November 20, 2025

Thanksgiving Survival Guide: Avoiding Family Feuds and Kitchen Catastrophes

45 minutes

Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us faster than Aunt Judy can bring up that one family feud, and trust me, we’re here to help you avoid a holiday disaster. In this hour, Eric G and John Dudley are dishing out the ultimate last-minute tips to get your home ready for the big feast. We’re talking everything from decluttering those countertops (because, really, who needs that collection of weird knick-knacks out when the whole clan’s rolling in?) to prepping your oven so it doesn’t turn into a fiery pit of despair. We’ll even tackle the age-old dilemma of ensuring your plumbing is ready for the inevitable Thanksgiving toilet drama—because nothing says "Happy Thanksgiving" like a clogged toilet when Uncle Bob decides to unleash his famous post-dinner bomb. So grab that turkey baster and let’s get your home holiday-ready, folks!

Thanksgiving is creeping up faster than we can say 'stuffing', and in this episode, we dive deep into the chaotic world of getting your home ready for the big family gathering. Eric G and John Dudley tackle the top 10 things you should do (and maybe a few you shouldn’t) before the turkey hits the table. From decluttering countertops to ensuring that your kitchen is prepped for all the culinary madness that comes with feeding a small army, they’ve got you covered. They humorously navigate through the typical Thanksgiving drama, from the inevitable family arguments to the horror stories of kitchen disasters, all while providing practical tips that might just save you from a meltdown before your guests arrive. Plus, they share the importance of prepping your home for the influx of relatives and how to avoid being the host with the most 'oops' moments. If you're feeling that pre-holiday panic, tune in for a dose of laughter and sanity as you gear up for this year's Thanksgiving festivities.

Takeaways:

Deep cleaning and decluttering your kitchen counters is essential for Thanksgiving prep, trust me, your sanity depends on it!
Creating designated areas for food prep can prevent turkey juice disasters, because nobody wants a Salmonella surprise at dinner!
Sharp knives are your best friends in the kitchen—don't ruin your expensive cutlery with dull blades, get them sharpened, it's worth it!
Be mindful of air quality—open windows and turn on fans to avoid post-dinner comas from carbon dioxide overload, or your guests will be napping through the football game!
Checking your oven's accuracy before Thanksgiving is a must; a miscalibrated oven can ruin your turkey and your holiday spirit, so do it now!
And remember, inviting lonely neighbors over for Thanksgiving can turn a mundane holiday into a heartwarming event, plus it gives you extra people to blame during family arguments!

Companies mentioned in this episode:

Insinkerator
LG
Gerber

Mentioned in this episode:

Its time to upgrade your website with Site Hype Designs!

Be one of the first to grab the 10 spots available for Site Hype Designs special holiday sale! Message John at [email protected] and use promo code Johnny Claus in the subject line and see if you qualify!

Site Hype Designs

Its time to upgrade your website with Site Hype Designs!

Site Hype Designs

Suscribe to our YouTube Channel

Want even more home improvement tips, tricks, and insider advice? Subscribe to my YouTube channel @AroundTheHouseEricG for project guides, product reviews, and behind-the-scenes content you won’t hear on the podcast. Don’t miss out—hit that subscribe button today!

Around the House YouTube

Clean up inside and out with AeroBroom

The world's first 2-in-1 sweeper broom and cordless leaf blower combined in one convenient tool to clean your outdoor living spaces. With the Aerobroom, you can use it to sweep just like a normal broom, or you can blast debris from hard-to-reach areas.

AeroBroom

Advertise on the Around the House Show!

🔥 Join the Around the House Insider today and unlock more of the show you love!

For just $4 a month, you’ll get:

✔️ Early access to the weekend show every Thursday

✔️ Extended exclusive episodes you won’t hear anywhere else

✔️ Full access to our entire back catalog

✔️ Direct access to Eric G with a private email

✔️ Plus member-only shows coming soon

And right now—sign up for 30 days and get two free Around the House with Eric G stickers!

But hurry—this offer is only good while supplies last.

👉 Head to AroundTheHouseOnline.com or click the link https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

Around the House Insider

Check out the BEST Trailer in the US!

Summit Trailers

...more

View all episodes

By Eric Goranson

4.2

3838 ratings

November 20, 2025

Thanksgiving Survival Guide: Avoiding Family Feuds and Kitchen Catastrophes

45 minutes

Takeaways:

Deep cleaning and decluttering your kitchen counters is essential for Thanksgiving prep, trust me, your sanity depends on it!
Creating designated areas for food prep can prevent turkey juice disasters, because nobody wants a Salmonella surprise at dinner!
Sharp knives are your best friends in the kitchen—don't ruin your expensive cutlery with dull blades, get them sharpened, it's worth it!
Be mindful of air quality—open windows and turn on fans to avoid post-dinner comas from carbon dioxide overload, or your guests will be napping through the football game!
Checking your oven's accuracy before Thanksgiving is a must; a miscalibrated oven can ruin your turkey and your holiday spirit, so do it now!
And remember, inviting lonely neighbors over for Thanksgiving can turn a mundane holiday into a heartwarming event, plus it gives you extra people to blame during family arguments!

Companies mentioned in this episode: