Join us while we get to spend a kick ass time with Stephen Lowery bringing some of the best that Old Dominick has to offer. We explore anger and how men deal with it and how we may have learned it. And we pick out the asshole between a husband and wife. Join us and comment your thoughts as you go. Email us at talkingshittoday@gmail.com.

Chris Ritch, aka Whiskey Gorilla, joins the show to break down his path through the whiskey business, from Angel’s Envy and Willett to Rare Character’s rise in the bourbon world. We dig into non-distilling producers, the bourbon market shift, Florida whiskey culture, and the stories behind standout bottles like Black Angus and the Commander’s Club.

Episode 16 is all about big pours, big laughs, and real talk. We kick things off with a bourbon tasting that turns into battles of blue corn, all north of 120 proof. We then slide into a conversation about stress, mental health, and how we unwind. We also get to pick the asshole in our recurring AITA story time.

General X and Lumpy are back for episode 15, and they're keeping their pants up — barely. The guys crack open a bottle of Mammoth Distilling's Borrowed Time, a 12-year single barrel rye out of Traverse City, MI, and it does not disappoint. Then they sit down with a true original — Don Colangelo, the retired architect behind Bourbon Trading Cards, the collectible trading card series that's basically Pokémon cards for people who drink. Don shares the story behind his cards, his distillery tour adventures from Louisville to New Zealand to Vietnam, and why the bourbon community has embraced what he's building in a big way.

The back half gets real. General X and Lumpy dig into mental health, what it actually means when somebody says "I'm fine," and why checking in on your people isn't soft — it's maintenance. Plus a recap of a legendary bottle drop at Corona in Lake Mary featuring Rare Character's Black Angus and a visit from the founder himself. And of course, Am I The Asshole makes its return — this one hits close to home for any dance dad in the room.

Find Don and his cards:Instagram: @bourbontradingcardsTikTok: @bourbontradingcardsShop: linked in his Instagram bio

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call, text, or chat. 24 hours a day. You deserve to be here.

Big Mike's Bourbon joins the show for a conversation about barrel picks, pediatric cancer fundraising, and how a passion for whiskey built a community with serious heart. We recap Orlando Whiskey Fest — the highs, the hidden pours, and one moonshine booth we should've skipped. Plus, Kyle wins a raffle bottle and immediately ruins everyone's charity event. We also get into men's mental health and what it really means to live for the people you love. Cheers.

Episode 13 is a full-on grab bag in the best way: dance-dad life after a marathon competition weekend, a surprisingly deep detour into what defeat does to your head (and how you climb back out), and an Am I The Asshole? story that turns into every bourbon lover’s nightmare.

What’s in the Glass: Garrison Brothers Small Batch (Texas Straight Bourbon) and Henry McKenna 10-Year Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond—ratings, notes, and why one of them might be an everyday pour.

Then we recap the competition grind, the studio “dance family” vibe, and why showing up loud matters.

We also talk UFC mindset, mental fortitude, and the post-loss dark places—plus the reminder: if you or someone you know needs help, dial/text 988.

And finally: Franken-Bourbon—roommate’s kid + stolen bottles + “topping off” with cola/sweet tea/water… then the mom wants the bourbon removed from the house. Yeah. We go there.

🥃 Two mics. One vibe. No filters. Cheers.

In the first episode of 2026, Lumpy and X kick things off the only way they know how—good bourbon, honest conversation, and zero pretenses.

We crack open Horse Soldier Straight Bourbon, compare Eagle Rare 10 vs 12, talk about a raffle win stacked with Rickhouse and Booker’s, and revisit a night fueled by one unforgettable pour: Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend—a bottle that might just land in the top three of all time.

But this episode goes deeper than what’s in the glass.

We dig into delayed gratification, men’s mental health, and the trap of always saying “I’ll enjoy it later”—until later never comes. When does discipline turn into self-neglect? When do responsibility and sacrifice start costing you your life instead of building it?

We also tackle an AITA bourbon moment, call out pretentious whiskey behavior, and remind everyone of one simple truth:

You don’t need permission to enjoy what you’ve earned.

Open the bottle. Take the trip. Set the date.
Because someday isn’t guaranteed.

🥃 Cheers to 2026.

It’s the last show of the year and we’re rolling straight through that weird lull between Christmas and New Year’s—Goochmas—with bourbon, bad ideas, and the kind of talk you only get when the pours start stacking up.

We kick things off on Skid Row: a true blind taste test of three bottom-shelf bottles (all under $30). We run them through nose + palate, rank them, reveal what they are, and then immediately do what responsible adults shouldn’t do—turn it into a questionable “infinity pour” experiment that tastes exactly like the decision-making that created it.

Next up, we hit a fresh Am I The Asshole? that’s basically bourbon rage-bait: a limited-release bottle of Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged—a meaningful work gift—gets opened and completely drained by the boyfriend who thinks “shared home” means “shared everything.” We break down why that’s not “sharing,” it’s just being an asshole… and yes, we absolutely label it Kyle behavior.

From there we get into Dry January—where it came from, why people do it, and the difference between doing it for health vs. doing it because you think you “have to.” We respect anyone who takes a break, but we also keep it real: adulting is hard, and we’re not signing up for liver boot camp just because the calendar flipped.

Then we take a turn into the bigger stuff: masculinity, machismo, and how Gen X got built—latchkey life, thick skin, dark humor, and why being a man isn’t just toughness or bravado. We talk about how those ideas change as you get older, become a father, and start thinking more about serving your family and showing up as a steady presence.

And then we’re joined by Corey Allender from the Cracked Skull Podcast (“Mental health, one glass at a time”). Corey talks about building the show, doing the creative/editing work, growing an audience, and how whiskey conversations can turn into actual support—real friendship, real mental health talk, and real-life perspective. We also get into bottles, barrel picks, Ohio bourbon life, and the kind of road trips you justify when a great rye is on the line.

We raise one last glass for 2025 and step into 2026 with one goal: stronger bottles, better conversations, and more honest talk—what’s in the glass and what’s in our heads.

Cheers, and thanks for talking shit with us. 🥃