⚡ Crispy, Fall-Off-The Bone Wings

Fix Your Sleep - 8 Things That Work

If you're over 40, you've already had this conversation with your partner: "I slept like shit." "Me too." Congrats—you're both tired.

Here's how to fix it. You don't need to do all of these. Pick three and you'll notice a difference.

1. Keep it dark. Wear a sleep mask. Even minimal light exposure disrupts sleep quality. This $10 mask from Amazon works fine—save the $100 luxury version for someone else.

2. Cut the alcohol. Booze helps you fall asleep faster, then wrecks your REM sleep and wakes you up throughout the night. If better sleep matters, dial it back during the week.

3. Stop drinking fluids two hours before bed. Water, soda, tea—doesn't matter. If you're over 50, your bladder will wake you up. Don't give it a reason.

4. Eat earlier. A bedtime calzone guarantees heartburn and indigestion. You don't need to eat at 4pm, but finish dinner at least three hours before bed.

5. Cut caffeine after 2pm. That post-dinner espresso tastes great. It also keeps you wired past midnight. Even if you think caffeine doesn't affect you, it affects you. Switch to decaf or skip it.

6. Take a warm shower 90 minutes before bed. When you step out, your core body temperature drops—signaling your body it's time to sleep. The cooling effect triggers the process.

7. Turn off your phone. Or at least put it on Do Not Disturb 20 minutes before bed and read a real book. Not a Kindle—an actual book with pages. Your screen is killing your sleep.

8. Get an Oura ring. If you think your Apple Watch tracks sleep well, you're missing data. The Oura ring ($350+) delivers advanced metrics on sleep patterns, HRV, stress, and recovery. Worth the investment if you're serious about optimization.

Pick a few. Fix your sleep. Show up better tomorrow.

Discipline is the flex.

Tennessee Whiskey vs. Bourbon: What’s the Real Difference?

Tennessee whiskey and bourbon are nearly identical. Both must contain at least 51% corn, get distilled to no more than 160 proof, enter barrels at 125 proof or less, and age in new charred oak.

The difference? The Lincoln County Process.

Tennessee whiskey gets filtered through sugar maple charcoal before it hits the barrel. This charcoal mellowing—which takes several days—strips out harsh notes and smooths the spirit before aging even begins. Bourbon skips this step entirely.

Geography matters too. Tennessee whiskey must be made in Tennessee. Bourbon can be made anywhere in the U.S.

Jack Daniel's and George Dickel are your Tennessee whiskey heavy hitters. The charcoal filtering does deliver a noticeably smoother, more approachable pour compared to most bourbons—though mash bill and aging choices play a role too.

Here's the twist: some distillers use charcoal filtration but still label their product as bourbon. It's a branding call, nothing more.

The bottom line: Tennessee whiskey is bourbon with an extra filtration step and a Tennessee ZIP code. That's it.

Easiest Wings Ever (And They Totally Deliver)

With the two biggest NFL weekends of the year coming up, it’s time to share the simplest, most reliable wing method we’ve tested. Yes, smoked wings are great. We’re not here to argue that. But this method is weather-proof, low-effort, and repeatable—which means it works every time.

These wings come out crispy, juicy, and built for sauce, without babysitting a grill or smoker.

1.     Season 3 pounds of wings with your favorite dry rub—or keep it simple: salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne. Massage it in.

2.     Spread wings on a baking sheet and refrigerate uncovered for 3 hours. This dries the skin and locks in flavor.

3.     Pull wings out and let them sit at room temp for 20 minutes.

4.     Preheat oven to 250°F.

5.     Sprinkle wings with 2 tablespoons baking powder (this is the crisping cheat code).

6.     Place wings on a cooling rack set inside a baking sheet so fat can drip away.

7.     Bake uncovered on the top rack for 40 minutes.

8.     Crank oven to 450°F.

9.     Return wings to the top rack and cook 30 minutes, rotating halfway.

10.  Rest 5 minutes, then sauce aggressively.

The Mettle Take: This isn’t flashy. It’s just stupidly effective. Crispy skin, juicy meat, zero stress. Perfect for game day—and repeatable long after football season ends.

Because eating well is never just about the food.