Friends Without Benefits

Uptown Dale & Rachel Sobel
  • 4.9 (28)
  • RELATIONSHIPS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

One woman. One man. Thirty plus years of strictly platonic friendship with ZERO romantic history between them.This is Friends Without Benefits.Rachel Sobel is the face behind the popular blog and Instagram account, Whine and Cheez-its. She is the mother of two, a do-over wife, and award-winning writer, author and speaker.Dale McLean is a South Florida entertainment staple affectionately known as Uptown Dale. He is a bachelor, owner of a successful entertainment company, television personality and in-arena host for the Miami Heat.Together they tackle a range of topics around relationships, dating and current events, all with a banter that has been brewed to perfection for decades.Follow Rachel at www.instagram.com/whineandcheezitsFollow Dale at www.instagram.com/uptowndale

  1. 3D AGO

    S4 Ep. 16 - If You Have to Leave a List for Your Husband, That’s a Problem

    A viral video about wives leaving their husbands a checklist for watching their own kids turns into a real conversation about parenting, partnership, and what it actually means to split the load. Rachel is clear. A husband is not a babysitter. If you have to explain how to feed your own child, something is off. They get into gambling with your life for money, car wash price gouging, why some people walk through parking lots like no one else exists, and whether movies should just admit the real start time. There is talk about cheating in the 90s, modern TikTok callouts, and the difference between living on the edge and just being reckless. It’s messy, honest, and exactly the kind of conversation you’d have with a friend when the filter is off. Episode Sponsor: Presented by 1-800 Call Lee — South Florida’s trusted personal injury team. Learn more at calllee.com. Contact Rachel Sobel: Email: rachel@whineandcheezits.com Website: www.whineandcheezits.com Facebook:  Whine and Cheez - its by Rachel Sobel    Instagram: @whineandcheezits TikTok: @rachel.sobel.writes Contact Dale McLean: Email: dance715@aol.com Website: dalethehost.com Instagram: @UptownDale

    37 min

  2. FEB 17

    S4 Ep. 15 - When Sharing Too Much Goes Sideways

    Rachel and Dale start from a simple question they have lived out for years. They have never crossed the platonic line. That somehow opens the door to everything else. Boundaries that feel blurry. Oversharing that turns private moments into content. Parenting in the age of social media. Period parties. Sonograms online. New slang that makes adults feel old overnight. And the quiet pressure to post everything or risk being misunderstood. With Rachel’s daughter chiming in from a Gen Z seat at the table, the conversation moves between funny and uncomfortable without trying to wrap anything up neatly. It touches on how people decide what stays private, what gets shared, and where responsibility starts when it comes to bodies, money, attention, and long term consequences. Nothing is polished. Nothing is solved. Just real talk about friendship, parenting, internet culture, and the lines that get crossed before anyone realizes it. Episode Sponsor: Presented by 1-800 Call Lee — South Florida’s trusted personal injury team. Learn more at calllee.com. Contact Rachel Sobel: Email: rachel@whineandcheezits.com Website: www.whineandcheezits.com Facebook:  Whine and Cheez - its by Rachel Sobel    Instagram: @whineandcheezits TikTok: @rachel.sobel.writes Contact Dale McLean: Email: dance715@aol.com Website: dalethehost.com Instagram: @UptownDale

    38 min

  3. FEB 10

    S4 Ep. 14 - Uncle Dale Reporting for Duty to Parent Rachel's Teenager

    Rachel and Dale are basically walking proof that a long friendship can stay truly platonic, but we still have to ask the obvious question. Is that rare for a reason, or are people just messy with boundaries. We start with real life stuff like parenting a teenager and trying to keep your cool without losing your mind, then we get into the kind of family dynamics that can quietly ruin a relationship. The Beckham wedding drama turns into a bigger convo about in laws, control, and what happens when someone steals the spotlight in a moment that is not theirs. From there it turns into our favorite kind of chaos. Nostalgia about bar and bat mitzvah dances that forced kids to actually interact, the way phones changed socializing, and the random pop culture spiral that somehow ends with Florida headlines, rich people problems, and a woman suing a country club over a defective bagel. It is funny, a little unhinged, and weirdly honest in the way real friendships actually sound. Episode Sponsor: Presented by 1-800 Call Lee — South Florida’s trusted personal injury team. Learn more at calllee.com. Contact Rachel Sobel: Email: rachel@whineandcheezits.com Website: www.whineandcheezits.com Facebook:  Whine and Cheez - its by Rachel Sobel    Instagram: @whineandcheezits TikTok: @rachel.sobel.writes Contact Dale McLean: Email: dance715@aol.com Website: dalethehost.com Instagram: @UptownDale

    41 min

  4. FEB 3

    S4 Ep. 13 - What Is the Right Thermostat Temperature for a Relationship?

    Rachel and Dale start with a very serious debate about air conditioning etiquette and what counts as “acceptable” when it comes to temperature, then spiral into snow angels, South Florida winters, and whether TikTok is ruining everyone’s attention span. Rachel’s daughter joins the chaos with peak teen honesty, including what’s officially cringy, what’s not, and why adults love acting like their era was superior. Along the way they get into astrology arguments, aliens among us, the weird politeness of sending dates home with goodie bags, and a surprisingly intense take on death row last meals. Plus, one extremely necessary rule about bathroom conversations that should not need explaining. Episode Sponsor: Presented by 1-800 Call Lee — South Florida’s trusted personal injury team. Learn more at calllee.com. Contact Rachel Sobel: Email: rachel@whineandcheezits.com Website: www.whineandcheezits.com Facebook:  Whine and Cheez - its by Rachel Sobel    Instagram: @whineandcheezits TikTok: @rachel.sobel.writes Contact Dale McLean: Email: dance715@aol.com Website: dalethehost.com Instagram: @UptownDale

    38 min

  5. JAN 13

    S4 Ep. 12 - Reborn Dolls, Rude Servers, and the Weirdest Holiday Conversations

    Rachel and Dale kick off the holiday stretch the way they do best, by spiraling through the strange headlines and the everyday moments that somehow say a lot about people. They start with the story of a woman who faked an entire pregnancy with a reborn doll, then bounce through a service that roasts your boss for you, a revenge spray paint moment that is honestly unforgettable, and why people feel extra raw around the holidays. The conversation turns to how brazen shoplifting has gotten and how retail return schemes actually work, plus the sticker shock of Disney tickets versus flying to Tokyo. Dale also shares a restaurant story that grossed him out and left him stuck on one question, what else was in the food. They wrap with a Reddit rabbit hole recommendation, a little pay it forward energy, and the kind of end of year delirium that only hits when you have truly been through it. Episode Sponsor: Presented by 1-800 Call Lee — South Florida’s trusted personal injury team. Learn more at calllee.com. Contact Rachel Sobel: Email: rachel@whineandcheezits.com Website: www.whineandcheezits.com Facebook:  Whine and Cheez - its by Rachel Sobel    Instagram: @whineandcheezits TikTok: @rachel.sobel.writes Contact Dale McLean: Email: dance715@aol.com Website: dalethehost.com Instagram: @UptownDale

    37 min

  6. JAN 6

    S4 Ep. 11 - Whatchu Watchin, Culture Takes, and Unfiltered Opinions

    In this episode of Friends Without Benefits, Dale and Rachel lean all the way into their favorite end of year ritual. A full social media purge, strong opinions about lurkers, and a reminder that social media is meant to be social. From their recurring segment What Are You Watching to deep dives into cult documentaries, celebrity reckoning stories, pop culture chaos, and unexpected takes on Wicked, wellness trends, and dating labels, nothing is off limits. The conversation weaves humor with honesty as they unpack documentaries like Orgasm Inc, celebrity scandals, questionable health food claims, and the way narratives shape culture and perception. Along the way, they share real talk about abuse, accountability, media manipulation, and why some stories deserve to be reexamined with clearer eyes. As always, the episode wraps with Say It With Your Whole Chest moments that tackle dress codes, public behavior, and modern etiquette with zero filter and plenty of laughs. This is classic Friends Without Benefits. Opinionated, curious, messy, and exactly the conversation you did not know you needed. Episode Sponsor: Presented by 1-800 Call Lee — South Florida’s trusted personal injury team. Learn more atcalllee.com. Contact Rachel Sobel: Email: rachel@whineandcheezits.com Website: www.whineandcheezits.com Facebook:  Whine and Cheez - its by Rachel Sobel  Instagram: @whineandcheezits TikTok: @rachel.sobel.writes Contact Dale McLean: Email: dance715@aol.com Website: dalethehost.com Instagram: @UptownDale

    36 min

  7. 12/30/2025

    S4 Ep. 10 - Can Men and Women Stay Just Friends A Funny Honest Conversation About Platonic Love

    In this episode of Friends Without Benefits, we dig into one big question we get asked all the time. Can men and women really stay just friends? As two longtime friends who have never crossed the platonic line, we share our real life experiences, laugh through listener shoutouts, and talk honestly about friendship, attention, and what it means when people actually miss your podcast during a break. From comedy shows in Miami and supporting friends on tour to awkward small talk with strangers, fast food conspiracy theories, and the mystery of why smoke detectors always beep at the worst possible times, this episode is classic Friends Without Benefits energy. It is unscripted, funny, and full of the everyday observations that turn into big laughs. We also touch on why feeling seen by listeners matters, how humor connects people, and why sometimes the most meaningful relationships are the ones without expectations attached. Pull up a chair and hang out with us as we figure it out in real time. Episode Sponsor: Presented by 1-800 Call Lee — South Florida’s trusted personal injury team. Learn more at calllee.com. Contact Rachel Sobel: Email: rachel@whineandcheezits.com Website: www.whineandcheezits.com Facebook:  Whine and Cheez - its by Rachel Sobel    Instagram: @whineandcheezits TikTok: @rachel.sobel.writes Contact Dale McLean: Email: dance715@aol.com Website: dalethehost.com Instagram: @UptownDale

    37 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    S4 Ep. 9 - Salmon Sperm Masks, Spirit Airlines, and Platonic Friend Chaos

    Dale and Rachel catch up on life, travel, and the strange conversations that only long-term platonic friends can have. They debate manicures, dating standards, and whether asking for a feet picture is ever acceptable. Rachel explains why she wore a salmon sperm face mask on a flight and how she handled the internet backlash that followed. The conversation shifts to Dale’s NBC6 appearance, the brainstorming process behind naming his sports segment Dale’s Download, and the stress of live television. They also share stories from Spirit Airlines, reality show hosting at Camp Challenge, and wrap with their “say it with your chest” segment, touching on airline fees and a serious moment about witnessing immigration enforcement in real time.

    39 min
See All (125)

4.9
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

One woman. One man. Thirty plus years of strictly platonic friendship with ZERO romantic history between them.This is Friends Without Benefits.Rachel Sobel is the face behind the popular blog and Instagram account, Whine and Cheez-its. She is the mother of two, a do-over wife, and award-winning writer, author and speaker.Dale McLean is a South Florida entertainment staple affectionately known as Uptown Dale. He is a bachelor, owner of a successful entertainment company, television personality and in-arena host for the Miami Heat.Together they tackle a range of topics around relationships, dating and current events, all with a banter that has been brewed to perfection for decades.Follow Rachel at www.instagram.com/whineandcheezitsFollow Dale at www.instagram.com/uptowndale

Information

  • Creator
    Uptown Dale & Rachel Sobel
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    125
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Friends Without Benefits
  • Show Website
    Friends Without Benefits