Ep. 94: Till Death Do Us Part! Remarrying After Loss, J. Cole’s Honda Civic Tour and The “Why” Behind Kids’ Behavior

This week’s episode dives into love, parenting, and culture in a way that’s honest and thought-provoking. We tackle the taboo question of remarriage after loss, unpack the “what” and the deeper “why” behind the behaviors that drive parents crazy, and break down J. Cole’s unconventional album rollout and what it says about authenticity in today’s culture. It’s a conversation about commitment, understanding, and staying real in every season of life.

💍♥️ Forever Segment: Till Death Do Us Part!

“Till death do us part” sounds simple, until you ask the hard question: Would you remarry if your spouse suddenly passed away? In this honest and vulnerable conversation, we explore love, loyalty, grief, and what commitment really means beyond the vows. It’s a taboo topic that sparks deep reflection about attachment, identity, and the future.

🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment: Send Help! Parenting Edition

Send help… because parenting can be wild. In this segment, we laugh about the "what"t, the crazy, frustrating, wall-climbing behaviors our kids display, but we also dig into the "why" behind it all. From developmental stages to emotional needs, this conversation is packed with relatable moments and practical gems that help shift frustration into understanding.

🌍 Lifestyle Segment: J. Cole's Fall-Off and The Dollar and a Dream Tour

We break down  J. Cole’s rollout for his album The Fall-Off and his “Out the Trunk” Dollar and a Dream tour, selling albums for $1 out of a Honda Civic while meeting fans face-to-face. Is this performative marketing genius, or a genuine move of humility and connection? We unpack the strategy, the symbolism, and what it says about artistry, fame, and authenticity today.

Today we’ll be touching on: 

• Knowing Types of Rocks
• Sylvia Robinson and Rappers Delight
• Till Death Do us Part! To Re-Marry or Stay Single?
• Send Help! Parenting Edition
• J. Cole's Fall-Off and The Dollar and a Dream Tour

Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section!

___________________________________

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-The Crafted Podcast:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftedpod/ @CraftedPod

--Kristin:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin

Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE

--Keonte:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald

My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words

Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio

Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold

Order our Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You"

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Song of The Week: J. Cole "Safety"

https://music.apple.com/us/album/safety/1876341626?i=1876341630

Film of the Week: Why Did I Get Married?

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

Ep. 93: Valentine’s Day; Love or Pressure?, Making Mornings Easier, & Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl

This week’s episode explores the expectations we carry in love, parenting, and culture. We unpack whether Valentine’s Day reflects genuine love or social pressure, share practical ways to make school mornings calmer and more connected for families, and break down the cultural impact of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance.

💍♥️ Forever Segment: Is It Love? Or Is It Pressure? Valentine's Day Expectations

Is Valentine’s Day really about love? or has it become about pressure and expectations? In this segment, we unpack the meaning behind the holiday and whether it truly reflects the health of your relationship. From social media influence to unspoken expectations, we explore how couples can shift the focus back to genuine connection instead of performative love.

🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment: How To Make School Mornings Easier

School mornings can set the tone for your child’s entire day, and for yours. We share practical routines, mindset shifts, and simple strategies to reduce stress and bring more peace into your mornings. From preparation to giving grace, this conversation is about creating structure while keeping your relationship with your child at the center.

🌍 Lifestyle Segment: Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show

We break down the Super Bowl halftime performance by Bad Bunny and why it meant more than just entertainment. From cultural representation to unforgettable moments and guest appearances, we discuss the highs, the critiques, and what this performance says about culture, identity, and global influence.

Today we’ll be touching on: 

• Knowing Songs Word for Word (Even Bad Bunny's)
• Jewel Ham and Spotify Wrapped (Black History)
• Is It Love? Or Is It Pressure? Valentine's Day Expectations
• How To Make School Mornings Easier
• The Benito Bowl: Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show

Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section!

___________________________________

Also, Follow us here!

-The Crafted Podcast:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftedpod/ @CraftedPod

--Kristin:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin

Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE

--Keonte:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald

My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words

Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio

Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold

Order our Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You"

https://a.co/d/3KlouTY

___________________________________

Song of The Week: Barbara Pravi "Voilà"

https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-could-get-used-to-this/1867222992?i=1867222996

Playlist: Songs In Different Languages

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/different-languages/pl.u-B7MVF1mXXMo

Show of the Week: TASK (HBOmax)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

Ep. 92: Investing in Your Marriage, Letting Go as Parents, and the Cole Walliser's Glambot Email Controversy

This week’s episode explores what it really means to invest in what matters most. We talk about why marriages need intentional care to grow, how parenting requires releasing control as kids mature, and we unpack the Glambot controversy.

💍 Forever Segment: Reasons to Invest in Your Marriage

Marriage doesn’t thrive on autopilot. In this segment, we talk about why investing in your marriage matters just as much as investing in your health, faith, or career. Growth requires intention, effort, and consistency and relationships are no different. We break down why choosing to pour into your marriage is essential if you want it to get better, stronger, and last.

🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment: Releasing Control as Kids Get Older

As kids grow, parenting has to shift. In this conversation, we explore what it looks like to release control as children get older; knowing when to step back, when to guide, and when to trust. We discuss how letting go in healthy ways helps build independence, confidence, and resilience in your kids without abandoning your role as a parent.

🌍 Lifestyle Segment: Cole Walliser, The Glambot Emails & The Apology

We unpack the controversy surrounding Cole Walliser, the face of the viral red-carpet Glambot camera seen at major award shows. From leaked emails to online backlash, we discuss public reaction, accountability, and whether his apology felt sincere, or simply strategic in today’s cancel-culture climate.

Today we’ll be touching on: 

• Vacationing In Fictional Places
• The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang
• Investing In Your Marriage: The Reasons Why?
• Releasing Control as Kids Get Older
• Cole Walliser, The Glambot Emails & The Apology

Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section!

___________________________________

Also, Follow us here!

-The Crafted Podcast:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftedpod/ @CraftedPod

--Kristin:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin

Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE

--Keonte:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald

My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words

Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio

Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold

Order our Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You"

https://a.co/d/3KlouTY

___________________________________

Song of The Week: Jessie Ware "I Could Get Used To This"

https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-could-get-used-to-this/1867222992?i=1867222996

Show of the Week: Landman (Paramount)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

Ep. 91: The Kristy & Desmond Scott Experience, Being Present For Your Kids & iShowSpeed In Africa

This week’s episode covers love, legacy, and culture from three powerful angles. 

💍 Forever Segment: The Divorce of Kristy and Desmond Scott — Choosing Each Other Every Day

Every marriage faces crossroads. In this episode, we reflect on Kristy and Desmond Scott’s divorce and discuss what “choosing each other” actually looks like in real life. From communication to commitment, we break down practical ways to protect love before it starts slipping away.

🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment: Present on Purpose — How Not to Abandon Your Children

Abandonment doesn’t always mean leaving, it can mean being physically present but emotionally absent. In this segment, we talk about what it really means to show up for your kids with intention, attention, and love, even in the middle of busy life.

🌍 Lifestyle Segment: iShowSpeed Touring Africa — Changing the Narrative

iShowSpeed’s tour of Africa is shifting how the world sees the continent. In this segment, we talk about how his journey highlights beauty, culture, joy, and diversity. . . challenging the outdated “save a child” narrative often pushed in Western media.

Today we’ll be touching on: 

• Have You Ever Won A Contest?
• How Long Can A Dolphin Hold It's Breathe?
• The End of Kristy and Desmond Scott: Could It Have Been Avoided?
• Present on Purpose: How Not to Abandon Your Children
• iShowSpeed Touring Africa

Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section!

___________________________________

Also, Follow us here!

-The Crafted Podcast:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftedpod/ @CraftedPod

--Kristin:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin

Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE

--Keonte:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald

My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words

Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio

Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold

Order our Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You"

https://a.co/d/3KlouTY

___________________________________

Song of The Week: Teedra Moses "Be Your Girl"

https://music.apple.com/us/album/be-your-girl/1480258047?i=1480258055

Film of the Week: Marty Supreme

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

Ep. 90: Looking Back to Move Forward: Our 2025 Family Reflection

To close out the year and step into a fresh start, we’re dropping a special mini pod in honor of the New Year. Shorter than our usual episodes, but packed with reflection, honesty, and intention as we look back on 2025 together.

💍 Forever Segment — Marriage Audit

We take a real look at our marriage in 2025. Did we grow closer? Where were the highs and the hard moments? What lessons did the year teach us about communication, partnership, and love moving forward?

🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment — Parenting Audit

Parenting comes with constant learning curves. We reflect on how we showed up for our kids this year, what worked, what needs adjusting, and if our kids could grade us, what they might say. We also talk about intentional changes we want to make in the new year.

✨ Lifestyle Segment — Top 3s of 2025

To keep it light, we wrap up the episode sharing our Top 3 Movies, Music picks, and Favorite Moments from 2025. The things that made us laugh, think, and pause along the way.

As we head into the new year, this episode is all about reflection without judgment and growth without pressure. Here’s to learning from the past and moving forward together.

Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section!

___________________________________

Also, Follow us here!

--Kristin:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin

Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE

--Keonte:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald

My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words

Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio

Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold

___________________________________

Order our Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You"

https://a.co/d/3KlouTY

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

Ep. 89: Married Young, Becoming Parents & Reviewing Disney World: Our Honest Truth

This week we’re looking at love, legacy, and life with kids. From getting married young, to deciding whether children are truly a “benefit,” to finally taking on the most magical (and exhausting) place on Earth as a family.

💍 Forever Segment — Was Young Love Destiny or a Developmental Delay?

We tell the truth about getting married young. Was it fate, immaturity, divine timing, or all of the above? We unpack what couples gain (and lose) when they commit early, how maturity affects marriage, and what we’ve learned along the way.

👶 Roots & Bloom Segment — Becoming Parents: Is There Really a Benefit to Having Kids?

Kids are expensive, emotional, hilarious, stressful, life-changing but are they actually a benefit? We explore personal meaning, family legacy, fulfillment, and whether parenting makes life richer or just busier.

🎢 Lifestyle Segment — Disney World vs. Disneyland: The Orlando Review

We recap our first family trip to Disney World Orlando. The highlights, the frustrations, the magic, and the meltdowns. What did we love? What could’ve stayed in Florida? And how does it compare to our California classic, Disneyland?

Today we’ll be touching on: 

• What Random Things Annoy You?
• The Birth of Nintendo
• Married Young: Destiny or Developmental Delay?
• Parenting: Is There A Benefit to Having Kids?
• Disney World vs. Disneyland: The Orlando Review

Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section!

___________________________________

Also, Follow us here!

--Kristin:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin

Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE

--Keonte:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald

My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words

Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio

Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold

___________________________________

Order our Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You"

https://a.co/d/3KlouTY

My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon!

Song of The Week: Luke Chiang "What Can I Do?"

https://music.apple.com/us/album/what-can-i-do/1843404319?i=1843404323

Show of the Week: Welcome To Derry (HBO Max)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

Ep. 88: Is Marriage Worth It? Raising Kids Who Still Choose You & A Disney Cliffhanger

This week, we’re diving into the realities of marriage, the long-term heart work of parenting, and a quick tease for what’s coming next!

💍 Forever Segment — Marriage: Benefit or Burden?

We unpack the age-old question: Is marriage something that elevates your life or something that weighs you down? We explore how perspective, partnership, and personal expectations shape the way couples experience marriage and why the answer isn’t as simple as it seems.

🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment — Raising Children Who Keep Coming Home, Pt. 2

In part two of our series, we talk about what it really takes to build a bond with your children that lasts long after they’ve grown up. From emotional safety to shared experiences, we dig into how parents can cultivate lifelong connection.

🎢 Lifestyle Segment — To Be Continued…

We ran out of time this week but be sure to catch our next episode where we break down our full Disney vacation experience! From rides to parenting wins (and fails), you won’t want to miss it.

Today we’ll be touching on: 

• Who Was Your Favorite Rapper Before The Age 13?
• The South Korean Military
• Marriage: Benefit or Burden?
• Raising Children Who Keep Coming Home Pt. 2
• Our Disney Trip (To Be Continued)

Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section!

___________________________________

Also, Follow us here!

--Kristin:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin

Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE

--Keonte:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald

My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words

Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio

Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold

___________________________________

Order our New Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You"

https://a.co/d/3KlouTY

My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon!

Song of The Week: Laufey "Forget-Me-Not"

https://music.apple.com/us/album/forget-me-not/1834263082?i=1834263123

Show of the Week: Barry (HBO Max)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

Ep. 87: Escaping the Roommate Stage, Raising Kids Who Still Call & TikTok Church Experiment

This week’s episode is all about connection: rediscovering it in marriage, sustaining it with our children, and questioning it in the age of viral faith and social media.

💑 Forever Segment — The Silent Drift & The Intentional Return

We’re unpacking one of the quietest relationship killers: emotional distance. How do couples go from passionate partners to polite roommates and, more importantly, how do they find their way back? We talk about the small choices that rebuild intimacy and the daily habits that turn drifting into direction.

🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment — Raising Children Who Keep Coming Home

What does it mean to raise securely attached children who still want to be around you when they’re grown? We explore how emotional safety, consistent love, and healthy boundaries create relationships that last well beyond childhood.

🙏 Lifestyle Segment — The Appalachian Grandpa & The TikTok Church Experiment

“The Appalachian Grandpa” and the “TikTok Church” experiment. Would your church give a single mother a can of formula for her starving child? What do these trends say about faith, influence, and the way people are finding (or performing) spirituality online?

