Podcast Summary: Fake Friends, Parent Hacks, and BIG Surprises!
Podcast: Katching Up With Katie
Host: Katie Van Slyke
Date: January 27, 2026
Episode Overview
In this lively, laid-back episode, Katie Van Slyke is joined by friends and new team member Buck Morgan for a chat covering everything from ranch life and foaling season challenges to hilarious "parent hacks," friend quizzes, dream vacations, and an exciting new surprise in Katie’s horse-showing journey. The tone is candid, playful, and full of "real talk" about the day-to-day joys (and chaos) of ranching, family, and friendship.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Welcoming Buck to the Team & Life on “Foal Watch”
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Buck Morgan Introduction (00:00–01:20)
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Buck is the newest addition to Katie’s crew, coming on as a photographer/videographer after a chance encounter while shooting real estate photos.
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Katie jokes about Buck being selected for his looks and fitting the team's "handsome, tall, dark-haired" profile.
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Immediate camaraderie, especially after Buck jumps into their Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
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Quote:
“Pretty sure I just got off the phone with Nate, and we decided that we needed another guy, and he just fit the bill. He was young enough, tall enough, handsome enough, black hair…” —[Buck, 03:48]
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Foaling Season & Board Games (01:26–02:29)
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The team is deep in “foal watch” with mares overdue, leading to late nights and creative distractions like learning chess and winding down with the game Big Farm Homestead.
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Katie shares how they play Dungeons & Dragons live while waiting, with Buck’s D&D knowledge being a bonus.
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Quote:
“We've been just up all night playing Dungeons and Dragons, getting our work done during the day, not sleeping a whole lot.” —[Katie, 05:01]
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2. Friendship Banter, Family, and “Only Child Energy”
- Rebecca’s Quick Podcast Appearance & Family Background (05:51–07:50)
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Katie’s friend Rebecca is called in last-minute, having just gotten out of the shower, showing the real-life, unscripted vibe.
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Fun banter about Rebecca having “only child energy” and surprising listeners by revealing she has a big, red-haired older brother ("the biggest, oldest sibling") who also loves D&D.
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Quote:
“I tell my brother that I am our father's strongest son.” —[Rebecca, 07:04] -
Childhood teasing over red hair leads to a warm exchange about family traits and what she imagined for her own kids.
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3. Dream Trips, No-Boys-Allowed & Best Friend Travel
- Discussion of Dream Vacations (08:03–14:46)
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Amusing back-and-forth about "girl's trips"—from Vegas mishaps (including Rebecca going while pregnant: “the smells alone will take you out”) to the wish to visit the luxurious BlackBerry Farm.
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Katie and Rebecca realize most of their trips have been active/mountainous, not “do nothing” spa-style vacations.
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Quote:
“You want to roll for it?” [referring to D&D skills bleeding into life] —[Katie, 05:01] -
BlackBerry Farm stands out as the ultimate "dream" but almost comically out of budget. Both admit they'd love a true “do-nothing” vacation there.
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Quote:
"That’s the dream trip." —[Rebecca, 14:44]
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4. Family Health Updates & Parent Hacks
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Update on Rebecca’s Husband (Evan) and Recovery (14:46–16:56)
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Evan, a lineman, suffered a neck fracture (C7 vertebra) during a work accident. Recovery has been long and difficult, but he’s back to working out and on duty, though with some chronic pain.
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Kids share their parents’ dark humor: “Don’t break your neck again, Dad.”
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Quote:
“It's actually a miracle that he's alive.” —[Katie, 16:02]
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Slime Horror Stories & Cleaning Hacks (16:59–18:52)
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Slime and kinetic sand are strictly banned from Rebecca’s house.
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Hilarious account of “secret slime” being found and getting stuck to a prized blanket, leading to the parenting tip: white vinegar and hot water effectively dissolve slime!
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Quote:
“White vinegar, hot water, just douse your kid’s head and boi—I'm just kidding!” —[Rebecca, 18:40]
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5. Cooking & Budgeting as a Mom
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Becoming a Good Cook, Meal Planning & Budgeting (19:02–22:44)
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Rebecca’s interest in cooking started as a latchkey kid and was further honed to spoil her traveling husband with home-cooked meals.
