouTube influencers and content burnout
• Launching The Long Way Around
• Balancing passion projects with paying the bills
• Leah’s new job and growing her business
• Road trip plans to pick up bees 🐝
• A $165K LEGO collection and why we still love it
• The struggle of letting go of “stuff”
• Unexpected success from The Soul Forge
• Recording a brand-new podcast promo
• Etsy wins (and friendly competition)

Life right now is a mix of building, rebuilding, and figuring things out as we go. Whether it’s YouTube, bees, or just paying the bills, we’re taking the long way—and learning a lot along the way.

This week's podcast promo: Monkeeing Around

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Subtitle: Selling at the Con

This week, we take Have Coffee Will Travel on the road—well… to a convention hall here in Sault Ste. Marie for the very first Great Lakes Geek Fest, put on by Kanto Kreations.

And yes—we had a booth.

Why? Because Shawn is turning 50, and apparently that means it’s time to start letting go of a lifetime of collecting. (Emotionally? Maybe. Financially? Also maybe.) We packed up a little bit of everything: Funko Pops, mystery bags, vintage diecast cars, plushes, action figures, VHS tapes, LEGO… if it lived on a shelf, there’s a good chance it made the trip.

Leah joined in too, giving a little spotlight to her footcare business—because nothing says “comic con” like healthy feet and solid arch support.

We’re also joined by our friend RJ this week, making this a rare three-host episode. Alongside helping at the booth, Leah and RJ drop a tease about the next play they’re directing. No title yet—we tried—but you’ll have to stick with the podcast for the eventual reveal.

Somewhere between sales and storytelling, we dive into a classic debate: what is the best Star Trek series? Opinions are strong, as expected. We also talk about the surprising news that Starfleet Academy has already been canceled by Paramount+—so when season two arrives, that’ll be the end of the line.

To wrap things up, Shawn shares a new adventure: a YouTube channel focused on life, turning 50, and figuring things out as you go. If that sounds like your vibe, you can check it out here:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheLongWayShow

It’s a little nostalgic, a little reflective, and a lot of fun behind the table at our first con.

Grab a coffee and come hang out. ☕🎙️

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This episode of Have Coffee Will Travel looks a little different…because it is. For the first time, Shawn set up a camera and filmed the podcast while recording the audio. Why? Because he’s gearing up to launch a new YouTube project called The Long Way Around. The goal is simple: get comfortable on camera and learn the basics of video production along the way.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/yj0C2Bwm3Fk?si=5dw-J0FTCx1nZL0c

Naturally, that led to a fun behind-the-scenes conversation about what it takes to start a talking-head YouTube channel. Shawn shares what he’s been researching lately—camera framing, sound quality, lighting, and how to actually talk to an audience through a lens without feeling awkward. It’s part learning process, part experiment, and Leah is more than happy to help put him through his paces.

Then the episode shifts into a very appropriate theme. Since this is episode 47—a number every Star Trek fan recognizes—Leah fires a series of questions at Shawn about the legendary sci-fi franchise. Think of it as Star Trek for Beginners. Shawn explains why the series matters, what makes it unique, and why it’s captured imaginations for decades. If you’ve ever wondered what all the fuss is about, this is your crash course.

After that, we catch up on life lately. Leah is eagerly waiting for her bees to arrive as she dives into the world of beekeeping, while her foot care business continues to slowly ramp up. Shawn, meanwhile, is getting excited about seeing Godsmack live in June with his two brothers.

We also share a slightly unusual travel plan: converting a used Dodge Grand Caravan into a simple camper. The idea? Use it during road trips—especially when we head to the World’s Longest Yard Sale—so we can skip the hotel and sleep in the van instead.

We wrap things up with some small-business talk, including recent Etsy sales and Shawn getting back into selling on eBay. Plus, we give our brutally honest review of Eyes Wide Shut (spoiler: we did not love it) and talk about preparing merchandise for our upcoming booth at Great Lakes Geek Fest on March 22.

It’s a little Star Trek, a little entrepreneurship, and a little van-life dreaming—exactly the kind of conversation that happens when you sit down for coffee with us.

This week's podcast promo: Legends of the DCU

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