Today we’ll be touching on: 

• The Mary Crystie mystery
• The Silent Drift & The Intentional Return: The Roomate Marriage
• Raising Children Who Keep Coming Home
• The TikTok Appalachian Grandpa

Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section!

___________________________________

Also, Follow us here!

--Kristin:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin

Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE

--Keonte:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald

My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words

Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio

Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold

___________________________________

Order our New Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You"

https://a.co/d/3KlouTY

My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon!

Song of The Week: Leon Thomas "My Muse"

https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-muse/1847991335?i=1847991347

Film of the Week: All Her Fault (Peacock)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

Ep. 86: For Better, For Worse, For Outkast: Marriage Meltdowns, Parenting, and Atlanta Vibes

This week’s episode dives deep into faith, family, and fun; from navigating the hardest moments in marriage to learning how to regulate our emotions as parents, and even a firsthand look at a major music festival experience!

💍 Forever Segment — When the Fantasy Fades, Does Your Faith Remain?

We explore what the “worse” in “for better or for worse” truly means. When life tests your marriage through loss, stress, distance, or disappointment. . . how do you safeguard your relationship before those moments arrive? This segment is all about building faith-based resilience when the fantasy fades.

🧘🏾‍♀️ Roots & Bloom Segment — Pause, Breathe, Then Parent

Parenting starts with emotional regulation. . . ours. We discuss the power of pausing, breathing, and modeling calmness for our children. How do our emotions shape theirs? And what steps can we take to make emotional balance a daily practice, not a reaction?

🎶 Lifestyle Segment — The ONE MusicFest: Atlanta Edition

Keonte shares his surprise birthday trip to Atlanta, GA to attend his very first music festival! From legendary performances by Outkast and Mary J. Blige to the rising sounds of newcomer Leon Thomas, he gives us the full behind-the-scenes on what the experience was like and whether he’d ever do it again.

Today we’ll be touching on: 

• When's The Last Time You Did Something For the First Time?
• Raising People From The Dead: The Essie Dunbar Story
• Why Are Kids So Messy? Help!
• For Better or For Worse: When the Fantasy Fades, Does Your Faith Remain?
• Emotional Regulation In Parents
• ONE MusicFest: Outkast, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige & Swag Surfing In Atlanta

Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section!

___________________________________

Also, Follow us here!

--Kristin:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin

Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE

--Keonte:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald

My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words

Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio

Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold

___________________________________

Order our New Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You"

https://a.co/d/3KlouTY

My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon!

Song of The Week: Luke Chiang "Never Tell"

https://music.apple.com/us/album/never-tell/1741674901?i=1741674910

Film of the Week: They Call Him Mostly Harmless (HBOMax)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

Ep. 85: From ‘If He Wanted To, He Would’ to ‘Who Can We Trust?’ The Perfect Neighbor & Accountability

This week, we’re unpacking love, protection, and accountability. From how effort shows up in relationships, to the realities of parenting in an unpredictable world, to why honesty seems to be on life support in today’s society.

❤️ Forever Segment — Effort, Energy, and the Myth of Perfect Love

“If he wanted to, he would.” We’re breaking down this viral phrase and talking about what real effort looks like in marriage. How does social media shape our expectations of love? Should we ever compare our relationships to others? And how do you show your spouse love beyond words and likes?

🏡 Roots & Bloom Segment — Protecting Our Kids in a World Full of Neighbors

Inspired by Netflix’s chilling documentary The Perfect Neighbor, we reflect on parenting in a time when safety isn’t guaranteed, even close to home. How do we teach awareness without fear, and make decisions that prioritize our children’s security and well-being?

⚖️ Lifestyle Segment — America’s Accountability Problem

From politics to personal life, lying has become the national pastime. We’re asking why people keep denying the truth even when they’ve been caught, and how the “innocent until proven guilty” mindset affects our culture’s relationship with accountability and integrity.

Today we’ll be touching on: 

• Which Countries Would You Live In?
• Why & When Was Morse Code Created?
• If He Wanted To, He Would: A Deep Dive Into "Perfect Love" Culture
• Netflix's The Perfect Neighbor
• Caught Red Handed And Still Lying: America's Accountability Problem

Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section!

___________________________________

Also, Follow us here!

--Kristin:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin

Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE

--Keonte:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald

My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words

Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio

Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold

___________________________________

Order our New Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You"

https://a.co/d/3KlouTY

My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon!

Song of The Week: Sienna Spiro "You Stole The Show"

https://music.apple.com/us/album/you-stole-the-show/1825742569?i=1825742570

Film of the Week: The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations