Our story
We’re Stephanie and Ryan, better known as Mee Maw and Paw Paw, the voices behind The Mee Maw & Paw Paw Podcast — Half Cents, Half Sass, 100% Hillbilly Wisdom.
Stephanie’s a social worker with a heart for people and a knack for turning life lessons into laughter. Ryan’s a proud blue-collar worker who keeps it real, honest, and always a little bit funny. Together, we’re doing our best to balance family, faith, and front porch wisdom — with plenty of laughs along the way.
We both grew up in the Ohio Valley during the 80s and 90s, back when neighbors waved, kids drank from the hose, and life ran at the speed of a summer evening. We’re Appalachian at the core, proud of our steel-belt small-town roots, and we wouldn’t trade that upbringing for anything.
After meeting more than 20 years ago and building a life together, we’ve learned one thing: love deep, laugh hard, and never take yourself too seriously. This podcast is our way of celebrating those values — sharing stories, humor, and a touch of old-fashioned Hillbilly Wisdom for anyone who still believes the best conversations happen on a front porch.
So grab a chair, pour a cup, and join us. We’re just two hearts from the hills trying to bring a little laughter and love to your week.
Why are we doing this?
We’re doing this because, like so many others, we’ve been through it.
We’ve had our share of struggles — as parents, as partners, and as people just trying to make it through life. We’ve made good decisions and bad ones, raised our voices and our children, and faced moments that broke us and built us. We’ve walked through grief and loss, including the unimaginable pain of losing a child. We’ve known what it feels like to fight for each other, to be broke, to feel stuck, and to wonder what’s next.
But through it all, we’ve learned that laughter, family, and faith are what keep us grounded. Slowing down — living more like we did back in the 90s, before everything turned into scrolls and likes — has reminded us of what really matters. Life isn’t meant to be measured in followers or filters. It’s about showing up for your people, finding joy in the simple things, and not being afraid to admit you’re still figuring it all out.
We started this podcast to share those lessons — the messy, funny, real ones — with anyone who’s tired of trying to “keep up” with the Jones and just wants to feel a little more at home in their own story. If you’ve ever felt lost in the noise of this fast-paced world, pull up a chair. We’ll remind you that you’re not alone, and that there’s still plenty of wisdom (and laughter) left on the porch.
Our Family!
Drake
The Oldest
Ariyauna
Our Little Girl
Logan
The Baby