In this episode we open with the revelation that the human mouth is essentially a musical instrument, which finally explains why our conversations occasionally sound like experimental jazz. From there we jump straight into Christmas, comparing the holiday of yesteryear with today’s version where Black Friday has migrated online and become a competitive sport with shopping carts instead of helmets.

Our own experiences weave through the chaos, shaping the way we see holiday traditions and reminding us that nothing says “festive spirit” quite like the stories you never intended to collect. Animals enter the chat, of course. They always do. We talk squirrels with tactical instincts, sloths operating on a different calendar entirely, and koalas who avoid being hunted purely on the strength of their terrible flavor profile. Nature stays weird, and we stay entertained.

The food theme escalates with bear meat, which apparently requires a preparation process similar to assembling a complicated piece of furniture. Then we pivot to winter driving, because nothing bonds people like recounting close calls with icy roads. We cover the importance of practicing on slick surfaces, understanding vehicle technology, and avoiding the sort of spin you usually only see in Olympic skating.

Christmas gigs make an appearance too, because performers in December run on adrenaline, cookies, and questionable scheduling decisions. We explore what it means to look for connection in communities where everyone seems to be part of a decades-long group chat you weren’t added to. Along the way we note that love often hides inside social events you didn’t even want to attend, waiting for you to bump into it on your way to the snack table.

By the end, we’ve toured holiday chaos, wildlife quirks, culinary adventures, winter survival skills, and the unpredictable paths that open when you say yes to new experiences. And somehow it all fits perfectly into one conversation.

Andrew is at the table, and he wrecked his car this week.

THEN: The Peaches has a BONE TO PICK with Andrew!  (Sometimes he's just toooooo nice.)  

What is the Christian's responsibility when trying to influence a non-believing roommate/tennant? 

AND, LATER: Should pastors marry two non-believers, just for a chance to share the Gospel?

Contact the Comedian's Family by emailing [email protected] 

Thanksgiving gets a full roast this episode as we dive into the annual paradox of expressing gratitude while elbowing strangers for the last can of cranberry sauce. We swap stories about chaotic grocery runs, family traditions that include creatively vandalizing greeting cards, and the unspoken rule that certain topics are banned at dinner unless you want to watch Uncle Larry spontaneously combust. We tackle the spiritual mystery of why Thanksgiving and Black Friday sit next to each other on the calendar like a wholesome nun sharing a bunk bed with a pickpocket. There’s also talk of buffet lines, questionable food preferences, holiday decorating schedules that start before the dishes are washed, and the alarming number of Pop-Tart flavors that should not exist. Basically, it’s a lighthearted stroll through the commercialization of gratitude season, where everyone insists they’re thankful while also fighting for parking spots like it’s the Hunger Games.

The sermon was great this morning! And the preaching minister isn't the same guy as the "senior minister," which is fairly cool.  How many "senior ministers" are willing to NOT be the guy doing most of the talking from stage?

Anyway--what the heck does Valerian Root do?  And which theme park rides are least likely to make John want to vomit?  That's connected to the sermon about anxiety somehow...

THEN: The Peaches went to a private, Christian University, and now her fellow students are mostly insane.  Here's a New York Times article written by somebody she actually shared space with for a couple years...The wife in the story was The Peaches' RA. (Spoiler: wife wanted to practice a "non-monogamous" marriage for awhile, until they finally divorced.) 

John and Luke both want to know WHAT HAPPENED at that school (and many others) to cause all the "Christian" kids to lose their minds?

Contact the Comedian's Family by emailing [email protected] 

Juan is prepping to preach a sermon so we're helping him! We wander through the strange intersection where humor, faith, and hope all try to share the same crosswalk without causing a theological traffic jam. We chat about what actually goes on behind the scenes of podcasting, how we pretend to prepare sermons, and why sneaking humor into preaching should probably count as a spiritual gift.

