Podcast Summary: "I Lost My Christmas Baby...What Hobby Should I Do?"

Podcast: Katching Up With Katie
Host: Katie Van Slyke
Date: November 11, 2025

Overview

In this emotionally candid and lighthearted episode, Katie Van Slyke catches up with friends in a cozy conversation blending farm life updates, breeding stories, the emotional farewell to her first Christmas foal, and a quest for old-school, offline hobbies. The group shares behind-the-scenes laughter, explores the mystical reliability of the Old Farmer's Almanac, and discusses the need to add more "whimsy" to their routines, all while keeping things real, relatable, and unfiltered.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Almanac-induced Panic & Farm Traditions

• Katie’s reliance on the Old Farmer’s Almanac

  • Katie shares how she almost panicked over rumors that the Farmer’s Almanac was ending publication, highlighting how integral it is for everything from crop planning to personal routines like weaning calves or even haircuts.
    • "I had a little freak out because for some reason and I don't, I don't want to say that it's an old wives tale because it's been proven correct so many times. Like they have like an 80% success rate on predicting weather a year ahead of time." (00:25)
  • Important distinction: She uses the "Old Farmer’s Almanac," which is still in print.

• Using the Almanac to Plan Animal Care

  • Discussion of weaning Jack the donkey and how the Almanac’s advice gives her peace of mind. “I've had the chillest weaning experience for my entire life because we've always gone by that and we never have dramatic weaning.” (02:43)

• Funny Almanac Entries

  • The group jokes about all the things you could plan by the almanac—dieting, traveling, baking, dental visits, even conceiving children and making sauerkraut.
    • "It has, like, good days to get married, slaughter livestock, breed animals...make sauerkraut. Anyway, we could do this all day." (04:49)

2. Breeding Updates & Emotional Goodbyes

• Embryo Updates

  • Katie dives into details from the latest round of egg aspiration, how many embryos were collected from different mares, and why certain matches are special due to limited frozen semen.
    • "Kennedy gave us, like, 30 freaking oocytes...Guess how many embryos total she gave from this round? Nine!" (06:14, 06:47)
  • The excitement of getting embryos from a long-coveted pairing using rare semen.

• Letting Go of Noel, the Christmas Baby

  • Katie shares the bittersweet experience of saying goodbye to her first foal born on December 26 ("the first Noel"), who is headed to Texas.
    • "There was something about Noel leaving this morning...I went and watched sad horse videos for like an hour. I got back to the house and cried and sobbed. So it wasn't over Noel. But..." (07:50)
  • She recalls the emotional “Horse Whisperer” movie, relating the experience of loss and saying goodbye.
    • "I went and punished myself with these videos." (11:27)

• Horse Attachments

  • The group has a humorous yet real conversation about which horses they'd be sad to see leave. For the most part, deep attachments form over time with those horses they've seen grow up.
    • "Anybody that has history." (12:57)

3. “Because of the Horses” — Inside Jokes & Creative Moments

• Origin of the Phrase

  • An inside joke "Because of the horses" started as a goofy song freestyle and became a running tag for any farm excuse or transition.
    • "Even when I'd be in a serious conversation...he'd be like, because of the horses." (14:50)

• Potential Theme Song or Podcast Soundbite

  • The group reminisces about making the phrase into a soundbite or song, noting its sitcom-worthy vibe: "You just hear, like, the little heart piano, and it's just a transition to the next scene. Like, I hear that every time I say that." (14:56)

4. Glasses, Fashion, and Lighthearted Self-Doubt

• New Glasses Discourse
  • Katie and a friend poke fun at the online reactions to their new glasses choices, joking about “giant glasses for a tiny face,” retro styles returning, and the transformative power of eyewear.
    • "You look like a different person...I've never seen someone Superman as much as you are here right now. Like, you are Clark Kent and Superman." (17:58–18:07)
  • They compare frame styles and self-deprecate about trends and fit.

5. The Search for Whimsy: Offline Hobbies & Nostalgia

• Craving Offline Joy

  • The group discusses the need for “whimsy”—simple, screen-free hobbies that aren’t work, like needlepoint, cross-stitch, knitting, and crocheting.
    • "My hobbies have turned into work and so I need something that's not on a screen...I used to do it in college...I would like knit." (19:27)

• Friend Sleepovers and Pet Friendships

  • Lighthearted chat about coordinating sleepovers for themselves and their dogs, who are also best friends.
    • "Moo is best friends with my best friend's dog. So we get to go to sleepovers together." (20:47)

6. Health, Farm Realities, and World Show Plans

• Being Sick & Rural Life

  • Katie recounts a heavy sick day (congestion, fever, exhaustion) and how tough it is to rest when running a farm, especially while her husband is out of town.
    • "I think everyone's getting sick...and I feel like this happens like every six months or so because I get congestion and everything pretty often." (23:52)

• Meet and Greets & Horse Shows

  • She ties getting sick to the stress and germs of in-person meet and greets and shares excitement for upcoming horse shows.
    • "I get sick when I go to, like, do meet and greets and stuff, which, I mean, I think that just goes hand in hand with y'alls fault. I don't mean that...just high contact with other individuals..." (25:59)

• World Show and Coffee Cart Antics

  • Preview of the next trip: serving coffee from a John Deere Gator at the World Show with whimsical energy, and discussing the differences between this and previous larger events.
    • "It's a John Deere Gator that they've just...put like a big kettle on. We can offer whimsy." (27:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Maybe they just know because of using the Farmer's Almanac that they don't need to make one for any more years because this is it." — [B] (00:40)
• "I just went and punished myself with these videos." — [Katie] (11:27)
• "No, I. I mean, those look different. Like, the wire frames, I feel like, are more for when I'm done up, you know?...They’re a statement." — [Katie / C] (18:23, 18:39)
• "My hobbies have turned into work and so I need something that's not on a screen." — [Katie] (19:27)
• "Break free, dude!" — [B] (28:54)

Important Timestamps

• Farmer's Almanac Panic & Weaning: 00:09–02:55
• Miniature Horses & Almanac Fun: 03:32–05:30
• Breeding/Aspiration Update: 05:45–08:00
• Noel's Departure Story: 08:00–11:27
• Emotional Attachments to Horses: 11:43–12:57
• "Because of the Horses" Inside Joke: 13:16–14:56
• Glasses Talk: 15:16–18:23
• Offline Hobby Plans: 19:27–20:53
• Dog Sleepovers & Friendships: 20:53–21:49
• Being Sick & Farm Work: 23:52–25:59
• World Show & Coffee Cart Whimsy: 27:13–28:40
• Push for More 'Whimsy': 28:44–29:11
• Outro & Next Episode Tease: 29:11–29:50

Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation remains warm, raw, and humorous throughout—with open self-reflection, honest moments of vulnerability (especially around letting go of animal “family”) and a constant thread of camaraderie and poking fun. Katie’s blend of emotional authenticity and practicality is complemented by her friends’ banter, making the episode both comforting and entertaining.

For Next Episode...

Katie teases the idea of a game show format, quizzing her ranch crew, and possibly adding more playful segments—plus whimsical suggestions like Nintendo Switch board games for next foaling season.
"Break free, everybody. Hope we see you in the next one." (29:11)