The Really Very Crunchy Podcast

In this episode, we talk about heroes in children’s fiction and whether kids actually need moral ambiguity or if that’s something adults project onto stories meant for younger minds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the final episode of the year, and we are going out exactly the way you’d expect. Emily admits she simply cannot handle getting a talking to, no matter how gentle or well intentioned it is, and Jason has thoughts about that. From there, the conversation turns reflective as we talk honestly about where we think we’ll be in five years and what we hope life, work, family, and the show might look like beyond that. We wrap things up by closing the year together and sharing some BIG NEWS that sets the tone for what’s coming next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the most emotional time of the year. At least according to the internet. In this episode, Jason and Emily talk about why so many holiday videos right now feel designed to make you cry and whether that kind of sentiment actually connects or just feels forced. They discuss the pressure to manufacture meaningful moments, the difference between genuine nostalgia and emotional marketing, and why Christmas content has turned into a competition for tears. They also get into holiday get-togethers, family dynamics, and the expectations that come with them, plus a look back at old Christmas ad campaigns and why they felt different. Funny, honest, and refreshingly grounded, this episode is a breather from the seasonal overload. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode starts off festive and quickly turns into a surprisingly strong opinion about movies, including a few Christmas favorites you might not expect and a brief but passionate conversation about why some beloved actors just do not hit the same anymore. From there, things take a turn into the real holiday struggle: talking to other humans. We get into why Christmas parties feel so awkward, the subtle conversation habits that quietly ruin a good interaction, and how everyone seems to forget how to talk the moment they’re holding a paper plate of cookies. If you’ve ever left a gathering replaying a conversation in your head or wondering why small talk feels so painful, this one’s for you. Festive, slightly unhinged, and way too honest, this episode is basically a survival guide for holiday conversations with a side of movie opinions you may strongly disagree with. Voetberg Method Experience This month, use my code: CRUNCHY20 to get 20% off each month you’re subscribed. Get 20% off the  proprietary Voetberg Method Experience, where siblings can share lessons  and learn music in a way they’ll never forget, even when lessons stop. https://tinyurl.com/RVCNowThatWereFamily ——— Sweets Elderberry https://tinyurl.com/RVCSweetsElderberry ———  Wayfair Cozify your space with Wayfair’s curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. https://tinyurl.com/RVCWayfair _____ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason and Emily are in full holiday chaos mode and nothing is going according to the Hallmark script. Jason is trying (and failing) to figure out what to buy the woman who hates everything in the “Gifts for Her” section, while Emily has accidentally become the kind of person who takes Christmas parade floats a little too seriously. Somewhere between a live nativity that might just be in the wrong town and a very opinionated rant about what churches are doing with kids these days, they stumble into a surprisingly honest conversation about what actually makes the season feel holy, fun, and not completely unhinged. If you like your Christmas episodes cozy, unfiltered, and a little bit feral, this one is it. 00:00 Christmas Parade Float 08:33 Paducah is BIG TIME 14:44 Family money 15:24 Mayfield…not so big time… 16:37 Bethlehem is amazing! 17:40 Children’s church sure is something… 24:27 Bethlehem continued… 29:19 Emily’s germaphobeness… 35:50 Christmas shopping is hard. 49:02 Having the right tools Sponsors for this episode include: Voetberg Method Experience This month, use my code: CRUNCHY20 to get 20% off each month you’re subscribed. Get 20% off the  proprietary Voetberg Method Experience, where siblings can share lessons  and learn music in a way they’ll never forget, even when lessons stop. https://tinyurl.com/RVCNowThatWereFamily ——— Sweets Elderberry https://tinyurl.com/RVCSweetsElderberry ———  Wayfair Cozify your space with Wayfair’s curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. https://tinyurl.com/RVCWayfair Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices