It’s the final episode before Christmas, and the Cousins are doing what they do best — checking in, slowing down (a little), and soaking it all in. This week, Cousin Seth and Cousin Chad talk through their actual holiday plans, what they’re most looking forward to, and the traditions they’re excited to revisit.

They also reflect on what didn’t happen this season — the things they hoped to do, meant to do, or are saving for next year. It’s thoughtful, funny, a touch sentimental, and exactly the kind of conversation you want in your ears as the holidays fully arrive.

From all of us to all of you — thanks for listening, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!!

Last week, we got Joe ready for Christmas Con — the fits, the confidence, the pre-Con glow-up, and the mental prep for being seen by thousands of people who already think they know you.

This week… we find out what actually happened.

Joe is back from Christmas Con in New Jersey, and we’re breaking down the full experience — from the moment he hit the convention floor to the last “wait… are you Joe?” interaction.

Did the glow-up deliver?

Who recognized him first?

Who did he meet?

What surprised him the most?

And what’s it really like when people finally see you in person, not through a screen?

We talk:

• Celebrity encounters and behind-the-scenes moments
• Fan reactions — the good, the awkward, and the unexpected
• How often people said, “You look exactly like your videos”
• What felt different once the Con actually started
• And whether he’d do it all again… or needs a recovery week first

This episode is the real-world follow-up to last week’s pre-Con glow-up — no filters, no prep, just the honest post-Con breakdown of what Christmas Con is actually like when you’re in it.

Hallmark goes Hanukkah — and the Christmas Cousins are here to talk about it. This week, we’re reviewing Hallmark’s Hanukkah-themed movie of the year, and we’ve assembled a truly elite panel for the occasion. Joining Cousins Seth and Chad are beloved returning guests Lee (aka the Prince of Pittsburgh), Kacy from @theheartofreviews and Jennifer from "Do You Watch What I Watch?"!

We dig into what works, what surprises us, what feels classic Hallmark, and where the movie genuinely shines. It’s thoughtful, fun, occasionally spicy, and full of the kind of cultural curiosity and festive joy we love exploring. Whether you watched the movie already or just want the highlights, this one’s a cozy, smart conversation worth spinning up.

This week, Cousin Chad is flying solo—well, as “solo” as one can be when joined by the unstoppable Joe the Christmas Aficionado, who has more Yuletide credentials than Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the entire North Pole HR department combined.

With Cousin Seth out on assignment (or possibly hiding from eggnog), Chad and Joe dive into three of the most consequential events of the season:

 Christmas Con 2025 Preview:

Joe reveals his plans, appearances, potential meet-and-greets, and whether he’ll be signing autographs for the tens of thousands of fans who know him as “that wildly monetized YouTuber with great lighting.” Will there be photo ops? Security details? A velvet rope? Who’s he excited to meet? Who’s excited to meet HIM?

 Joe’s Imminent, Highly Anticipated Haircut:

Yes, the legend returns. After six long weeks, the world finally gets the answer:

Will Joe’s famously impeccable hair return unchanged… or will he take a bold leap into “pre-Christmas Con chic”?

The stakes?

Global.

Emotional.

Possibly historical.

It’s a fun, fast, festive episode full of laughs, Christmas hype, and the kind of absurdly specific holiday joy we happily deliver to our cousins worldwide!

BREAKING NEWS!!!

In this quick bonus episode, we clear the air on a question that’s been hanging over the Christmas Cousins universe for far too long:

Even though Seth hates eggnog, does he actually enjoy doing the eggnog tastings… or would he be thrilled if we never asked him do it again?

We finally get the honest answer about whether the challenge is fun for him or just festive torture.

From there, we jump into a progress check on Seth’s Christmas Activity Challenge List—the tasks assigned by Joe the Christmas Aficionado, King of All Superfans Lee, and Cousin Chad. Seth suddenly remembered a couple more items he was supposed to complete, so we take stock of where he stands, what he’s done, and what he’s still creatively avoiding.

But the heart of this bonus episode is Seth’s biggest decision of Year Three:

To tree or not to tree — Round 3.

Will this be the year Seth gets another Christmas tree?

If yes, will it be real or artificial?

And what does that choice mean for his continued evolution from Jolly Junior to Santa Senior?

It’s a fast, funny catch-up episode where we check in on Seth’s mood, momentum, progress, and whether he’s actually enjoying the iconic holiday experiences we keep throwing at him.

