Inside Pour: After Hours

Alaina Leech and Kristy McClellan
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Inside Pour: After Hours is where wine is just the starting point. We're two women in our 40s, business partners, moms, and best friends for more than 20 years. We own a retail wine shop together, love a good adventure, and aren't afraid to say what we're really thinking. From wine and work to friendship, family, and all the chaos in between, these are the conversations we'd be having whether the microphones were on or not. Pour yourself something good and pull up a chair, we're so glad you're here.

  1. 6d ago

    Worth Every Penny | Ep13

    This week we're talking about the purchases that have made our lives better because they've given us more life to live. From travel and ski passes to wine education, five-star dinners, childcare, and a few unforgettable bottles, we're sharing the things we'd happily spend the money on again. Is it worth spending your Saturday cleaning your house if hiring someone means you spend the day making memories with your kids? Is the cheaper option really cheaper if it costs you hours of your life? There was a time when we optimized for productivity. Now, we're trying to optimize for living. The older we get, the more we realize the best investments are the ones that get us out into the world, around a table with friends, on the ski hill, on a plane, or simply more present with the people we love. The laundry will always be there. The dishes will always be there. Your kids won't always be little, and your friends won't always be free on a random Tuesday. Life has a funny way of happening while we're busy trying to catch up. Pour yourself something good and come hang out with us as we talk about what was worth every penny, what absolutely wasn't, and why we're spending less time chasing stuff and more time investing in experiences, connection, and buying back time. Because the best things we've ever bought weren't really things at all. They were the moments that made our lives richer. Featured Wine: Wolf & Woman Grenache Blanc 2024, Distributed by Eagle Eye Brands, sold at Lake District Wine Co Additional Mentions: Anavery Farm, Local's Yokels Farm

    Worth Every Penny | Ep13

  2. Jul 17

    Passport Stamps & Hot Takes | Ep12

    We're finally back together and catching up after a couple of weeks apart. Kristy takes us to London, Alaina recaps a family trip to Manitoulin Island, and we relive the fun, the chaos, and a few Cherry Festival roses and thorns. Then we tackle two topics that have been on our minds: the hard seltzer craze and whether ingredient labels belong on wine bottles. As usual, we don't solve the world's problems, but we definitely have opinions. Travel stories, hot takes, a few laughs, and a conversation we'd be having whether the microphones were on or not. Grab a glass and come hang out. Featured Wine: Thirsty Birds English Rosé, female-owned! Additional Mentions: The Burrow, Rove Winery

    Passport Stamps & Hot Takes | Ep12

  3. Jul 10

    The Pressure of Possibility | Ep11

    This week, we're celebrating womanhood in all its seasons. We talk about the freedom women have today to build lives that look completely different from one another, and why that's something worth celebrating. We also have a little fun decoding whether we're Type A, B, or C... and come to the conclusion that millennial women probably invented their own personality type because we're trying to live up to the expectations of three generations at once. We dive into work, motherhood, ambition, staying home, raising kids, caring for aging parents, and the invisible pressure we put on ourselves simply because we know we're capable. Is it society expecting too much from us, or have we forgotten that just because we can do it all doesn't mean we have to? One thing we know for sure: society needs women. It needs stay-at-home moms, entrepreneurs, teachers, nurses, artists, caregivers, leaders, and every woman in between. There isn't one right path, because it takes all of us. So here's your reminder to take a deep breath, stop keeping score, and remember that today is a gift. Build a life that feels like yours, celebrate women whose choices look different than your own, and don't wait for "someday" to start living. Featured Wine: Marimar Estate Tempranillo 2021, Distributed by Vintage Wine Company, sold at Lake District Wine Co

    The Pressure of Possibility | Ep11

  4. Jul 3

    The Wine Industry Phalanges | Ep10

    If you've ever wondered what a week in the wine industry actually looks like... this is it. This week we're recapping a rain soaked Nauticat cruise (because wine people don't cancel because of weather), a backyard BBQ at Sierra Motel with friends old and new, hanging with Bertus from Belong Wine Co., our events with VinoVi, BOS Wine, Zin & Beef Jerky with LeMieux, and all the laughs, stories, and bottles that happened in between. The wine industry runs DEEP. Around here, one-upping is reserved for compliments, gatekeeping is for the weak, and there's nothing better than being surrounded by people who genuinely want to see each other succeed. That's the kind of industry we're proud to be part of, and Bertus? He's one of us. Grab a glass and come relive one of our favorite weeks of the year. Featured Wine: Chasing the Sunset Rosé by Belong Wine Co, distributed by Eagle Eye Brands and sold at Lake District Wine Co Additional Mentions: Cartology Chenin Blanc

    The Wine Industry Phalanges | Ep10

  5. Jun 26

    Why Independent Wine Shops Matter | Ep9

    What makes an independent wine shop different? Is it the wine, everything that comes with it... or both? This week we're pulling back the curtain on why small wine shops matter. We talk about how wines end up on big box store shelves versus ours, why we obsess over tasting before buying, and what "curation" actually means. We also dive into industrial winemaking and why the wines we choose are made with a very different philosophy. But this episode is about so much more than what's in the bottle. It's about community. Wine Club, complimentary Saturday tastings, Happy Hours, classes, events, meeting winemakers, discovering something new, and creating a place where people feel comfortable asking questions and exploring wine. Because at the end of the day, we don't just want to sell you a bottle. We want to help you find a wine you'll remember, and create an experience worth coming back for. Grab a glass and join us for a conversation about why independent wine shops still matter. Featured Wine: 2025 Roger Neveu Sancerre Imported by Kermit Lynch, Distributed by Veritas, sold at Lake District Wine Co Additional Mentions: Mt Holiday, Short's Brewing, BOS Wine, Mary Taylor Imports, VinoVi&Co, LeMieux Wine Co, Burritt's Fresh Markets

    Why Independent Wine Shops Matter | Ep9

  6. Jun 19

    Everything in Moderation, Including Moderation | Ep8

    What if some of the most important things for your health can't be tracked? This week on The Inside Pour: After Hours, we're talking about the things no fitness tracker can measure: cracking up with your besties, long dinners with family, spontaneous adventures, meaningful conversations, community, connection, and the simple joy of being fully present. We explore the idea that a healthy life is about more than steps, sleep scores, and macros. It's also about travel, culture, celebrations, slowing down, and sharing experiences with the people you love. And yes, wine finds its way into many of those moments, not as the point, but as part of the story. A conversation about optimizing life, not just your metrics. Featured Wine: Dingac Skaramuca 'Dingac' Plavac Mali, 2021 imported by Vinum, distributed by Eagle Eye Brands, sold at retailer Lake District Wine Co. Additional Mentions: Riverside Inn, Rove Winery, and Farm Club

    Everything in Moderation, Including Moderation | Ep8

  7. Jun 12

    Lucky Enough to Call It Home | Ep7

    This week we're keeping it local. We're talking about what it's really like to live, work, raise kids, and run businesses in a small town like Traverse City, Michigan. The good, the challenging, the weird, and the things that make us grateful we ended up here. There's a Traverse City edition of This or That, a truly wild hot take from Kristy, and plenty of appreciation for the community we're lucky enough to call home. Pour yourself a glass and join us as we sip on BOS Wine's Whole-Hearted Pinot Noir and catch up on all the fun we've been having lately, including a ladies-only fishing charter and shot ski aboard The Nauticat, a magical gnome hunt, and Camp Bluegill. Because if there's one thing nobody could ever accuse us of, it's not living life to the fullest. Featured Wine: BOS Wine Whole Hearted Pinot Noir, 2024, available at Lake District Wine Co or you can ship from BOS Wine Website. Additional Mentions: Golden Hours Outdoors Shady Lane Cellars Nauticat Left Foot Charley Historic Barns Park FoxGlove Farm Gichigami Sugar2Salt Earthen Ales Trattoria Stella Pepenero The Village at Grand Traverse Commons The Cooks' House Maria's Hot Sauce Sierra Motel The Little Fleet Crocodile Palace Jellystone Campground in Petoskey Mt. Holiday The Alluvion Father Forgive Me Umbo Archie's Dog Co Harwood Gold Traverse City Tourism Traverse City Food & Wine Fest The Discovery

    Lucky Enough to Call It Home | Ep7

  8. Jun 5

    How Did We Get Here? | Ep6

    This week, we're taking a trip down memory lane and realizing that younger us had absolutely no idea what was coming. We're sharing a few stories from high school that probably should have stayed in high school, discussing the controversial hills we're willing to die on, and reflecting on how wildly different life looks compared to what we imagined in our twenties. Back then we thought we were ballers. Today we're excited about comfortable shoes, getting home before 9 pm, finding a babysitter, and still possessing the stamina to make tomorrow a problem. We talk about the things we were convinced would happen, the things we never saw coming, and why adulthood turns out to be both harder and way more fun than we expected. If you've ever looked around and thought, "Wait, this is my life?" this episode is for you. Featured Wine: Seehof Pinot Noir Rose 2025 from Vom Boden Imports and AHD Vintners, available at Lake District Wine Co Additional Mentions: WSET, The Grape Grind

    How Did We Get Here? | Ep6
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Inside Pour: After Hours is where wine is just the starting point. We're two women in our 40s, business partners, moms, and best friends for more than 20 years. We own a retail wine shop together, love a good adventure, and aren't afraid to say what we're really thinking. From wine and work to friendship, family, and all the chaos in between, these are the conversations we'd be having whether the microphones were on or not. Pour yourself something good and pull up a chair, we're so glad you're here.

Information

  • Creator
    Alaina Leech and Kristy McClellan
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alaina Leech and Kristy McClellan
  • Show Website
    Inside Pour: After Hours