Christmas Cousins

When you get the chance to sit down for a one-on-one interview with America's greatest living writer, you take it.

We sat down with Brian to learn about his life, his new book, and what it feels like to be the darling of the literati.

We also discuss Seth skateboarding his way into his college's newspaper, Joe wearing sunglasses inside and so much more...

Enjoy!

Well, it’s that time of year again—Christmas movie season! Yes, the time of year when we all cuddle up, get cozy, and wonder if Seth actually watched the movie he was supposed to watch. Well, this one takes place in Chicago, he’s in Chicago, should be an easy one for him…but is it ever as easy as it sounds with good old Cousin Seth? Find out today as Joe, Lee, and superfan Cousin Mary join Seth and Chad for an in-depth look at The Chicago Bears Holiday Touchdown. Bear down!

Wow, it is only October, but Cousin Seth's Christmas vibes are through the roof!

Elves!

Real Trees!

Eggnog!

Seasonal drinks!

Horror walks!

Frankenmuth trip!

Opening Weekend Hallmark movie!

and more...so much more...always so much more...

Seth was tasked with making a list to choose what Hallmark Christmas movies we will be covering this year. He showed up late. And listless (and, also, without a list). But we persevere with the help of the Christmas Aficionado and pick some great ones that we'll be covering (assuming Seth actually watches them)...stay tuned!

This is exactly what we were looking for.

Seth comes to the table with a list of activities. Real activities. Christmas activities! Fall activities! That he will be doing to make his season merry and bright and to move up some grades from Kringle Kindergarten.

And the episode ends with a much-needed update on the cast of the ’80s sitcom, “Small Wonder,” because why not. Of course, Joe @christmasaficionado knew everything about this show...

Cousin Seth loves a good challenge but hates most pumpkin items. Cousin Chad loves watching Seth eat items he hates.

We go through some intriguing new TJs fall finds in hopes of finding ones we like...and hopefully some that Seth finds disgusting...join us for the fun!

It is September. Autumn is basically here.

It is time:

Pumpkin. Beer. Tasting.

We did it live on Christmas Aficionado's channel with Seth, Joe and Lee (and surprise guest Bran)!

Season 31 is here , Christmas Cousins (yes, 31, Seth even triple checked out math)! 

We arrived with an agenda, an outline and the almost-professional intention of previewing our upcoming fall episodes while laying out Cousin Seth’s next seasonal semester: what exactly must our former Jolly Junior accomplish to advance from Kringle Kindergarten to Festive First Grade on his long and winding road toward Christmas High School?

It was an excellent plan. It lasted approximately three minutes...until Cousin Seth started talking.

One life update led to another, and suddenly our carefully constructed fall preview was tossed aside as we discussed Seth's love life. And because this is the Christmas Cousins and apparently boundaries are merely suggestions, before long we were meeting Lindsay herself—live on the show.

So forget the syllabus. Forget the lesson plan. Today we’re talking Seth, Lindsay, life updates, love and whatever else happened once we completely surrendered control of the episode.

It’s the quintessential Christmas Cousins show: we came prepared with a topic and discovered reality was considerably more entertaining.

We promise the fall festivities, seasonal education and Cousin Seth’s matriculation toward Festive First Grade will resume shortly. But some breaking Cousin news simply demands the floor. 

Well, we were supposed to be on hiatus.

But then we realized something important: this journey was never just about helping Cousin Seth discover Christmas. It's become something much bigger. The mission now is to help Seth embrace all the seasons and find joy year-round.

And what says summer more than cole slaw?

Unfortunately, we've uncovered a serious problem. Cousin Seth does not like cole slaw.

Naturally, this has become our latest emergency intervention.

So we're taking a hiatus from our hiatus for a very special Summer Spectacular.

After a few months away, the Christmas Cousins return with enough updates, loose ends, and deeply questionable food decisions to fill several episodes—but good judgment has never been our brand.

We begin, naturally, with Cousin Seth: life in South Haven, the latest developments in his burgeoning coffee empire, and the obligatory love-life update the international community has been demanding. Then Joe the Christmas Aficionado checks in with tales of high-end whiskey acquisitions, new toys, fresh memorabilia, and other completely essential investments.

Meanwhile, the Prince of Pittsburgh Cousin Lee would simply like to know why Seth apparently refuses to sell him coffee. But Lee has brought leverage: a container of coleslaw delivered to Seth’s house for the long-awaited Christmas Cousins Coleslaw Challenge. Unfortunately, it then sat outside in the summer heat for roughly five hours.

Cousin Seth already considers fresh coleslaw an affront to human dignity. Will he now eat the warm, possibly sentient version? Absolutely not—probably. But this is Cousin Seth, so no one knows until the cameras roll.

It’s an overflowing return episode packed with coffee, romance, whiskey, consumerism, simmering merchandise grievances, and one tub of cabbage that may now qualify as a biological weapon.

It’s time once again for the annual Christmas Cousins summer hiatus episode.

Yes—even the Christmas Cousins occasionally step away from the microphones, drink something cold, attempt to touch grass, and try to remember what life is like outside the holiday season.

Before we disappear for a little summer break, Cousin Chad and Cousin Seth sit down for one final seasonal check-in:

• How’s Seth doing?
• How’s life at Recharge Coffee?
• Any big summer plans?
• What’s coming next for the podcast?
• And perhaps most importantly… how long until we’re talking Christmas again?

It’s a relaxed catch-up episode full of updates, laughs, mild chaos, and the comforting realization that no matter how warm it gets outside, Christmas is never actually that far away around here.

We’ll miss you all—but don’t worry. Christmas in July will be here before you know it, and the cousins will return rested, refreshed, and probably still deeply concerned about Seth’s progress.

See you soon, everybody. 🎄☀️