It’s finally here — our yearly Trader Joe’s Christmas Tasting episode, one of the most loved and most requested traditions on the show. Every year we dig into Trader Joe’s newest and weirdest holiday releases, and this year’s lineup might be the most interesting yet.

And we’ve got a very special guest joining us: Chad’s dad, Uncle Barry, making his first official appearance on the show. He jumps in with us and Cousin Seth, Joe (@christmas_aficionado) and Lee (@steelcitychristmas) as we taste, rank, and react to Trader Joe’s 2025 Christmas offerings — from the classics to the limited-edition items that are already popping off the shelves.

We’re giving our honest takes on what’s a must-try, what’s just okay, and what you can confidently skip this year. And yes — we’re also putting the new Greek Yogurt Eggnog to the test. (Cousin Seth trying anything eggnog-related is worth the listen alone.)

Whether you’re here for the laughs, the reactions, or to know what’s actually worth buying before you head to Trader Joe’s, this episode delivers. Watch it on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts — this is one of our favorite episodes to make every year.

We did it — 250 episodes!

Yes, somehow 47.83 million listeners (give or take… mostly give) have stuck with us through Christmases past, present, and future, and today we celebrate hitting the big 2-5-0 with a very on-brand episode:

a wellness check on Cousin Seth’s holiday spirit.

We’re deep in the season now, which means it’s time to evaluate how Seth’s Christmas Journey is going—especially since he’s been assigned a full slate of festive challenges by Cousin Chad, Joe the Christmas Aficionado, Cousin Lee, and pretty much the entire super-fan community.

Is he thriving?

Is he struggling?

Has he lit any outdoor lights yet, or is he still emotionally negotiating with the extension cords?

We check his progress, his mood, his merriment levels, and whether he’s on track to advance from Jolly Junior to Santa Senior—or whether we’re looking at a full-season remedial course.

Join us for this milestone moment, a heartfelt thank you to our outrageously supportive listeners, and a promise for 250 more episodes…and beyond (sorry, Seth).

The holidays are officially in full swing, and the Christmas Cousins are celebrating the only way we know how—by cracking open some questionable seasonal brews with some people we love.

Join Cousin Seth and Cousin Chad as they welcome back fan favorites:

 Joe the Christmas Aficionado (holder of just as many festive opinions as he has ornaments),

 Festive Bob (whose holiday spirit is legally measurable),

 Lee, King of the Super Fans (all rise),

and this year’s distinguished new guest of honor…

 DAN from the Deck The Hallmark Podcast — Could he be the missing piece that finally makes this the perfect holiday weekend kickoff show?

Together, this merry band embarks on the Third Annual Christmas Beer Tasting, sampling what we hope are the finest Yuletide brews in all the land. Will they be amazing? Will they be “gingerbread-adjacent regret”? Who knows! Last year we struck gold with a 10/10 Christmas beer, and the quest to find another begins now.

It’s the perfect way to kick off your Thanksgiving weekend, your holiday party season, or your gentle slide into festive chaos.

Raise a glass, tune in, laugh along—and remember…

 Happy Thanksgiving, and always ALWAYS drink responsibly! 

Cousin Seth has created his first-ever Christmas playlist—a chaotic, heartfelt, earnest attempt at “learning the way” of Christmas music. So we called in reinforcements: Scott from the Christmas Morning Podcast, one of Chad’s all-time favorites and a certified guru of festive tunes. Together with Cousin Chad and Cousin Seth, we’ll break down the playlist track by track: what slaps, what needs saving, and what crimes against Christmas melody must never be repeated. Expect laughs, debates, strong opinions, and maybe a few new songs added to your holiday rotation.

Fan-favorite Cousin Chris from ChristmasEveryMinute.com is back — and as always, he did his homework.

This time he arrives armed with a full list of festive missions tailored specifically for the Cousins: everything Cousin Seth can do in Chicago to keep the holiday spirit pumping, plus a few North Carolina-friendly ideas for Cousin Chad.

Chris also brings updates on his ever-expanding website, teases future Christmas content, and reveals the tragic discovery that pumpkin eggnog kegs do not exist in the Chicago area (a blow Seth may never recover from).

We also dive into Seth’s new business ventures — including whether he’s ready to ship his coffee nationwide so Chris can feature it in his Top Ten Gifts for 2025 — and wrap things up with a look at our Thanksgiving plans, holiday prep, and general festive scheming.