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She is known for her strict meal planning and budgeting, sometimes putting her own purchases back to stick to the weekly spend. Katie thinks Rebecca should share these hacks publicly.
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Quote:
“If we're over budget, there's no fun stuff for the week.” —[Rebecca, 22:41]
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Why Dessert is an Every-Night Ritual (22:45–23:49)
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The family indulges in dessert every night, but only because the kids eat “better than most adults”—well-rounded, veggie-rich meals first!
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Quote:
“Dessert after dinner. But I feel like if you’re eating like the girls eat great... better than you do!” —[Rebecca, 22:49]
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6. Bestie Pop Quiz: Name the Animals (and Failing Gloriously)
- Animal ID Challenge—Katie Quizzes Rebecca (24:17–30:22)
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In a fun and at times brutal test, Katie quizzes Rebecca on photos of her various horses, mini cows, goats, and donkeys.
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Rebecca surprises everyone (and herself) by identifying more critters than expected, despite self-confessed gaps (“it’s just the foals; they all looked the same last year!”).
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Quote:
"She thinks I don't know her at all." —[Rebecca, 30:24] -
Team agrees all the foals were “red” last year, making ID challenging even for regulars.
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7. Big Announcement: More Riding, New Horse (the “BIG Surprise”)
- Katie’s Exciting Equestrian News (33:33–34:43)
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Katie teases an “exciting opportunity”: she will be buying and showing an older, seasoned horse as she works back into western riding and trail competition.
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She shares pride in returning to her “top 10 at Congress” discipline after a decade, emphasizing it’s a confidence boost before bringing out her up-and-coming horse, Denver.
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Quote:
“This horse knows its job super well, and it’ll be a way for me to gain confidence back in the arena, get back in there, have one that isn’t a baby... This is gonna be a really cool opportunity.” —[Katie, 34:15]
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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- On Buck’s Recruitment: (“He was young enough, tall enough, handsome enough, black hair...") —Buck, 03:48
- On Dungeons & Dragons Life Crossover: “You want to roll for it?” —Katie, 05:01
- Rebecca’s Family/Friend Dynamic: “I tell my brother that I am our father's strongest son.” —Rebecca, 07:04
- On Cooking for a Husband Who Eats Out All Week: “Coming home to like real food was a big deal... Every Friday I had a big, nice dinner planned...” —Rebecca, 20:21
- Parent Slime Woes: “White vinegar, hot water, just douse your kid’s head—I'm just kidding!” —Rebecca, 18:40
- On Dream Vacations: “That’s the dream trip.” —Rebecca, 14:44
- Dark Humor from the Kids: “Don’t break your neck again, Dad.” —Rebecca, 16:42
- On Animal Quiz Success: “She thinks I don't know her at all.” —Rebecca, 30:24
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Welcoming Buck & his new role | | 01:05 | Foaling season talk & downtime rituals | | 05:51 | Rebecca joins, “only child energy” explained | | 08:03 | Dream vacation (BlackBerry Farms, Vegas) discussion | | 14:46 | Evan’s recovery and family humor | | 16:59 | Slime horror and cleaning hack | | 19:02 | Rebecca’s cooking, budgeting, and family food routines | | 24:17 | Pop quiz: naming horses/animals | | 33:33 | Katie’s big horse-showing announcement | | 34:49 | Wrap-up: anticipation for new foals and team energy |
Episode Tone
The episode is casual, honest, and jovial, with plenty of friendly teasing and deep familiarity among co-hosts. Katie’s openness about farm life, family struggles, and triumphs make it both relatable and entertaining, sprinkled with parenting hacks, ranch drama, and nerdy in-jokes.
Final Note
Whether you’re tuning in for farm updates, best friend banter, or personal stories from behind the scenes at Running Springs, this episode is a vibrant glimpse into Katie’s world, crowned by a big equestrian comeback surprise and the promise of new beginnings on the ranch.