Somewhere between laughing at ourselves and trying to sound wise, we tackle hope, Christmas, Advent, and the many creative ways humans navigate the emotional roller coaster between despair and optimism. We even take a stab at explaining the difference between faith and hope, mostly by admitting that perspective matters and that ours isn’t always the most reliable.

With our usual mix of jokes, confessions, and “please don’t quote us on this,” we reflect on everyday struggles and why keeping hope alive in a complicated world feels a lot like trying to keep a candle lit in a wind tunnel.

John just got back from a men's retreat, and it was OBVIOUS that women were not involved with the planning! (He explains what that means...)

The Peaches shares a story of the GROSSEST thing her brother ever did... and the MANLIEST apartment she ever tried to clean...  

Then:  We answer a listener question about how to know when it's time to leave your church.  What if there's a problem with immodesty among certain young ladies? 

Email us, Neighbor! Sometimes we respond! [email protected]

In this grand saga of collective oversharing, we heroically wander through the conversational wilderness, armed only with nostalgia and questionable transitions. We reminisce about our glory days of rehearsal (which helped no one), recount our noble battles with Southern snow (mostly fought from the comfort of our driveways), and debate the ethics of eating deer while pretending we’re food critics. One minute we’re comparing duck blinds, the next we’re knee-deep in pajama theory, wondering how humanity ever survived the drop-seat era. We take bold detours into hygiene history, because nothing says entertainment like the evolution of soap. Our laughter veers between the profound and the slightly concerning, and by the end, we’ve somehow tied together sledding, venison, and bathroom humor into one frostbitten tapestry of self-discovery. It’s less a podcast, more a group therapy session for people who own too many flannel shirts.

Welcome to the frozen tundra where we are currently living, Neighbor!  It's snowing!

Luke has been trying in vain to bag a deer this season. But at least he has some SWEET socks!  What are the similarities between a man in a deer stand and a woman shopping for cloth diapers?  (We spend a SHOCKINGLY long time parsing through this.)  

How many eggs are too many eggs?

Finally, we get around to bringing up Candace Owens and the insane cult behavior that may be more prevalant than the Peaches originally thought. 

So what do you think, Neighbor?  Send us your insights by emailing [email protected] . 

We've been diving headfirst into the health rabbit hole, and frankly, we're not sure if we came out better or just more confused. On this episode, we tried to sound like we know what we're talking about as we explored everything from holistic doctors (who tell you your favorite snack is basically poison) to the ancient, confusing art of grounding (are we just supposed to hug a tree?).

We also tackled the great health debate: supplements vs. whole foods. Why take a synthetic pill when you can just eat an entire kale farm, right? Oh, and did we mention parasites? Yes, we went there. Because nothing says "funny podcast" like discussing the creepy crawlies potentially residing inside you. We also shared some questionable home remedies that probably won't cure you, but might give you a good story.

Then, we veered wildly into the chaos that is modern life! We lamented the utterly unrealistic health goals plastered all over social media—seriously, who has time for perfect yoga poses AND a pristine lawn? Speaking of which, we complained bitterly about the soul-crushing labor of lawn care before moving onto the even greater torment: fishing with our children. (Spoiler: it involves a lot of untangling and zero fish.)

To top it all off, we reminisced about the trauma of our childhood pets, finally concluding with the truly brilliant idea one of us had to own a piranha. Because clearly, we never learned any life lessons about boundaries or common sense. Basically, we proved that health, parenting, and pet ownership are all just a series of absurd, hilarious mistakes.

Welcome! We kick off this episode talking about hunting season, and all the things Luke has lost in the woods so far... 

Next, John thinks Church People should be more "clique-ish."   But--his thoughts are interrupted by Cami and Collin, who found something HILARIOUS on Google Maps.  It's a 13-year dream come true for John! 

Later, what's the opposite of joining a "clique?"  Wouldn't it be joining a group of people who don't like spending time together?  

FINALLY: we share listener answers to the punchline challenge!  Thanks for playing our game with us, Neighbor!

Email the Comedian's family at [email protected].