Coffee Convos Podcast: “2026 Starting Off in Shambles”

Hosts: Kail Lowry & Lindsie Chrisley
Date: January 29, 2026
Network: PodcastOne

Episode Overview

In this candid and emotionally charged episode, Kail and Lindsie catch up as 2026 gets off to a rough start for both. They talk real-life struggles—illnesses, loss, co-parenting woes, and tough parenting decisions—while still finding time for lighter moments on animal reincarnation, tech gripes, and reality TV drama. The episode dives deep into grief over lost pets, safety and tech concerns for their kids, co-parenting boundaries, and the latest true crime obsessions.

Key Discussion Points

1. Starting Off in Shambles

Timestamps: 00:25–02:22

• Health Woes: Kail is recovering from strep throat; Lindsie started the year with COVID. Both commiserate about never-ending doctor’s appointments and feeling “put on their ass” by 2026.

• Insurance Frustrations: Scheduling annual checks for herself and Jackson is a nightmare for Lindsie because her insurance requires a year-and-a-day between appointments.

  "2026...it has put me on my ass worse than 2025." — Kale Lowry (00:52)

2. Family Dynamics, Last Names & Divorce Parenting

Timestamps: 03:16–05:55

• Instagram Name Change: Lindsie has changed her last name back to Campbell on Instagram, prompting confusion from Kail (“how many last names do you have?”).

• Kids and Divorce: Lindsie notices regression in Jackson around her divorce, especially when she and her ex-husband Will do anything together as parents. Kail relates with her experience co-parenting Lincoln.

  "We're divorced people... that's not what I would consider, like, the norm, where he's hosting the sleepover and I'm, like, divvying out breakfast in his kitchen." — Lindsie Chrisley (04:34)

3. Pet Loss & Parenting Through Grief

Timestamps: 06:24–18:14

• Kail’s Dog Buddha: An emotional recounting of having Buddha euthanized at home, with kids processing the loss differently by age.

• Reactions to Grief: Kail shares small moments—like the kids wondering if Buddha is “in the sky eating a bone”—and struggles with what to do with Buddha’s bed and remains.

• Supporting Children: Lindsie draws parallels to loss in her family and how her grandmother processed the death of a beloved pet.

• Coping Strategies: Discussion of memorializing pets (shadowbox with fabric from the pet bed; Etsy ideas), and reflections on end-of-life decisions for animals.

  "People showed so much more love whenever I posted about, like, Buddha being sick... than they have ever been to me about anything related to humans." — Kale Lowry (07:47)

  "I promise you guys... I'm not getting another animal inside my home." — Kale Lowry (17:06)

4. Technology Trends & Parenting Challenges

Timestamps: 24:16–39:47

• Roblox Lawsuit: Kail and Lindsie discuss a major lawsuit accusing Roblox of enabling child sex abuse, with Kail learning her own son knew more about the risks than she did. They express shock at the scope of the problem and share tips on disabling chat features for safety.

  "My son knew that there was a lawsuit before I did, and that's obviously really concerning." — Kale Lowry (24:57)

• Online Safety: Lindsie recounts research on the lawsuit: over 85 million kids use Roblox daily, half under 13. They discuss the tension between freedom and protection in kids' digital lives.

• Parental Philosophy: Both agree the company should do much more, as most parents reasonably expect their children will be safe in these online spaces.

  “It is the company’s responsibility, in my opinion, to put up safeguards for these children if they want them to be users of said app.” — Lindsie Chrisley (30:02)

5. Kid Tech at School: Phones, iPads & Chromebooks

Timestamps: 32:57–41:42

• Device Policy Debates: Lindsie and Kail break down the pros and cons of kids having phones at school—essential in emergencies but distracting in class.

• Personal Stories: Both recount specific incidents—bus fires, code reds, accidents—where kids’ phones ensured family communication and safety.

• Educational Tech Angst: They critique the reliance on Chromebooks, lament a lack of hands-on learning from textbooks, and worry about learning efficacy in a digital-only environment.

  “Everything is online but we’re not processing that type of information... That’s not really teaching them anything. I need them, if they’re going to be on a Chromebook... then learn skills that would help them in the real world.” — Kail Lowry (39:18)

6. Hilarious Parenting Texts & Group Chats

Timestamps: 42:06–44:26

• Jackson’s Texts: Lindsie shares a comical text chain between her son Jackson and her ex-husband Will, full of basketball trash talk—even during school hours.

• School Tech Blockers: Jackson’s frustration at being unable to access TikTok at school leads to finger-pointing at his mom and dad.

  "LeBron doesn't know Ball. I cooked you on the reg so much so that you stopped playing me." — Will to Jackson (42:13)

7. Celebrity Drama & Petty Feuds

Timestamps: 44:26–45:26

• 50 Cent vs LeBron: Kail brings up a resurfaced tweet from 50 Cent targeting LeBron James, speculating on the drama behind the scenes.
• Pettiness Aspirations: Lindsie expresses admiration (“to some degree”) for 50 Cent’s level of pettiness but says she’s not signing up for that stress in 2026.

8. True Crime: Updates & Media Recommendations

Timestamps: 45:34–57:02

• Idaho 4 Case Update: Kail summarizes recent revelations in the quadruple homicide case, including the killer’s exhaustion, the timeline, and reasons for sparing a survivor. Lindsie ponders the role of roommates in the tragedy.

• Digital Evidence in Crime: Lindsie recommends the Hulu docuseries “Witness to a Murder: Digital Evidence,” praising its focus on how digital footprints (Fitbits, Ring cameras, Nintendo Switches) help solve murders.

• Impossible to Get Away: Both comment on how pervasive digital tracking now makes undetected crime extremely difficult.

  "There's just, like, not really a way to get away with murder at this point. Because if you think about it, even when, like, detectives can see when you turn your phone off." — Kale Lowry (55:21)

9. Lighthearted Tangents: Animal Reincarnation & Childhood

Timestamps: 18:24–23:11

• Reincarnating Pets: Lindsie is invested in a TikTok about cloning a pet dog (at a $20k+ price tag). Kail is creeped out by the idea and jokes, “Do not clone me. Do not. I do not want to come back.”
• If You Could Reincarnate...: Lindsie wants to come back as a bird or an otter, fascinated by animal social structure and freedom. Kail desires to be a wolf or a shark: “I think I would be at the top of the hierarchy of sharks.”
• Childhood Memories: The duo reminisce about playing teacher and waitress as kids and debate whether childhood experiences like Discovery Channel or pen-and-paper learning are missing for today’s children.

10. Stepparenting & Co-parenting Advice

Timestamps: 61:32–64:43

• Listener Email: A stepmom writes in for advice—her partner’s ex makes life difficult, drags children into adult problems, and refuses direct communication.
• Kail’s Advice: Focus on what you can control and avoid escalating problems by intervening directly—it could backfire.
• Lindsie’s Take: Sometimes the healthiest thing might be to walk away if the drama never ends. “It's like you're signing up to tread water basically the rest of those kids life. ... I couldn't do it.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We are divorced people.” — Lindsie (04:34)
• “You don't need to do hard work for a last name, Lindsie.” — Kail (05:43)
• “People showed so much more love when I posted about Buddha than about anything related to humans.” — Kail (07:47)
• “I promise you guys... I'm not getting another animal inside my home.” — Kail (17:06)
• “It is the company’s responsibility... to put up safeguards for these children.” — Lindsie (30:02)
• "LeBron doesn't know Ball. I cooked you on the reg so much so that you stopped playing me." — Will to Jackson (42:13)
• "There's just, like, not really a way to get away with murder at this point." — Kail (55:21)
• "It's like you're signing up to tread water basically the rest of those kids life." — Lindsie (64:43)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Opening & Health Updates – 00:25–02:22
• Co-parenting, Last Names – 03:16–05:55
• Pet Loss & Grief – 06:24–18:14
• Tech, Roblox Lawsuit – 24:16–30:59
• Devices/Phones at School – 32:57–41:42
• Parenting Texts – 42:06–44:26
• 50 Cent vs LeBron – 44:26–45:26
• Idaho 4 Update, True Crime – 45:34–57:02
• Stepparenting Advice – 61:32–64:43

Tone & Style

Authentic, warm, and unfiltered—Kail and Lindsie bring a blend of support, candid vulnerability, and humor to challenging topics. While the episode dips into heavy, emotional narratives about grief and modern parenting, it’s balanced by sarcastic banter, honest confessions, and a willingness to laugh at themselves and each other.

For Listeners

Whether you’re here for the deep dives into motherhood and modern digital parenting, the juicy true crime updates, or just reality-star banter, this episode gives a raw snapshot of real life—with all its messiness and moments of connection.