Finding Friends

Christina Lee & Catie Wilkes

“From public figures to everyday gems, Finding Friends discovers what people value in a friend—then puts it to the test. Cozy, candid, and proof that friendship can start with a simple drink and a great conversation.”

  1. 1D AGO

    Great Batch of Cookies: NYC Dreams, Kentucky Roots, and Staying Real with Taylor Greatbatch

    This week on Finding Friends, we’re joined by Kentucky theatre artist, filmmaker, and arts educator Taylor Greatbatch—aka “Great Batch of Cookies.” From Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts to New York City stages and big creative dreams, Taylor shares the stories behind the sparkle: culture shock, learning to stop being “too nice,” building community, and navigating mental health with honesty (and humor). Expect laugh-out-loud moments, real talk, and the kind of energy that makes you want to put on a wig and book a karaoke room immediately. Highlights: • The “Great Batch of Cookies” origin story 🍪 • Kentucky vs NYC: what the city teaches you fast • Being unapologetically yourself (even when it’s messy) • Mental health + movement as medicine • Rapid fire fun: bourbon vs tequila + Grinch impression • Tokyo Kitty karaoke dreams 🎤 If you loved this episode, share it with a friend who needs a laugh and a little hope.

    1h 9m

  2. DEC 23

    The Bus Stops Here: Great Crossing AP Dustin Busler on School Culture Today

    This week on Finding Friends, we’re joined by Dustin Busler, Assistant Principal at Great Crossing High School in Georgetown, Kentucky—aka “The Bus.” 🚍 We talk about the reality of school leadership today, including how Kentucky’s restrictions on phones during instructional time have changed focus, attendance, and hallway behavior. Dustin shares the creative solutions Great Crossing uses in classrooms—and why it’s made a noticeable difference for students and teachers. We also dive into Great Crossing’s career pathways—from welding and 3D printing to CAD drafting, family & consumer science, and medical assisting—and how students can graduate with valuable skills, certifications, and a head start whether they choose college or the trades. Plus, Dustin shares a school story that proves educators could write a sitcom and never run out of material.

    50 min

  3. DEC 16

    Crystal Booth of Fizz Facial Bar: The “No Fuss” Facial Concept That Scaled to 10 Locations

    This week, Christina and Catie are joined by Crystal Booth, founder and CEO of Fizz Facial Bar, for a fun, honest convo about building a modern skincare brand that makes facials feel easy, approachable, and consistent—not intimidating or “only for special occasions.” Crystal shares how she adapted the facial bar concept (think: “a facial in a New York minute”) into something more accessible, why time and money are the biggest barriers to skincare, and what it takes to scale a service-based business to 10 locations across TN, KY, MO, AR, and TX—plus launching a skincare line and opening Louisville in a packed July. We also talk bridal skin prep, how often you should actually book facials, why every appointment should be customized to “the face in front of you,” and how TikTok has helped amplify Appalachian women and entrepreneurs. Links + mentions: Follow/Find Crystal + Fizz: • Fizz Facial Bar: https://www.fizzfacialbar.com/ • Crystal on TikTok/IG: @missfizz_ Follow Finding Friends: •TikTok: @findingfriendspodcast Not medical advice—just friends chatting skincare + entrepreneurship.

    53 min

  4. DEC 9

    The Masked Artist Who Paints With Blood (with J-Blood Art)

    On this week’s episode of Finding Friends, host Christina Lee and co-host Catie Wilkes sit down with the enigmatic, masked artist behind J-Blood Art — a tattooer who paints with his own blood. J shares how his blood paintings started as curious experiments, why he keeps such clear boundaries around his personal life, and what it means to create art that might only be fully understood long after he’s gone. He talks about leaving his old career as a corrections officer, becoming a full-time tattoo artist, and building a private studio experience that focuses on safety, psychology, and true bedside manner. We dive into his book Ramblings of a Madman, which pairs his paintings with raw journal entries, the science and experimentation behind preserving blood on canvas, and how people project fear, “satanic” labels, and their own beliefs onto his work. J also opens up about fatherhood, legacy, and the kind of love and loyalty he wants his daughter to recognize and expect. In this episode you’ll hear: How J-Blood Art began painting with his own bloodWhy he wears a mask and separates the persona from the personThe ethics, safety, and psychology behind his tattoo studioHow scent, ritual, and a signature cocktail shape the client experienceThe story and structure of Ramblings of a MadmanHow BookTok discovered him (and what they sometimes get wrong)His definition of real friendship, understanding, and legacyContent note: This episode includes discussion of blood, medical topics, and tattoos (no graphic descriptions). Hosted by: Christina Lee & Catie Wilkes Podcast: Finding Friends Connect with J-Blood Art 🔗 TikTok: @jbloodart  🔗 Instagram: @jbloodart 🔗 Book: Ramblings of a Madman – linked in his bio

    1h 24m

  5. DEC 2

    Manifesting Marigold: Adrienne Cole on Brunch, Branding & Building a Hospitality Empire

    What happens when a hospitality lifer, a Golden Girls–themed mobile bar, and a fully manifested vision of “feminine, floral Kentucky” collide? You get The House of Marigold. 🌸✨ In this week’s episode of Finding Friends, Christina and Catie sit down with Adrienne Cole — founder and CEO of The House of Marigold Catering and Marigold Mobile Bar Company — to talk about how she built one of Louisville’s most beloved brunch destinations and a fast-growing catering and events brand. Adrienne shares how a tiny corporate café downtown turned into a full hospitality company, how she and her chef-husband Chris teamed up to build the culinary side of the business, and how a scrappy Golden Girls mobile bar (Rose, Sophia, Dorothy…and Coco the ice cream tricycle!) helped her step into entrepreneurship with zero safety net and a whole lot of heart. We also go deep into the why behind House of Marigold: a bright, feminine, floral space that feels like your best friend’s beach house dropped into Louisville — a place where women feel seen, welcome, and celebrated in a city known worldwide for bourbon. In this episode, we chat about: How Adrienne turned a small downtown café into a full catering company and, eventually, The House of MarigoldThe origin story of the Golden Girls mobile bars and Coco the ice cream trikeDesigning a restaurant that feels like “the other side of Kentucky” — pink, floral, prosecco-forward, and ultra-intentionalWorking with her husband Chris, culinary director of the business, to bring her “culinary dreams” to lifeBecoming the sole caterer for the Speed Art Museum and what “luxury events” really look like behind the scenesLeadership, staff culture, and why she prioritizes her team’s mental health and work–life balance over the bottom lineRaising three teens while building a brand and what she’s seeing in the next generationBeing a Black woman founder in Louisville, representation, and why she wants Marigold to be a household name — from restaurants and catering to home goods, boutiques, and maybe even a TV showThe upcoming NuLu location (hello greenhouse bar and DJ booth!) and the dream of one day landing in Norton CommonsIf you love brunch, beautiful spaces, big dreams, and honest talk about what it really takes to build something from the ground up, this episode will light you up. ✨ Connect with us: Follow Finding Friends for more conversations with Kentucky creatives, entrepreneurs, and women building beautiful things in the Bluegrass. Connect with the House of Marigold and Adrienne: https://www.thehouseofmarigold.com/ aubrey@estespr.com

    58 min

  6. NOV 25

    Katie Ann Combs: Listen, Honey, This Is My Real Story

    In this episode of Finding Friends, we sit down with the absolutely iconic Katie Ann Combs – creator of the viral “Listen, Honey” persona and host of the Listen, Honey podcast. Katie opens up about:  • Growing up in Eastern Kentucky and meeting her husband Dylan at a 13-week Pentecostal revival  • Getting married at 16 and how church culture shaped that decision  • The deep influence of her Southern granny, the grief of losing her, and having a nervous breakdown that led to closing her small business  • Her unexpected pregnancy after her granny’s passing and how becoming a mom to Lucy helped pull her out of the darkest season  • Postpartum anxiety, mom guilt, and the pressure of wanting to be a good role model for a daughter  • Starting TikTok with pregnancy and day-in-the-life vlogs, nearly quitting when views tanked, and then watching a weeks-old story-time video suddenly explode  • Leaning into story times, gossip, and “rants and rambles,” and how Listen, Honey became a safe, hilarious space for southern girls, mamas, and small-town hearts • Her love for Kentucky creatives (Brandis, Crystal, Nicholas Jamerson, The Creekers, Joshua Sloan & more) and why she’s so passionate about lifting up local talent • Boundaries with sharing her daughter online, anxiety in crowds, and learning to accept help This two-hour conversation feels like sitting at the kitchen table with your funniest cousin – talking about faith, family, fried chicken, skyline chili, pageants, podcasts, and the wild ride of becoming “internet known” while still doing Kroger runs at 6 a.m. Connect with Katie Ann: TikTok: @lifeofkatieann Instagram: @lifeofkatieann Podcast: Listen, Honey (YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) Connect with us: • TikTok: @findingfriendspodcast • YouTube: @findingfriendspodcast 🎧 Listen to more episodes of Finding Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening, honey. If this episode made you laugh, cry, or feel a little less alone, share it with a friend who loves a good front-porch-style chat. 🧡

    1h 55m

  7. NOV 18

    Red Hair, Real Talk, & a Lipstick Launch with Claudia Fiorello (Fiorello Media)

    Makeup artist and media founder Claudia Fiorello joins us to talk confidence, red-hair branding, viral Walgreens origins, and growing local businesses on social media. She also teases her Fiorello Beauty holiday lipstick line, and gives hard-won brow & skincare advice. Guest: Claudia Fiorello — Founder, Fiorello Media; Professional Makeup Artist Find Claudia: Facebook/Instagram/TikTok: Claudia Lorraine Fiorello Nominate a guest: https://findingfriendspodcast.com/pages/nominate Topics: • Building a signature look (“Fireball” red) • Derby hat dye drama (and surviving rain) • From Walgreens beauty consultant to viral TikToks → client work • Content that creates comments (and why debate helps growth) • Fiorello Beauty holiday red lip kits (Black Friday) • Lip liners that don’t feather, stain vs. lipstick, photo-proof reds • Favorite wipes (purple Walgreens), microblading wins & fails • Brow rec: Sage Beauty Aesthetics (Louisville/Middletown) • First jobs & the “Finding Friends” origin story • Rapid fire + dream collab with Alani Credits Hosts: Christina Lee & Catie Wilkes • Prod: Kentucky Podcast Studio

    1h 4m

  8. NOV 11

    S2 E1: Boudoir, Kilts & Nutmeg Only with Ben Marcum

    Season 2 is HERE and we’re breaking in our new Georgetown, Kentucky studio with the perfect guest: Kentucky’s first professional headshot specialist and award-winning portrait & boudoir photographer, Ben Marcum. In classic Finding Friends style, this episode is equal parts unhinged, thoughtful, and wildly encouraging. We talk about: • How Ben went from teen theater sound designer to in-demand photographer • The difference between creepy and compassionate when it comes to boudoir • Why clients book: divorce, milestones, mastectomies, self-love, art • Honoring privacy, consent, safety and storytelling in intimate portraiture • His kilt “brand,” theater kid roots, punk rock and pro wrestling fandom • Pet portraits, dog training, and Cedric the husky’s glow-up • The infamous golden shower festival moment 👀 • Rapid fire: dream cabin, legendary mashed potatoes, one-spice-for-life (nutmeg!) CONNECT WITH BEN: Headshots: https://benmarcum.com/ Boudoir: https://boudoirbybenmarcum.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenMarcumPhotography Instagram (Headshots): https://www.instagram.com/benmarcumphoto Instagram (Boudoir): https://www.instagram.com/boudoirbybenmarcum/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenMarcumPhotography/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-marcum/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benmarcum ABOUT FINDING FRIENDS PODCAST: Finding Friends is where Kentucky finds its people. Recorded in our studio in Georgetown, KY, we highlight the creatives, small business owners, pageant people, neighbors, and “how are you real?” humans who make the Bluegrass feel like home. New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. Content: This episode includes adult humor and boudoir conversation. Marked Explicit.

    1h 3m
See All (15)

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

“From public figures to everyday gems, Finding Friends discovers what people value in a friend—then puts it to the test. Cozy, candid, and proof that friendship can start with a simple drink and a great conversation.”

Information

  • Creator
    Christina Lee & Catie Wilkes
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Finding Friends
  • Show Website
    Finding Friends

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